In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel sits down with Lando Esteban, owner of House of RhtyhOM to explore his transformative journey into yoga and somatic breath work. Lando shares how he first came to yoga through navigating severe back pain, the pivotal moments that led him to deepen his practice, and the experience of opening his own yoga studio, House of RhythOM. Together, they discuss the uniqueness of yoga across different cities, the many styles that shape the practice, ...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel and Averie sit down with Eva ZobianWolf to explore the depth of yoga, energy medicine, and the process of transformation through practice. Eva shares her journey into yoga teacher training, discussing the importance of creating supportive spaces and navigating the duality of Capital Y Yoga and little y yoga—the deep philosophical roots versus the more physical practice. The conversation unfolds into the regulatory power of yoga, exploring how m...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Jill Lemke joins Mel and Averie for a fascinating discussion on meditations, shamanic journeying, and soul connection. Jill shares her personal path into this work, her training in Peruvian and core shamanism, and how it led her to explore Norse cosmology and a deeper connection to Spirit. You will witness Mel have her own experience of a profound synchronicity that really exemplifies the magic of it all. They explore the power of meditation, symbol...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel and Averie sit down with Hannah Nicholson to explore her inspiring journey into homeopathic medicine and its profound potential to balance the body. Hannah shares her personal path into this ancient modality and provides a clear and insightful introduction to what homeopathy is, its fascinating history, and how it differs from allopathic medicine. The conversation deepens as they dive into the potentization process of creating remedies, the tri...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel and Averie sit down with Nasreen Allen, a prenatal yoga teacher and doula, to explore the profound connection between yoga and pregnancy. Nas shares her personal journey into yoga, what led her into prenatal yoga and the new realizations that shaped her perspective on prenatal wellness. The episode deepens as they explore the unique benefits of prenatal yoga, the structure of a typical prenatal yoga class, and how yoga teachers can safely adapt...

Melissa Aguirre, C-IAYT and Director of the Integrative Yoga Therapy Studies program explains how Yoga Therapy is a powerful asset to health and proactive wellness. She begins with context and understanding what is yoga therapy then explores how Yoga Therapy principles mirror standard health models. Aguirre goes into ways Yoga Therapy can collaborate with health care and the benefits of Yoga Therapy. Get Nerdy. Awaken Empowered. Find Your Cozy. For more visit www.melmarieyoga.com

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel sits down with Terri Rehkopf- the owner of Ippodaro Hair Salon- for a light hearted conversation about holistic beauty, the fascinating connection between hair and overall health and entrepreneurship. Terri shares her journey into the world of holistic beauty, discussing the signs our hair can reveal about our well-being and how mindfulness can be integrated into hair care routines. The conversation dives into self-care practices tailored for p...

In this special episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel begins with a brief 5 minute overview about the transformative practice of Yoga Nidra, often referred to as "yogic sleep," a powerful meditation technique that promotes deep rest and relaxation. This experiential episode offers a soothing Yoga Nidra experience that lasts about 25 minutes. Visit this episode again and again to enjoy the practice of Yoga Nidra at home. This practice is beginner friendly and designed to support you as you ...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel is joined by Sapna Fliedner, an Integrative Holistic Health Coach formally trained as a Family Nurse Practitioner with additional training in Ayurveda, to explore the holistic approach of Ayurveda. Sapna shares her personal story of bridging the gap between modern medicine and Ayurveda, diving into its rich wisdom and transformative impact on health and wellness. The episode deepens into Ayurveda and highlights essential Ayurvedic concepts, suc...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel sits down with Angie, one of her dearest friends, mentor, and owner of Living Balance Studios, to explore the journey from yoga teacher to studio owner. Angie shares her personal story, beginning with her transition from a legal career to teaching yoga and pilates, growing her business organically from gym classes to a thriving studio with over 45 classes a week. They discuss the challenges and rewards of building a career in yoga, emphasizing ...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel sits down with Dr. Joanne Turner who is an immunologist and scientist, to explore topics on yoga, research and science. Joanne shares her personal journey into yoga. She shares the relevance of yoga to scientists as a strategy to alleviate stress and foster well being in a high-pressured environment. They discuss the importance of discerning credible scientific research, especially in the unique field of yoga studies, and the challen...

In this episode of The Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel and Averie sit down with Amy Norton of Shanti Skin Care to explore the intersection of mindfulness and skin care. Amy shares her journey that led her into the world of nutrition and how it connects to holistic skin care, emphasizing the importance of listening to our bodies and nourishing ourselves to harmonize self care. The conversation delves into topics like Vata pacification during the fall, discussing hormonal birth control and skin, and h...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel and Averie sit down with guest Gina Hughes, owner of Invitation Yoga to explore the transformative power of parenting with awareness and mindfulness. This episode dives into different parental attachment styles, mindfulness based parenting, and insights into how understanding our own state of presence and being can radically shift the way we connect with our children. We explore the Yamas and Niyamas of parenting, uncovering how yoga philosophy ...

Join us for a fascinating episode of The Veda Lounge Podcast! Mel and Averie interview Aubrey Nicole, owner of Moksha Destiny specialized in intuitive guidance, metaphysical studies and Cartomancy. This episode explores the merging of metaphysical concepts and intuition. She delves into the collective shifts we’re all experiencing and how they connect to personal growth, intuition, and awareness. She touches on modalities including Cartomancy, Tarot, Numerology, and more. Aubrey shares her pe...

In this episode of The Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel and Averie interview Dr. Alice Blizman to dive into the principles of lifestyle medicine and explore how applied yoga can enhance health care. Alice simplifies Lifestyle Medicine unpacking the concept of motivational interviewing and how lifestyle interventions can foster self-awareness and self-care in both patients and providers. Alice shares her own journey into yoga and how these tools have been applied in her work as a healthcare provider a...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge Podcast, Mel sits down with Sherry Steine to explore the rich and nuanced world of aromatherapy. Sherry takes us on a journey through the history and distillation processes of essential oils, blending ancient wisdom from Ayurveda with modern applications in yoga therapy and trauma sensitivity. We dive into the importance of transparency when using essential oils, and Sherry offers practical guidance on how to mindfully integrate them into your yoga practice—...

In this episode of the Veda Lounge, Mel and Averie dive deep into the concept of "Brave Banks," drawing from Mel's transformative experience at Brene Brown's Braving the Wilderness event in 2017. The concept of identifying your brave bank was in context to Brene's teaching "don't do it for the critics but do it for the brave". Mel and Averie unpack the gems yielded through an awareness of who keeps us brave. This episode models and explores how to work with archetypes, mythology and humans th...

In episode five of the Veda Lounge, we explore the rare and transformative event of Pluto's last visit to Capricorn before its long-awaited ingress into Aquarius where it will stay until 2044. Mel and Averie guide you through this cosmic shift, highlighting the importance of surrendering to change and allowing it to shape who you are meant to become in this next chapter. This episode is a deep dive into the clarity that emerges when we let go of outdated patterns and embrace new perspectives....

Welcome to episode five, where we dive into a discussion on creating welcoming spaces and the process of bringing yoga and mindfulness to unconventional places. Mel and Averie explore how to connect with and deliver meaningful practices to unique communities, such as law enforcement, military personnel, and beyond the studio. Mel shares her background and process in implementing mindfulness and yoga into different communities offering tips for how to meet communities where they are, inside vo...

Welcome to episode four where we cozy into light hearted discussion and inquiry regarding themes around the planet Mercury! Mel and Averie discuss their insights on Mercury retrograde, fostering nourishing travel experiences, overcoming the "shoulds" we impose on ourselves, and the energetics of sharing, communication and being in tune with our body's discernment through mindfulness and Vedic Lens. Practice the art of communication, meeting people where they are and playful dialogue to...