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The Taoists believe that we can harness the stabilizing qualities of Earth Qi along with the generative qualities of Heaven/Sky Qi to improve physical health, increase longevity, and cultivate inner harmony.

In this guided practice, Jennifer O'Sullivan shares a visualization technique, paired with mindful breathing, to mobilize and balance these vital energies in the body.

👉 After a brief introduction, the meditation begins as 1:48. If your podcast player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.

Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey.

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SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

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There are definitely times when we need to get a hold of ourselves. But how do we do that without dismissing our feelings?

This brief Parts Work practice is for moments when you feel too activated or busy for deeper introspection but also need to find our center. It will help you create space – access Self Energy – around difficult emotions while honoring their presence.

Practice this technique regularly when you're calm so you are more likely to reach for it when you need it. It'll help you build up your capacity for self-connection and self-compassion so it becomes a resource even in really trying moments.

👉 After a brief introduction, the meditation begins as 1:48. If your podcast player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.

Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey.

~ ~ ~

SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.

Grounding practices are more than just coping mechanisms during tumultuous times. They're empowering strategies to discharge excess emotional energy while tap rooting your inner strength and resilience. In this episode, we're exploring:

• An empowered way to think of grounding as a practice
• 6 principles of effective grounding techniques
• Proactively collecting your tools so you can reach for them when you need them

Jennifer also pulls from yoga and Buddhist dharma teachings to answer a listener question about engaging others in our values-based causes without creating harm.

Resources Mentioned On This Show

• Adyashanti: https://www.opengatesangha.org/
• 14 Precepts of Engaged Buddhism: https://www.lionsroar.com/the-fourteen-precepts-of-engaged-buddhism/

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SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.

Instead of speculating endlessly about why you might be avoiding something, ask the part that's hesitating!

Based on Internal Family Systems (IFS), this guided parts work practice will help you identify and get to know the part (or parts) that are resisting taking action.

If you're new to IFS Parts Work, check out Episode 29 for a primer and 30 for a basic guided practice. You might also appreciate Episode 100 for a deeper dive into what lies underneath resistance.

👉 The practice follows a brief introduction at 3:18. If your podcast player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.

Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey.

~ ~ ~

SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.

Ever wonder why you feel resistant to doing something that you actually want to do?

This month we're unpacking the complexities of resistance through Buddhist teachings and IFS Parts Work. We're going to scrap the self-sabotaging label and get to the roots of why most people struggle to make progress on their goals.

• The difference types of resistance according to Buddhism's Five Hindrances
• The IFS Perspective on the intentions of parts and why they put up road blocks

Jennifer also shares a few personal anecdotes that highlight a compassionate approach to getting things done.

Resources Mentioned in the Show

• Satipatthana Meditation by Bhikkhu Analayo
• Toward a Psychology of Awakening by John Elwood

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SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.

As a practice of being, Yin Yoga creates a unique container for exploring the restless impulses to fix while encouraging us to relax into self-acceptance.

In this short practice, Jen shares three postures that target the Earth element as a way of amplifying stabilizing yin energies while directing attention to the Hara - the belly center - as a way to deepen into your home ground.

Postures in this practice:

• Reclining Butterfly
• Reclining Twist
• Supported Pontoon (bridge with extended legs)

Props:

• One block (or similar object) - necessary
• Additional block or two small cushions - optional
• journal - optional

The practice follows a brief introduction at 2:10. If your podcast player supports chapter markers, you can skip ahead.

Skillful Means Podcast offers these guided practices to help you deepen into your yoga and mindfulness journey.

~ ~ ~

SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.

Feeling the pressure to do all the things?

This episode explores the balancing act between living up to expectations, following the rules, and being true to yourself.

• Identifying shoulds (compared to wants & needs)
• Self-compassion vs should-ing on yourself
• Sensing shoulds in body, heart, and mind
• Parts Work (Internal Family Systems - IFS) for uncovering the roots of shoulds
• Strategies for managing a to-do list of things that are important to you

Parts Work Questions mentioned in the show:
- Why is this important?
- How did this become important?
- What would happen if I did something else instead?
- Do I really want to do this? Or do it in this exact way?

Resources and People mentioned in the show:
- The Center for Nonviolent Communications Feelings & Needs Inventory
- Building Movement Project Social Change Ecosystem Map
- Racheal Cook

~ ~ ~

SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.

Text me your feedback.

This preview pod explores the concept of upaya (skillful means) and its relevance in today's polarized world + how this focus will be reflected in the next iteration of the show.

Jen emphasizes the importance of developing presence and awareness in order to meet life's challenges with courage and heart.

Highlights include:
• Cultivating what Roshi Joan Halifax calls a strong back and soft front
• What kind of awareness is needed for this moment
• Recognizing "lab time" on the mat as preparation for real-life challenges
• Building a diverse toolkit of practices for various situations

Listener feedback and support is essential to the evolution of the how, so don't forget to fill out the survey form: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

~ ~ ~

SMP welcomes your comments and questions at feedback@skillfulmeanspodcast.com. You can also get in touch with Jen through her website: https://www.sati.yoga

Fill out this survey to help guide the direction of the show: https://airtable.com/appM7JWCQd7Q1Hwa4/pagRTiysNido3BXqF/form

To support the show, consider a donation via Ko-Fi.