Peaceful Power Podcast

Skill in Action: Protection, Ritual & Embodiment with Michelle Cassandra Johnson In this episode, I sit down with author, activist, spiritual teacher, racial equity consultant, and intuitive healer Michelle Cassandra Johnson to talk about her sixth book, You Are Protected. We dig into what real protection means (hint: it's not the fear-based kind), the guides and unseen support available to all of us, and how ritual and embodiment are transforming racial equity work. We also get personal talking bees and what an entire life of skill in action actually looks like day to day. Connect with Michelle:  Website: https://www.michellecjohnson.com/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skillinaction Connect with Andrea:  andreaclaassen.com Sacred Seasons  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seasonalandrea

This week I'm getting honest about the week I ignored every signal my body was sending me nine yoga classes subbed in four days, zero rest, and a stumble that finally got my attention. I'm talking about what Ayurveda taught me about pitta season, the sneaky ways we override our own bodies in the name of being helpful, and why slowing down isn't the same thing as giving up. Plus, I share why I'm heading into a weekend retreat completely depleted and framing it as the remedy, not one more thing to survive. I'll report back on how it actually went in a few weeks. Also mentioned: Seasonal Strength Fall Edition is live now, and Sacred Seasons my flagship seasonal container opens for the fall round on my birthday, September 17, through the Fall Equinox, September 22. Get on the waiting list today for special bonuses!  Find me at andreaclaassen.com.

The Pitta Wall: What Happens When You Skip the One Thing That Grounds You Ever notice yourself getting irritable over nothing, feeling like there's never enough time, or hitting a wall of exhaustion right around this time of year? In Ayurveda, this is a classic sign of a Pitta imbalance and late August is prime time for it. In this episode, I get personal about hitting my own Pitta wall a few weeks ago: the quick anger, the time-scarcity feeling, and the realization that even though I'd been outside all summer, I hadn't been to the one place that actually grounds me on my favorite nature trail. I dig into the guilt so many of us carry around choosing solo restoration over family togetherness, why knowing your grounding practice isn't the same as protecting it, and what I'm changing heading into fall. In this episode: What a Pitta wall is and why late summer brings it on The physical and emotional signs of Pitta imbalance Andrea's own story of losing (and finding her way back to) her grounding practice The gu

Here's a draft for the show notes: Episode Title: Stop Looking, Start Feeling Peaceful Power Podcast Show Notes: This episode starts with cows. On a recent road trip to Colorado, my three year old was on the hunt for cows out the window. I pointed to some grazing on a distant hill — "Look, there are cows!" — while my husband pointed out the field of them right in front of us that I'd completely missed while scanning the horizon. It became the metaphor I couldn't shake for the rest of the trip, and for the week that followed. In this episode, I talk about: The cows story, and how often we look ahead for the "right" answer while missing what's already unfolding in front of us Why this idea landed so differently for me this week, after our family experienced the sudden loss of my five month old nephew, Mac The shift from looking for to feeling into — in gratitude, in presence, and in practice What I think yoga is actually for, underneath the poses — not performing your way toward some far-off state, but feelin

What I Learned From a Social Media Break (That No One Talks About)   I didn't take a break from social media with some grand plan in mind. I took a break because I was tired. What I didn't expect was to find out how tired and how much of that tiredness had been hiding in plain sight.   In this episode, I'm sharing what came up during my time away: the subtle overwhelm I didn't realize I was carrying, the constant rolodex of "what should I post next" spinning in the back of my brain, and the noise underneath the noise including AI-generated "women" selling perimenopausal women beauty standards that aren't even real.   I also share a framework that's been rattling around in my head since I heard it in a recent webinar with my longtime teacher Tracee Stanley and her guest, author Shannon Algeo, on the real differences between real-world space and online space — and why our nervous systems know the difference even when we don't.   We talk about: The overwhelm I didn't know I was carrying until it was gone Why In

Before my son does his backfloat, his swim teacher asks him one question: song, count, or silence? He gets to choose every time and more often than not, at three years old, he chooses silence. In this episode, I connect that small, ordinary moment at the pool to something I hear constantly in my work: a woman doing everything "right" in her training program, still gaining weight, still exhausted, still being asked how many days of cardio are you getting when the real question no one's asking is whether her nervous system has any room left to give. We talk about: Why "more" is almost never the answer to a body that's already in overdraft The Ayurvedic concept of swasthavritta — daily rhythm in accordance with your own nature, not a universal script Why stillness (yin, restorative, rest) can feel more threatening than a hard workout to a stressed nervous system Why health was never just grams and cardio minutes — digestion, the senses, and the mind are part of the same system The question I want you to sit wit

What 40 Days of Yoga Nidra Taught Me (That I Didn't Expect) I committed to 40 days of yoga nidra — no skipped days, no exceptions — as the final piece of my teacher training with Tracee Stanley and Dr. Chanti. I thought I was signing up for better sleep and a little more stillness. What I got was a quiet dismantling of habits I didn't even know I had. In this episode, I'm sharing what actually shifted after 40 straight days of subtle body practice — not the highlight-reel version, the real one. Why my favorite trail stopped being the only place I could exhale. Why I started saying no faster. How I learned to lead a yoga nidra without a script, and what that took to get to. And the strange, mundane ways a sadhana shows up in your life — right down to your coffee routine. In this episode: What yoga nidra and subtle body work actually are (and why they're different from a typical meditation practice) Why I stopped needing to "escape" into hours of nature to feel okay How the practice changed what I let in

Why Your Daily Life Is Already Sacred Peaceful Power Podcast  What if the most powerful spiritual practice you could have isn't something you find it's something you're already living? In this episode, I sit down with Tracee Stanley yoga nidra teacher, author, and one of the most grounding voices in the modern wellness space for a conversation that felt less like an interview and more like a permission slip. We talk about why so many of us have disconnected from the rhythm of our own lives, and what it actually looks like to come back. This one is for the woman who knows she needs to slow down but hasn't figured out how to make that real. In this episode, we explore: Why daily rituals don't have to be elaborate to be transformative The difference between going through the motions and actually showing up to your life How slowing down isn't a luxury it's a form of attention and devotion What it means to treat ordinary moments as sacred ground Practical ways to anchor yourself in ritual, even on the hard

Pitta Season Is Here: How to Cool Down Without Checking Out Summer is Pitta season in Ayurveda — and as a fellow Pitta, host Andrea knows exactly how provoking it can be. Solo parenting, work, meltdowns, errands, bedtime: it's all go-go-go energy that heats up both Pitta and Vata. In this episode, Andrea shares the real (not aspirational) practices keeping her grounded this summer: afternoon yoga nidra, quiet morning moments with the Yoga Sutras, sitting barefoot in the grass, saying no to an overstuffed calendar, reading for pure pleasure, a rosewater spritz, and sparkling water as an actual treat. This is cooling down without checking out staying present and steady, even in the heat.

I Hated Part of My Own Program — And I Did It Anyway On consistency, the meditation cushion, a 40-day sadhana, and why showing up matters more than feeling like it. Trainers aren't supposed to say this — but Andrea hated the last three weeks of her own Seasonal Strength spring program. In this episode she gets honest about what it really means to do hard things, why she decided to run her own programming, and what jump squats taught her about the nature of commitment. She also draws a parallel that might surprise you: the same resistance we feel toward a tough workout is the same resistance we feel toward sitting down to meditate. And what happens when we push through both — even imperfectly, even reluctantly — is where the real practice lives. In this episode ✦ Why Andrea chose to do her own Seasonal Strength program — and what she learned ✦ The honest truth about motivation vs. consistency ✦ The meditation parallel: when the to-do list screams louder than the cushion ✦ What solo parenting has taught her a

The Monkey, the Coconut, and What You Won't Let Go Of On aparigraha, a three-year-old in the hallway, and the art of loosening your grip. There's an old story about a monkey and a coconut — and it might be one of the most honest teachings yoga has ever offered us. In this episode, Andrea shares the full Hanuman story and explores the yogic principle of aparigraha (non-attachment): what it really means, why it's so hard, and what it looks like to actually live it. She also shares a real moment from a recent yin yoga class at her new studio — where her three-year-old running down the hallway mid-class became the most alive teaching of the day. Spoiler: she caught herself mid-grip. And it felt really good.   In this episode ✦ The full Hanuman and coconut trap story — and what it teaches us about freedom ✦ What aparigraha (non-attachment) actually means in everyday life ✦ How Andrea embodied her own teaching in an unexpected moment of solo parenting ✦ Why yoga nidra and the 40-day sadhana are teaching her about

The Right Pairing | Hallmark Mysteries & More Have you ever had a song hit you at exactly the right moment and completely undo you? That's where this episode starts — with a beautiful, tear-worthy moment in Season 4 of The Way Home — and it takes us somewhere much deeper. In this episode Andrea explores the Ayurvedic concept of the gunas — the three fundamental qualities of tamas, rajas, and sattva — and how they show up in everything around us. The music paired with a scene. The chemistry between actors. The food on your plate. The yoga class you choose on a Tuesday morning. Once you start seeing the gunas, you can't unsee them. The big idea? The right pairing changes everything. And when you understand your own Ayurvedic framework, you stop following everyone else's wellness rules and start finding what actually works for you. Whether you're a The Way Home fan, an Ayurveda curious beginner, or somewhere in between — this episode will leave you seeing the qualities around you in a whole new way. W

I'll be honest — I don't use AI a lot. But this summer I did something unexpected with it, and I genuinely loved the result. In this episode I'm sharing how I used AI to build a personal Yoga Sutras morning devotional practice — something I searched for everywhere and couldn't find. I walk you through what I asked for, what it's given me, and why I've been showing up for it every single morning since mid-May. I'm also sharing where I'm still skeptical. Because I will stop reading mid-sentence if something feels hollow and AI-generated — and I think a lot of you feel the same way. This one is honest, a little unexpected, and very much from the heart. In this episode: Why I wanted a Yoga Sutras devotional practice this summer How I used AI as a creative collaborator — not a replacement The AI cadence that makes me stop reading (and why it matters) Where I've landed on the question of AI in wellness spaces The distinction that changed how I think about it: who's driving? Links & Resources mention

Episode Summary: Andrea shares her love of reading — from a lifelong passion to her current goal of 50 pages a day — along with her favorite books from the last few months. She also opens up about her intentional Instagram break starting May 19th, her heartwarming daily reading ritual with her boys, and gives a sneak peek at an upcoming Ayurvedic Book Club launching at Green Lotus this fall. Books Mentioned: Finlay Donovan Series — Elle Cosimano (6 books) Frozen River — Ariel Lawhon My Name is Emilia Del Valle — Isabel Allende When We Had Wings — Ariel Lawhon, Kristina McMorris & Susan Meissner The Power of the Pause — Jillian Pransky Highlights: Andrea's lifelong love of reading & the connection to Sphinx pose in yoga Her 50-pages-a-day goal and how reducing social media created the space for it The 4:30 family reading ritual with her boys (and her 3-year-old's picture books

Episode Description If you've been feeling edgy, overheated, or like you just can't slow down this episode is your sign. Pitta season is here, and the practice that carried you through winter may be the very thing throwing you off balance now. In this episode, we're diving into the Ayurvedic wisdom of Pitta season: what it is, how summer changes your body and your yoga practice, and exactly what to do right now to stay cool, grounded, and powerfully at ease. This is your guide to seasonal strength the peaceful way. In This Episode You'll Learn What Pitta season is and why it matters for your body and mind The signs of Pitta imbalance (on and off the mat) you might be ignoring Why seasonal strength in summer means cooling down, not pushing harder How to shift your yoga practice for summer poses, pacing, and breath Two cooling pranayama practices to try today: Sitali & Chandra Bhedana The Ayurvedic foods that pacify fire (and what to dial back) How the Niyama of Santosha (contentment) is your greatest

In this episode, we sit down with Annie Au- trauma-informed somatic Yin yoga educator, nervous system guide, and creator of the 50-Hour Trauma-Informed Somatic Yin Yoga Online Teacher Training. Annie shares her deeply personal journey from panic attacks and a decade of professional dance, to heartbreak and burnout, and how the sacred sound of Om led her to a practice that would change everything. We explore how somatic Yin yoga can support trauma healing and nervous system regulation, what it truly means to hold safe space for others, and why so many of us feel like strangers in our own bodies. Whether you're a yoga teacher, therapist, coach, or simply someone on a healing journey, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, inspired, and reconnected to yourself. Connect with Annie Au:

If you've ever cycled through meditation apps, techniques, and challenges without feeling like anything is actually sticking, this episode is for you. We're talking about what it really means to go deep in your practice, and why your nervous system craves repetition and return far more than variety. You'll learn why boredom in meditation is usually a sign you're right at the edge of a breakthrough, not a signal to switch things up. By the end, you'll have a simple framework for choosing one anchor practice and a reason to actually stay with it. This one might change the way you think about your entire relationship to practice. A shout-out to what would have been my grandmothers 100th birthday today, she died 6 months shy of her big day.    Where to connect with Andrea Website: https://andreaclaassen.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/seasonalandrea 5 Day Stillness Challenge https://andreaclaassen.com/sacred-stillness-challenge Seasonal Strength https://andreaclaassen.com/seasonal-strength   Andrea Claass

I'm delighted to share a fellow local Minneapolis teacher and someone I respect deeply, Pam Grosman. I took a mini training with Pam all about Acu Meridi-Yin Yoga training and fell in love with this practice. I look forward to taking her next full weekend training coming October 16-18th, 2026 at her studio in Two Rivers in Inver Grove Heights, MN.    About Pamela Grosam: Pamela is an intuitive healer, yoga teacher, and sound practitioner with nearly 30 years of experience in the healing arts. With a foundation in Shiatsu, acupressure, and traditional Chinese medicine, she created Acu Meridi-Yin Yoga — a unique fusion of Yin Yoga and meridian-based healing designed to support deep restoration and energetic balance.

The last few weeks I've taught a one day retreat and an Ayurvedic spring workshop. The theme I really tried to nail down for both groups. Gunas or qualities of the season. Noticing what is happening outside the body is happening within. If you understand the gunas it makes Ayurveda much easier to understand why we make the decisions to avoid salads in the winter, avoid overly heavy foods in the spring, or have hot tea in the summer months. Today I break down the gunas of the spring season.    Where to connect with Andrea Website: https://andreaclaassen.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/seasonalandrea 5 Day Stillness Challenge https://andreaclaassen.com/sacred-stillness-challenge Seasonal Strength https://andreaclaassen.com/seasonal-strength Andrea Claassen Bio   Andrea Claassen is an Ayurvedic Wellness Counselor, RYT 500 hour yoga teacher, and personal trainer who has been in the wellness space since 2007.  Her mission is to help women learn how to slow down, tune in and connect to their inner wisdom.  

In this episode, we challenge the popular notion that more weight equals more progress. With nearly two decades of coaching experience, I explore why "lifting heavy every workout" can leave you stiff, sore, and spread thin across the activities you love, things like tennis, yoga, and daily life. I'm sharing a practical, seasonally aware approach to strength that combines science with lived experience, emphasizing blocks, smart loading, and purposeful tapering. If you're tired of burnout and want strength that supports your lifestyle, this episode is for you. And for listeners ready to try it, Seasonal Strength offers a season-tailored 12-week program, with the first week free and a total price of $147.   Seasonal Strength Get your free week here   Where to connect with Andrea Website: https://andreaclaassen.com/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/seasonalandrea 5 Day Stillness Challenge https://andreaclaassen.com/sacred-stillness-challenge Andrea Claassen Bio   Andrea Claassen is an Ayurvedic Wellness Counsel