Yogas Citta-Vrtti-Nirodhah: Why I Pressed Pause (and Why I’m Back)

Send a textIn this powerful and heart-opening episode of the Sober Yoga Girl Podcast, Alexandra sits down with yoga teacher, spiritual psychology coach, and sober traveler Lexie Polk to explore what it truly means to build a life you don’t need to escape from.From getting sober abroad in South Korea in 2021, to creating a daily devotional practice rooted in yoga, meditation, and spiritual study, Lexie shares how sobriety became the doorway to freedom, devotion, and deep self-trust.Together, Alexandra and Lexie dive into what it looks like to become “obsessed” with your sobriety - not from fear or restriction, but from love, reverence, and commitment to your highest self.This episode is for you if you’re craving deeper connection, spiritual grounding, and a recovery path that feels nourishing, expansive, and aligned with your soul. In This Episode, We Explore:Lexie’s sobriety journey and getting sober while living abroad in South KoreaHow sobriety led her into a daily devotional spiritual practiceWhat it means to place yoga and philosophy at the center of your lifeSober travel and learning to stay grounded anywhere in the worldBuilding a life you don’t need to escape fromLiberation, freedom, and spiritual psychology in recoveryHer experience living in Bali and joining Alexandra’s 300-Hour TrainingTeaching yoga full-time and living in alignment with purposeHow devotion, discipline, and self-love support long-term recoveryAbout Our Guest: Lexie PolkLexie Polk is a 500-Hour Registered Yoga Teacher, Active Meditation Instructor, Spiritual Psychology Coach, and sober traveler. With an academic background in Religious Studies and a deep devotion to yoga philosophy, Lexie supports others in creating lives rooted in freedom, integrity, and spiritual practice. She currently teaches yoga full-time in Portland, Oregon.Connect with Lexie: https://lexielynnpolk.comConnect with AlexandraWebsite: www.mindfulbali.comLoved This Episode?If this conversation resonated with you, please take a moment to subscribe, rate, and review the podcast. Your support helps this message reach more women walking the path of healing, sobriety, and self-discovery.And if you know someone who’s ready to deepen their recovery through yoga and spirituality, share this episode with them.Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textIn this episode of Sober Yoga Girl Podcast, Alexandra sits down with Susan Larkin, certified Senior This Naked Mind Coach, Gray Area Drinking Master Coach, and Sacred Depths Life Coach, for a compassionate and deeply affirming conversation about midlife, alcohol, and reinvention.Susan brings wisdom, honesty, and grace to a topic so many women silently struggle with: drinking that doesn’t look like a problem on the outside, but feels misaligned on the inside.Together, we explore why midlife is a powerful time to become alcohol-free. As identities shift, hormones change, and old coping mechanisms stop working, many women begin to sense that alcohol is no longer supporting the life they want to live.Rather than focusing on labels, rules, or shame, Susan invites women into self-trust, nervous system regulation, and worthiness — showing how true relaxation, confidence, and joy are cultivated from within, not poured from a glass.This conversation is especially for the woman who:Feels successful yet quietly exhausted by her relationship with alcoholKnows something needs to change, but doesn’t resonate with “rock bottom” storiesWants to feel calm, confident, and lit-up in her body againIs ready to rewrite her story in midlife — alcohol-freeThis episode is gentle, empowering, and deeply validating.You can explore Susan's coaching here: https://www.susanlarkincoaching.com/Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textIn this episode, Alexandra speaks with yoga teacher and writer Tasha Ackerman about healing through movement, writing, and embodied presence.Tasha shares her journey with somatic and narrative medicine practices, her involvement in the early days of Mindful Life Practice online, and how those experiences shaped her teaching.They explore Tasha’s new Manifestation Yin Series, where manifestation is approached not as wishful thinking, but as a grounded, embodied practice rooted in intention, nervous system support, and self-reflection.Through yin yoga, meditation, and journaling, this conversation invites listeners to slow down, clarify their vision, and gently align with the life they’re creating.You can connect with Tasha and learn more about her work here. https://writerestore.com/Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textIn this episode of Sober Yoga Girl Podcast, Alexandra is joined by Annie Knowles - newly qualified yoga teacher, NLP-qualified life and alcohol-free coach, and former NHS healthcare professional with over 33 years of experience working in high-pressure clinical environments.Annie shares her journey of choosing an alcohol-free life during the pandemic - not from crisis or “rock bottom,” but from a deep desire for calm, clarity, and authenticity. That decision sparked a profound personal and professional transformation, leading her to support high-functioning women - particularly those in healthcare and caring roles - who feel outwardly fine but inwardly exhausted, disconnected, or stuck.Together, Alexandra and Annie explore why change feels so hard, why willpower isn’t the answer, and how real transformation happens through awareness, nervous system regulation, and identity shift. They weave together modern neuroscience, NLP, lived experience, and ancient yoga philosophy - including insights from the Yoga Sutras - to show how we can learn to work with the mind rather than against it.This conversation is grounded, compassionate, and practical, offering listeners a refreshing perspective on alcohol-free living, recovery pathways, and sustainable change - without shame, labels, or pressure to be “fixed.”In This Episode, We DiscussAnnie’s transition from NHS healthcare to coaching and yoga teachingChoosing alcohol-free living without hitting “rock bottom”Why willpower fails, and what actually supports lasting changeNervous system regulation vs self-improvement cultureIdentity shift and self-study through the lens of yoga philosophyHow the Yoga Sutras offer practical guidance for modern lifeThe power of immersive environments like yoga teacher training and retreat spacesWhy community and shared study matter in recovery and wellbeingLearn more about Annie’s work and the 100-Day Reset Programme hereStudy Yoga Philosophy & Train in Bali If you’re feeling called to deepen your understanding of yoga beyond the mat — through philosophy, meditation, and self-study — Alexandra offers Yoga Sutra Study programmes online and immersive Yoga Teacher Trainings in Bali rooted in inquiry, nervous system awareness, and lived practice.You can learn more about upcoming trainings, retreats, and study opportunities at: www.mindfulbali.com Listen & SubscribeIf this episode resonated with you, please subscribe to Sober Yoga Girl Podcast, leave a review, or share it with someone who might need to hear this conversation.Thank you for being here, and for walking this path with us.Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textAfter a season of slowing down, Sober Yoga Girl is back. In this relaunch episode, Alexandra shares why she pressed pause, what changed, and how yoga philosophy, meditation, and simplicity are guiding her return. A reflective conversation on burnout, sobriety, and sustainable living.The information about our upcoming 200 Hour YTT is here: https://www.mindfulbali.com/200-hour-yttThe information about our upcoming 300 Hour YTT is here: https://www.mindfulbali.com/300-hour-ytt-advanced-modulesSupport the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textI have decided to hit pause on Sober Yoga Girl Podcast.  In this episode, I explain why.Thank you for your support of Sober Yoga Girl Podcast over the last five years.There are 250 episodes which will stay live for you to go back and listen to anytime. And as well, I may start recording again soon...perhaps again of Sober Yoga Girl, or another show or creation.  For the next few months I want to focus on setting up my yoga space in Bali, writing my next book, and cuddling with my foster kitten Zero! You can stay up to date with everything I am offering at https://www.soberyogagirl.com/. If you subscribe there, I will be writing and sending a newsletter about yoga philosophy most likely every week once a week.There are two spots left on my India retreat February 22 - March 5. Make sure you grab a spot before they go at https://www.alcoholfreeretreats.com/india .My yoga classes in Bali and yoga teacher trainings can be found at: https://www.mindfulbali.com/Lots of love,AlexandraSupport the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textIn this episode, the community got to connect live with Interfaith spiritual teacher Lauryn Axelrod, and author of the book Ten Words.In her book Ten Words, Interfaith/Interspiritual leader and teacher Lauryn Axelrod offers a practical path forward. Based on a contemporary, but timeless set of ten simple words distilled from the common principles of the world’s great faith and wisdom traditions supported by modern science and psychology, Ten Words provides an integrated, interspiritual guide we can use everyday to become happier, healthier, more fulfilled people in a kinder world that supports all.This is an inspiring episode about finding faith.You can buy Lauryn's book here. Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textBritt’s journey is a testament to the power of resilience, faith, and joy. From surviving extreme domestic violence and addiction to becoming a national voice in women’s wellness, her story — and her new book She Rises & Thrives — offers hope, healing, and practical wisdom for women ready to transform their lives.Tune into this episode and learn more about Britt's inspiring story.You can buy Britt's new book here. Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textChristine is a breathwork facilitator and sobriety coach passionate about empowering individuals in the alcohol-free space. Drawing from personal experience with addiction, Christine understands the challenges and transformative potential of choosing a life free from alcohol. With a heart-centered approach, she helps clients cultivate joy, build confidence, and reconnect with their authentic selves. The combination of somatic and mindset work helps her clients make significant shifts towards the lives they want to be leading.You can connect to Christine on Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/shestayedsober/Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b

Send a textIn this episode, I sit down with Brian Hyman - yoga and meditation teacher, author, and recovery activist - to explore his journey from addiction to healing through yoga and mindfulness. Brian shares how a personal crisis led him to rediscover yoga, which became a cornerstone in his recovery and spiritual growth. We discuss his book, Recovery with Yoga: Supportive Practices for Transcending Addiction, and how he integrates yogic philosophy, mindfulness, and service into his teachings. Brian's story is a testament to the transformative power of yoga in overcoming addiction and finding purpose.​Tune in for an inspiring conversation about resilience, self-discovery, and the path to inner peace.​Learn more about Brian and his work at brianhymanyoga.com.Support the showSign up for the FREE Sober Girls Yoga 60 Day Challenge here: https://alexandramcrobert.thrivecart.com/sober-girls-yoga-60-day-challenge/ Check out Alexandra's upcoming programs here: https://www.soberyogagirl.com/p/upcoming-retreats-and-trainings-47b