Dr. Karina Smith Podcast

Chronic migraines can be insufferable to live with. Western Medicine has their own views and interventions for Migraines, and Chinese Medicine has an entirely different way of understanding and treating them. In today's episode I'm speaking with Dr Mg Mccullough on her own history of Migraines, her recovery, and her treatment approach for her own patients that experience Migraines. We talk about the importance of building health resources through diet, how emotions and past traumas can affect the development of Migraines, and how a person can start to recover and rebuild themselves. MG lives in the United States, and you can find out more about her work via her website: https://drmgmccullough.com This is her FREE helpful resource guide for Migraines: https://drmgmccullough.com/store-1/p/free-migraine-guide We also mention her course "bleed to heal" https://drmgmccullough.com/store-1/p/bleed-to-heal-a-21-day-program-to-release-emotions-that-keep-you-sick And if you want more ideas around healthy living and food please check out the amazing books by Ann Cecil Sterman and Andrew Sterman: https://anncecilsterman.com/book-store/ Love Karina x

This term is used very liberally in the yoga verse, but what does it actually mean to claim this title? In today's bonus podcast episode, I get into this, and so much more, with the amazing Grace Tempany. A powerful Irish presence in our yin yoga global community, Grace Tempany is a Senior Teacher with Yoga Alliance Professionals, a Trainer Pro and Mentor, specialised in yin, functional yoga, and trauma-informed somatic practices. As a trainee psychotherapist, her lens is inherently person-centred. As a former secondary school teacher, the art of teaching has been her bedrock. Her teaching is built on the foundation of inclusion. Since she started teaching yoga ten years ago, she has dedicated her practice, research and teaching to providing the most accessible space for everybody to practise being in their bodies, and learn to gain a deeper connection with themselves, their truth, their voice and their own unique and personal journey. She marries pedagogical expertise, lived and felt experience as knowledge, and the most up-to-date research from the yoga, education, and therapy worlds. She created her own school of yoga because she believes in a deeper and more well-rounded yoga education. She knows that deep thinkers and old souls looking for retreats are yearning for more depth and integration opportunities. And she listened to to the soul whispers nudging her to create a home for many others out there who have yet to find theirs within the yoga community. In 2023 ISFYT: The International School of Functional Yoga Teachers was born. In the making for at least the last 3 years, it will no doubt continue to evolve for many years to come. Check out Grace's podcast: "Fallen from Grace: reluctant conversations" https://open.spotify.com/show/54XL6EOGsRbMq30MMgZ7Bh?si=ae5b4d101ed44e31 And check out Grace's amazing work with her yoga school: https://isfyt.com/ I hope you enjoy this bonus episode. Love Karina xx

🎙️In episode 12 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the wonderful Kendall Satie. Kendall is a Melbourne based Osteopath with a passion for working closely with patients to get them back to doing the things they love to do. With many years of experience as a Remedial Massage Therapist, heavily influencing her assessment and treatment style, she loves balancing the two modalities to provide a thorough and holistic treatment. In this episode we have a great conversation about how Kendall feels for healthy tissue, through palpation and assessment. We discuss ideas around "the melt" in yin yoga, what inflamed and dehydrated tissue feels like, and how to take really good care when hydrating your body. Kendall practices across two locations in Prahran and Albert Park...with exciting new things to come in Seddon! Stay tuned for upcoming sessions at "The Body Folk" in Seddon very soon.

🎙️In episode 11 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the one and only Dominique Salerno. Dominique founded the infamous Australian Yoga Academy here in Melbourne, and has been teaching public classes and training you teachers for over 20 years. Amongst many of her yoga passions, is the practice of Pranayama. This ancient medicine of utilising the breath, is probably needed now in the world more than ever before. Dominique's catch phrase is "When you own your own breath, nothing can steal your peace." We have a brilliant conversation about her origin story, how Yoga has been the anchor in her life, especially through extremely difficult times, and how the breath truly is the magical tonic we all need. Dominique runs 50 hour Pranayama training for yoga teachers, allied health professionals, and anyone who wants to learn to yield their natural breath inheritance. All trainings can be found at her website: https://dominiquesalernoyoga.com Do you practice Pranayama? How has it benefited you?

In episode 10 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the fantastic Johannah Ashley. Long-time Acupuncturist and student of Classical Acupuncture, Johannah runs a Chinese Medicine clinic in regional Victoria Australia, where for the past 6 years she has committed to practicing the compliment channels of Classical Chinese Medicine. These are the channels of Acupuncture written out of History, that have been brought back to the modern Era by the teachings and tremendous education efforts of Master Jeffrey Yuen. Often described as the "jewel of the medicine" is the skilful art of pulse taking and diagnosis. We have an amazing conversation about the mystery of this practice, and how to begin navigating your way into this medicine, especially if you are new. Johannah is also a qualified Qi gong teacher, and regularly offers classes. Check out the classes and her clinic here: https://www.iyashi.com.au/qi-gong/ The two of us are facilitating a retreat in Daylesford Australia in 2024, for practitioners of Classical Acupuncture to come together, learn, grow, and deepen our skills within the growing community. To find out more: https://www.drkarinasmith.com/events If you enjoy this episode, please consider leaving a rating or review for the podcast. Thankyou, Karina x

In episode 9 of the Dr Karina Podcast I am speaking with the notorious Michael Max. Anyone practicing Chinese Medicine would be aware of Michael's long running podcast "Qiological"; a beacon of support and inspiration to all us practitioners doing our thing in our own little corner of the globe. Michael has a wealth of knowledge to share, and has conducted over 300 interviews with some of the most incredible practitioners alive today. In this episode the mic is turned, and I get the enormous privilege of asking Michael all about his journey to Chinese Medicine, what he has learned over his career, what are his favourite ways to tap into inspiration, as well as his advice for new grads entering the profession. We have some great laughs, some fabulous epiphanies, and enjoy real talk about our medicine. I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did. If you want to hear more of Michaels episodes, head over to Qiological:https://www.qiological.com Karina xx

Are you actually hydrated? How do you know? What signs and symptoms does your body display when you are dehydrated? What kinds of foods/spices/lifestyle choices might you be making that are contributing to dehydration? In Chinese Medicine, proper hydration is one of the most important factors for health, disease prevention, and recovery. The fluids of your body are so important, and most of us are consuming all kinds of foods that are damaging these fluids. If the fluids of our body are in deficit, we are more prone for things like: migraines, joint degeneration, organ issues, digestive tract issues and so much more. I have learnt so much about this topic from my teacher Ann Cecil-Sterman, and in this episode I am sharing some of the powerful pieces of health advice I have learned from her this year.

In epiosde 7 I am speaking with the powerhouse that is Mandy Gratzer. Mandy is a Perth based Acupuncturist who is passionate about helping new graduates enter the profession with knowledge, guidance and power. At the age of 18, she moved from Kununurra to Perth to study an Advanced Diploma of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies. After graduation Mandy promptly travelled to Hang Zhou, China where she completed an Internship under the supervision of numerous dual trained Doctors at the Hang Zhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (and may have eaten a chicken foot or two!). This provided the best opportunity for bringing together the knowledge of the course in the most idyllic setting; laying the foundation for melding the theory and practice together. The Hang Zhou hospital integrates TCM and mainstream western medicine, allowing all interns the experience of working together for the greater good of the patient. As a result, this provides Mandy with the knowledge and experience to work holistically alongside standard Western health practices here in Australia. Upon completion, she moved to Darwin (her original home town), in order to set up a clinic in a town that she loved. After building a strong client base in Darwin, in 2007 an idea to share Chinese Medicine far and wide saw Mandy take her services to rural areas, developing regular clinics in Katherine & Kununurra. Those clinics ran for six years assisting 100’s of rural residents to achieve better health outcomes otherwise not available to them. Mandy serves on the WA State Committee of the Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association and has spent the past 12 months building a mentorship program to support the next generation of acupuncturists with a course designed to help guide them through the beginnings of practice, titled A Guide to Setting up Clinic. You can connect with Mandy either through her podcast "the acupuncturists Biz Hub" or her website: https://hello.acupuncturistsbizhub.com/

In Episode 6 I am speaking with the wonderful Jarryd Harvey. Jarryd is an extraordinary Chinese Medicine practitioner, with an interest in classical acupuncture and a powerful personal story of his own healing journey. Jarryd and I discuss our shared interest into the world of classical acupuncture, and our observations of the connection between emotions and health.

In episode 5 I am speaking with the divine Heidi Trigar.  Heidi is well known in Melbourne and the east coast of Australia for her celestial kirtan events.  Not only does Heidi have the voice to hold the space, she is also a remarkable yin yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer.  In this episode Heidi shares her movement history from dance to yoga, and how yin yoga opened up the real possibility of feeling safe to truly surrender, not only on her mat, but in all areas of her life.  Heidi has been exploring ways in which to bring ancient techniques of mantra, mudra, and meridians into her teaching which she shares here with the listeners.  You can find out all about Heidi's classes, upcoming kirtans, workshops and retreats through her website: https://www.heiditrigar.com  In this episode we also referenced the bone picture gallery on Paul Grilley's website which can be found here: https://paulgrilley.com/bones