Chakras & Chardonnay

Today, Maria is joined by Yogi Aaron, and they delve into the world of yoga, anatomy, and the misconception surrounding stretching. Yogi Aaron is the creator of the revolutionary approach to yoga, Applied Yoga Anatomy and Muscle Activation, Ayama as well as the Online Platform, the Yogi Club host of the Yoga Podcast, Stop Stretching, author of Autobiography of a Naked Yogi and the recently published, Stop Stretching, a New Yogic Approach to Master your Body and live Pain Free. Yogi Aaron shares his personal journey with chronic back pain and how he transitioned from a focus on stretching to muscle activation for pain relief. They discuss the importance of understanding the language of the body and avoiding ego-driven injuries in yoga practice.

Yogi Aaron emphasizes the significance of stillness and joy in yoga poses, encouraging practitioners to find steadiness and ease rather than pushing for extreme flexibility. He also sheds light on the concept of being addicted to pain and how it can shape one's narrative.

The conversation takes a turn towards wine, with Yogi Aaron sharing his love for exploring wineries and enjoying wines from regions like La Rioja in Spain. He describes the unique tastes and stories that wines can tell, highlighting the connection between history, land, and the experience of the wine.

To connect with Yoga Aaron:

To purchase Yogi Aaron's latest book: https://amzn.to/3xHJmMk
On social: @yogi_aaron
For those interested in Yogi Aaron's approach to yoga anatomy and pain relief, he recommends checking out his free Pain-Free Series on his website: yogiaaron.com.

Featured in this Episode:
Vallobera Crianza Rioja 2020 at Trader Joe's
https://vallobera.com/

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In Episode 27, Maria is joined by Patrick Tromley, also known as The Level Up Dad. As a Mindset & Performance coach, Patrick assists individuals in overcoming detrimental habits and excuses, guiding them toward an undeniable transformation through the development of positive habits, discipline, fitness, and nutrition. Patrick recounts his journey, detailing how he shifted away from self-centeredness and the traits of a "manchild" by embracing discipline, starting with a focus on nutrition. This change rippled into every facet of his life, enabling him to fully commit to his family. Patrick explains that stepping into his masculine energy enabled his wife to embrace her feminine energy more deeply. Despite experiencing upheavals due to the Mortgage Meltdown in 2008 and subsequent career setbacks, Patrick persevered, ultimately transitioning into real estate investing then as a result of his own self-improvement journey performance coaching and embracing his role as a husband and father to three boys.

Motivated by his own transformation, Patrick felt compelled to aid thousands of others in achieving similar life-altering changes. He candidly shares his journey away from alcohol and the immensely positive effects it had on his life as well as what it means to him to be a true servant leader.

Maria reviews a Non-Alcoholic Sauvignon Blanc and leads a meditation session aimed at balancing masculine and feminine energies through breathwork.

Featured on this Episode:

To learn more about Patrick Tromley

Reach out on Instagram - @thelevelupdad

Alcohol-Free Sauvignon Blanc: Giesen Wines

Learn more about Maria and her work at Take5.Health and subscribe to receive tips and free Guided Meditations each Wednesday. Connect with Maria on social:
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In the first episode of 2024, the script is flipped and Maria gets interviewed by Heather Carey, a clinical nutritionist, chef, and host of Real Food Stories. In this episode, we go behind the scenes on Maria's unique approach which challenges conventional perspectives on alcohol consumption. Whether you are exploring a dry or damp January, are always dry, or just looking to explore mindfulness, this episode is for you. With over a decade's experience in both meditation and the wine industry, Maria merges the worlds of mindfulness and wine tasting, presenting a fascinating perspective for those who question their drinking habits.

Maria shares her journey with alcohol, stemming from her childhood observations of alcohol's role as a stress reliever. Throughout her career in a high-pressure corporate environment, she found alcohol often acted as a social lubricant and stress alleviator. However, it wasn't until a period of self-reflection, grief, and a full breakdown that she began to explore mindfulness practices, including meditation. This introspective conversation takes us into the why behind her approach to wine tasting mindfully, weaving together her love for wine with her newfound awareness and self-love.

The conversation delves into Maria's mindful drinking process, breaking it down into steps and their discussion touches on the significance of self-compassion in the journey toward mindfulness, highlighting the importance of understanding oneself and fostering a lifestyle that combines consciousness with indulgence.

Maria's insights offer a compelling perspective for those questioning their relationship with alcohol and seeking a mindful approach to consumption. Her guidance emphasizes self-awareness, intentionality, and gratitude as pivotal steps toward a more mindful and fulfilling life. To round out this episode Maria guides us through an exercise in arriving in full presence.

Featured in this Episode of Chakras & Chardonnay:

To get in touch with Heather Carey:

https://www.heathercarey.com/

To learn more about the Soluna App now available for free to all adolescents in California: https://solunaapp.com/
To work with Maria directly: https://take5.health/

Learn more about Maria and her work at Take5.Health and subscribe to receive tips and free Guided Meditations each Wednesday. Connect with Maria on social:
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In Episode 40, the Season 2 Finale of "Chakras and Chardonnay," host Maria Mayes welcomes Elizabeth Marshall, founder of Reiki Uprising. Straddling the worlds of classical music and energy healing, Elizabeth Marshall has cultivated a career path that has spanned nearly three decades and the entirety of the globe.

As a cellist, Elizabeth has worked with headliners such as Lady Gaga, The Eagles, Andrea Bocelli, Weird Al Yankovich, Lionel Richie, Jon Secada, and Seth MacFarlane. As owner of Rise Wellness and the Reiki Uprising in Portland, Oregon, Elizabeth has cultivated a Reiki certification program that has produced over 300 Reiki practitioners to date. Elizabeth has been fortunate enough to combine the two paths of her life into one cohesive experience through sound healing workshops that include cello, singing bowls, drones, and beats.

In their discussion, Elizabeth introduces Reiki as the channeling of universal intelligence to send healing energy to others, emphasizing its ability to inspire healing and turn the tide of negativity. Elizabeth shares her journey from being a professional cellist to transitioning full-time into energy healing, citing the correlation between music, vibration, and energy healing.

Listeners gain insight into Reiki sessions and sound healing techniques as Elizabeth describes the process of a Reiki session, highlighting relaxation and the body's innate healing abilities. She also discusses the complementary role of sound healing, including cello music and singing bowls, in addressing specific needs and chakra blockages.

As the conversation moves to wine Elizabeth shares her love of the varied nuances of Oregon Pinot Noir. The episode concludes with a special gift of meditation to a beautiful cello piece by Elizabeth.

To learn more and connect with Elizabeth:
www.ReikiUprising.com
https://www.instagram.com/reikiuprising/
Wines Featured in this Episode of Chakras & Chardonnay:

https://www.pennerash.com/
https://www.duskygoose.com/

Learn more about Maria and her work at Take5.Health and subscribe to receive tips and free Guided Meditations each Wednesday. Connect with Maria on social:
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October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In this powerful episode, Maria Mayes sits down with artist Michelle Feldman to explore her transformative journey of self-discovery and healing through art, yoga, and the breath. Michelle opens up about the challenges she faced in her personal life, from an exhausting marriage and difficult divorce to raising twins and battling feelings of unworthiness. She candidly shares how, in the midst of these struggles, she found solace in painting—first as a way to feel good, then as a deeper tool for self-awareness.

Michelle reflects on how her creative process evolved, helping her navigate emotional pain and access her authentic self. Through art, yoga, and breathwork, she learned to shift from victimhood to empowerment, allowing herself to feel and release suppressed emotions. This slow, evolving journey, filled with small moments of clarity, led her to profound self-awareness and a more peaceful, mindful life.

Throughout the conversation, Maria and Michelle discuss the power of breathwork, the importance of setting boundaries, and the need to create practices that sustain inner peace. Michelle emphasizes the significance of following what feels good and letting those feelings guide healing practices, from yoga to creative expression. Together, they get candid about using alcohol to numb and pivoting to enjoyment through self-awareness. They inspire listeners to try different tools that foster emotional resilience and authentic living.

Tune in for an insightful and inspiring conversation on the healing potential of art, the wisdom of breath, and the empowerment that comes from embracing your true self.

Featured in this Episode of Chakras & Chardonnay

To get in touch with Michelle:

www.thegivingink.com

https://www.instagram.com/thegivingink_mjuliet

Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/

Learn more about Maria and her work at Take5.Health and subscribe to receive tips and free Guided Meditations each Wednesday. Connect with Maria on social:
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