Dr. Karina Smith Podcast

🎙️In episode 12 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the wonderful Kendall Satie. Kendall is a Melbourne based Osteopath with a passion for working closely with patients to get them back to doing the things they love to do. With many years of experience as a Remedial Massage Therapist, heavily influencing her assessment and treatment style, she loves balancing the two modalities to provide a thorough and holistic treatment. In this episode we have a great conversation about how Kendall feels for healthy tissue, through palpation and assessment. We discuss ideas around "the melt" in yin yoga, what inflamed and dehydrated tissue feels like, and how to take really good care when hydrating your body. Kendall practices across two locations in Prahran and Albert Park...with exciting new things to come in Seddon! Stay tuned for upcoming sessions at "The Body Folk" in Seddon very soon.

🎙️In episode 11 of the Dr Karina Smith podcast, I am speaking to the one and only Dominique Salerno. Dominique founded the infamous Australian Yoga Academy here in Melbourne, and has been teaching public classes and training you teachers for over 20 years. Amongst many of her yoga passions, is the practice of Pranayama. This ancient medicine of utilising the breath, is probably needed now in the world more than ever before. Dominique's catch phrase is "When you own your own breath, nothing can steal your peace." We have a brilliant conversation about her origin story, how Yoga has been the anchor in her life, especially through extremely difficult times, and how the breath truly is the magical tonic we all need. Dominique runs 50 hour Pranayama training for yoga teachers, allied health professionals, and anyone who wants to learn to yield their natural breath inheritance. All trainings can be found at her website: https://dominiquesalernoyoga.com Do you practice Pranayama? How has it benefited you?

In episode 9 of the Dr Karina Podcast I am speaking with the notorious Michael Max.

Anyone practicing Chinese Medicine would be aware of Michael's long running podcast "Qiological"; a beacon of support and inspiration to all us practitioners doing our thing in our own little corner of the globe.

Michael has a wealth of knowledge to share, and has conducted over 300 interviews with some of the most incredible practitioners alive today.

In this episode the mic is turned, and I get the enormous privilege of asking Michael all about his journey to Chinese Medicine, what he has learned over his career, what are his favourite ways to tap into inspiration, as well as his advice for new grads entering the profession.

We have some great laughs, some fabulous epiphanies, and enjoy real talk about our medicine.

I hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did.

If you want to hear more of Michaels episodes, head over to Qiological:https://www.qiological.com Karina xx

Are you actually hydrated?

How do you know?

What signs and symptoms does your body display when you are dehydrated?

What kinds of foods/spices/lifestyle choices might you be making that are contributing to dehydration?

In Chinese Medicine, proper hydration is one of the most important factors for health, disease prevention, and recovery.

The fluids of your body are so important, and most of us are consuming all kinds of foods that are damaging these fluids.

If the fluids of our body are in deficit, we are more prone for things like: migraines, joint degeneration, organ issues, digestive tract issues and so much more.

I have learnt so much about this topic from my teacher Ann Cecil-Sterman, and in this episode I am sharing some of the powerful pieces of health advice I have learned from her this year.

In epiosde 7 I am speaking with the powerhouse that is Mandy Gratzer. Mandy is a Perth based Acupuncturist who is passionate about helping new graduates enter the profession with knowledge, guidance and power. At the age of 18, she moved from Kununurra to Perth to study an Advanced Diploma of Traditional Chinese Medicine at the Perth Academy of Natural Therapies. After graduation Mandy promptly travelled to Hang Zhou, China where she completed an Internship under the supervision of numerous dual trained Doctors at the Hang Zhou Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine (and may have eaten a chicken foot or two!). This provided the best opportunity for bringing together the knowledge of the course in the most idyllic setting; laying the foundation for melding the theory and practice together. The Hang Zhou hospital integrates TCM and mainstream western medicine, allowing all interns the experience of working together for the greater good of the patient. As a result, this provides Mandy with the knowledge and experience to work holistically alongside standard Western health practices here in Australia. Upon completion, she moved to Darwin (her original home town), in order to set up a clinic in a town that she loved. After building a strong client base in Darwin, in 2007 an idea to share Chinese Medicine far and wide saw Mandy take her services to rural areas, developing regular clinics in Katherine & Kununurra. Those clinics ran for six years assisting 100’s of rural residents to achieve better health outcomes otherwise not available to them. Mandy serves on the WA State Committee of the Australian Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine Association and has spent the past 12 months building a mentorship program to support the next generation of acupuncturists with a course designed to help guide them through the beginnings of practice, titled A Guide to Setting up Clinic. You can connect with Mandy either through her podcast "the acupuncturists Biz Hub" or her website: https://hello.acupuncturistsbizhub.com/

In Episode 6 I am speaking with the wonderful Jarryd Harvey. Jarryd is an extraordinary Chinese Medicine practitioner, with an interest in classical acupuncture and a powerful personal story of his own healing journey. Jarryd and I discuss our shared interest into the world of classical acupuncture, and our observations of the connection between emotions and health.

In episode 5 I am speaking with the divine Heidi Trigar. 

Heidi is well known in Melbourne and the east coast of Australia for her celestial kirtan events. 

Not only does Heidi have the voice to hold the space, she is also a remarkable yin yoga teacher and yoga teacher trainer. 

In this episode Heidi shares her movement history from dance to yoga, and how yin yoga opened up the real possibility of feeling safe to truly surrender, not only on her mat, but in all areas of her life. 

Heidi has been exploring ways in which to bring ancient techniques of mantra, mudra, and meridians into her teaching which she shares here with the listeners. 

You can find out all about Heidi's classes, upcoming kirtans, workshops and retreats through her website: https://www.heiditrigar.com 

In this episode we also referenced the bone picture gallery on Paul Grilley's website which can be found here: https://paulgrilley.com/bones

In episode 4 I am speaking with the amazing Gabrielle Harris; yin teacher, teacher trainer and author of some of the most exquisite yoga books available at this current time.   

Gabrielle has so many wise nuggets to share with the listeners about developing their yoga teaching skills; especially in the realm of language and words, giving the room lots of space and silence, honing your sequencing craft, and so much more.   

Gabrielle is the author of the phenomenal book "The language of Yin", and more recently "The inspired yoga teacher", with a third book on the way. 

You can find her books on amazon, and you can connect with Gabrialle through her website: https://gabrielleharrisyoga.com

In Episode 3 I am interviewing the wonderful Angela Lane.   Beloved Melbourne based Shiatsu and Acupuncture teacher and practitioner, Angela holds a wealth of philosophical and practical knowledge.

Having started her journey as a nurse, she transitioned into the healing arts, which took her all the way to Japan studying martial arts and archery. Her story is rich and insightful. The foundation of good health and connection is a well nourished Shen/spirit, and Angela speaks to this beautifully.

From working in the emergency department, to karate and archery in Japan, to becoming a teacher at two of Melbournes most renowned Chinese Medicine colleges, Angela has a wonderful tale to tell.

As the infamous Paul Grilley states "every bone in every body is different. What is easy for one skeleton, is impossible for another".

When it comes to yoga, any kind of yoga, any kind of movement really, it is crucial to understand that at the core of every human being, is a unique set and structure of bones. When we can truly appreciate this fact, I think we will be moving ever closer to real relationship with the body, the self and the heart, rather than sitting in constant discouragement or self critique about the ever elusive notion of "one day I will get there in my practice".

For more on skeletal variation, visit my website drkarinasmith.com and use promo code SAVE10 to get 10% off online courses. 

In the current climate of extreme polarity I talk about whether or not it is possible to find truth, absolute truth within a world of dualism. If there can be different perspectives, in-fighting and war, is anybody right? Does anyone have access to truth in the world of seperation? 

Absolute truth is different to "your" truth or "my truth." I also share my own personal journey of spiritual seeking and how I came to rest upon the teachings within A Course In Miracles and how I use that a framework to manage being in this crazy world and how to navigate my own grievances and ego bindings. I hope you enjoy my musings. 

Thank you for coming on this journey with us through season 1. We have lots of amazing guests and topics for season 2 coming very soon. Take care. Love Karina and Robbie.

Language, pace, and how to set up an environment that is conducive for a deep and quiet practice. 

Sometimes at the beginning of a yin yoga teaching journey we can bring all of our yang yoga language in with us, but the action based language of yang yoga does not really support the passivity and vibration of yin yoga. 

Part of the teaching journey is therefore to slowly review our words and the pace in which we speak in order to match the energy of the room that we are teaching.

What comes up for us as yoga teachers when there are long periods of silence in the class we are teaching... does it make us feel really uncomfortable? Do we love it? And do you feel really different when you are the student in a yin class and there are long periods of silence? Just how much talking, is too much? 

Let's talk about the utmost importance of rebounds in a yin yoga class. 

There are a multitude of reasons that cross the physical, physiological, mental, emotional and even spiritual why rebounds are so important in yin yoga. 

Who would have thought that laying down and resting in stillness would be so crucial!

When it comes to our students and patients we often go above and beyond to hold space, create treatment plans, and think outside the box when it comes to their well-being, but do we offer ourselves the same kind of care? 

When things arise in our bodies and health do we give ourselves the same level of care and treatment that we would do for our students and patients? Let's discuss. 

What is it about using props in yoga that still holds a stigma of being a beginner? There are so many fantastic ways to intensify, support or soften the sensation experience by using props. 

When we as teachers have a few more ways to explain to students how they can experiment with their props, we are encouraging them to be more autonomous with their practice. 

It is with great delight that I introduce you to the man behind the scenes who makes all the magic happen (and makes me look so good!). This is the infamous Robbie! My brother and business partner, but also, best buddy, business and life coach, videographer and editor, content creator, marketing manager and very funny guy! 

In this episode we are sharing our genesis story with you. 

How did we come to be working together in this capacity and what have we learned along the way. We weave in and out of how to get started shifting your yoga classes onto an online platform, some basic tips and tricks to get your head around the tech, how you might be undervaluing your online offerings, how we can continue to keep our people engaged when we are all so "zoomed out" and what it means to be accountable and integral when developing a business venture from a spiritual practice.

As yin yoga teachers, I think we need to be clear on that point. 

In episode 2 I talk about the places where yin yoga and Chinese medicine have some great intersections, and also where things can get a bit slippery for our students if we overload them with too much Chinese medicine theory. 

Sometimes less is more when it comes to how much we say in class. And if we are trying to make too many "cause and effect" connections in the class, our students might leave feeling worried about their organs or their health! You might never speak about any Chinese medicine theory in your classes at all and that is completely fine! But if you are going to speak to Chinese medicine concepts, how can you do it in a way that is relevant, helpful and appropriate.