Ep #203: The Most Powerful Tool to Change Your Life Is Right Under Your Nose with John Quirk

What if the most powerful tool to change your life has been right under your nose this whole time — literally?This guest spent his twenties as a high-stress TV producer in New York. On paper, life looked great. Inside, he felt empty and burned out. Getting fired became his turning point. Yoga, meditation, and breathwork pulled him out, and he built a career leading wellness retreats around the world.Now in his 40s, he shares an honest story about change. After a serious back injury forced him to stop teaching yoga, he had to slow down, heal, and rethink everything. He talks about dropping his "masks," saying no to what no longer serves him, and treating your time and energy like a careful investment.His big message is simple: real change starts inside you. Feeling safe in your own body comes first. The breath is the doorway. You don't need apps or gadgets — just a few quiet minutes a day.He also explains why you can't force others to change, and why even difficult people teach us something. The episode ends with a short, calming breathwork practice you can follow along with.Episode Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction00:03:04 Who Is the Guest00:08:29 Reflecting on Change and Evolution00:12:32 The Psychology of Aging00:14:14 Energy as an Investment Strategy00:18:19 Instagram, Dopamine, and Earning Rest00:23:45 Swapping Habits Instead of Quitting00:26:38 Lessons From Retreats: Self-Limiting Beliefs00:28:02 Why Feeling Safe Comes First00:31:06 The Excuse of "No Time"00:36:55 The Guest's North Star00:38:11 Breathwork: The Tool Under Your Nose00:47:49 Simplicity Over Data and Gadgets00:48:55 A Renaissance? Technology, Generations, and Alcohol00:56:26 You Are Responsible for You01:02:32 Why You Can't Force Others to Change01:12:00 The Pebble and the Ripple Effect01:14:02 Finding Gratitude in Hard Lessons01:16:57 Guided Breathwork Practice01:23:03 ClosingMentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ John Quirk’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_johnquirk_/ The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/James Nestor — Breath (book; guest says he's read it three times)Joe Dispenza (breathwork influence)Wim Hof Method (breathwork influence)Andrew Huberman (podcast mentioned re: dopamine)Michael Singer (author referenced by the guest)Morgan Freeman ("don't let the old man in" quote, raised by the host)Tags: breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, personal growth, self-development, nervous system, healing journey, burnout recovery, back injury, habit change, dopamine, authenticity, retreats, wellness, mental health, presence, somatic practice, stillness, self-awareness, energy management, yoga, inner work, spirituality, life transformation

A single yoga class made him question everything he thought success was supposed to look like.In this episode, Marc Laws shares the unexpected path that took him from professional soccer and sports therapy into a much deeper exploration of yoga, purpose, and human connection. What began as physical training slowly became something far more personal after witnessing burnout, pressure, and disconnection in the people around him, and in himself.He speaks about the moment yoga stopped being just movement, the teacher who completely shifted his perspective, and why he believes slowing down may be one of the most powerful things a person can do. The conversation moves through fatherhood, play, community, spirituality, and the strange way life keeps pulling us back toward what feels true.If you have ever felt successful on the outside but disconnected underneath, this episode will leave you thinking long after it ends.Episode Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction00:01:20 From the UK to Professional Soccer00:02:11 Sports Therapy and Burnout00:02:50 The Yoga Class That Changed Him00:04:03 Ego, Handstands, and Self Inquiry00:05:01 Leaving the Clinic Life00:05:23 Arriving in Bali00:08:12 Soccer as a Philosophy Teacher00:09:50 Yoga, Community, and Dharma00:11:10 Favorite Yoga Poses00:13:25 Teaching Style and Stillness00:15:58 Fatherhood as Spiritual Practice00:17:30 What Kids Really Want00:18:14 Why Life Should Include Play00:19:46 Three Words for His Teaching00:21:29 “How to Make Love” Class Story00:22:34 Dharma Talks and Storytelling00:24:00 Building Community Through Purpose00:27:34 What He’s Nerding Out On00:28:41 Jungle Keeper Book Mention00:31:01 How to Connect Mentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Marc Law’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/marclawsii/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Book: Jungle Keeper by Paul RosolieTeacher mentioned: Stuart GilchristPlatform mentioned: GloTags: yoga, mindfulness, burnout, purpose, community, fatherhood, spirituality, dharma, soccer, sports therapy, Bali, self inquiry, playfulness, awareness, embodiment, stillness, vinyasa, philosophy, conscious living

She walked into her first yoga class, cried on the floor, and didn't go back for two years. Then everything changed.Erin Hayes is a former actress, corporate professional, and now one of the most uniquely gifted teachers joining the IN Movement studio. Born in London, her path to yoga was anything but direct — it was forged through burnout, a life-altering reckoning, and a deep sensitivity to energy she's carried since childhood. From Bikram yoga in her teens to Reiki Grandmaster, Angelic Reiki Master Teacher, and yoga facilitator, Erin has spent years learning to get out of her own way so something greater can come through. Her teaching is built on three things: love, capacity, and transformation. She doesn't just hold space — she holds a lot of it. This episode is a compelling introduction to a teacher, a healer, and a human who has walked through the fire and come out the other side ready to help others do the same.----------Episode Chapters:00:00:29 Introduction00:01:06 Erin's Background — London, Acting, and Corporate Life00:01:50 First Experience with Yoga: Bikram and the Floor in Tears00:04:08 Going Back Two Years Later — The Rules That Changed Everything00:07:03 Yoga as a Mirror — Becoming Aware of Misalignment00:09:04 When Did It Become More Than Personal Practice?00:09:29 The Stage, the Channel, and the Feeling of Something Coming Through00:10:38 A Life That Looked Fine But Wasn't — The Low Hum of Misalignment00:11:24 The Reckoning — When Everything Falls Apart at Once00:13:23 Energy Work: A Lifelong Sensitivity That Finally Had a Name00:15:07 Reiki Trainings — From Level One to Grandmaster00:16:37 Angelic Reiki and Why It Felt Different00:18:31 The Moment Teaching Became a Calling00:20:32 Channeling, Surrender, and Getting Out of Your Own Way00:26:00 Teaching Style: Love, Capacity, and Transformation00:28:24 Favourite Pose: Camel — The Heart Opener That Shows Everything00:30:08 What Students Feel Walking Out of Class00:33:17 What Erin Is Exploring Right Now — The Word of the Year00:34:47 The Shaman Story — Putting Out the World's Fire From Within00:36:35 Upcoming Workshops, Retreats, and What's Next----------Mentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Erin Hayes’ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/misserinhayesThe IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Practices and modalities referenced:Bikram Yoga (Ghosh lineage — referenced in Ep. 198 with Laila)Reiki (levels 1 through Grandmaster)Angelic Reiki (levels 1–4, Master, Master Teacher)Sound healingTalk therapyIN Movement Empowerment Work (Byron's methodology)Podcast / media referenced:Emma Watson interview with Jay Shetty — referenced quote: "Yoga and meditation aren't there to help you stay in a life that's out of alignment. They are tools to bring you to the truth."Concepts explored:Dark night of the soul / soul reckoningChanneling as facilitationHuman Design (sacral authority — referenced briefly)Shamanic story: the shaman who goes within to put out the fire----------Tags: yoga teacher, energy healing, Reiki, angelic Reiki, Bikram yoga, channeling, surrender, empowerment, transformation, London, Bali, yoga philosophy, inner work, dark night of the soul, healing journey, nervous system, breathwork, spiritual growth, self-inquiry, yoga community, Ubud, stage fright, holding space, personal growth

What if the most important thing in your life is the one you can't see?This milestone episode introduces two ancient Balinese concepts that are now the beating heart of the studio itself — Sekala (the seen) and Niskala (the unseen). Through an unscripted, thoughtful conversation, the episode explores what runs our lives beneath the surface: thoughts, intuition, gut feelings, spiritual energy, and the invisible forces shaping every decision we make. From ignoring your gut to the discomfort of saying yes when you mean no, from the breath inside a yoga pose to the love inside a home-cooked meal — the seen and the unseen are always working together. The Balinese don't treat one as more real than the other. Most of the modern world does. This episode is an invitation to tend to both — and to ask yourself honestly which one you've been neglecting.----------Episode Chapters:00:00:29 Introduction00:01:31 What's Invisible in Your Life Right Now?00:02:41 Thoughts, Feelings, and the Ethereal Plane00:04:31 How Much Energy Do You Spend on How You Look vs. How You Feel?00:07:00 When Did You Ignore Your Gut — and What Did It Cost?00:13:45 Saying Yes When You Mean No — Intuition and Boundaries00:18:43 Revealing the Topic: Sekala and Niskala Explained00:20:00 Balinese Culture and Why It Draws People to Bali00:22:11 The Two Studio Shalas — Niskala Upstairs, Sekala Downstairs00:23:44 How Much Do You Tend the Seen vs. the Unseen?00:25:08 The Unseen in Yoga Poses, Mastery, and Creativity00:31:34 The Unseen in Other People — Compassion and Empathy00:33:03 When Someone Called Self-Reflection a Waste of Time00:34:36 What Western Society Gets Wrong — and What Bali Gets Right----------Mentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/Byron de Marsé’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronyoga/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Balinese concepts explored:Sekala — the seen, physical, tangible worldNiskala — the unseen, spiritual, energetic realmYoga concepts referenced:Prana Vayus (winds of energy within the body)Yamas and Niyamas (ethical guidelines, not rules)Frameworks mentioned:Human Design — sacral authority and splenic authorityManifestation (101 level overview)Cultural references:Andrew Tate — referenced briefly as an example of extreme seen-world thinkingThe Beatles — referenced as an example of unseen creative masteryStudio context:Niskala Shala — upstairs daily practice roomSekala Shala — downstairs training/learning spaceStudio naming informed by Kimberly (half-Balinese teacher)----------Tags: Sekala, Niskala, Balinese culture, seen and unseen, intuition, yoga philosophy, spirituality, mindfulness, self-reflection, inner world, human design, manifestation, prana, yoga studio, Bali, grounding, consciousness, empathy, compassion, personal growth, inner work, yoga, energy, milestone episode

One bad morning. A package, a canceled massage, and a spiral — here's what it taught.This short solo episode is a real, unfiltered snapshot of a difficult morning — a disappointing delivery, a canceled plan, and the subtle but familiar feeling of a day already going sideways before it even starts. Rather than glossing over it, the episode sits with it honestly: why do small frustrations hit so hard? Why does negativity stick when positivity slips away? Drawing on a lesson from Vipassana meditation — that humans are the creators of their own suffering — the episode explores how our expectations and desires quietly run the show. It's a gentle but honest reminder that not every day needs to feel like your best, that emotions move in waves, and that coming back to love, breath, and the present moment is always available — even on the hard ones. Short, human, and quietly powerful.Episode Chapters:00:00:29 Introduction00:01:09 The Morning It All Went Wrong00:03:44 We Are the Creators of Our Own Suffering00:04:36 Expectations, Desires, and Where Pain Comes From00:05:33 Not Every Day Needs to Be Your Best00:06:36 How to Keep Moving Forward Anyway00:07:51 Being Witnessed — And Why It Helps00:08:15 Coming Back to Breath, Body, and Earth----------Mentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Practices referenced:Vipassana meditation (10-day silent retreat — completed by Christina a few months prior)Breathwork and grounding as a reset toolConcepts explored:Buddhist principle: humans as creators of their own sufferingThe role of desire and expectation in emotional sufferingThe power of being witnessed as a grounding tool----------Tags: solo episode, personal story, grounding, root chakra, home, self-awareness, suffering, Vipassana, meditation, expectations, disappointment, mindfulness, emotional regulation, nervous system, yoga philosophy, presence, breath, inner work, mental wellness, real talk, motivation, acceptance, daily practice

She quit architecture, burned everything down, and found herself — through yoga and the subconscious mind.Laila El Idrissi grew up in Morocco, discovered yoga at 17 through YouTube videos, and within weeks was teaching her high school classmates. What began as curiosity grew into a calling that eventually pulled her away from a career in architecture and led her to Bali, where she now teaches full time. But the real turning point wasn't a teacher training — it was a burnout that stripped everything away: the job, the relationship, the life she thought she wanted. Through hypnotherapy and yoga, Laila began clearing the beliefs and stories keeping her stuck, learning to return to her authentic essence rather than chasing what she thought she should want. She trained at an ashram in Rishikesh, studied with teachers Byron, Talia Sutra, and Thai Landrum, and developed a style she describes as grounded, intentional, and a little challenging. She also recently qualified as a hypnotherapist. Her goal in every class is simple: help people feel a sense of belonging and inherent self-worth — no matter where they are in their practice.----------Episode Chapters:00:00:29 Introduction00:01:06 Laila's Background and Journey to Bali00:02:17 First Experience with Yoga00:05:00 Teacher Training and the Road to Bali00:07:28 Studying with Inner Dimension and Key Teachers00:09:31 Influential Teachers: Byron, Talia Sutra, Thai Landrum00:16:13 Teaching Style: Grounded, Intentional, Challenging00:18:04 Favourite Pose and What Laila Brings to the Studio00:20:00 What Students Feel Walking Out of Class00:24:03 Hypnotherapy: The Practice That Changed Everything00:26:38 The Burnout That Stripped Everything Away00:28:58 Letter to Her 16-Year-Old Self00:29:55 How to Connect with Laila----------Mentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Laila El iDrissi’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lailaelidrissi_/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/----------Teachers referenced:Yoga with Adriene (YouTube)Kino MacGregorPattabhi JoisByron (Inner Dimension TV)Travis (Inner Dimension TV)Paul (Inner Dimension TV)Talia Sutra (Ghosh/Ashtanga lineage)Thai Landrum — course on Energetics of SequencingSchools / Centres:Heal Center, Canggu, Bali (hypnotherapy training with Steph)East-West (Laila's 200hr teacher training, Bali)Practice / Method mentioned:TBM (To Be Magnetic)Upcoming:Retreat — October, Morocco, oceanside. 6 days. Yoga + hypnotherapy.----------Tags: yoga, yoga teacher, hypnotherapy, subconscious mind, personal transformation, burnout recovery, Morocco, Bali, yoga philosophy, teacher training, Rishikesh, ashram, manifestation, self-worth, authentic living, yoga sequencing, energetics, career change, mindset, inner work, healing, yoga journey, belonging, yoga community, intentional living

What if “home” is not a place, but a feeling your body can learn again?This episode is a deep, unscripted conversation about what it really means to feel at home — not the place you live, but the feeling of being safe, grounded, and fully yourself. Drawing on the energy of the root chakra, the discussion explores why so many people feel disconnected from their foundations — and what it actually takes to come back. From the nervous system and ancestral fear patterns to the surprising power of eye contact, nature, and silence, the conversation is honest, playful, and thought-provoking. It asks the questions most people never stop long enough to ask themselves: Where do I feel safe? What am I afraid of? Do I have enough — and what does enough even mean? If you've ever felt unmoored, ungrounded, or like you're living someone else's version of home, this one's for you.----------Episode Chapters:00:00:29 Introduction00:01:56 What Does Home Actually Mean?00:03:18 Belonging — The Etymology and the Feeling00:06:27 Basic Needs, the Nervous System, and Why We Feel Unsafe00:07:51 Root Chakra, Fear, and the Urge to Control00:10:55 Why We're All a Little Bit Broken — And That's Okay00:17:51 How Do We Become Whole Again?00:19:30 What Is Grounding, Really?00:21:20 Nature as a Nervous System Reset00:26:54 People as a Grounding Force — Eye Gazing and Human Connection00:31:05 The Most Important Questions to Ask Yourself00:34:03 Stillness, Silence, and Slowing Down00:35:55 Speed Up to Slow Down — The Case for Doing Both00:38:37 Directing Awareness and Giving to the Earth00:39:13 A Bird, a Meditation, and a Full Circle Moment----------Mentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Byron de Marsé’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronyoga/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Practices referenced:Kapalabhati (Breath of Fire)Eye gazing (witnessing practice)Meditation and movement for nervous system regulationEarthing / grounding devices (mentioned briefly)Yoga poses mentioned:Kapotasana (Pigeon Pose) — noted as one of Byron's top three posesConcepts explored:Root Chakra (Muladhara) and its development from womb to one year oldGenerational / ancestral fear patternsScarcity vs. abundance inventory exercise"Speed up to slow down" nervous system technique----------Tags: root chakra, grounding, home, safety, nervous system, fear, belonging, yoga philosophy, chakras, ancestral trauma, inner work, trust, abundance, scarcity, mindfulness, breathwork, nature connection, presence, stillness, self-inquiry, meditation, yoga, personal growth, community, mental wellness

He spent 24 years teaching teenagers how to move, but it was learning how to breathe that changed his life.In this episode, Dirk Hamelijnck shares why he left the familiar structure of the Dutch school system and what brought him to Bali. He talks about the turning point that pushed him onto a new path, the intense practices that first opened the door, and why he now cares more about nuance than hype in breathwork.You will hear how he approaches breathwork with three clear values, why “safe space” is not just a nice phrase, and what most people misunderstand about breathwork before they ever try it. If you are curious about breath as a tool for grounding, learning, and real change, this conversation will make you want to listen all the way through.Episode Chapters:00:00:00 Opening request00:00:29 Welcome and guest intro00:01:29 Roots and family00:01:59 Leaving the Dutch school system00:03:15 Joy of learning again00:03:42 Outdoor instructor beginnings00:04:48 First steps into yoga and breath00:05:30 Discovering Wim Hof00:06:22 Training experience and cold exposure00:09:11 Why breathwork needs nuance00:09:50 From personal practice to teaching00:11:14 Breathwork with high school students00:12:20 Influential teacher figures00:13:31 Three words for his teaching style00:19:25 What he brings to classes00:21:03 What breathwork really is00:23:23 Connecting breath and yoga00:27:00 What he hopes people leave with00:28:22 What he is refining now00:29:46 Gratitude and closingMentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Dirk Hamelijnck’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dirkhamelijnck/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Wim HofCaspar van der MeulenTags: The In Movement, breathwork, nervous system, safety, somatic awareness, embodiment, pranayama, mindfulness, education, cold exposure, Wim Hof method, personal growth, healing, Bali

What if the biggest change in your yoga practice is not a new pose, but a new kind of attention?In this episode, Michael Henri shares how he blends precise body knowledge with something harder to measure: the subtle “energy” of a room. He talks about why awareness and breath can change everything, how a simple favorite pose reveals hidden needs, and what kind of class culture he wants to create in Ubud. Expect practical insights, honest reflections, and a few unexpected rules that might challenge how you usually show up on the mat.Episode Chapters:00:00:00 Opening message00:00:53 Grounding breath00:12:43 Awareness and breath patterns00:21:25 Community as a “playground”00:23:17 Favorite poses: Triangle and Puppy Dog00:26:44 Becoming a student of energy00:28:49 Teaching phrases and class language00:31:45 Anatomy facts in practice00:33:01 Rules and boundaries in class00:34:10 No phone zone00:36:10 ClosingMentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Byron’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/byronyoga/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Tags: The In Movement, breathwork, self awareness, yoga teaching, physiotherapy, anatomy, subtle body, energy awareness, class culture, mindfulness, embodiment, community, boundaries

She walked into a yoga class and something unexpected happened, the kind of moment that quietly changes the direction of your life.In this episode, Kimberley Utama shares the personal journey that led her from feeling pulled between identities to building a life rooted in practice, presence, and purpose. She speaks about what drew her to Bali, what surprised her most once she arrived, and how her relationship with yoga shifted from “something to do” into something she could not ignore. Along the way, she reflects on the inner work that happens behind the scenes of becoming a teacher, the parts of the path that are rarely talked about, and why she is now leaning toward quieter, subtler practices that feel deeper than anything she expected.If you have ever questioned where you belong, or felt called toward a new chapter but did not know why, this conversation will leave you wanting to hear what happens next.Episode Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction00:01:44 Who She Is00:03:04 First Yoga Experience00:05:46 Moving to Bali00:06:50 First Teacher Trainings00:08:45 Teaching Began Unexpectedly00:11:04 Teaching Style00:14:42 Closing a Big Chapter00:15:55 Why This New Space Matters00:19:46 What She Is Exploring Now00:23:25 Yoga Is For Everyone00:25:29 How to ConnectMentions & Resources:Michael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Kimberley’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kimberleyutamayoga/The IN Movement Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/the_in_movement/Tags: The In Movement, yoga, vinyasa flow, self inquiry, svadhyaya, devotion, spirituality, Bali, mixed heritage, identity, teacher trainings, meditation, pranayama, kriya practice, subtle body, community, transformation