Self Care

Do you like to iron? I (Marianne) do not. But Sophie finds her time at the ironing board relaxing and a form of meditation.

So, what does ironing have to do with self-care?

According to Sophie, self-care is the ability of us to be aware of our personal needs.

Sometimes, we have to decide what action brings us more peace of mind: visiting with our family or taking care of unfinished tasks.

We do talk about a mangel which actually makes ironing fun. If you have never seen one, do a search for many different models - a new model you can but today runs about $ 2,500.00.

But this photo I found online is close to what we had in our home and used for the weekly ironing marathon.

When Sophie and Marianne were in Yoga Teacher training, we started a little book club. One of our favorites was Loving What Is by Byron Katie. We both highly recommend that you read this book. Please get it from your local library or support an independent bookstore!

Does Self Care sometimes feel like a chore? If it does, is it still self-care?

Sophie describes the Ayurvedic practice of Abhyanga. Here is a link to the Wikipedia entry. If you are knowledgeable about this subject, you can help improve the article. And while you are at it, donate to Wikipedia. Now, more than ever, we need sources of information.

Our conversation did bring us to mental self care.In particular, letting go of guilt and stopping comparing ourselves to others.

As always, our conversation takes us to many different topics. Here is one tool to calm ourselves when unhelpful thoughts are taking over: Sing a song or repeat a mantra over and over.

Join us on Patreon for many guided meditations and our Yin Yoga Series.

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You can also find us on Instagram Explore_Soma_Podcast

and on Facebook Explore Soma Podcast

BlueSky @ExploreSomaPodcast.bsky.social

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Sophie & Marianne

As you know, Sophie moved across the country to an area where everything was brand-new to her. No established friends, connections, or even knowing the city,

One thing she found was that a move like that offers a chance for a new beginning.

It is easy to fall into old habits and establish what we had before.

But it is a great opportunity to sit back for a bit and think about what one really wants to do.

The world of Yoga has grown dramatically in the US and has developed in different directions.

For many, Yoga is a physical exercise - nothing more. Others only practice the meditation aspect.

Sophie is in-between.

Sophie likes to teach Hatha Yoga - each pose is held for 30 seconds or a minute. The important part is to be aware of the breath (prana).

She started teaching in a new studio - every teacher is new to that particular place. She found that she felt very comfortable with all her co-workers and attributes that to the fact that they all are starting together, eager to build community.

We mention Yin Yoga. Join us on Patreon for an in-depth conversation about this form of Yoga.

Join us. We are inviting our Patrons to practice Yin Yoga with us.

All Patrons are invited to our first talk and craft event. We will meet via Zoom on Friday, March 7, 2025.

Patreon: Explore Soma

You can also find us on

Bluesky Explore Soma Podcast

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Sophie & Marianne

The beginning of 2024 meant moving - for both Sophie and Marianne.

While Sophie had planned her cross-country move from California to Florida for several months, Marianne's from Arizona back to California was unexpected and happened quickly.

The first part of this episode is a conversation recorded shortly after our moves. The second part is a reflection of how that year went for us.

As always, we are honest with our listeners as to what has worked out, what hasn't, what we learned, and where we want to go from here.

Sophie felt that the move to a place where she didn't know anyone was an opportunity for deep soul-searching.

Here are some of her observations.

In California, she had built her life around her young children. The way she was able to teach classes and what activities to pursue.

Now, the children are adults and have gone off to school. But, after moving to Florida, she realized that she had been caught in her own life. The routine, the comfort, the familarity.

The need to rebuild everything was a great opportunity to examine what she really, really wants to do in this phase of her life.

Ayurveda will stay without a doubt.

Sophie will teach a hybrid in-person/Zoom Ayurveda class in January. You might want to listen to our previous episode, which explains what Ayurveda is all about. Listen here

We also have a special episode for our Patreon supporters, which explains in detail how to determine what Dosha we are. Check out this episode here

As always, we invite you to join us on Patreon. Our goal is to build community there and are planning another live event soon.

Maybe it will be a Laughter Yoga session again - or...

Stay tuned to find out.

Patreon: Explore Soma

You can also find us on Instagram Explore_Soma_Podcast

and on Facebook Explore Soma Podcast

We are looking forward to hearing from you.

Sophie & Marianne