Rest is Your Birthright: Yoga Nidra, Ancestral Patterns & Living a Rested Life with Hester Brooks

Send us Fan MailThis episode is one I've been sitting with for a while — a synthesis of two things that have shaped my whole path: Ayurveda and yoga philosophy.In this episode, I bring those two threads together and look at the yamas and niyamas — yoga's ethical and personal observances — through the lens of kapha season.What we cover:Kapha dosha is made up of earth and water. It's heavy, slow, stable, cool, and moist — and late winter into spring is kapha season. When kapha goes out of balance, we might notice lethargy, mental fog, resistance to change, a tendency to oversleep or overeat, or that feeling of comfortable-but-stuck stagnation. The medicine for kapha is warmth, stimulation, movement, and letting go — and the yamas and niyamas offer a beautiful map for exactly that.I give a brief grounding in the eight limbs of yoga and what the yamas and niyamas actually are — not as a rulebook, but as living, breathing invitations to notice and redirect with curiosity rather than criticism.Then we explore six practices through the lens of kapha season:The Yamas — how we relate to the world:Aparigraha (non-grasping) — where are you clinging, and what wants to be released as spring arrives?Satya (truthfulness) — using honest, clear seeing to notice where we've gotten comfortable in stagnation — without judgmentBrahmacharya (right use of energy) — not about deprivation, but about noticing where energy is leaking and asking: is this giving me life or pulling me deeper into heaviness?The Niyamas — how we relate to ourselves:Tapas (inner fire) — the gentle, consistent showing up; kindling the fire rather than forcing itSaucha (purity/cleanliness) — clearing physical clutter, mental tabs, and anything that's accumulating and pulling on your energySvadhyaya (self-study) — observing your own kapha patterns without judgment and seeking what genuinely inspires youI also talk about my own evolving relationship with tapas — how it looked very different in my pitta-dominant twenties than it does now in midlife, and why the middle path is the one I keep returning to.My invitation for you this week: pick one of these six practices, sit with the questions it offers, and let it be a gentle lens for seeing your life more clearly — without judgment, without pressure, just with curiosity.Free download: Grab the one-page guide to all six practices — with reflection questions for each — in the link below. A simple, beautiful reference to keep nearby as you move through the season.https://canva.link/yamas-niyamas-kaphaMentioned in this episode:Abigail Rose Clark — author and somatic facilitator,  cleaning/decluttering as a somatic practice https://www.abigailroseclarke.com/store/p/k473j0h0mmmarResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailIn this episode I'm joined by Hester Brooks, a certified Daring to Rest coach and Yoga Nidra facilitator based in Lincolnville, Maine. Hester specializes in helping women break the cycle of exhaustion and create a life that truly honors their capacity — and this conversation could not have come at a better time.We talk about what it really means to rest (hint: it's not the same as sleep), why so many women struggle to give themselves permission to do it, and how our family lineages shape our relationship to both rest and productivity. Hester shares her own journey of discovering Yoga Nidra during a period of major life changes, and how it transformed her sleep, digestion, anxiety, and overall sense of self.In this episode we explore:What it means to be a highly sensitive person and why rest is a nervous system necessityThe difference between rest and sleep — and why both matterHow ancestral patterns and family modeling shape our "rest ethic"What Yoga Nidra is and what to expect from the practiceThe concept of the "rested voice" and how the way we speak about our lives affects our energyRested decision-making as a daily practiceThe difference between resting and living a rested lifeWhy this work is especially important during perimenopause and times of transitionResources mentioned:Hester's free 18-minute "I Had a Long Day" Yoga Nidra recordingHester's websiteHester's Rest OfferingsResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailI get this question all the time from clients and listeners: what do I eat for breakfast? So in this episode, I'm finally diving in.I'll start with my own story — because I was not always a breakfast person. It took a bowl of miso soup at Kripalu in my twenties to crack open my idea of what breakfast could even be. And once I realized I could eat anything for breakfast — soup, roasted vegetables, leftover dinner — everything changed.From there we get into the science, because the research around breakfast and cortisol is genuinely fascinating and validates so much of what Ayurveda has been saying for thousands of years. Then we look at breakfast through the Ayurvedic lens — what agni needs in the morning, how to eat for your dosha, and how to shift your breakfast with the seasons.This episode is a permission slip to ditch the breakfast rules and start listening to what your body actually needs.In this episode:My personal journey from breakfast-skipper to born-again breakfast eaterThe miso soup moment at Kripalu that changed everythingWhat the research says about cortisol, blood sugar, and skipping breakfastThe UC Davis study on breakfast skippers and elevated cortisolA nuanced take on intermittent fasting and how to do it in a way that's easier on your nervous systemAgni and the Ayurvedic philosophy of the morning mealBreakfast for Vata, Pitta, and Kapha doshasSeasonal breakfast wisdom — what to eat in fall, winter, spring, and summerWhy savory oatmeal is underrated (and delicious)Practical tips for making nourishing breakfasts sustainable and doableThis week's small step: one simple question to ask before you reach for your coffeeResources mentioned:Dosha episodes: Vata, Pitta, and Kapha deep dives Free Dosha Reference Chart Witbracht et al. (2015). Female breakfast skippers display a disrupted cortisol rhythm and elevated blood pressure. Physiology & Behavior, 140, 215–221. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25545767/Resources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I sit down with Dr. Amy Albright — Chinese medicine practitioner, neuroscientist, executive coach, and co-founder of Holon — for a conversation that genuinely stopped me in my tracks. Amy bridges neuroscience, business strategy, ancient medicine, and spirituality in a way that doesn't feel like it should work — and yet feels completely inevitable.We dive into:How a spontaneous spiritual awakening sent a committed atheist on a 32-year journey toward integrating science and sacred practiceWhat neurofeedback therapy actually is and how it differs from what most of us think of as biohackingThe difference between the brain and the mind — and why that distinction mattersWhat neurological coherence actually means (it's not a buzzword here)Why positive self-talk isn't spiritual bypassing — it's biologyThe flocking metaphor: what birds, basketball, and improvisational dance can teach us about our nervous systemsHow Holon's immersive intensives are creating measurable, lasting change in people's brainsFinding the miracle of the moment — even when the world feels chaoticConnect with Dr. Amy Albright:Holon website — free nervous system regulation meditation download available on the homepageLinkedInYouTubeFacebookInstagram Dr Amy AlbrightInstagram HolonResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, I explore one of my favorite Ayurvedic concepts — langhana, or lightening — and I bring a more nuanced lens to how we can work with this energy in spring without depleting ourselves in the process. Recording from my kitchen in Maine while watching the snow melt, I reflect on the signs of kapha accumulation I'm noticing in my own body and life, and share why the conventional wellness culture approach to spring cleanses and detoxes can backfire — especially for women in perimenopause, those in big life transitions, or anyone whose nervous system is already running on empty. At the heart of this episode is a beautiful reframe: langhana doesn't have to mean restriction. It can mean spaciousness.Key Takeaways:Kapha dosha accumulates in late winter and early spring, showing up as heaviness, sluggish digestion, brain fog, congestion, and low motivationLanghana (lightening) and brahmana (nourishing) are the two primary therapeutic directions in Ayurveda — both are always needed in balanceAggressive spring cleanses, intense exercise, and restriction can deplete women in perimenopause or those with sensitive nervous systems, further aggravating vata doshaThe intensity of your langhana practice should match the resources you have available — constitution, life stage, and current transitions all matterReframing langhana as creating space rather than restriction opens up a gentler, more sustainable approachSpaciousness can be cultivated in the body, the nervous system, the mind, and in life itselfPractical Tools Mentioned:Eating warm, light, spiced foods (kitchari, soups, cooked greens with warming spices)Dry brushing or raw silk garshana gloves (with oil if you're feeling depleted)Getting outside in morning light — even rising before sunrise to catch vata energyMorning pages practice from The Artist's Way by Julia CameronA "reading/media deprivation" week to create mental spaciousnessHome decluttering as a form of energetic lighteningStimulating breathwork or long spacious breathsYoga that alternates between activation and stillness to build nervous system resilienceRhythm & Ritual:  A 6-Week Ayurvedic Program for Women in (or approaching) PerimenopauseResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailIn this episode, Kristen sits down with Radhika, an integrative wellness mentor, yoga teacher, and meditation guide, to explore how ancient Ayurvedic wisdom and modern neuroscience can work together to help women regulate their nervous systems and come back to themselves. Radhika shares how growing up in India immersed in yoga philosophy and seasonal living shaped her approach, and how a season of corporate burnout and life transitions led her to this work. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that true wellbeing isn't about fixing yourself — it's about returning to your own inner wisdom.Guest Bio: Radhika is an integrative wellness mentor, yoga teacher, and meditation guide whose work blends Ayurvedic wisdom, yoga philosophy, and neuroscience to help women restore balance and reconnect to themselves. She is the author of the forthcoming book Radiant Rituals, due out late 2026.Key Takeaways:Rituals differ from habits in that they carry intentionality and signal safety to the nervous systemMorning rituals set the tone for how we show up for ourselves and others throughout the daySeasonal living is one of the simplest and most powerful ways to restore balance and circadian rhythmCaring for the physical body — especially digestion — often unlocks deeper emotional and spiritual layersSmall, sustainable shifts ("elevation over perfection") are more powerful than overhauling everything at onceIndividual wellbeing has a ripple effect on collective consciousnessResources & Links:Radhika's seasonal living courseRadhika's WebsiteInstagramResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailIf you're in perimenopause while actively parenting young children, this episode is for you. You are straddling two completely different life stages at once — and not enough people are talking about it. In this solo episode, I'm getting personal about my own experience navigating early motherhood and perimenopause simultaneously, why it's so much harder than it looks, and what's actually happening in your body and nervous system that explains all of it. You are not failing. You are not broken. You are in one of the most demanding intersections a woman can find herself in — and there is a way through.In This EpisodeThe cultural invisibility of this experience — why most perimenopause conversations assume your kids are grown, and most parenting conversations assume you have stable hormones, and how that leaves a lot of women feeling alone and ashamed in the gap.What's actually happening hormonally — how declining estrogen affects serotonin, GABA, cortisol regulation, sleep, cognition, pain tolerance, and emotional buffering, and how declining progesterone amplifies anxiety and overwhelm.The pregnenolone prioritization— why chronic stress (including the very real chronic stress of parenting young children) diverts hormonal resources away from sex hormones and toward cortisol, and why this means you're getting hit from both sides.The window of resilience — why it naturally narrows in perimenopause, why parenting young children requires a wide one, and what it looks and feels like when those two realities collide.My own story — getting diagnosed with Hashimoto's when my son was around two, the depression, the rage, the fatigue, and what understanding the nervous system-hormonal connection has meant for how I hold all of it now.The archetypal tension — the Mother archetype (energy flowing outward) meeting the Virgin archetype (energy turning inward) and why this isn't a problem to solve but a paradox to hold.Practical tools for the reality of parenting — micro-practices you can actually do with a child climbing on you, including breathwork, grounding, somatic shaking, completing stress cycles, and Ayurvedic support.Resources MentionedBalance Your Hormones, Balance Your Life by Claudia WelchFree Gentle Ayurvedic Guide to Perimenopause Rhythm & Ritual — 6-week Ayurvedic group program for women in perimenopause, registration opens March 2nd, group starts beginning of April — Mailing list (to be notified when the free Circle community for mothers in perimenopause launches)Resources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailWinter is long. And right now, we're in this unique in-between place: the light is slowly returning, but we still have weeks (or months) of cold, heavy weather ahead.If you're feeling the weight of winter, you're not alone. And more importantly, you're not supposed to be producing at summer's pace right now.In this conversation, I sit down with Brett Aldrich—breathwork practitioner, Ayurveda counselor, and founder of Seed the Spirit—to talk about what's actually happening in our bodies during winter, why seasonal affective disorder is real (but also misunderstood), and how to work with the season instead of against it.Brett shares her own journey from social work burnout to discovering Ayurveda on a little note card in a shop—and how that small piece of wisdom changed everything. We explore the rhythm of winter, the pressure to keep producing when nature is asking us to rest, and why breathwork became the "missing puzzle piece" in her healing journey.This episode is for anyone who's struggling right now—whether that's with seasonal depression, exhaustion, or simply the cultural pressure to keep going when your body is asking you to slow down.What You'll Learn in This Episode:What's actually happening in your body during winter from an Ayurvedic perspective (and why it's natural to feel heavier, slower, more inward)Why late February/early March is uniquely challenging—we're moving from Vata (cold, mobile, erratic) into Kapha season (heavy, wet, earthy), and that transition can feel intenseThe truth about seasonal affective disorder—how to discern between the natural slowness winter asks for vs. when you need more supportWhy the pressure to keep producing is working against you—and what would happen if we actually honored our natural rhythmsHow breathwork works as medicine—the difference between controlled yogic breath and cyclical breathwork for releasing what you can't put words toBrett's journey from burnout to Ayurveda—stumbling into a practice that finally made sense, and how small shifts created big changeThe power of going with your natural flow—why honoring your constitution and the seasons is actually rebellious in our cultureSimple, doable practices for winter wellness—no expensive supplements or complicated protocols, just wisdom you can use todayWhen to reach out for professional help—and why there's no shame in thatKey Themes:This episode is about permission—permission to slow down, to honor winter's natural rhythm, to be gentler with yourself. Brett reminds us that we're not machines designed to produce at the same rate year-round. We're humans. We're part of nature. And nature has seasons.Connect with Brett:Website: Seed the Spirit Resources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailWhat happens when the very tools meant to heal you—breathwork, yoga, mindfulness—become ways to silence your inner wisdom?In this deeply vulnerable conversation, I sit down with Devin Scott, founder of Find Your Meaning, a body-based coach, who shares his recent experience of ignoring his body's signals in a relationship—and what he has learned about "healing" from that experience.We recorded this episode in early December, just days after Devin went through a painful breakup. Instead of presenting a polished, "healed" version of himself, he brought his raw, real experience into our conversation—and what emerged is one of the most honest explorations of body wisdom, emotional intelligence, and the shadow side of "wellness" that I've ever had.This conversation will shift how you think about healing, emotions, and what it means to truly listen to yourself.What You'll Learn in This Episode:Why traditional healing systems often feel hollow—and how they can reinforce perfectionism and conformity instead of true transformationThe difference between resourcing and dissociating—how Devin used "healthy" practices like breathwork and yoga to silence his body's wisdom instead of listening to itWhy emotions aren't problems to solve—they're messages, evolutionary tools, and pathways to deeper wisdomHow body wisdom gets overridden—the cultural scripts that teach us to distrust our intuition and seek external validationThe philosophy of Lila—an ancient Indian concept that reframes life as "cosmic play" rather than a linear path to fix yourselfWhy you don't need to "win" at healing—and how the idea of becoming a "better version of yourself" can be self-punitiveWhen nervous system collapse is necessary—why sometimes you need to stop doing and just be with what isThe gaslighting embedded in systems—from workplaces to therapy, how we're taught that we are the problem, not the systemKey Themes:This episode explores the paradox of using healing modalities to avoid feeling, the courage it takes to trust your body when logic demands otherwise, and the radical idea that suffering might not be something to transcend—but something to experience fully as part of being human.Devin's honesty about his own recent heartbreak—and how he ignored his body's clear signals because he couldn't rationalize them—offers a powerful reminder that even those who teach this work are still learning it. We're all human. We all stumble. And vulnerability isn't weakness—it's where the real wisdom lives.About Devin Scott:Devin Scott is a body-based coach and facilitator who helps people reconnect with their inner wisdom and move through life with greater authenticity. He's the founder of Find Your Meaning, where he blends somatic coaching, mindfulness, and psychological insight to support clients who feel disillResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram

Send us Fan MailIn times of collective overwhelm, how do we cultivate resilience and find ease in our bodies? In this conversation, I sit down with Dr. Alexandra Johnson, a family physician who integrates Breema body work and functional medicine into primary care, to explore how fear manifests in the body—and what we can do about it.What You'll Learn:Why anxiety and fear aren't just "in your head"—they live in your body as tension, and what that means for your healthThe ancient practice of Breema body work and its nine principles of harmonyWhy traditional anxiety treatments often fall short (and what's missing)How disconnection from ourselves creates the conditions for chronic anxiety, insomnia, digestive issues, and moreThe difference between pain and suffering—and how to reduce suffering even when pain is presentSimple, practical nervous system resets you can do anywhere (including a guided self-Breema practice)How to use discomfort as medicine rather than something to push awayWhy "being comfortable in your body" is actually a revolutionary actKey Themes:This episode explores the intersection of Ayurveda, somatic work, and Breema—revealing how these ancient systems share a common understanding: that healing happens when we reconnect mind, body, and spirit. Dr. Johnson shares her unique approach to supporting patients through chronic conditions like constipation, migraines, and anxiety by addressing not just the physical symptoms, but the deeper disconnection from self.We talk about the power of presence, the principle of "no judgment," and how everything we consume—from food to media to experiences—becomes something our bodies must digest. This conversation is a beautiful reminder that you don't need expensive supplements or complicated protocols to begin healing. Sometimes, the most profound shifts come from the simplest practices: taking a breath, asking "can I be more comfortable?", and coming home to your body.About Dr. Alexandra Johnson:Dr. Alexandra Johnson is a family physician who integrates Breema body work and functional medicine into primary care. She supports patients in moving from fear and burnout to vitality through evidence-based medicine and mind-body healing. She teaches Breema internationally and works with health professionals to prevent burnout and reconnect with the heart of healing.Resources Mentioned:The Nine Principles of Breema HarmonySelf Breema Classes Online, almost every day of the weekBook a session with Dr.  JohnsonConnect on InstagramResources:Free Masterclass:  The Alchemy of the Perimenopause PortalAyurvedic Dosha Quick Reference GuideAbhyanga Self Massage GuideWeekend Nervous System ResetNourished For Resilience Workbook Find me at www.nourishednervoussystem.comand @nourishednervoussytem on Instagram