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Nearly Enlightened
Join Nearly Enlightened's host Giana Giarrusso and discover the body, mind and spirit connection! The Nearly Enlightened Podcast is for the soul-centered seeker who is on the path of personal growth and spiritual development. This podcast takes a light-hearted approach exploring topics rooted in themes of mental, physical and spiritual wellbeing.
Nearly Enlightened
BIG NEWS: Ready to Deepen Your Practice?
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BIG NEWS ✨
Dee and I have been waiting to share this with you...
If you've been craving a deeper connection to your practice—beyond just the poses—this is for you. We’re SO excited to invite you to join us for our Free 30-Day Yoga Challenge, starting May 1st!
This challenge was born from a shared desire to return to the roots of yoga—to explore the full 8 limbs of this sacred tradition, not just what we see on Instagram. Because let’s be real: yoga is so much more than pretty poses. It’s breath, reflection, stillness, devotion, and community. It’s a way of living with more presence.
Every day, you’ll receive an email with a simple, soul-nourishing prompt. Some days it’s movement, some days breathwork, journaling, or meditation. You don’t need anything fancy—just a journal, a pen, your breath, and your willingness to show up exactly as you are. ✨
This journey is for everybody—whether you’ve been practicing for years or are just getting curious about yoga as a lifestyle. And you won’t be doing it alone. We’ll be practicing right alongside you, sharing reflections and cheering you on. When you share your journey on Instagram, use our hashtag to connect with others on the path—it’s going to be so beautiful to witness.
Oh, and we’re also hosting a special charity yoga event during the challenge to raise money for Ten Lives Cat Rescue—because seva (selfless service) is yoga, too. 🐾💗
This isn’t about perfection. It’s about showing up with presence. Tuning into yourSelf. Listening inward. Letting this daily practice be your little love note from soul to soul.
✨ Ready to join us?
and follow along on IG @nearlyenlightened + @anahata.yoga.bienestar
Let's walk this path together!
Nearly Enlightened Podcast
Your high-vibe toolbox to connect with your body, mind, and spirit. Empowering you to uncover your Inner Wisdom.
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Let's grow together: @nearlyenlightened | Nearly Enlightened
Welcome to the Nearly Enlightened Podcast, your high vibe toolbox to support your body, mind and spirit. I'm your host, gianna Giarrusso, and I am so excited to be here with you today. Whether you're on a healing journey, looking for grounding, inspiration, or simply curious about connecting with yourself, you're in the right place Today. I'm joined by Dee. Welcome back, dee.
Speaker 2:Hi, thank you, we have some.
Speaker 1:I know we have some really exciting news to share, so we have collaborated, and should we just, should we just say it? Let's just say it, just throw it out there, let's just say it and just throw it out there Next month, we are launching a free 30-day yoga challenge and this is a challenge to deepen your practice, so we are going to talk about all eight limbs you want to.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think I feel like the last time that I was on we talked, we kind of dove a little bit into this. Maybe we've touched about on it. I think a little bit every time we we've chatted on your podcast is about how I think it's funny.
Speaker 1:I think this idea was born after the last time you were on the podcast, if I'm not mistaken.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I think we're both really passionate about, of course, the asana practice that we get out of the yoga practice, but we're also both very aware of the entirety, the eight limbs of yoga, and want to honor that tradition in not just on the mat but also in our lives. And I think that that's why we're here today and we're excited to explain a little bit more about what the challenge does, what you can benefit from it, the why behind it.
Speaker 1:A little bit more detailed, um, and we want to just kind of, yeah, bring more clarity, grounding and alignment into your everyday life yes, and I, whether I think even nearly enlightened, was born out of this like kind of irreverence to the modern healing culture, and a lot of things that we see on social media are just like these insane poses that look like party tricks, and the real magic of the practice is not not in that necessarily, not not necessarily that practice.
Speaker 1:I think, um, for me it's come out of the stillness and I say this in my classes a lot like the, we think of the advanced practice as the fast flows and the poses that look like party tricks, but the real advanced practice is in the stillness. So I really wanted to highlight yoga as a whole, especially because here in our culture, like we see the physical practice, it's really like a fitness class, um, and we aren't really getting behind the why of, of why we do things and even, like I bet most students have no idea what the yamas and the niyamas are. I would be willing to bet that some teachers don't know what the yamas and the niyamas are, and I'm not like I don't know them verbatim off the top of my head, but they are part of of my practice, um, and I just think it's time that we really pay homage to the actual practice of yoga.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes, exactly, I am right there with you and I think, yeah, we both talk about this so much. So here we are, finally bringing it together as a gift to everyone, to do it alongside with us in community and to, yeah, just have fun with it too, because that's the other thing is not like it, doesn't I say this a lot in my practices like it doesn't need to be serious, we can have fun with it.
Speaker 1:Or hard, like it could take five minutes.
Speaker 2:So do we want to open with a little bit of grounding? Yes, I'll have you take it away, okay. So we want to just begin here with a little bit, give you maybe a little bit of a teaser of what we want to offer, but we will. Let's begin wherever you are. Before we dive in, let's just take a moment to land.
Speaker 2:So, wherever you are, whether you're walking, driving, maybe a meet and pull over, or if you're just sitting on the couch, see if you can bring a little bit more awareness into this moment right now, can bring a little bit more awareness into this moment right now, if it's safe to do so.
Speaker 2:Gently close down your eyes or soften your gaze towards the floor or the earth below you and let's begin by taking a deep breath in together and a long, steady breath out One more time Big inhale, feeling your diaphragm fill up your belly, fill up with oxygen, and then into the lungs, and then slowly exhale, letting go.
Speaker 2:Now just allow your breath to find its own natural rhythm. Feel your body physically where it connects with the earth below you, the chair underneath you or the seat below you, and with each breath you take, imagine you're arriving into this space, into yourself as we explore the offering of our 30-day yoga challenge. Remember that this journey is not about doing more. It's about being more present. It's about being more present. It's not about the perfect pose, but about creating space for reflection, for your breath and for your inner connection to yourself. Let this very moment be your first step. Let's take one more deep breath in and gently sigh it out, and, when you're ready, bring your awareness back to the sounds around you and let us continue to share with you the magic that we hope to bring oh my gosh, that was so nice.
Speaker 1:Did you know that that's the first guided meditation we've done on this podcast?
Speaker 2:really, oh, I feel so honored. Yeah, it's just good.
Speaker 1:I think we're both really excited about it, so we kind of have to ground ourselves to it yeah, especially I mean me Gemini in the middle of fire Aries season, like I am just, yeah, all over the place. A lot of us are all over the place.
Speaker 2:A lot of us are all over the place right now and I know you had spoken about once on, I think was it like a few podcasts ago about the astrological new year, which is kind of what we're feeling right now yes.
Speaker 1:It's, yeah, like we're, spring has sprung and now, like that energy is is ignited. I mean it's.
Speaker 2:I mean we start off the astrological new year with Aries season with that fire to like get shit started, and I definitely feel that energy yeah, and so I'm sure a lot of us are feeling the energy from the collective, yeah, and the chaos that's happening probably all around, but you know that's that's also like. Part of the practice is finding your, your center, in the middle of the storm. So, um, whether you are celebrating the astrological new year, whether you're feeling a little bit of the chaos around you or outside you, or maybe even within you, and you need a reset. This is, this is where you want to be, and we're excited to share this with you this full body, mind, spirit, experience yes and I'm so excited to collaborate with you on this, like you've collaborated on nearly enlightened a lot.
Speaker 1:You've been on the podcast like more than a handful of times now, so this like only makes sense that we're doing this.
Speaker 2:Yeah thank you so much for allowing giving me the opportunity, allowing me to be on again, and we're doing this together. I think it's been a long time coming and it's awesome to see that it's coming to fruition.
Speaker 1:I know this is kind of like our new year's resolution come to life, Like we've planted the seeds and we've tended to the garden and now we're going to like watch this flourish and flow. And I'm so excited for May and I was telling you I have a lot going on in May. So if you're local to Rhode Island, I have this charity event on May 4th.
Speaker 2:Yeah, tell us about it.
Speaker 1:Please come. I'm partnering and I think this is a great way to practice what we're talking about in the eight limbs of yoga. And I think this is a great way to practice like what we're talking about in the eight limbs of yoga, because part of part of the actual yoga practice is to be of service, and I've never done anything like this before, except for when I was in my yoga teacher, my first yoga teacher training, and that was 10 years, almost 10 years ago now. Um, so this is the first time that I'm really like allowing myself to be of service, and I'm if you've never done yoga before, or if you're like one of those people that yoga is not for you but you love cats like this is for you. Like it's not going to be a vigorous yoga class. Like it's basically we're going to be playing with kitties and breathing deep.
Speaker 2:Like I love you know what I love that I am not really a cat person, but I've become a cat person. I teach a lot of private students and for some reason, there is always a cat around and even just like I've noticed that I think I mean someone correct me if I'm wrong but the purring that they do and having them around I've noticed how much of like a nervous system regulator that is.
Speaker 2:Yeah, so I've I've heard I don't know if this is like actually factual or not, but I'm pretty sure they purr at the same frequency that that OM is wow, I mean, I wouldn't doubt it because, like I've noticed it just this, like the past few months, that I think my friend told me that it's like a Russian blue cat, that this person is like the big fat, big kitty garfield yes, but I love his name is Milo and I just love him being there. Yes, so that is also an awesome event.
Speaker 1:I've also been told that cats like hold the space between this realm and the realm beyond. So they're like in between the veil, so they're like always, like it's so funny and like I totally know it to be true too, because my, my black cats, where she like shape shifts when I'm not around, like anytime I see a little animal and I could like feel her energy in it. I'm like, oh, she's checking up on me and it sounds so crazy, but like if you have a cat, you just know they're like they're excited.
Speaker 2:That sounds like such a cool event.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So it's a great organization, to their 100 percent donation and volunteer based. So they don't have a physical space, they solely rely on their fosters, um, and they do like such amazing work here. They do a lot of controlled colonies, um, so they come in, they vax, they spay, they neuter, um, they feed them, they make sure that they're cared for and those are the cats that would like never not be feral, um, but if they can, if they can get a cat a home, they do a lot of like second chances. So like high vet bills, um, yeah, it's just like such a great organization and the women who help run the organization are just so, so great and so selfless. Like no, like no one gets paid for the work that they do, it's just it's one, it's just volunteer out of the goodness of people's hearts.
Speaker 1:So I really wanted my friend, actually my friend Lindsay. She got me connected with it because she was posting on her story about there were these homeless um, like it's a homeless shelter, I think, kind of near where she works or I don't know the whole story, but um, she was posting about these homeless women who were giving the little that they had to take care of this cat colony and 10 lives, came in and gave them support and so that they don't have to spend their little resources on taking care of the cats. Now the organization takes care of the cats and helps these women. Oh, that's so special special so when she was posting about it.
Speaker 1:I just was like I have to help. So we're having an event on may 4th. It starts doors open at 11. Class starts at 11 30 classes, one hour. It's going to be an adoption event so, uh, adoptable kitties will be able to get adopted. You can put in an application for that. Um, won't be same day adoption, so it's like they go through a really good vetting process so they make sure that it's going to be a forever home for these kitties I love I also love, um.
Speaker 1:The cafe at bend is going to be open. We're going to have raffles, um. We're going to have, um, the 10 lives is going to be selling merch, um, and it's just going to be a community event. So, like, just even if you want to come and just like, hang out in space, if you're local to the area, that's going to be where I'll be on May 4th.
Speaker 2:Oh, that's so much fun. I'm excited for you and for everyone.
Speaker 1:That's excited, that it's at the beginning of this, this challenge, because, like I said, being of service is is part of the yoga practice and I've never done anything like this before.
Speaker 2:So I'm very excited about it. Yay, that'd be good we're doing lots of new things in May. Yes, it's going to be awesome, so Want to let's maybe talk about what it is.
Speaker 1:Yes, what's for? Yes, yeah. So this experience is a 30 day experience. It's going to be completely guided by myself and D, so we'll post every day. We'll post. You're also going to get an email every day with prompt, with ideas, and the idea is just to be present. It's going to weave together movement, breath, work, meditation, a little bit of journaling and just being like intentional and present yeah, and it's.
Speaker 2:I think it's important to mention. We're doing this over instagram, so you'll get your emails with. You'll get your emails every day with prompts and with some information, and you know who to follow all the rules and all the things, and it's for anybody. So, whether you are a seasoned practitioner, whether you are new to yoga, whether you've never even practiced yoga before, you just want to reset and bring some like I don't know ritual and and um yeah, newness into your life, craving meaningful ways to, to bring yourself back to your center. Um, so every day, you'll get a new prompt in your inbox and you can do it in your own time, your own pace, and revisit things as you need. It's designed to be flexible, empowering and fun. It's going to be a sacred space for self inquiry and embodiment. It's not about perfect pose, it's about the presence. You know we keep saying that, but I think that's probably what we really want to drive home to everybody.
Speaker 1:Yes, yeah, cause I mean I've done, I've done yoga challenges before and it's it's strictly about, like you know, one day is an arm balance and one day it's just strictly about the poses, and I know we both wanted to talk about this for a really long time. It's just like the, the practice beyond the poses, like why yoga is so impactful off the mat, and I think that this challenge is really going to highlight that.
Speaker 2:And I think that this challenge is somebody else out there that's listening or wherever, that also needs this. So you know you and I are both going to be doing this alongside. So I think one of the really fun things, too, is we want this to be a community. We want this to be an event where people are. You know, maybe you meet somebody new or you have different, you get to see different perspectives, like I be like mid to late spring at that point which is crazy to think about.
Speaker 1:Um, but we're just moving into. I said it when we first started. It's funny Cause it's like birthday season for us. It's like you, you this month and, uh, june for me. But I always feel like the summer energy is just so, it just keeps getting heightened. So this like swirl of energy that we feel now like it just feels like almost overstimulating. So this will be like the perfect grounding 30 days before, before summer yeah, yeah, I'm on a different time. I know, I'm true, I know.
Speaker 1:I'm on a different time, but I thought about that as it came out of my mouth, but I mean it kind of the same for you because, like I mean fall, it's like now, you're like culminating all of the center the seasons are changing.
Speaker 2:Where I am, we're starting to go into our renees season. So it is, you know, and even I can still I don't particularly watch, I don't the news on tv or anything, but I can still feel the chaotic energies of the world. And you know, even in my own life, like I will share that, even in my own life, there's a lot of things happening right now that feel chaotic in my nervous system. And to be able to have something like this in community and to be leading it with you feels really good and like natural. You know I will say that, and so I'm excited to do it and to bring myself back in and you know, I think we also touch upon this a lot when you and I have conversations is like to always be a student yeah, I teach yoga, but also it's important, like I'm sure I'm going to learn a lot of new things going through this, and that's one of the reasons also why I'm excited.
Speaker 1:So yeah same. Like I kind of feel like it's going to. Like I always say there's. Like when I first started teaching yoga, my cousin brought me to a rock climbing class and I had never done that before and so I got to see what it was like to be a beginner, because then I ended up teaching beginner yoga. But when you're practicing for so long, you kind of forget what it's like to be a beginner. So it was a good reminder of what it felt like to be a beginner and I feel like that this, with this challenge like even though I've been practicing for 13 years, I've been teaching for almost 10, like there is something about this challenge that makes me feel like a beginner.
Speaker 2:Yeah, but that's good, it's so good.
Speaker 1:No, there's so much magic in being a beginner and you get to look at things with new eyes. So, like you said, like it's going to reinvigorate. There's a there's a great book that I read through my 500 hour teacher training with booty and it was called how yoga works, and I've talked about it before on this podcast. I thought it was going to be a textbook and I was like, oh great, like another dry yoga textbook, like I literally physically didn't think that I would be able to handle it.
Speaker 1:But it was actually a fictional story about how this one woman, like, was traveling through this village. She ended up in jail. She didn't do anything wrong, but they just different time period, like the 12th century, um. So she got put in jail just basically for being a woman yoga teacher, um, but she simultaneously changed the whole village by teaching the police captain yoga, and so part of her punishment was like she had to prove that she was a yoga teacher in order to let her out of jail, and so she taught the chief of police yoga, and through teaching him yoga, it had a ripple effect through the whole village and she ended up getting out of jail. She, you know she and she transformed the whole village by by teaching, just like one of the leaders, yoga and it had just like this amazing trickle-down effect and, um, that's part of my inspiration for this like if you haven't read that book.
Speaker 2:You should read the book I was just gonna ask you, could I have a pen in my hand. Can you please tell me the?
Speaker 1:um, let me, let me google it, because I don't wanna, I don't wanna fuck it up it's all right you won't.
Speaker 2:Yeah, that sounds really, um, that sounds very, very like it would be an inspiration for something, or even just in, not even as a teacher, just in everyday, everyday life. Have you ever read? Breakfast with Buddha.
Speaker 1:No, I'll add it to my list, though I love, I love these kind of books. Yeah, how Yoga Works. It's like an orange cover.
Speaker 2:Okay, how Yoga Works. I'm sure I can find it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, that's awesome. Yeah, christy McNally and Geshi Michael Roach, but great story and I have like, as a yoga teacher, great resource. I have probably like 50 tabs in it because it does a great job of going through all the limbs of yoga in a very easily digestible way. Um, and that's what I wanted this challenge to be. I wanted to talk about all the limbs of yoga, but make it digestible and modern. Sometimes it's hard when we're talking about yoga, it's like a 5,000 year old plus science. Um, so, to just bring it back to how it can be so relevant in our modern lives, I think it's so important.
Speaker 2:Yes, I agree with you. Yeah, and I think that it's. I think it's like we said earlier, like I, I just want to have fun with it and learn and learn and make it, as you said, digestible and not like don't have to be afraid to try. You know, it's not going to be very complicated, it's free. Yeah it's free.
Speaker 1:It's going to come into your inbox every single day, so you will not have to think about.
Speaker 2:well, there will be stuff that you have to think about, but it be very mapped out for you yeah, so it's super easy to follow and it's going to help you feel more grounded, intentional in yourself and with your, hopefully, your daily life, um, hopefully also bring more peace your mind, your body, to your soul. I think that's too big a big picture here, just like a reconnection with yourself and a community that's like-minded.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's a great way to get aligned.
Speaker 2:Yes, yeah, so yeah, do we want to share how to join?
Speaker 1:Yes, so there will be a link. We'll link it in the show notes and then I'm sure, if you follow us on social media, we'll probably be posting about it from now until the end of May, so get ready to hear about it yeah, and we'll come.
Speaker 2:I think we talked about this too. Like we will, we'll probably do a couple of instagram lives just to answer any questions that might come up. So if anybody does have any questions or inquiries about you, know more specific details or anything, please reach out to either one of us and um, we'll. Maybe we'll save questions or something for one of those um lives and we'll be there every step of the way.
Speaker 1:So you have us through the entire challenge. We're here to help. We're here to guide you, to help, inspire you um, and it begins.
Speaker 2:If we're going to start on may 1st, may 1st, it's happening. May 1st, is the? What is that um in english? On thursday? I can't think so. Thursday, may, may 1st, and there's gonna be giveaways which we'll tell you as we get closer to the date. Yeah, so it's an invitation, not an obligation. Come as you are, be as authentic, be your authentic self and don't show up for anybody else. Show up for yourself and have some fun.
Speaker 2:Yeah, have some fun, so we're excited to. We're excited to host this and, yeah, I am so looking forward to it.
Speaker 1:So, um, if you want to sign up, you can sign up through the link in the show notes or I'm sure it'll be in our bios on our Instagrams. If you don't follow us on Instagram, now is a great time to do that. I can also link that in the show notes, so you can just click and and give us a quick follow, um, and, like we said, you're going to receive a welcome email Once you sign up using the link. Um, it will give you all the details, the rules, the start dates. We're going to talk, probably as we get closer, about some prizes, so I think we decided we're gonna pull three winners at the end yeah, three winners at the end one, two, three um three winners at the end.
Speaker 1:The only thing is you have to post um for all of the prompts by the end of the challenge, which is what may 31st I think may has 31 days.
Speaker 2:31 days, yes, so we'll give that extra day.
Speaker 1:We'll give that extra day to get all of the um, the posts and then we'll pick the winners, maybe on that weekend. That, yeah, like that sunday yeah, sunday is the first of june yeah that would be a fun way to kick off my birthday month.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, and that's awesome. It's like we're kicking this off with my birthday.
Speaker 1:I know. So if you're listening to this episode on Tuesday the 8th, go wish Dee a happy birthday when you follow her on Instagram.
Speaker 2:Thank you Yay.
Speaker 1:I'm so excited about this. Is there anything else that we need to share with, with people?
Speaker 2:Um, I feel like you. I mean, I'm sure this will be sent in the email, but you know you really don't need. You don't even need a mat to do this. No, need a journal and a pen. To be honest, like honest, like that might be all you need and your smartphone because you have to post things, but like other than that, you know it's. This is just a very just, be creative, have fun and, yeah, I'm excited, so don't take it too seriously Don't take it, invite a friend to join you.
Speaker 1:This is always like a fun thing to do with someone because you can help hold each other accountable, Like I know, when I first started yoga, my best friend Nikki and I we started going together and it was a great way to just like make sure that we made that space and time to go and to be there. So I always think like the buddy system it works.
Speaker 2:Yeah, accountability, think like the buddy system it works. Yeah, accountability, I think, is huge. Yeah, and I think that that's that that might be. You know, part of this for me, too, is like I need to be held accountable. So I know you and I both just as yeah, you and I as co-creators of this, you know, I feel like we've done a very good job of holding each other accountable, so it'll be really fun to be able to share this with that energy with other people yeah, I mean I literally could not have done this.
Speaker 1:I wouldn't have done this by myself, I wouldn't have gotten this far. It would have just been like an idea that I had that went out into the ethers and then was like, oh, that's a good idea. It was was meant to be baby, it was meant to be, it was so meant to be. So let this challenge be a little love letter to your soul, a little reminder that small, short daily practices can shift your entire life. So if something is whispering yes to you, I hope you follow it. That's your intuition telling you that this is the space to be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, and honor the journey. Whether you do one day or if you do all 30 days with us, you're still showing up, you're still choosing you, and that is you know.
Speaker 1:Yes, and I think the great thing about this my friend, kat, who has also been on the podcast before, posted a couple of days ago this really great reel where she was like you don't have to do it right now, but, like, even if you save this reel and you bring it back up in six months from now, like that's, you'll have all of the prompts, so this is something that can carry you through. You don't have to share it if you aren't feeling like you want to share it on on instagram and be part of the challenge in that way. But if you want to just practice privately because sometimes, like that's hard to be vulnerable, especially, um, when you put things like this out there on the internet for like judgment of all people so, like, even if you just use the prompts whenever to let this, which is what this challenge is called the deepen your, your practice challenge, so let it be whatever you need it to be.
Speaker 2:Yeah, exactly Beautifully put.
Speaker 1:Thank you so much for listening to the nearly enlightened podcast. If you're feeling inspired, be sure to subscribe, share this episode with someone you love and check out the links in the show notes and sign up for the challenge. Remember you already have everything you need inside of you. The answers are already within. Thank you for being here and we'll talk to you next time.