Moved To Meditate Podcast – Details, episodes & analysis

Yes, AI meditation is a thing now.

So, in today’s episode, I’m taking a look at how the current rapid expansion of AI tech is reaching the meditation world…and why I don’t think human meditation teachers are going to be replaced by these tools anytime soon.

Like me, you may be immediately skeptical that AI can play a role in a deeply human activity like meditation. However, there are several ways that AI has entered the meditation scene already, including AI-generated meditation scripts, AI voiceovers for guided meditations, AI-based meditation apps, and more. There are even AI tools being used by online content creators (with little to no meditation experience) to churn out a high volume of guided meditation recordings for platforms like YouTube.

If you have a favorite meditation app that you use, have you checked to see what their AI policy is? Have you thought about whether this matters to you and how much AI you’re comfortable with in your practice? For example, maybe you’re ok with AI search tools that help you find content, but not sure about being led through a meditation that was created by generative AI.

AI itself isn’t inherently good or bad, and there may be many possibilities for innovation if AI is used responsibly. However, there are many ethical concerns to consider as this tech is rapidly becoming part of our everyday life. To name a few, there’s the issue of AI being built off the intellectual property of writers, teachers, authors, and artists without compensation or credit. There is the potential for AI to eliminate jobs and entire industries before society has a plan to mitigate the economic fallout. And, there is the increase of energy resources needed to sustain the massive amount of computing that AI requires, and a lack of meaningful discussion about how this is affecting our climate already.

Specifically within the field of meditation, there are questions of how AI meditation guidance could possibly be trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, or even effective without the benefits of human connection.

In this episode, we’ll contemplate:

• Issues of accuracy, reliability, quality, and authenticity
• Potential risks for beginners who may turn to an AI tool to try meditation
• The limitations of learning meditation from a tech that doesn’t share your human experience, stressors, emotions, or aches and pains
• The benefits of nervous system co-regulation that we receive when we practice meditation with other humans
• How human meditation teachers draw from their understanding, intuition, empathy, and training to offer nuanced and attuned guidance
• The vulnerability of being led through a meditation that can affect us mentally and emotionally, and who we trust to guide us.

As this new tech is being purposed for meditation, I hope you’ll find it useful to discuss the implications, and how we might talk to others about the importance of human connection, human experience, and human insight in this field.

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For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast.

Feel free to reach out through my website with any episode requests, topics you'd like to hear about, or guest interview suggestions. You can also connect with me on Instagram or Threads at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, pictures of Pacific Northwest nature, crocheting projects, and my adorable kitty, Mustache).

In this podcast episode, we’re exploring Somatic Dance as a form of movement therapy. My guest, Anika Voy, is a trained psychotherapist who helps her clients and students find authentic self-expression and healing through dance.

Anika explains that “the dance floor is a microcosm of our life,” and describes how creative movement can be used as a tool of discovery, as well as self-expression. 

We talk about the differences between dance as a performance art vs. dance as a somatic therapy, or a form of personal practice or mindful movement. She also describes certain obstacles and misconceptions about dance related to religion, ideas about sexuality, being a “good” dancer, or associating dance with clubbing or substance use.

You’ll hear about:

• how movement reveals traits innate to a person’s physicality, as well as their conditioned habits
• dance as an opportunity to move with emotions and give them space
• using movement, footwork, and music to invoke certain energies like power, groundedness, lightness, or fluidity
• the balance between structured dance movements and the freedom to improvise.

And, Anika also shares some of her backstory, including how she discovered somatic dance therapy during a period of severe depression. After completing her studies to become a therapist, she took the inspiring leap (as a single mother!) to relocate from Berlin to Costa Rica, following the authentic calling she discovered through her healing dance practice.

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Guest Bio: Anika Voy left the urban jungle of Berlin six years ago to move to the tropical rainforests of Latin America. Her personal journey into self-discovery began with a severe episode of depression in her 20’s. She realized she was living someone else’s life and started searching for answers. That search led to dance therapy, where her lifelong love for movement and her growing passion for psychology merged. She first encountered dance therapy in 2011 as a patient in a psychosomatic rehabilitation clinic. It sparked a deeper interest in movement and its positive impact on our well-being, which led to Pilates, yoga, and mindfulness practices like MBSR (Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction) and MBCT (Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy). In 2017, she became a certified Alternative Psychotherapist, and in 2019 she received her certification as a Systemic Dance Therapist. She also had the opportunity to lead a project at the Taller de Danza in San José, integrating dance therapy methodologies into performance at Costa Rica’s largest institution for dance and theater. Today she works independently, offering monthly Urban Somatic Dance sessions and 1:1 Somatic Dance Mentoring, using movement as a profound tool for self-discovery and growth.

To learn more about Anika’s work, visit her website at https://www.living-in-motion.com/, follow her on Instagram at @anikavoy_living_in_motion, or look her up on Spotify to find playlists for your own dance explorations.

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In this episode, I also mentioned the Gentle Change Collective, which is a new offering from a previous podcast guest, Andrew Lang. (Check out Ep. 69 with Andrew, “Unmasking the Inner Critic.”) The Gentle Change Collective is a mentoring group for people who are interested in social change, but aren’t really sure how to take action in a way that feels like a fit. This program starts in February, and it could be a really good way to go from hopelessly scrolling to finding meaningful actions that make sense for you AND make a difference… https://www.andrewglang.com/gentlechange?affiliate_code=2bb37b 

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I also wanted to send some extra love to Los Angeles in this episode. The Foothills area of LA (near Altadena) was my home for many years. I still have a lot of friends there and so many fond memories of the place itself. It’s been about a week since the devastating wildfires began, and support is still very much needed. Rebuilding will be a long term process. So, I thought I would share a few of my favorite local organizations, informed by deep ties both my husband and I have from working in the non-profit sector there.

Pasadena Community Foundation https://pasadenacf.org/ - Community foundations are in an excellent position to provide long-term support (as well as quick emergency funding), due to their existing relationships to a variety of organizations serving the local area. PCF grants go to vetted organizations focused on social services, housing, senior programs, healthcare, education, animal welfare, the arts, and the environment.

For more immediate needs, there are many (many) GoFundMe pages raising funds for families and businesses who have lost their home and/or livelihood in the fires. Simply search under the “emergency” category on GoFundMe.com.

And, I also recommend the California Fire Foundation, which supports victims of fire, as well as the brave and tireless firefighters. Donations go towards cash cards that are distributed on the scene, in the moment of shock when someone loses their house to fire. (This helps people pay for essentials like hotel and food right away.) The California Fire Foundation also has a fund to support firefighters and their families, because this heroic job is extremely dangerous. Firefighters risk their lives and future health to help others, and we cannot thank or support them enough.

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Feel free to reach out through my website with any episode requests, topics you'd like to hear about, or guest interview suggestions. You can also connect with me on Instagram or Threads at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, pictures of Pacific Northwest nature, crocheting projects, and my adorable kitty, Mustache).

In this episode of the podcast, I’m talking with Jivana Heyman about accessible meditation. Jivana is the founder of the Accessible Yoga movement, and he has plenty of insights to share about how meditation practices can be relevant in our world today.

You’ll hear about Jivana’s own personal journey of learning meditation, and his perspective on how an inward practice like meditation can help during uncertain times when the outer world also needs our attention.

Jivana describes the central role that meditation plays in the Yoga tradition, and the wide variety of meditation styles within Yoga (including breath meditation, mantra, chakra meditations, yoga nidra, and more). You’ll also hear Jivana’s thoughts on reframing asana AS a form of meditation.

We talk about:

•   how pranayama is distinct from breath meditation
•  adaptations to make meditation more accessible, especially for those with anxiety, trauma, or neurodivergent minds
• similarities and differences between Yogic and Buddhist philosophies and practices
• broadening the definition of what counts as meditation

I hope this episode will leave you feeling empowered to find your own ways of bringing meditation into your life!

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To learn more about Jivana Heyman’s work, visit jivanaheyman.com or accessibleyogaschool.com.

For more links and resources mentioned in this episode, find the show notes at movedtomeditate.yoga/podcast.

The 100th Episode of the podcast is coming up, and I want to hear YOUR voice! Send me a short message about why you practice, and I will include it in this special episode. Go here to record your message, or email it to me through the website.

Our next Teacher Masterclass is on August 24th, with guest speaker Chris McDonald of the Holistic Counseling Podcast! Get the info and join us at https://movedtomeditate.yoga/teacher-masterclasses/

The Mindful Movement Teacher Training is returning this Fall, and applications are now open! Learn more about this unique program at movedtomeditate.yoga/mmtt.

Feel free to reach out through my website with any episode requests, topics you'd like to hear about, or guest interview suggestions. You can also connect with me on Instagram or Threads at @addie_movedtomeditate (for mindfulness, movement, pictures of Pacific Northwest nature, crocheting projects, and my adorable kitty, Mustache).

Today we have a shorter episode where I talk about defining Yin Yoga. It's a practice that's not always easy to describe, and since we've been talking about Yin with some of our recent podcast guests, it seemed worth taking the time to break this down!

I will take you through my detailed definition of Yin Yoga, which I have crafted over years of practice and teaching. This definition is what I use in my Yin Yoga Teacher Trainings:

"Yin Yoga is a meditative practice in which yoga poses are held for several minutes at a time. Practiced with the muscles disengaged, the gradual stretches of Yin Yoga allow us to enhance the healing flow of energy (Chi) through the body's connective tissues. Practicing in a 'Yin-like' way allows the nervous system to relax its habitual holding, which results in improved flexibility. Embodying Yin poses consciously, we cultivate interoceptive awareness, or mindfulness in the body."

There's a lot to unpack in here, so listen in for some nuances and insights about the Yin Yoga practice - including some differences between Yin and Restorative, and the affirmation that yes, we DO use props (like blankets, bolsters) in Yin Yoga.

To connect further with me (Addie), check out my website movedtomeditate.yoga

the Yin Yoga Poses + Props 8-hour course mentioned in this episode at https://movedtomeditate.yoga/onlinecourses/

my upcoming Fall term of livestream yoga classes (mentioned at the beginning of the episode) at https://movedtomeditate.yoga/livestream-classes/

and/or follow me on Instagram @addie_movedtomeditate!

In this podcast episode, I talk with Jessica Grosman, an Anti-Diet Registered Dietitian, Certified Intuitive Eating Counselor, Body-Inclusive Health Practitioner, and Yin Yoga Teacher. We discuss how both food and yoga can be avenues to self-connection, despite the pervasive messages of diet and fitness culture.

Jessica explains what an “anti-diet” dietitian is, and the evolution toward a healthy-at-every-size perspective. We talk about the unlearning it often takes for us to actually enjoy and celebrate food, and how yoga can help us accept ourselves as we are in the present moment.

Jessica also teaches classes specifically for people recovering from eating disorders, and we talk about why she thinks Yin Yoga might an especially helpful practice for these students. With its lack of fitness-focus, and emphasis upon gently exploring sensation, Yin Yoga (with a skilled guide) can be a powerful opportunity for re-embodiment.

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Resources we mentioned in the episode:

Yoga for Eating Disorders:  https://www.yoga4eatingdisorders.com

Compassionate & Mindful Yin Yoga (ED-friendly sample class with Jessica):  https://youtu.be/RXYOILfghaM

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To connect with Jessica, you can visit her website https://www.withhealthandgratitude.com/  

or follow her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/withhealthandgratitude/

or Facebook at  https://www.facebook.com/dietjessg

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To check out the upcoming livestream classes Addie mentioned at the top of the episode, visit movedtomeditate.yoga/livestream-classes

or the Moved To Meditate class library at movedtomeditate.com!

Today we have a "shorty" episode where Addie breaks down some of the key attitudes that support a mindful yoga or movement practice.

Even more than the specific movements or poses we might do, the intentions and orientations we bring to the mat will determine how mindful our practice is (or isn't).

The mindsets we'll talk about today include:

1) The body is not an object (it's our best teacher).

2) Metta and Compassion

3) Gratitude and Equanimity 

4) Curiosity and Freshness

5) Recognizing impermanence

6) Having a non-judgmental attitude

7) Being oriented toward exploration and presence rather than achievement

8) Being mindful of our relationship with intensity.

Listen in for a few thought-provokers and insights that could enrich your practice! Hopefully you'll feel inspired to explore some of these qualities the next time you get on your mat.

To connect further with Addie, check out her website movedtomeditate.yoga

or the Moved To Meditate class library at movedtomeditate.com

and/or follow her on Instagram @addie_movedtomeditate!

This week's conversation is with Robert Lurye, a mindfulness meditation and yoga teacher who offers classes on "unwinding anxiety."

Robert's background as an artist and animator provided him with an interest in human behavior and emotional expression (as well as some pretty stressful work experiences). We talk about how common anxiety is, especially in these uncertain times, and how understanding the habit loops of anxiety can help us find some freedom around it. Robert shares mindfulness practices that can help us observe our mental and emotional states without getting so lost in them, as well as embodied movement practices that help to get us out of our heads.

One of my favorite parts of this episode is when he talks about some neuroscience research that showed meditators had remarkable ability to be present with pain, minus the dread and anticipation that most of us experience. (See this episode's page on the Moved To Meditate website for links to the study.)

Robert Lurye is an artist, educator, and meditation practitioner who loves teaching the ancient wisdom and modern science of mindfulness.  He is a certified MBSR teacher through Brown University’s Mindfulness Center, a CYT 200 yoga instructor, and a facilitator for Mindfulness-Based Habit Change programs that address unwanted habits from cigarettes to smart phones, emotional eating, and anxiety. Robert also teaches mindfulness programs at InsightLA, Long Beach Mediation, University of Southern California and facilitates sitting groups for the LGBTQ+ community.  He’s been a computer animation artist since 1985 working on feature film, television and video game productions. He earned a Master of Education degree from The Ohio State University and has taught art at Ohio State, Texas A&M, and University of Texas, Austin. Robert is currently training as an Eco-Chaplain and developing contemplative care focusing on Eco-Anxiety. 

To get in touch with Robert, look for him at InsightLA (https://insightla.org/teacher/robert-lurye/) and visit his coming-soon website at robertlurye.com.

Learn more about Dr. Judson Brewer and his Mindfulness-Based Habit Change programs out of Brown University (including the app and course Robert mentions): https://drjud.com/.

To learn more about Addie's work, visit her website at movedtomeditate.yoga.

In this podcast episode, I talk with Julie Johnson, founder of Integrate Network. Julie is an access & inclusion specialist and educator in the St. Louis County school system. She brings a wealth of experience to teaching Yin Yoga from a trauma-informed perspective.

We cover some basics of what trauma-informed yoga is and why it's needed, and we discuss how Yin Yoga can be effective as a trauma recovery practice. 

Julie has compiled an excellent set of guiding principles for trauma-informed Yin Yoga, and we spent time in this episode going over her chart in detail! (See this episode's page on the Moved To Meditate website to locate a copy of the chart.) 

Whether you're a teacher of Yin Yoga, or a student looking to support your whole-person well-being in practice, I think you'll find some relevant and usable info in this conversation.

To connect with Julie, you can visit the Integrate Network website http://www.letsintegrate.org/

Listen to her podcast, The Restorative Pulse (available on all the major podcast players)

And/or follow Integrate on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/integrate_network/

To connect with me (Addie), check out my website movedtomeditate.yoga

or the Moved To Meditate class library at movedtomeditate.com

and/or follow me on Instagram @addie_movedtomeditate

In today's episode, I'll talk about that one time I got a 1-star review online for a Gentle Yoga class at my studio. 

Every yoga teacher learns that not everyone has to like your class. So, this is part of the territory - especially with the gentle stuff. But there was something about this review that got me thinking more deeply about why someone might have this reaction to a slow, gentle class.

Listen in to unpack some of the cultural assumptions (like "I need to be productive" or "this doesn't burn enough calories") that keep people from enjoying gentle yoga. And maybe together we can rethink what it means to "deepen" our practice.

To connect with me (Addie), check out my website movedtomeditate.yoga

or the Moved To Meditate class library at movedtomeditate.com

and/or follow me on Instagram @addie_movedtomeditate!

Welcome to the first official episode of the Moved To Meditate Podcast! Today's episode is a fun and meaningful conversation with Terry Littlefield, the founder of Postures, Breath, and Joy.

Terry is a yoga and movement teacher based out of Los Angeles (teaching online!). She likes to say, "I fancy purposeful movement, not fancy poses." Her classes help people develop a sustainable, life-long relationship with yoga and movement, play and rest.

Since Terry has a background in improv comedy, and deep training and experience in yoga, I knew she would be the perfect person to talk to about bringing the fun and joy to gentle yoga. Together, we break down a bunch of myths about gentle practice - including the common misconception that it's boring.

We talked what we don't teach in a gentle class, and what we do include. And, we covered the real benefits of gentle movement, and why people of all ages can benefit from slowing down.

Don't miss Terry's fantastic pneumonic device, which LITERALLY spells out the goodness of gentle yoga:

G - Gives people permission to slow down...
E - Enlivens your joy...
N - Nurtures your nervous system...
T - Teaches compassion toward yourself and others...
L - Leaves you feeling calm, centered, and rested...
E - Enhances awareness of your breath...

There's more, but you have to listen to find out!

To connect with Terry, visit her website https://www.terrylittlefield.com

Or find her YouTube Channel and Instagram profile @posturesbreathandjoy.

To connect with me (Addie), check out my website movedtomeditate.yoga