The Uplifted Yoga Podcast

It's Chapter Six of the Bhagavad Gita, where everything starts to get real. After five chapters of philosophy and frameworks, Krishna now turns to practice—specifically the challenges of meditation, discipline, and staying steady on your spiritual path. If your mind feels too restless to meditate... if you wonder whether your practice actually counts... or if you've ever feared you're "doing it wrong"—this chapter will soothe your soul. 🔹 Krishna reveals why inner discipline > outer rituals 🔹 Arjuna expresses the doubts we all have on the path 🔹 Meditation becomes the core of yogic living—not just something we "do" 🔹 We explore witness consciousness, compassion, and true non-attachment 🔹 Spiritual effort is never wasted—even across lifetimes 📘 This also marks the completion of the first arc of the Gita. Many scholars divide the Gita into three sections of six chapters each—and Chapter 6 concludes the first movement, focused on Karma Yoga (yoga of action). We've been building the foundation. The next six chapters will take us into Bhakti Yoga—the yoga of devotion and loving recollection of God, so stay tuned for the next segment. 🐍 Download the FREE Feminine Kundalini Starter Pack: https://www.brettlarkin.com/online-kundalini-yoga-teacher-training/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ku 📖 Different translations explored: Barbara Stoler Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Krishnas-Counsel-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553213652 Godsong by Amit Majmudar: https://www.amazon.com/Godsong-Verse-Translation-Bhagavad-Gita-Commentary/dp/1524733474 Eknath Easwaran: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-2nd-Eknath-Easwaran/dp/1586380192 Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by Swami Prabhupada: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-As-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131233 FREE Practice: 15 Min Beginner Morning Yin Yoga | NO PROPS Relevant Blog: The Ultimate Guide to Karma Yoga Relevant to Today's Episode: ✨ Kundalini 200-hour YTT 🔮 History of Yoga 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #374 – Karma Yoga & the Detached Yogi: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 2, Part 2 #395 – The Role of "God" in Yoga + Tantric Shadow Work w/ Katie Silcox © 2026 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

Self-care isn't a luxury — it's your foundation. Today, we explore why self-care can feel so uncomfortable (especially for those of us used to being the strong one), and how to start building your tolerance for pleasure, rest, and receiving. These are the same micro-practices that have transformed my relationship with myself and my energy over time. Here are the truths I keep learning again and again: 🔹 You can't give from an empty cup 🔹 Self-care isn't something you check off once — it's ongoing 🔹 Honoring your tiniest desires builds self-trust 🔹 Slowing down unlocks your creativity 🔹 Five-minute "pleasure containers" can change your life 💖 Slow down, check in, and come home to yourself. Join Yoga For Self Mastery before live calls begin. => https://www.brettlarkin.com/yoga-for-self-mastery/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=ysm FREE Practice: Yin Yoga for the Sacral Chakra - Creativity & Sexual Energy Relevant Blog: Yoga to Reconnect with Yourself: 5 Essential Practices for Inner Peace Relevant to Today's Episode: 📖 Yoga Life Book 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #260 – Killing The Self Care Buzzword #372 – Can the Sutras Make Space for Pleasure? (Sutra 1.15 Explained) #384 – Do Less, Heal More: 7 Invitations to Resolve Trauma from Organic Intelligence © 2026 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

SURPRISE!! I've got a bonus episode for you this week. I'm going to explore three of the most commonly asked questions I hear from students about the chakras — especially how they relate to the nervous system, your fascia, and lived experience. 🔹 Are the chakras literal locations, archetypes, developmental stages — or all three? 🔹 Do chakras actually open and close? 🔹 What's the relationship between chakra patterns and nervous system regulation? If you've ever wondered how these energy centers show up in your posture, behavior, and emotions — this quick breakdown will connect the dots between yogic wisdom and modern science in a way that's practical and embodied. I'll also share my favorite metaphor for understanding the chakras, and why we need to stop treating them like a spiritual report card. 🌈 Discover your dominant chakra with my FREE dominant chakra test => https://www.brettlarkin.com/chakra-test/ 📱Book a Free Clarity Call => https://calendly.com/uplifted-clarity/discovery-call?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=200ytt FREE Practice: Chakra Hatha Yoga | YOGA TO ALIGN & BALANCE YOUR CHAKRAS Relevant Blog: Crystals For Chakras: Unlock Your Energy and Balance Relevant to Today's Episode: 📚 Healing with Somatic Yoga Book 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 💖 Uplifted Membership 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #351 – Unlocking the Secrets of Chakras: Lower Chakra Symbols Explained #355 – Unlocking the Secrets of Chakras: Upper Chakra Symbols Explained © 2026 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

Today, I take you into Chapter 5 of the Bhagavad Gita, where Krishna shifts the spotlight from what you do to how you are being when you do it. This is the heart of Karma Yoga — acting in the world without clinging to the outcome. We unpack the powerful metaphor of the lotus leaf (living in the world, untouched), explore the nature of witness consciousness, and look at what it really means to "renounce" in a modern world. 🔹 What it means to act without attachment 🔹 Why the question is no longer "What should I do?" 🔹 How inner renunciation leads to clarity and peace 🔹 The lotus leaf: your new spiritual metaphor 🔹 How Krishna reframes spiritual maturity and hierarchy Whether you're making a big decision or trying to navigate daily life with more presence, this chapter has wisdom for you. Loved this episode? 👉 Dive deeper into yoga's origins with my History of Yoga Course🐍 Or explore my 200-Hour Kundalini Training 📖 Different translations mentioned: Barbara Stoler Miller: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-Krishnas-Counsel-Bantam-Classics/dp/0553213652 Godsong by Amit Majmudar: https://www.amazon.com/Godsong-Verse-Translation-Bhagavad-Gita-Commentary/dp/1524733474 Eknath Easwaran: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-2nd-Eknath-Easwaran/dp/1586380192 Bhagavad-Gita As It Is by Swami Prabhupada: https://www.amazon.com/Bhagavad-Gita-As-Bhaktivedanta-Swami-Prabhupada/dp/0892131233 FREE Practice: 15 Min Vinyasa Flow For Flexibility | BEGINNERS VINYASA YOGA Relevant Blog: The Complete Glossary of Sanskrit Words Used in Yoga Relevant to Today's Episode: 📖 History of Yoga 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🎧 Also Listen to: #297 – What is Samkhya Philosophy and How is it Different from Yoga? #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas? #392 – How to Act from Wisdom & Make Every Moment Sacred: Bhagavad Gita Chapter 4 © 2026 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

Let's be real — our attention is under attack. Between scroll culture, constant notifications, and never-ending to-do lists, it's hard to focus on what actually matters. In this episode, I'm inviting you to pause and reflect on where your precious energy is going. We'll explore how ancient yogic and Vedantic texts can help us reclaim our attention — not just as a productivity tool, but as a sacred spiritual practice. If you've been feeling scattered, stuck, or overstimulated, this one's for you. We'll look at how: 🔹 Attention is energy — what you focus on creates your reality 🔹 Ancient wisdom can help anchor you in a noisy world 🔹 Modern distraction fragments our energy and dilutes our power 🔹 Silence and depth are medicine for the nervous system 🔹 We don't need more input — we need more inner connection This is a gentle but powerful reset for your inner compass. Let's remember what's truly worthy of our focus. 🎁 Grab my new book: Healing with Somatic Yoga: A 6-Week Journey to Release Emotions, Rewire Your Nervous System, and Reclaim Your Body → https://amzn.to/3WGulGG Leave a book review and claim your free gift: https://www.brettlarkin.com/somaticreview/ 🌀 Explore more of these principles in Embodied Yoga Life Coaching: https://www.brettlarkin.com/somatic-yoga-training-certification/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=eylc FREE Practice: Extra Gentle Trauma-Informed Somatic Exercises | How to do Somatic Yoga | Somatic Yoga Flow Relevant Blog: 15 Life-Changing Yoga Books To Deepen Your Yoga Practice Relevant to Today's Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching 🎧 Also Listen to: #279 – Yoga Sutras of Patanjali Summary – BOOK ONE Explained #283 – Dismantling the Kleshas: The Actual Aim of Yoga #358 – Intro to The Bhagavad Gita: How Do You Navigate Moral Dilemmas? © 2026 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What does it really take to build your dream yoga retreat center—from scratch? In this episode, I sit down with Kayla Nielsen, who shares the raw, inspiring truth behind building a yoga retreat space from the ground up. From buying land abroad to pricing retreats and navigating local logistics, Kayla opens up about the entrepreneurial journey few yoga teachers talk about. We cover: 🔹 How to navigate land ownership and logistics in a foreign country 🔹 Smart strategies for planning, pricing, and co-teaching retreats 🔹 Why patience and community are the foundation of a sustainable retreat center 🔹 The beauty of letting your retreat space tell a story that reflects your values Whether you're a yoga teacher dreaming of retreats or an entrepreneur craving land-based living, this conversation is your roadmap to turning inspiration into action. GUEST EXPERT: Kayla Nielsen | @Kaylalanielsen | kaylalanielsen.com Kayla Nielsen is a yoga teacher with over 1000 hours of training. Founder of international retreat business and yoga alliance registered yoga school, glow yoga retreats. CEO and co-founder of still salty escape, a hotel and retreat center in northern nicaragua. She's been teaching and leading retreats around the world for 10 years, and established a successful online yoga app 3 years ago with thousands of subscribers. Check out Kayla's retreat center: https://www.stillsaltyescape.com/ FREE Practice: Somatic Yoga Workout for Weight Loss | Awaken the Body & Release Negative Emotions Relevant Blog: How to Plan a Yoga Retreat That Earns 6 Figures Relevant to Today's Episode: ✅ 200-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🔮 300-hour Online Yoga Teacher Training 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 🎧 Also Listen to: #299 – Strategies to Slay Imposter Syndrome and Share Your Gifts #354 – Redefining "Niche" with Carla Cline Thomas #365 – Launch Ugly! My Top 5 Business Tips for Yoga Entrepreneurs © 2026 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

No talk. No theory. No to-do list. Just you and 20 minutes of deep nervous system reset. This New Year's Eve episode is a guided Somatic Release Meditation—designed to help you let go of trapped emotions, soothe your system, and make space for what's next. It's also a beautiful primer for what's coming in the Evolve Somatic Challenge, which starts January 1st. (If you haven't signed up yet—go do that!) ✨ A few important notes: 🛋️ Lie down, get comfy, and please don't do this while driving. 🧠 This practice also helps soothe the vagus nerve, release tension, and bring your body into a state of safety. 🎉Sign Up for the 2026 Evolve Somatic Challenge => https://www.brettlarkin.com/evolve/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=evolve Take this moment to clear the slate. Your body will thank you. 📚 Want to go deeper? My new Somatic Yoga book is the perfect companion to this challenge—and your practice in 2026. Get it here → https://amzn.to/3WGulGG Relevant to Today's Episode: 💖 Uplifted Membership 💫 Somatic Certification © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

Okay, this isn't our usual episode. There's no philosophy, no Gita breakdown, no talk of funnels or energy anatomy today. Instead, I have a gift for you—a guided meditation designed to help you do something surprisingly hard: feel good and stay in it. If you've been through trauma or long-term stress, your nervous system might default to worry, numbness, or waiting for the other shoe to drop—even when things are actually going well. This practice gently helps you expand your capacity to receive joy, compliments, connection, and peace without flinching. ✨ A few important notes: 🧘‍♀️ Don't do this while driving. 🛋️ Find a cozy spot where you can sit or lie down undisturbed. 🎁 Come as you are. This is your Christmas Eve permission slip to slow down and let good feelings land. Practice it as often as needed—and let me know what shifts for you. 🎉Sign Up for the 2026 Evolve Somatic Challenge => https://www.brettlarkin.com/evolve/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=evolve 💖 Ready to deepen your practice and live from your true nature? Explore the Uplifted Membership here => https://www.brettlarkin.com/uplifted/?utm_medium=social&utm_source=podcast&utm_campaign=uplifted Relevant to Today's Episode: 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

What happens when a 20-year-old decides to completely unplug—from smartphones, social media, and the digital world? In this episode, I talk with Yunus Maximus, a bold, creative soul who's chosen a countercultural path in today's tech-saturated world. We explore how living without a phone has deepened his art, saved his mental health, and strengthened his human connections. His story will make you rethink your relationship with technology—and your own creativity. We talk about: 🔹 Why Yunus ditched his phone and never looked back 🔹 The link between digital detox and artistic expression 🔹 Finding community and purpose offline 🔹 What it means to trust your own path in a hyper-connected world If you've been craving more presence, art, or authenticity—this one's a must-listen. 🎁 Don't forget to grab my new book: Healing with Somatic Yoga: A 6-Week Journey to Release Emotions, Rewire Your Nervous System, and Reclaim Your Body → https://amzn.to/3WGulGG GUEST EXPERT: Yunus Maximus Yunus is an artist and musician helping pave the way in technology and internet counterculture. Through experimentation and therapeutic integration he discovered that stepping away from technology has enabled him to not only connect with his unique gifts but his local community in powerful ways. Yunus encourages everyone to step away from the noise the internet brings, do the art that you love, and trust that opportunities will come your way. Contact Yunus: yunusmaximusmusic@gmail.com FREE Practice: Extra Gentle Trauma-Informed Somatic Exercises | How to do Somatic Yoga | Somatic Yoga Flow Relevant Blog: Somatic Meditation: A Body-Based Approach to Healing Stress, Anxiety, and Trauma Relevant to Today's Episode: 🐍 Yoga for Self Mastery 💖 Uplifted Membership 💫 Somatic Certification ✨ AI Training Course 🎧 Also Listen to: #378 – "Wait… Did I Just Make an AI Course?!" Behind the Scenes of My Most Unexpected Offering Yet (and Why You Might Love It Too) #380 – The Internet Is Collapsing — And Why That's Great News for Yogis & Healers © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com

Today's episode is a little different and really special. I'm finally sharing the story behind my new book, Healing with Somatic Yoga. This book is the heart of everything I've been teaching, practicing, and living — and I can't wait for you to hold it in your hands. If you've ever felt like traditional wellness advice just doesn't reach the deeper layers — like something's missing — you're not alone. We're entering what I'm calling the Decade of the Nervous System. It's time to stop muscling through healing and start listening to the body that's been protecting you all along. You'll hear: 🔹 Why your body is not a problem to fix — it's an animal trying to keep you safe 🔹 How unprocessed stress lives in the body (and what to do about it) 🔹 The 3 distinct models of somatic healing I teach inside the book 🔹 How storytelling rewires your brain (and why it's a key healing tool) 🔹 Why healing can (and should) feel pleasurable and fun 🔹 What makes this book different from anything else on somatics or yoga This isn't just a book — it's a nervous system manual for our times. I'm so excited to finally share it with you. 🎉📘 Grab my new book: Healing with Somatic Yoga: A 6-Week Journey to Release Emotions, Rewire Your Nervous System, and Reclaim Your Body → https://amzn.to/3WGulGG and claim the bonus videos and gifts exclusively for early book purchasers! FREE Practice: Somatic Yoga Workout for Women with Music | Release Anger, Anxiety, Stress, Hip Tension & Trauma Relevant Blog: What Is Somatic Yoga? Everything You Need To Know Relevant to Today's Episode: 💖 Uplifted Membership 🌀 Somatic Yoga Life Coaching 💫 Somatic Certification 🎧 Also Listen to: #318 – What Is Somatic Yoga? #330 – Somatic Yoga vs. Traditional Yoga: Breaking Down How 5 Poses Differ in your Yoga Practice #384 – Do Less, Heal More: 7 Invitations to Resolve Trauma from Organic Intelligence © 2025 Uplifted Yoga | BrettLarkin.com