Well Aware Podcast

Caitlin Mociun — I’m not sure she can be defined anything other than a visionary. I’m prone to say she’s a jewelry designer because she came into my life as a jewelry designer, but she’s much more than that. She’s an entrepreneur, clothing designer, seeker, earth-lover, practitioner and curator. I found her, thank goodness, after doing tons of research on engagement rings a couple summers ago and have been intrigued by her work since. Her unconventional stone cluster rings and gemstone pairings are at the forefront of design — there’s nothing else like them. She might be most known for her diamonds, but her store is stocked with home goods that are just as unique: knives with turquoise handles, bags from Brooklyn-based brand Baggu, handwoven baskets, wall hangings and of course, cases of jewelry that host a mix of her namesake range and antique finds from around the world. Her selection of goods is aesthetically incredible, part desert-whimsy and part artisan. Most things she carries works of art unto themselves. She started with a successful clothing line that no longer exists because she’s become disenchanted by the fast-paced lifestyle that comes with designing season after season, and ends with a lot of waste. After a few successful runs with jewelry, which she loves because it minimizes waste and supports the local community, she listened to her gut (!) and started to build the empire that’s shaking up conventional design and making lots of forward thinking, eco-minded folk very, very happy. When I started following @mociun on Instagram, I became more intrigued by her creative process. Everything she does is so different from the indie jewelry landscape and has proven to be quite successful even with higher price points. She travels four months out of the year and has created a home that’s a sanctuary, not an office space like many entrepreneurs I know (ahem, including yours truly). Also, the bio on her website reads, “At a young age she developed an intense fear of coyotes and spent large amounts of time pretending to be an appaloosa.” How could I not invite her on the show? This episode is for anyone who wants to tune in to the voice within. Caitlin credits her success as designer and shop owner to her ability to go with her gut — and stresses that even if something is, in her words, a complete failure — it still serves a purpose in your journey. It’s also ideal for anyone looking for ideas to invigorate his or her own creativity. Business owners, listen up! There’s tons of valuable insights for you in this conversation. Among other things, we discuss: * social media strategy and Instagram growth * rituals and routines that support the creative process * how she got to feeling comfortable in her own skin * how her eccentric background contributed to the “dissatisfaction” that drove her to design * how healers have helped her break through personal growth plateaus * the importance of travel and time away from work * why she’s shutting down her newly-launched wedding dress line * the role of “complete failure” in major success Show Caitlin some love if her episode is resonating — her social channels are listed below. Happy listening! SHOW NOTES: Mociun online boutiq...

Today’s guest is someone I never would have met if it weren’t for Instagram. In fact, many of my guests I’ve connected to through this online community. I’m so grateful that we can use our ever-so-connectedness to facilitate real conversation and real connection with people I otherwise would have no idea were living by similar values and sharing familiar struggles. I’m honored to have Stephanie Birch of @stephynow — yoga teacher, mama and seeker on the WELL / AWARE Show this week. I was initially drawn to Stephanie for her writing, all it takes is a quick scroll through her Instagram feed and you’ll see the depth, the rough and tumble, the good and the bad. What might look like a pretty Instagram feed and well-practiced words is so much more than that. Stephanie used yoga to heal from serious depression, mostly post-partum, and shares with us how the practice, specifically connecting the movements to her breath, changed her life. This episode is great for anyone going through it. Real stuff. Stephanie used yoga as a tool to get through serious post-partum depression, and much of her writing is inspired by the link of her practice and her life. It’s also ideal for anyone who wants tools to better understand your own tendencies.  We discuss: * using yoga (or any form of mindful movement) as a tool to heal depression * how she garnered a follow on Instagram * what it’s like to have children when you’re specifically planning not to * overcoming fears of success by getting out of your own way * how to move trauma through the physical body with activity, and by allowing ourselves to feel * how Stephanie eats to support her very active yoga practice * the creative process as release, and writing “urges” * the role of vulnerability in creativity SHOW NOTES: @stephynow / stephynow.com / oneOeight.tv (for yoga videos) @stvntiller, her significant other who posts his gorgeous woodwork passage I read from in the podcast intro uncovering old wounds, a passage referenced mid-show Stephanie’s book obsessions: Red, Hot and Holy Conversations with God Anything by Eckhart Tolle all photos from Stephanie’s Instagram account

I’m so excited to finally share Episode 11, which has been months in the making: an interview with the one and only Marissa Vosper of Soho-based Negative Underwear. I’m intrigued by Negative Underwear as a brand for a few reasons: they’re fairly traded, sustainably made and embody a wellness mindset. All in a pair of skivvies. Marissa maintains that underwear is like the skincare of our wardrobes. It’s what’s closest to the body all day every day, why wouldn’t you pay the same amount of attention to it as you would your morning and evening serums. I love this way of thinking. She’s an incredible example of what living WELL / AWARE looks like in action. Her particularly unique and intriguing upbringing gave her the awareness she needed to understand balance, while meeting her own needs and the demands of her expanding underwear empire. This episode is amazing for anyone trying to get his or her passion project to take off. Marissa used to work at Wolff Olins as a brand strategist, and she’s peppered our chat with helpful insights for what to do once you’ve taken the plunge. It’s also ideal for anyone who wants tools to better understand your own tendencies.  We discuss: * the unintentional theme of getting older, wiser and sexier * how she found a niche and nailed it * how Marissa’s self-image has changed since working in the underwear industry * the importance of good design, especially as it relates to decluttering * the self compassion vs. personal growth conundrum * shifting from a “should” to a “want” approach to career Thanks again for being on the show, Marissa! SHOW NOTES: WELL / AWARE’s Chalkboard Mag feature: Brainfood: 8 Mind Body Podcasts We Love Negative Underwear: Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest (shout out to Marissa on Instagram!) 10% Happier

Here we are at Episode 10. What better way to celebrate this mini-milestone than with a special guest and an extraordinary story. Jessica Murnane of One Part Podcast and One Part Plant fame is such a pleasure to listen to. If you haven’t tried her podcast yet, I highly recommend it. Getting to chat with Jessica was a real treat. This episode is fantastic for anyone who feels like you haven’t found your thing. It was fascinating to hear about her background, which involved stationery design and opening bars, and how grappling with chronic pain ultimately led her to where she is now… and helped her land her BOOK DEAL! If you feel like you’re pulled in a million directions, it’s enlightening to hear how she found her flow. Whether she knows it or not, she challenged me in this episode. This comes up when we start discussing sugar and why people choose to be well. One of my own demons — restrictive eating — came up and she reminded me that her philosophy was never based around restriction (unlike my past, which was), but comes from a place of healing and making choices based on how certain foods make her feel. And that’s largely why I admire her mission. I’m super grateful this conversation lead to that awareness, especially as I become more conscious of when old demons come up in new ways. It was real-time WELL / AWARE. Thanks, Jess, for that. It is also a conversation for women (and men!) who aren’t sure about whether they want kids, who fear pregnancy or who know they want to adopt. I don’t talk about this deeply personal subject very much because I don’t think I want a family. Never say never I suppose, but when it comes up in real life, people are dismissive and rude more often than not, and I just default to autopilot, shutting down because it’s easier than defending my position time and time again. Today, a shield comes down. We hold nothing back, have a few very moving moments and illuminate an exchange that’s in need of light. In a nutshell, we discuss: * how chronic pain caused by endometriosis affected her daily life * how she identified skills from several seemingly unrelated careers and channeled them into one passion project * how she avoided a major surgery by following a plant-based diet * how that plant-based diet was not all rainbows and roses at first, reality check * one of her most popular posts, On Never Wanting to Be Pregnant, and the judgment women experience when choosing anything other than a traditional family * the beautiful stream of consciousness she experienced when adopting her son (you will want to listen to this, even if you don’t want kids) I can’t wait to hear your experiences, stories and thoughts as it relates to this episode. I love receiving your emails, comments and @mentions, keep them coming! Jessica’s contact information is below too, give her a shout if you love her. SHOW NOTES: Jessica’s channels (say hi, tell her how you liked the episode!): website, Instagram, Facebook, Twitter,

This week’s podcast brought so much joy. I chatted with Karyn Nesbit, who’s become somewhat of a Soul Cycle celebrity. Soul Cycle is my cardio of choice, I’d do it every day if I could. It’s not zen like everything else, but there is something to it that’s more than just the workout. It’s a therapy session, jam session and cardio session rolled into one. I’ve learned a lot on the bike, pushing through resistance and working to failure inevitably brings up emotions, blocks and thoughts, many of which have manifested on WELL / AWARE. Karyn’s classes sell out in seconds, because her teaching style is fearlessly authentic and notoriously challenging among the Soul tribe. Her beats are also incredible, check out the Spotify link in the show notes. I first took Karyn’s class because a friend of a friend told me she’d recently tried it on a whim and was hooked immediately… actually around this time last year. I can’t believe it’s been a full year of classes! Karyn’s story is all heart. And it’s fascinating: she went from a career in acting that was about what she looks like to a career in fitness that is all about what she feels like. She made a shift based on a gut feeling, and she made it work. It’s a great episode for anyone finding their passion, working through it, discovering limitations and boundaries and for anyone struggling to live in the moment (take a look at my last post on this if you haven’t already). Among other things in the episode, we discuss: – the limitations of our physical bodies – the utmost importance of living in the moment – making a career switch, listening to your gut – learning to love running – clean eating – how to maintain high energy – the ever-so-coveted work life balance How does she keep her energy and physique in tip top shape, you may ask. She gave us the secret sauces. In addition to teaching 13 Soul Cycle classes a week and eating clean – she tells us exactly what she eats in the episode – she works out off duty. Her being is based around feeling good, and Karyn said she doesn’t feel quite right if she doesn’t break a sweat every day. She prefers yoga (shout out to Alex!) and bodyweight exercises. 3 – 4 rounds of 5 different exercises, 15-20 repetitions each, including: burpees jump squats planks (with variations) push ups regular squats lunges bicycle crunches In the photos, we’re doing a series of barre exercises. Back in LA, Karyn taught at Pop Physique, which is coming to New York soon. I’ve never been a fan of barre classes, but sometimes it’s the classes we struggle through that teach us the most. Have a listen, please let me know what you think and thank you for coming along on this journey. for Thank you, Karyn, for sharing your story, your honesty and your heart. See you Saturday! Show Notes:

When I first met Desiree, I was simultaneously anxious and excited — I was attending my very first moon gathering. She was wearing a loose black dress and a top knot, and had simple tattoos on her forearms, one looked like a delicate outline of a vine. She was quietly confident, she had “that je ne sais quoi” if you will, telling her story to the circle of women who’d gathered around to harness the energy and power of renewal from the blue moon. She spoke firmly with a full, round voice and an accent I couldn’t quite place as she told us about the transformative power of Kundalini yoga and meditation. We were sitting on the floor a beautiful yoga studio in downtown Manhattan, one with a couple of huge skylights that allowed the glow of the city (or the moon?) to unintrsuively shine through. We had an offering tray for crystals, candles and gold jewelry at the center of the circle — the energy from our chanting and pranayama is supposed to transfer to these material things, allowing them to empower us long after the evening is over. I learned a ton that night about the aura and suspected that I wasn’t doing enough to activate my own. I was fascinated by the the subtle ways our unconscious thoughts can shift how others perceive us and set an intention to further explore Kundalini. I patted myself on the back for expanding my horizons to try something new and seemingly very foreign topically. . After some “kunda” as the regs call it, I felt giddy — the feeling that everything is going to be OK escalated exponentially. It was a reassuring and uplifting energy I was surprised to find inside myself. These feelings are all in retrospect, though. In the first ten minutes of the episode, I reveal my true thoughts as it was happening, how I was feeling and what exactly we were doing. It’s pretty wild! Thank you Desiree for introducing me to this practice, and for sharing Ben Shen and your quest to expand inner beauty in all women. In this episode, we discuss: – healing skin issues with a plant-based, entirely natural approach and the difficulties that come with that – her first experience with Kundalini yoga – how to empower yourself from within GLOSSARY & SHOW NOTES Sky Ting Yoga Episode 1 – Alex Sharry Pranayama: Practice of breathing with intention. Kundalini Figures Yogi Bhajan Guru Singh Grandmaster Sung Baek Eckankar Types of Yoga Hatha Ashtanga Bikram Inspiring Kindred Kunda Spirits Amanda Bacon, Found of Moon Juice Taylor Eyewalker, Desiree’s coach Guru Jagat, Founder of Rama-TV in Los Angeles

Marissa Goodman Thieriot has invented, and if not invented, certainly modernized, the farm to table sweater with her company Tempest Bentley. From the wool used to create the sweaters, which is harvested from sheep who eat, sleep, drink and play the way they should, by workers who truly care about their trade, to the box and packaging the sweater arrives in and the tags it bears before that first wear. Every step of the way is well-researched,  I was intrigued by this purist approach — as we all know mine is conscious but not nearly this pure as it’s not entirely sustainable — and wanted to find out what drove her to direct this beautiful symphony of mindful manufacturing. The sweaters themselves are absolutely stunning, featuring well stitched, thick cables that are vintage in style but modern in cut and material. Marissa has a particularly unique perspective on conscious living, as her husband’s family owns a sustainable ranch in California. She’s been able to learn a lot very quickly and shares that knowledge with us. But she also shares the irony and dynamism many of us experience: we wouldn’t be where we are without having worked with large, corporate brands, many of which are now the ones we’re boycotting. It’s a fascinating and dynamic discussion for anyone who’s interested in learning about the slow living movement. In this interview, we discuss: – why sustainable sweaters cost $800 (she literally breaks it down!), and why that’s not a terrible price to pay – our own pasts, how we’re actually reformed children of a material world and how that’s totally OK! – the problem with bargain shopping for the lowest common denominator – the significance of a farm-to-table sweater in our lives – the benefits of living minimally, and how to do it in a way that’s sustainable for you SHOW NOTES: Alden Wicker, Episode 3 from the WELL / AWARE Show archives How to Clean Sweaters over on Upperlyne (written by Marissa Goodman Theiriot, our guest in today’s show)

I can’t tell you how I met Allie, but it happened on the Internet — which after today’s conversation comes as no surprise. I always had introverted tendencies as a kid. I favored books over parties (until about age 18, then I went a little wild…), observation over performance and yoga over field hockey. Don’t get me wrong, I love being social and really value my relationships. But I get far more out of a 1:1 situation than I do in a large group. I like having friends from different places and varying walks of life, not one “main” group. I also enjoy interacting with people through their life’s work or my own. When I’m not feeling social, staying at home on a Friday night somehow brings me more joy and fills me up in a way than dancing till the morning light does not. At least not in the present moment. I can say I tried that personality on for size in college, and I really, really tried to make it fit. I tried smoking for a while, being a punk, drinking far too much at a time and even dabbled in drugs. Nothing stuck. Not a thing! And to think at the time I wished it would because I wanted so badly to be a rebel, but even then, I found myself working part time at NYU’s two gyms. I always studied best alone and my favorite pastime was taking solitary walks in the village. Now whenever I drink it’s usually a glass of wine, maybe three if the time and place calls. I’m still down for spontaneity or a walk on the wild side, but I have to be feeling it. It took a long time to admit and accept this especially post-rebel stage, but I’m working on it :). The truth is I proactively seek quiet, reflection, routine and simplicity. Which is why I’ve been intrigued by Allie’s work on introversion. It was through her work that I started to realize what it means to be an introvert, that we Charge Up with alone time. This is an eye opening episode for anyone who feels a grating and constant stress or frustration with productivity, doesn’t feel fulfilled or is consistently agitated in relationships. You may have introverted tendencies that are not being honored, causing unnecessary friction. It’s also a great listen if you date, work with or are close to an introvert. In this conversation we discuss: the duality of introversion overcoming fatigue and feeling “overflow” with energy to give to others identification of and solutions for friction at work or personal life caused by introversion nature of introverted relationships SHOW NOTES: Charge Up Introverts – Allie’s e-book The Wonder Jam – Branding, design and photography company co-founded by Allie Be Up & Doing – Allie’s blog, which I read loyally! Death to the Stock Photo – A disruptive photography agency co-founded by Allie

This week, we’re chatting with yogi and meditation teacher, Ally Bogard. Ally is one of those gracious beings who shines from within when you see her in person. I met her through a class at The Path, a group meditation based in Manhattan. Side note, I’ve found group sits to be very helpful in deepening the practice. It’s great if you’re perpetually exhausted, prone to falling asleep while meditating — don’t laugh, I’m serious! — and overall, fellow practitioners (a fancy word for people who meditate) I’ve met there are just nice-to-the-core folks. Photos by Lydia Hudgens, edited by me Her teaching style was simultaneously so gentle and powerful, a juxtaposition that’s hard to get right. I was moved and inspired by her guidance, so I let her know after class and as it turns out, she’s one of the most experienced yogis and meditators I’ve ever encountered and thankfully for us, she takes heart in being of service. It’ll be helpful for anyone looking to manifest change, to break bad habits and to become their best selves. Ally has a deep understanding of both yoga and meditation, and lives by her own example. We went deep, and this conversation is really special. We talk about: Ally’s background and path to becoming a yoga and meditation teacher Her definition of meditation The meditation vs. success paradox Self-discipline Neurology and science behind meditation How meditation helps you become the person you want to be What a newbie practitioner can expect How to deal with self-sabotage and negativity The virtues of sitting silently vs. finding a meditative activity   SHOW NOTES allybogard.com – note this is under maintenance recovering from a spam attack. In the meantime, you can follow @allybogard on Instagram Gaiatri – Ally’s yoga teacher training school The Path – 40-minute regular group meditation sits in the New York area broken down into 4, 10-minut exercises founded by Dina Kaplan and Charlie Knowles Headspace – an app that facilitates meditation Self Observaion, Red Hawk – tiny but efficient book that helps you get control over beliefs and thought Breaking the Habit of Being Yourself, Joe Dispenza – the science and neurology behind meditation Meditation for the Love of It, Sally Kempton – a good explanation of meditation *Editor’s note, we’ll include photos of Ally and I in an upcoming post.

I’m so honored to have Adina Grigore on the show today — I fell in love with her minimalist, less-is-more approach to skin care immediately after reading the back story of her company, S.W. Basics. 2015 is a banner year for Adina and S-Dubs, with the release of her first book, Skin Cleanse, and a contract with Target(!), which is a huge deal because it’s more than just a contract, it’s a sign that big box companies are really starting to respond to market demand for products that are better for you, better for the environment, better for the people making them. S.W. Basics is a homegrown company with roots in Brooklyn as the name implies, that makes skincare products with organic, fair trade and locally sourced ingredients you’re more likely to find in your kitchen than a chemistry lab. Interestingly enough, Adina’s not an entrepreneur by trade but a former dancer who loved being on stage. That’s actually why she came to New York in the first place, to dance, but she quickly figured out that she didn’t want to pursue it full time. The disciplined practice and skill set she developed as a dancer helped shape the company — as you’ll hear in the podcast, S.W. Basics wasn’t an overnight success and she credits her success (she hesitates to even call it that!) to having the discipline to stick with it. Her story is so honest — and is a must-listen for anyone interested in starting their own thing or who’s into clean beauty. Adina’s wholesome approach is informed by her own complicated history with skin ailments. She suffered terrible rashes and itchy, patchy flaky skin for years. Instead of getting to the root of the issue, doctors would prescribe another cream, ointment or pill to dull her symptoms. After seeing them worsen over time, she decided one day she’d had enough. She completely abandoned her routine and used absolutely nothing, a bold move. This is the fascinating part — in just a few days, she noticed an improvement. From there, she discovered how to care for her own skin using wholesome ingredients in the kitchen and found through workshops she taught as a personal trainer that others were interested, too. S.W. Basics, much like WANT and a couple of my favorite food philosophies, Women, Food and Desire and Woman Code (please look past the pink, I promise there are valuable lessons in both), differentiates itself because it sets out to help us optimize not just skin, but lifestyle. Good skin is a by-product of a healthy lifestyle, it makes complete sense. They’re not selling a product based on our insecurities (minimalist pores! And yes, I actually bought this… no, it doesn’t work) or desired outcome (younger skin in 30 days!), but a product that’s made honestly, sustainably and with ingredients that won’t harm us. Not every product will be for you and that’s ok by Adina. Part of the reason each product has five ingredients or less is to f...

Ecocult is one of the best resources out there for urbanites and cool kids interested in living a more conscious life without sacrificing personal style or fun. I interviewed Alden Wicker, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief, in the latest episode of the WELL / AWARE SHOW, to get a peek inside what her life as an eco-conscious blogger and living, breathing freelance writer (side note: she is also kind of a celebrity in Brooklyn’s underground music scene) is like. Alden and I share similar values: we both want to live as sustainably and consciously as possible. We both have a hippie dippy background — hers certainly stronger than mine — and are looking to make conscious living modern, accessible and desirable for someone who isn’t willing to sacrifice style for substance. We get it! It’s hard, but we’re here to translate it for you. Alden’s sustainable apartment renovation – obsessed with her bikes-as-decor in the bedroom. This episode really touches on two topics, conscious consumption and how to make it as a freelance writer and blogger. It’ll be really helpful for anyone looking to start or grow their blog, and for those who are curious about conscious consumption, especially discerning style mavens who want an affirmation that it’s really not impossible or crunchy hippie dippy. This episodes isn’t as wellness-oriented as previous ones, but trust me, it’s layered with such excellent nuggets of advice and information that you’ll walk away having learned a little something about a conscious lifestyle. SHOW NOTES The Notepasser Citizen’s Mark Integral Yoga / West Village Ecocult Shopping Guide Life Changing Magic of Tidying Up and the KonMari Method Well & Good / Lisa Elaine Held Coexist YES Magazine Ethical Writers Co. Under the Sound Reformation Zady Ethica Kaight Shop Amour Vert Tempest & Bentley

I am ecstatic to break the silence with some excellent news — UPGRADES. This week I’m so excited to share a podcast with my new equipment! So many of you enjoyed the last podcast, I decided to make a not-so-little investment in some super nerdy tech tools. I never thought I’d be the proud owner of a mixer, a windscreen, a boom arm or a shock absorber… but here I am. I’m thrilled to have the ability to deliver these podcasts more easily, with a better outcome for you, the listener. I think it was worth the wait, and I hope you agree. Thank you all for listening, as always, and please keep the feedback coming! I’d love for you to leave a review on iTunes, tweet me, leave a comment on this post or shoot me an email directly at wellawareco (at) gmail (dot) com. Hearing from you always makes my day. THIS WEEK’S EPISODE This week, I’m riffing with Katie Horwitch of WANT, which stands for Women Against Negative Talk. As it exists now, WANT is a web space that provides a toolbox for women dealing with self-doubt and consequently negative talk patterns of any kind, including body image, self image, overall confidence, career-related, intellect-related, literally anything and everything. Katie believes that self-criticism is a place holder for something bigger, and is often reflective of imbalance or uncertainty in our lives — how true and profound. In the show, we dive right into the fascinating dialogue we have with ourselves and how to authentically improve it so it serves you. This episode is would be quite helpful for anyone who has ever struggled with disordered eating / thinking, self-image or is looking for a way to boost overall confidence. After practicing what Katie preaches, I can say that I’ve noticed I feel better, look better, have gotten more confident in all areas of life (particularly at work) and am discovering a self-assuredness I didn’t realize I had in me. I’m finding that I’ve been “chasing” it from the outside instead of looking within, where it’s been all along. WANT as a movement, much like leaning in, it’s all about having a collective, candid conversation and truly owning our struggles, keeping it real and using them to inform how we interact one another and ourselves. both photos, thanks to Cortnee Loren Brown / Creative Start It’s worth mentioning that Katie is also an editor at The Chalkboard Magazine, one of my favorite wellness websites, and a spin instructor at Equinox. SHOW RESOURCES Women Against Negative Talk The Chalkboard Magazine, where Katie is the editor of the Fitness + Well-being section.

It’s been a little quiet on WELL / AWARE lately — and for good reason. The podcast has finally launched! I’m very excited to introduce (and try) a new format, as it’s an excellent way to get a more intimate feel for the topics and individuals featured on the blog. At first, the podcast will run bi-weekly. Some months may have more episodes, depending on the theme for that month. If you love it, I’ll make more. Simple as that. If you want to skip right to the podcast – please scroll to the bottom of this post! THE PODCAST CONTENT The episodes will feature conversations with individuals who embody the WELL / AWARE ethos: living well, mindfully. They’ll harness one or both of our two pillars: creating energy within ourselves, our WELLNESS, or fostering the energy with which we approach the world, our AWARENESS. So far, episodes dive candidly into body image, entrepreneurialism, meditation, sustainability, conscious consumption, coffee culture, yoga, minimalism and more. Podcasts on WELL / AWARE will also have a visual component, because I personally have always craved more than a thumbnail image when I listen to an episode I love. hope these stories inspire you and provide a venue through which you can explore the dialogue with yourself, both mind and body, and the world around you. I do ask that you bear with me while I experiment with audio. I’m still new to the editing process, and nailing down a regular recording practice. For that reason, some of the first few episodes may differ in sound slightly, and for that I apologize in advance. I’m learning as I go, so it may take a few shots before I really start to get it right. I plan to keep the format open and dynamic anyway, so you never hear the same episode twice. I’m totally open to your feedback, by the way. Please email me with any thoughts at wellawareco (at) gmail (dot) com. THIS WEEK’S EPISODE The first episode is a very special one. I sat down with yogi Alex Sharry of Y7 to talk about her journey to yoga, what it was like once she got there. I was drawn to her initially as a student at Y7…  hearing her guidance for yoga both on the mat and off deeply resonated, so it made sense that her approach to yoga and to life is a fantastic example of living WELL / AWARE. We get real about body image, perfectionism, the emotional body, self doubt and how to embrace change. This is a great episode for anyone who’s interested or practicing yoga or meditation, who has thought of quitting her job for greener pastures or who is looking to make a major life change. SHOW RESOURCES Y7 Yoga Studio (who announced the opening of their Flatiron location this week!) Katonah Yoga