Episode Description In this conversation, Keri sits down with yoga teacher and clinical social worker Karen DeBaun, owner of Yoga Moodra, to explore yoga as a practice for living—not just another form of exercise. They talk about midlife beginnings, healing from trauma, and how yoga can become a framework for pausing, reflecting, and living more consciously in chaotic times. Karen shares why discomfort and anxiety are often the doorway to real change, how curiosity keeps us from hardening into certainty as we age, and why she sees herself as an “ambassador of love and peace” in a culture that rewards speed, productivity, and numbness. This is an invitation to step off autopilot and into a more deliberate, awake way of being. In This Episode, We Explore: Yoga in midlife and beyond How starting yoga in her 40s shaped Karen’s teaching Why so many of her students have stayed with her long-term What it’s like to come to yoga without being a “bendy 25-year-old” Yoga as a practice for the mind, not just the body The line that hooked her: gaining flexibility in the mind How yoga supported her emotional and physical recovery after a serious motorcycle accident Why she believes yoga is “a practice for living,” not just fitness Capitalism co-opting yoga Hot yoga, power yoga, and speed as the dominant narrative What we lose when yoga becomes just another workout Reclaiming yoga as “a sacred practice of remembering who you are” Pause as quiet rebellion How yoga classes are built around intentional pause and integration Why rest, reflection, and stillness are almost nonexistent in our culture Why even one hour a week of true pause can begin to change a life Habits, autopilot, and conscious living The difference between helpful routines and unconscious habits Why Karen and Carrie are more interested in undoing habits than just trading old ones for new How habits can become “brain shortcuts” that keep us from actually being present From reactivity to response How yoga has helped Karen become less reactive and more deliberate The ripple effects of one person becoming calmer, clearer, and more rooted in their values How this inner work quietly shapes our culture and communities Yoga, activism, and being an “ambassador of love and peace” Different roles people can play: activists, supporters, question-askers, rabble-rousers Karen’s personal mantra: “Ambassador of love and peace” Expanding the idea of activism beyond protests and picket signs to how we move through the world every day Discomfort as a catalyst for transformation Why anxiety and discomfort are often what finally move us to change Karen’s own leap into yoga teacher training in her 40s (and imposter syndrome all along the way) How to reframe discomfort as information and invitation, not failure Why it’s so hard to try new things From Karen’s article “5 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Try New Things”: Our built-in negativity bias and brain’s obsession with safety Our love of the comfortable and predictable Social fears: not wanting to look awkward or out of place Misinformation and assumptions about what something (like yoga) will be A deep lack of faith in ourselves and our ability to handle the unknown Curiosity and unlearning Curiosity as a spiritual practice and a way to soften certainty How assumptions flatten other people into two dimensions The courage it takes to unlearn beliefs and patterns that “got us this far” Beginner’s mind on and off the mat Tiny glimmers of enlightenment Rethinking enlightenment as fleeting moments of connection, wonder, and alignment Why Karen doesn’t chase permanent bliss states but treasures brief openings How pausing long enough to notice “little moments of magic” may be the most accessible form of awakening for modern life Creativity as spiritual practice Karen’s ongoing relationship with The Artist’s Way (Julia Cameron) How creativity is less about making “art” and more about how you live your life Carrie’s love for Big Magic (Elizabeth Gilbert) as a companion text Vulnerability, imperfection, and why our human “clumsiness” is often what connects us most A gentle invitation to try yoga For those curious but hesitant: why you’re allowed to dabble The value of trying something simply to expand your experience, even if you decide it’s not for you How online gentle yoga can be a low-pressure, accessible starting point—no fancy clothes or commute required About My Guest Karen DeBaun is the owner of Yoga Moodra, where she teaches online gentle yoga to adults in midlife and beyond. With 18 years of experience as a yoga instructor and 30 years as a clinical social worker, Karen blends yoga, mental health, and holistic wellness to help students reduce stress, build strength, and cultivate a deeper connection between mind and body. Her classes emphasize accessibility, compassion, and curiosity, making yoga feel like a practice for real life rather than performance. Karen is also a speaker on anxiety, stress, burnout, and finding calm in uncertain times, and is the author of an upcoming daily reflections book, See You on the Mat: Reflections for Presence and Peace. Resources & Links Mentioned Karen’s website & classes: Yoga Moodra – gentle online yoga for midlife and beyond https://www.yoga-moodra.com/contact.html Free class for podcast listeners Karen offers one free gentle yoga class for Awaken Your Power listeners. (Check her site or contact page for the “First Yoga Class Free” link.) Article: 5 Reasons Why It’s Hard to Try New Things – downloadable/free resource from Karen (via her website). Books mentioned: Julia Cameron, The Artist’s Way Elizabeth Gilbert, Big Magic: Creative Living Beyond Fear Teacher referenced: Andrew Harvey – writer and teacher on sacred activism Caroline Myss – for the “skyscraper of awareness” metaphorKaren DeBaun is the owner of Yoga Moodra, teaching online gentle yoga to adults in mid-life and beyond. Karen helps adult yoga students reduce stress, build strength, and enhance their overall wellbeing by offering a compassionate space where students can explore and deepen their connection to mind and body. With 18 years of experience as a yoga instructor and 30 years as a clinical social worker, Karen blends yoga practice and holistic wellness to provide a supportive online yoga environment where all students feel welcome and successful. In addition to teaching yoga, Karen is a speaker and presents on topics such as anxiety, stress and burnout, and finding calm in times of uncertainty. Karen is also the author of a soon-to-be published daily reflections book titled: See You On The Mat: Reflections for Presence and Peace.

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