Get Merry

In this episode, we take inspiration from the iconic “Mean Girls” scene where the Plastics nitpick their flaws. We chat about self-criticism, body image, social media comparisons and how to choose a path of self-acceptance instead. If you're sick of those thoughts... "all the things wrong with me" kinda thoughts... tune in!This is what we spoke about during the episodeSocial media and influencers affect the skincare culture which leads to young girls wanting anti-aging products.How do we welcome in less comparison and judgement, and more peace, more acceptance and joy?Practising self-acceptance daily is a reminder of the truth that you are amazing just as you are. This is why we created MerryBody.You can't just practise self-acceptance in the moments where you need it.If you put a pause in between that self-criticism thought, it allows you to add reasoning and questioning of that thought.Carla just laughed off a comment about her postpartum belly. That's self-acceptance!Self-acceptance doesn't mean complacency. It means taking care of yourself holistically, not just being "thin" or what the world thinks you should look or feel like.If you're not yet a MerryBody member, sign up for the 7-day trial not just to exercise daily but also to practise self-acceptance.If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week we ran a Chakra Workshop and decided to publish it to our podcast. During the session we chat about the 7 main Chakras, where they are within the body, what they're linked to in regards to emotions, spiritual and physical.The highlight of the session is a guided colour visualisation to welcome balance and awareness of each of these energy centres. Then we finish the session with a short Q+ A about our upcomoing Yoga Teacher Training!If you enjoy this chat and it's sparked a big curiosity, our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 could be a great next step for you. Our very last early bird session is now live!This is what we spoke about during the episodeChakra translates, in Sanskrit, to wheel or disc, they are also known as energy centers. Each of these energy centres corresponds to different aspects of your life.The Base Chakra or the Muladhara chakra (red) is right at the base of the spine and represents our safety, our stability, our physical needs, and how grounded we feel.The Sacral Chakra or Svadhisthana (orange) is our Chakra just below the navel that's linked to our creativity and emotional health.The Solar Plexus Chakra, or Manipura (yellow), is located in the upper abdomen and is linked to your inner power, confidence and self-discipline.The Heart Chakra or the Anahata chakra (emerald green or pale dusty pink) is right into the center of your chest and is linked to love, compassion, and connection for yourself and for others.Vishuddha Chakra or the Throat Chakra (blue) is linked to the idea of speaking up or speaking your truth.The Third Eye chakra, or Ajna (indigo), is linked to your intuition or inner wisdom. When you are balancing your third eye, you will trust your intuition and feel like you have a very clear mind.The Crown Chakra or Sahasrara (bright light white or violet) is also known as the Thousand Petal Lotus. You'll feel connected to something greater when this chakra is balanced.Experience the beauty of colour visualisation in this Chakra workshop! From the base of your spine to the crown of your head, embrace the vibrant life force within and feel more centred than ever before.We answer some of your Yoga Teacher Training questions.If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we dive deep into the concept of Yoga Sutra 2.33 Pratipaksha Bhavana. But really, we go on all kinds of tangents! From global issues like Gen0cide and climate change, to bringing self-awareness to our own reactions and letting go of control.And also! We are running this FREE workshop soon! During the workshop, you will learn how to tune into your body, mind, emotions and energy with your chakras! We invite you to a chakra workshop happening on the 16th of April.We're going to go through each of the chakras and talk about how you can balance and align each of them in a very practical way that will help drive self-awareness and focus your energy.Hop on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 to sign up for the masterclass!This is what we spoke about during the episodeWhen you're overwhelmed by negative thoughts, choose to cultivate the opposite. But just like everything in Yoga, this is a practice. It doesn't just happen.Pratipaksha Bhavana is a tool that helps you stay in alignment to the Yamas and Niyamas. Listen to our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas.The wild world we're living in and how it's affecting our mental and emotional state.The emotional rollercoaster we all ride and how Yoga philosophy helps us stay grounded.Nischala Joy Devi's translation and interpretation of Pratipaksha Bhavana helps to change your attitude rather than hoping to change the situation or the people who cause you to be unhappy. Anand Mehrotra's translation talks about how Sutra 2.33 is all about practising the Yamas and Niyamas. When you find yourself uncertain and terrified by life, use your tools and bring Ishvara Pranidhana into your consciousness. Surrender. Powerful reminder: you can't control others, but you can choose your response.Navigate anxiety by welcoming in excitement for your life. Yoga Sutras are wonderful tools and constant companions to guide you and help you move through life.If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is inspired by Winnie the Pooh.There is no hurry. We shall get there someday." — Winnie the PoohAlso! If you are into a little bit of woo woo, but not too much woo, this is for you!Learn how to tune into your body, mind, emotions and energy with your chakras! We invite you to a chakra masterclass happening on the 16th of April. We're going to go through each of the chakras and talk about how you can balance and align each of them in a very practical way that will help drive self-awareness and focus your energy.Hop on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 to sign up for the masterclass!This is what we spoke about during the episodeEverything moves at a rapid pace, attention spans are getting shorter than ever, It's time to slow down.When it comes to business, we can't just sit back and let things happen. Slowing down is about presence and experiencing life.Meditation is one of the ways to live a slower present life. It helps you go through life situations with less stress and more calm. Try this Positive Affirmation meditation. Try this meditation: I Am Strong.Consider a digital detox. Swap your morning scroll for a mindful moment.We are making some updates to the MerryBody app and one of the goals is to help our members be able to track and celebrate their wins.If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about the importance of intentionally making time for the things you love and the experiences that fill your life with joy and meaning. Because life is not a forever thing!This is what we spoke about during the episodeEmma had dinner with a musician friend and talked about whether or not he should keep playing.Money is really important, and so is feeling joy; sometimes, how you make money does not bring joy.Do you allow enough time for the things that light you up?We don't live to work. We work to live.Planning trips and adventures with family, even if inconvenient or costly, can add richness to your life.It's important to not let ambition consume you so that you miss all the other important things you love.The practice of Yoga is not about changing your body. It's about changing how you perceive the world around you and how you live your life.The ultimate lesson inside the Bhagavad Gita is "show up, do the work, and do the work for the sake of the work itself, not for the fruits of the action".If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever thought about getting Botox? No? Then, welcome to the No Botox Club! In this episode inspired by a reel that Emma shared yesterday, we chat about self-acceptance in a world obsessed with youth and botox.Also! We are so excited about our upcoming Breathe and Meditation Masterclass! Hop on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 to get the invite!This is what we spoke about during the episodeEvery year, every wrinkle is a blessing. Celebrate the aging process!We grew up with the pressure of needing to be thin and obsession with dieting that really impacted our health and lives negatively. That's why we began practising and devoting our time and life to self-acceptance.Carla recalls her botched nose job experience. Listen to Episode 298: this is why I regret my nose job.Are cosmetically altered and botox faces the 'new normal face'?Lack of facial expression as a result of getting Botox is an extreme issue in regard to children developing emotional intelligence.There are too many potential side effects of Botox from mild to moderate pain, droopy eye lids and even death (yes it's stated on the risks!)! Is the smooth face that doesn't move really worth it when you can get all these risks?If you find yourself feeling like you have to get Botox, check in with yourself. Who are you surrounding yourself with? Because not everyone in the world is getting Botox even though it may feel like they are.There are other alternative self-care practices such as lymphatic massage using the gua sha. You can also go to an infrared sauna, but nice skin care.Beautify yourself in whatever way you want, but also acknowledge that we can't stay a certain way forever.Do some research and consider the pros and cons of Botox.You can practise self-acceptance through Yoga, Pilates, and meditation. That's what we do!Remember that you are amazing just as you are! If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this podcast episode, we chat about how to get through the lows of life. After all they are natural and part of life, perhaps it's more about embracing low emotions instead of resisting them. Plus we chat about the small daily rituals that we do to help us get through the lows of life.Also! We are so excited about our upcoming Breathe and Meditation Masterclass! Hop on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 to get the invite!This is what we spoke about during the episodeThere's a cyclone warning on the Gold Coast, which is very unusual.Accepting the lows as a natural part of life is going to help us get through the lows.When you can't change something, the only thing you can control is how you deal with the situation.Embrace what is. You don't have to embrace it and like it. Embrace it and be in it, live through it, and get through it.Something that you love unconditionally, like a pet, helps you move through difficult emotions and allow healing.Having connections and people you can lean on is another way to deal with low emotions.Meditation, Yoga and Breathwork are all ways to help you get through the lows of life. Exercise is not just about physical strength. It helps you go through all the feelings.If you loved this episode, share it with friends and family. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're excited to be back in our recording chairs, or as in Emma's case, the floor! After a brief hiatus, we're hitting play on a series of new episodes. In this episode, we chat about the impact of everyday actions on life's direction. How the days make up the weeks, the weeks make up the months, the months make up the years... and the years make up the life.This is what we spoke about during the episodeConsistent small steps lead to dreams becoming reality.Connect to your heart. Yoga, meditation, or going out in nature helps you reconnect to yourself.With screen time and distractions all around, it's important to create a dedicated space and time to tune into your true desires and create actions that align with your heart.Big goals, dreams and ideas, without action stay ideas and dreams.Failure is part of the journey. It's not about never failing, but always learning and allowing the failure to lead you to the next thing.Are you working on any passion-filled or bliss-filled pursuits? If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us at our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for you to finally let go of perfection! But not in every aspect of your life... just some. We recommend it anyway, yes, progress beats perfection every single time! Because perfection can often lead to paralysis, procrastination and burnout.Also! You are invited to a Free Masterclass we're hosting on the 20th of March. It's all about your breath and meditation. You will experience a live guided meditation and breathwork to release stress and make you feel amazing. They'll be practices that you can implement into your life whenever you need them. They're very easy to remember and easy to do, with a great positive impact. To get the invitation, simply hot on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025.This is what we spoke about during the episodeIn this age of Instagram filters, Botox, we need this message more than ever!Perfectionism can be paralysing. We've been there! But releasing that pressure lets you live life with a lens of acceptance and presence.Our Yoga Teacher Training has been a transformative journey for us. That steered us away from perfectionism.Embrace progress over perfection. Done is better than perfect!When you release perfection, you allow yourself to feel more joy because there's less pressure.Focus on doing your best rather than comparing to others.Show up, try your best... letting go of perfection does not mean you can be careless. Well you can do what you want, but carelessness is our pet peeve.Remember you are amazing just as you are right here and right now. If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

You're probably breathing wrong and it's impacting your energy, focus and even your mood. It might not be something you think about often, but poor breathing habits can lead to stress, fatigue and tension. The good news? With a few simple shifts, you can unlock more vitality, calm, and clarity... just by breathing better.Also, if you love this episode you should sign up to our free Breath and Meditation Masterclass! Hop on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 to get the invite!This is what we spoke about during the episodeTaking four deep breaths in and out through your nose has the power to shift you from the sympathetic nervous system into the parasympathetic nervous system.The most amazing tool and the most underused tool to better balanced health is our breath.Take a breath, meditate, do a pranayama, or do whatever breathing exercise you like.Pranayama is the fourth limb of the eight limbs of yoga. Listen to Episode 329: The 8 limbs of Yoga explained or read our blog post How To Do Yoga? | The 8 Limbs of Yoga Explained.Pranayama can be translated as life force control. It is the life force within the breath and linked to how much vitality you feel."We don't eat all the time. We don't drink all the time, but we do breathe all the time. So your breath is the most important and vital means of allowing prana into and out of the body. " — Andrew Mournehis, our philosophy teacher inside the MerryBody Yoga Teacher TrainingBKS Iyengar states in his book Light on Pranayama, " Pranayama, the yogic art of breathing, leads to a control of the emotions, which in turn brings stability, concentration, and mental poise."Nasal breathing has so many benefits!Lengthening the breath is one way to get you feeling calm and less stressed.If you loved this episode, share it with a friend or a family member who wants to learn how to breathe better. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find yourself rushing from one errand to the next? Rushing from when you wake up to when you fall in a heap on the couch? Want to stop rushing? Tune in to this Get Merry episode!Carla describes it as being a chicken, where she gets Denny to sleep and runs around the house ticking off the to-do list. Sounds familiar?This is what we spoke about during the episodeConstant rushing pushes your nervous system into overdrive. When you're rushing, you're putting your body and your mind into a stress response.Awareness and shifting up your routine can create more happiness and more ease.When you're rushing, do you even get things done faster?Yoga, Pilates and meditation are not only for your body, but they're also a workout for your mind and presence.Being organised also helps. Write down stuff on a list, on a whiteboard or on a notebook.If you can spare 5 minutes of your busy day to practice your presence through meditation and doing breathwork exercises help you become more present. Guided meditations inside our MerryBody app are perfect for you.Do you find yourself rushing? If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Carla takes us through her 37-hour birth story. Although she aimed for a 'calm birth' there was nothing calm about baby Denny's arrival! Although we have an amazing happy ending we better put a trigger warning on here. As Carla says... it was wild!This is what we spoke about during the episodeAt 38 weeks, Carla had an acupuncture session, 1 of the 2 'induction sessions'. In the end she only needed one! Contractions began soon after.Carla's intense lower back pain indicated posterior pregnancy. This was the worst pain she has ever felt in her entire life. There was nothing calm about this birth.Carla got the epidural and Talia, one of the midwives, internally turned the baby anterior so Carla could finally push him out.She experienced the "ring of fire" moment where the head was coming out and the epidural did not mask the stretching pain.When baby Denny went out and started crying, it was the most amazing sound in the world.Flexibility in birth plans is important and breathwork is very helpful.Nothing can prepare you for what it feels like and for what you experience in the first couple of post-birth months.Cherish each fleeting moment and be present, especially in parenthood.If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are super excited to be back recording this episode after Carla had a baby (9 weeks ago). Keep an eye out for the birth story in the next episode, she wasn't quite ready to share it yet. In this episode, we have a quick chat about baby stuff (like how loud babies fart) and also about doing hard things, because things can be hard, but hard isn't always bad, right?Also, Emma's microphone did not have the best connection... for some reason, something to do with my internet and zoom. Anyway, it's not too bad, so still press play!This is what we spoke about during the episodeCarla had a baby! YAY!Exercise is not always easy, but the reward is worth it.Sometimes it's not the action that's hard, but it's starting action. Finding the motivation is hard.When you have zero motivation, the best thing to do is take action. PUSH THROUGH the resistance. The book "The Tea Rose" makes us appreciate the luxury of modern living compared to the manual labour of the past.Running a business with a baby is really hard, preparation and having good systems in place are important (haha).Have a routine, but be flexible.We are against dieting. But, we're not against eating healthily.The hardest thing is to change your mindset.We also share the unexpected challenges of new motherhood, from feeding and burping to celebrating milestones like baby Denny's first smiles and giggles.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Check out all the Get Merry Podcast episodes on iTunes and Overcast and Stitcher for Androids. Plus we are on Spotify over HERE! If you loved this episode, if you love this podcast, we would appreciate you leaving us a review on whatever podcast app you're listening to.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about people-pleasing and the idea that not everyone is going to like you. How do you deal with this and have the courage to be disliked?You can learn more about our 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here.This is what we spoke about during the episodePeople-pleasing and forever seeking people's approval, limit opportunities and can stop you from stepping towards goals and dreams.It's okay if some people don't love you, like you, align with you or get you. When everyone approves of you and likes you. But do you approve of yourself?Go inwards for a moment and choose you. Get your own approval.Apple's iconic marketing strategy did not try to please everyone but targeted the misfits and creatives.Our Yoga Teacher Training's underlying mission is to teach you to teach yoga, but with self-acceptance at the forefront.We love how our MerryBody members and Yoga Teacher trainees are passing on lessons of self-acceptance.Being you is your greatest super power! If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part of our Yoga Teacher Series, we chat ideas and opportunities you can take to kickstart your Yoga teaching journey.You can learn more about our 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here.This is what we spoke about during the episodeFind a local Facebook group where yoga teachers hang out and find class cover opportunities, which can lead to permanent positions.If there is a studio that you love, put yourself out there. Network and build a relationship with the studio owner.Get your foot in the door and offer classes at a community rate or even free of charge for people to get to know your teaching style.Join local council initiatives and explore funding opportunities to teach yoga.Tap into other industries or events for wellness opportunities and offer your service.Build your social media presence to share your values and mission, and for potential clients to research and connect with you.Teach private classes and find an opportunity to collaborate and network with other professionals that are aligned with what you're doing.Search for yoga teaching positions offered in hotels, resorts, hospitals, other treatment facilities, or in events like festivals.Expanding your network is the key to finding more yoga teaching opportunities.Teach yoga online for schools, industries, and other work industries.Run your own retreats or host small groups or 1 on 1.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part of our Yoga Teacher Series, we reflect on our conversations with our trainees from the 2024 cohort of MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training and the unexpected lessons that came from it.You can learn more about our 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here.This is what we spoke about during the episodeYoga Teacher Training extends much further than learning how to teach yoga and improving your physical Asana practice.Setting and accomplishing a goal during the training builds self-belief.A lot of self-reflection is invited as Yoga Teacher Training allows the opportunity to reflect on who you are and how you want to live your life.Because of the increase of focused practice of meditation, Pranayama and Asana during the training, enhanced self-awareness comes with it.Self-acceptance becomes a profound practice as you dive deeper into yoga's philosophy.Everything you learn on the mat or in the Yoga Teacher Training ripples out and touches every aspect of your life.Self-compassion and self-forgiveness are also unexpected lessons that you will take away from the MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training.Despite being an online program, the community bonds that we make are strong and lasting, creating meaningful connections.Emotional resilience and dealing with change also come from the training, as well as letting go of expectations and surrendering.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We received a lovely compliment: "I love the way you do business." This episode is inspired by those kind words.This is what we spoke about during the episodeStaying true to your moral compass is important.If you're only focused on building a business and nothing else in your life, then every other important part of your life gets forgotten about.Business pivots.Following our bliss is the big overarching theme in our business journey.Keeping a lean team allows for deep connections and meaningful support to our community.In this digital age where faster is better and less personable, for us, personal connections matter. From 1-on-1 check-ins with our Yoga Teacher Trainees to sending physical tokens of appreciation, building and nurturing genuine relationships has been our cornerstone.Get your head around finances and accounting for profit and loss.Foundations and processes are important for business longevity.Say yes to the things that you really want to say yes to. Say no to things you really want to say no to. If you have strong foundations and the right people leading the team, survival and thriving is all possible in an economic downturn.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time to go behind the scenes of what it's like to be a Yoga Teacher, we talk about the things you need to do to overcome the fear of Teaching Yoga.We go far deeper into these subjects inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If this series sparks your interest we'd encourage you to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you!This is what we spoke about during the episodeThe nervousness and anxiety associated with teaching a Yoga class is natural. You're never going to feel ready. You just have to jump in.Writing your sequence of what you're going to teach helps you prepare and be confident for a class or presentation.Using the "treasure map" approach or breaking down your poses help you overcome the anxiety of memorising your sequence. If you miss something, it's okay!Before walking into a class, get yourself grounded and calm, take a deep breath and switch your mindset to "teacher" mode.Be prepared for surprises such as when someone is running late or the music stops playing.Keep it simple and focus on repetition in sequences. Breath cues also help with the flow.The more you practise teaching, the more you progress.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we shift from the discussions about Yogic philosophies to Carla's pregnancy update (she was at 36 weeks when we recorded this episode).This is what we spoke about during the episodeCarla's been doing all the prep work like hypnobirthing, meditations and affirmations to feel calm and positive about the birth.Carla's having a dream pregnancy where she hasn't had any issues like sciatica or pelvic pain, aside from a little bit of back pain. Overall, it's been amazing!We're very grateful we have a lean business structure and a small team for flexibility.Healthy movement methods that release those feel-good endorphins including Pilates, yoga, and walking. If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 10 of our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas. Ishvara Pranidhana is the fifth Niyama and it translates to surrender.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If this series sparks your interest we'd encourage you to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you!This is what we spoke about during the episodeNischala Joy Devi translates Ishvara Pranidhana as wholehearted dedication. Through wholehearted dedication, we become intoxicated with the divine.What does Ishvara Pranidhana look like in our modern world? Ishvara Pranidhana is looked at as one of the most important Niyamas. If we are to practise this, everything else just falls into place.If you are looking for a fast track to enlightenment and bliss, combine Tapas, Svadhyaya, and Ishvara Pranidhana. These are described as Kriya Yoga or yoga in action.The whole reason to practise yoga is to quieten the mind.If you're just joining us, we recommend starting from Part 1 to fully experience the logical flow of these Yogic philosophies. Here's a quick recap: We've covered Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (proper use of energy), Aparigraha (detachment), Saucha (simplicity), Santosha (acceptance), Tapas (discipline), Svadhyaya (self-study). Listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas Series413: Exploring Brahmacharya in Everyday Life | Yamas Series414: The Art of Detachment, Aparigraha in Yoga | Yamas Series415: Exploring Saucha with Simplicity | Niyamas Series416: Santosha, the Life Saving Practice | Niyamas Series417: Devotional Discipline, the Power of Tapas | Niyamas Series418: The Path of Self-Study, Svadhyaya | Niyamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 9 of our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas. Svadhyaya is the fourth Niyama and it's the practice of self-study and study of the divine.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If this series sparks your interest we'd encourage you to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you!This is what we spoke about during the episodeNischala Joy Devi translates Svadhyaya as the sacred study of the divine through scripture, nature and introspection. If we do that, this will guide us to the supreme self.Svadhyaya invites us to look within and at the external, and realise that it's all connected.It invites us to the questions "who am I?", "why am I here?", and "how do I wanna live my life?".Always be willing for your concept of reality to change as your consciousness brightens. We have to be willing to let go of the old to welcome in the new.These Yamas and Niyamas can be incorporated into your daily yoga practice—both on and off the mat.If you're just joining us, we recommend starting from Part 1 to fully experience the logical flow of these Yogic philosophies. Here's a quick recap: We've covered Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (proper use of energy), Aparigraha (detachment), Saucha (simplicity), Santosha (acceptance), and Tapas (discipline). Listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas Series413: Exploring Brahmacharya in Everyday Life | Yamas Series414: The Art of Detachment, Aparigraha in Yoga | Yamas Series415: Exploring Saucha with Simplicity | Niyamas Series416: Santosha, the Life Saving Practice | Niyamas Series417: Devotional Discipline, the Power of Tapas | Niyamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 8 of our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas. Tapas is the third Niyama and it traditionally translates to discipline.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If this series sparks your interest we'd encourage you to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you!This is what we spoke about during the episodeSometimes the word "discipline" comes with negative connotations, so we like to add in "devotional discipline". Even when we're practising discipline, we need an element of love, compassion and forgiveness.Tapas is required if you would like to welcome any kind of change.Things are not always pleasant, but we have to move through those obstacles in order to keep going forward.In regards to MerryBody, Tapas is not just about being disciplined, but it's about how we do the things that we're being disciplined with.Tapas isn't about pushing ourselves to the brink. It's about honouring our bodies and minds, and knowing when to rest.Nischala Joy Devi translates Tapas as living life with zeal and sincerity. When we are disciplined, it invokes this inner flame within us.If you're just joining us, we recommend starting from Part 1 to fully experience the logical flow of these Yogic philosophies. Here's a quick recap: We've covered Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (proper use of energy), Aparigraha (detachment), and Saucha (simplicity). Listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas Series413: Exploring Brahmacharya in Everyday Life | Yamas Series414: The Art of Detachment, Aparigraha in Yoga | Yamas Series415: Exploring Saucha with Simplicity | Niyamas Series416: Santosha, the Life Saving Practice | Niyamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 7 of our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas. Santosha is the second Niyama and it translates to contentment and acceptance.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If anything within this Yama and Niyamas Series sparks your interest we'd suggest to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you! Exciting!This is what we spoke about during the episodePersonally and professionally, Santosha is the backbone of everything we do here at MerryBody. It was a life-changing practice for us, particularly for our body image.When you practise acceptance, suddenly, you feel free and able to experience joy just the way that you are. Then, you become more harmonious.Societal pressures affect our self-esteem and Santosha acts as a shield against them. And the more that you practice it, the more easily it comes.Nischala Joy Devi translates Santosha as when at peace and content with oneself and others, supreme joy is celebrated.Santosha is an agreement of faith that we make with our divine self. We no longer see ourselves in the things that we have or in what we look like, instead we identify with the person within.Yoga is so much more than a down dog or the splits. It's so much more than the physical practice. It goes so much deeper.If you're just joining us, we recommend starting from Part 1 to fully experience the logical flow of these Yogic philosophies. Here's a quick recap: We've covered Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (proper use of energy), Aparigraha (detachment), and Saucha (simplicity). Listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas Series413: Exploring Brahmacharya in Everyday Life | Yamas Series414: The Art of Detachment, Aparigraha in Yoga | Yamas Series415: Exploring Saucha with Simplicity | Niyamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 6 of our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas. Nischala Joy Devi translates the Niyamas as an evolution toward harmony. If you practice the 5 Niyamas, you will move toward a more harmonious you. Saucha is the first Niyama which is translated as detoxification and cleanliness.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If anything within this Yama and Niyamas Series sparks your interest we'd suggest to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you! Exciting!This is what we spoke about during the episodePatanjali reminds us to go a little bit deeper, Suacha is not just about taking a shower. Pumping of the Big 6 (Stop Chasing Pain on Instagram) is a wonderful way of practising Saucha or detoxification when starting your day and it only takes about 30 seconds. Tap under your collarbone, behind your ears, shoulders, stomach, groin, and behind the knees, then bounce!Nischala Joy Devi says that through simplicity and continual refinement, the body, thoughts, and emotions become clear reflections of the self within.Our inner luminosity shines through continual refinement.Where can we simplify? Where is it that less is actually more for you?If you're just joining us, we recommend starting from Part 1 to fully experience the logical flow of these Yogic philosophies. Here's a quick recap: We've covered Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), Brahmacharya (proper use of energy), and Aparigraha (detachment). Listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas Series413: Exploring Brahmacharya in Everyday Life | Yamas Series414: The Art of Detachment, Aparigraha in Yoga | Yamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 5 of our 10-part snack-sized Yoga philosophy series on the Yamas and Niyamas. Aparigraha is the 5th Yama which translates to detachment or the idea of non-hoarding, not keeping things or grasping on to things. Let's look a little bit deeper and think bigger about this idea of detachment.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If anything within this Yama and Niyamas Series sparks your interest we'd suggest to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you!This is what we spoke about during the episodeOur buying and consuming habits have gone too far for our planet.The practice of detachment allows us to enjoy the journey and become more present. The journey is the goal, not the destination.Nischala Joy Devi translates Aparigraha as acknowledging abundance. Take a moment to feel gratitude for the great blessings that surround you.This practice of Detachment turned our lives and beliefs upside down in an amazing way! If you're just joining us, we recommend starting from Part 1 to fully experience the logical flow of these yogic philosophies. Here's a quick recap: We've covered Ahimsa (non-violence), Satya (truth), Asteya (non-stealing), and Brahmacharya (proper use of energy). Listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas Series413: Exploring Brahmacharya in Everyday Life | Yamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 4 of our 10-part Yoga philosophy series where we tip toe, take snack bites (whatever you want to call it) into the Yamas and Niyamas. Brahmacharya is the 4th Yama and is traditionally translated to celibacy, but there is so much more to discuss!We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If anything within this Yama and Niyamas Series sparks your interest we'd suggest to continue following that spark... you never know where it may lead you!This is what we spoke about during the episodeSexual energy is one of the most natural human states of energy celebrated. Anand Mehrotra says "thinking that Patanjali was asking us to be celibate is ridiculous".Brahmacharya is not just about celibacy but also about channeling your energy and being aware of where your energy is going.It is a state of consciousness where you start to experience things based on their fullest value. When you look at a rose, you no longer label it as merely a rose, you start to look at it differently.Nishala Joy Devi says that Brahmacharya is the art of living a moderate life, but it can be challenging in our modern-day society of excess.If you missed the first three parts of this series, listen to:410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas Series412: The Practice of Asteya in Modern Life | Yamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 3 of our 10-part Yoga philosophy series where we dip our toes into the Yamas and Niyamas. It's a snack bite-sized dive into philosophy (haha). Satya is the 3rd of the 5 Yamas, and is traditionally translated to non-stealing.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here.This is what we spoke about during the episodeAsteya is not just about non-stealing of physical possessions. Being late is stealing time. Distracting ourselves where there is no need for distraction is stealing from our own present moment.Nishala Joy Devi translates Asteya as abiding in generosity and honesty. When we are honest and generous, we experience abundance.Asteya tells us not to steal, but as it expands our hearts, it says give. Don't wait for someone to ask. Be alert and never miss an opportunity to give, give, give.Make sure to give to yourself first: compassion, love, acceptance, non-judgment, understanding, forgiveness. The more we give these to ourselves, the more we give them to others as well.If you missed the first and second parts of this series, listen to 410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas Series and 411: Discovering Satya, the Power of Truth | Yamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 2 of our 10-part Yoga philosophy series where we dip our toes into the Yamas and Niyamas. Satya is the 2nd of the 5 Yamas.We go far deeper into these Philosophies inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here.This is what we spoke about during the episodeSatya translates to truth and integrity. Our thoughts, words and actions gain the power to manifest.Many of us have spent so much of our lives trying to please other people that we have forgotten what our truth is and who we really are.If you allow a moment to get quiet and peaceful, often it's when the truth will speak to you. Do you actually listen? Do you live that truth out?The more you follow and live your truth and show up with integrity, the easier it becomes.There's a little bit of magic when you begin something new. And, you have to step outside your comfort zone to experience that.If you missed the first part of this series, listen to 410: Embracing Ahimsa | The First Step in Our Yamas SeriesIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is Part 1 of our 10-part Yoga philosophy series where we dip our toes into the Yogic philosophies, starting with the Yamas and Niyamas. You'll realise that Yoga is so much more than just a downward-facing dog. Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training program over here.This is what we spoke about during the episodeYamas are the first limb of Yoga. Nishala Joy Devi, an amazing author and Yoga Teacher, translates the Yamas as practices that uncover our true nature.Yamas are often described as the "don'ts".Ahimsa, the first Yama, is often translated as non-violence. How can you show up with more love, with more kindness, not only for others, but also for yourself?Nishala Joy Devi translates Ahimsa as embracing, revenance, and love for all. We experience oneness. With love and kindness, we then experience a connection.Listen to our Chakra series: 353: Joy, Pleasure and the Sacral Chakra, 354: Confidence, self-esteem and the Solar Plexus Chakra, 355: Kindness, love, compassion and the Heart Chakra, 356: Communication, truth-telling and the Throat Chakra, 357: Intuition, making decisions and the Third Eye Chakra, 358: Your higher power, something bigger and the Crown ChakraIf you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is a special episode, we share our 108 Affirmation Meditation from the MerryBody App.Meditation welcomes mindfulness and focus, and this creates an ideal state for positive affirmation. Affirmations are positive statements that shift negative thoughts. You can use them to help reinforce your desired beliefs.Meditation and affirmations form a powerful duo for personal growth and wellbeing. Together, they amplify each other's effects, helping to rewire the brain for positivity and resilience. When combined, meditation calms the mind and cultivates focus, while affirmation welcomes self-confidence and motivation. Our MerryBody Members are loving this meditation, hear what some of them are saying about it.“I just completed the Feel Good Yoga class and finished off with the 108 affirmations, so good” - Jo “This morning my body still felt quite tired, normally I would have chosen a Yin class, but instead I pressed play on Nadi Shodhana pranayama and then the new meditation in the MB app, 108 affirmations (amazing! I highly recommend it).” - Allie “I just did the 108 Affirmations meditation. I feel so good now, your voice is so calming” - Irene “I just did 108 affirmations meditation too! How empowering is it?! So uplifting.” - Tiina This is what we spoke about during the episodeWe spoke about the power of Positive affirmations during last week's episode 408: Do positive affirmations work?Find a seat, or tune in while you're walking and experience a amazing shift in your thoughts. Join us for our upcoming 14 Day Challenge on the 20th of May, inside the MerryBody app. We will combine, Movement, Meditation and Affirmation. Download the app and start your 7 day free trial to take part.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about positive affirmations and their power to shift your mindset. They are very much part of our business journey. When we started our business (11 years ago now) we had them pinned up on all of our walls everywhere.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWe came to a point where we stopped believing in the power of positive affirmations but listening to the Founders Podcast reminded us of the importance of positive affirmations and a positive mindset.Positive affirmations are essential in shifting mindsets, especially in a stress-laden environment like managing a business.It's important to look at our thoughts and the words that are on repeat in our mind.Positive affirmations are not just woo-woo or whimsical magical teachings. Carla shares her hypnobirthing journey, where positive affirmations are practised, to let go of the stress and anxiety of giving birth.Positive affirmations can help regulate our emotions. If we shift our thoughts, our thoughts create the feelings.It might feel weird when you first welcome in positive affirmations about yourself but you must persist. Over time, the resistance starts to fade.The magic comes when you link it to a regular practice of your life such as yoga, Pilates, and meditation. If you want to feel the power of affirmation combined with movement and meditation, join our upcoming 14 Day Challenge on the 20th of May, inside the MerryBody app. Download the app and start your 7 day free trial.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Right now we have over 600 Yoga, Pilates, Yin, Barre and meditation MerryBody classes inside our App. One of our amazing Yoga teacher trainees asked us about the inspiration and decisions that go into the creation of these classes. Thanks for the question Sharon, this was such a fun conversation. This is what we spoke about during the episodeHow we first designed our first in-person Yoga and Pilates classes compared to now. We began filming 4 classes a day, now we are filming 10. You have to start somewhere, reflect, learn and then make it better.When you are organised and have a system, it creates the perfect environment for creativity to thrive.If you haven't tried our classes, sign up to our FREE Pilates class called Daily Dose Pilates or try our FREE Yoga class called Desk Worker Upper Yoga.If you're interested in joining the 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training, sign up for the waitlist.If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about everyday anxious thought loopholes that so many of us experience, and how we can better manage these.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWhat is the mind-body connection and how does it impact our physical and mental health?Your thoughts impact your feelings, and how you feel impact the actions you take.Exercise and movement release feel good hormones. If you are sedentary, it can lead to lower feelings and depression.Strengthen your mind-body connection and don't wait for the anxious thought to come. Do the breathwork, hit play on the yoga class and meditate.Meditation increases self-awareness and helps in managing your thoughts and reactions.Check in with the tools you're using for managing anxiety and hold on to the ones that work for you.Keep practising meditation despite initial discomfort and feel the benefits.How do you move through your anxious thoughts?If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Listen to this episode for a quick burst of motivation to open up your study books (or program). As we start week 1 of our 2024 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training. We chat about learning as adults and the challenges that come with it. And how do we approach learning and make sure we enjoy it? And get it done!This is what we spoke about during the episodeLearning is so accessible nowadays, it's easier to sign up for a course, but also easier to fail and not do it.It's balancing discipline, structure, flexibility, and joy in the learning process.When you learn something new, it's going to take time.Don't just focus on getting the results and forget the whole point of the learning.As we get older, it's really easy to just stop learning and just think that we know enough.What lights you up and what makes you feel excited? Learn about that!Some things can get in the way and derail our plans, so it's important to embrace flexibility and self-compassion.Release expectations and detach yourself from how the journey should look.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's been a crazy start to the year! We've been super inconsistent with the podcast, but here we are! In this episode, we chat about Carla's pregnancy and how we're preparing to balance nurturing a growing business and the arrival of a new life.This is what we spoke about during the episodeCarla is 22 weeks pregnant and well over the halfway mark. She has had no morning sickness and feels amazing!Emma thought the baby grew inside the placenta, inside the womb. Yes. Serious. Carla's baby bump has popped but she's struggled most with her boobs growing bigger. Her self-acceptance practice (from MerryBody) is so strong and this is helping her a lot. We are feeling confident (yet realistic) about balancing baby and business. We are officially starting our second cohort of the MerryBody Teacher Training on the 17th of March. We already have 27 cohort trainees. We are so excited!If you haven't signed up yet, now is the perfect time to join. It's going to be 16 weeks of potential life-transforming magic.It's been an amazing start to the year and we're ready for the coming months! Bring it on!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Check out all the Get Merry Podcast episodes on iTunes and Overcast and Stitcher for Androids. Plus we are on Spotify over HERE! If you loved this episode, if you love this podcast, we would appreciate you leaving us a review on whatever podcast app you're listening to.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for part 2! Emma shares more of her Roman adventure! This episode is more about the places to visit in this wonderful city, and we're not just talking about the Colosseum and the Trevi Fountain. Think, majestic medieval towns that are just a short drive from Rome. If you're a foodie, go back to Part 1 of this episode where we talked all about food in Rome.If you prefer to read, check out this epic blog post with lots of advice on what to do and where to eat in Rome!This is what we spoke about during the episodeTivoli is a small town on the mountain tops and a just a 40-minute drive away from Rome. Throughout history, noble people went to Tivoli for their summers to escape the Roman heat in summer. The Villa d'Este is an ancient Renaissance site with beautiful interiors and mind-blowing gardens.Caprarola is a small town in Lazio region, where Rome is also a part of. The Palazzo Farnese is a Renaissance mansion in Caprarola known for its pentagonal design and amazing frescoes or plaster wall paintings.The Rocca Calascio is a medieval castle on top of the Apennine mountains in Abruzzo.The Castello Orsini Odescalchi is a 15th century castle in the Bracciano region. Here you'll find a massive collection of weapons used during the war and spectacular views. Calcata is a little medieval village on top of a cliff that has a very Bohemian artistic feel with lots of arts and crafts. If you visit Tuscany, it must be an overnight trip to see the beautiful sites such as Volterra.When you go to Orvieto, a small town in Umbria, you can visit the Cathedral. Just book a little train trip from Rome and you're there.The Via Appia is one of the earliest and most important Roman roads of the ancient Republic.Trastevere is a historic neighbourhood known for its narrow cobblestone streets. You can go here for dinner or drinks.Ostia Antica is a massive archaeological site outside the main city. If you are a lover of history, you have to go here.The Aventine Keyhole is a beautiful view where you look through the keyhole and you will see perfectly framed St Peter's Basilica.There's just so much to see in Rome and six weeks were not enough. You could walk around the city centre every day and you'll see something new. I also really recommend going at different times of the day. When you travel to Rome. Ahhh, Roma! When you travel to Rome you experience so much, you learn so much about yourself, about the history and culture. You come back a different person.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hear Emma talk about her recent 6 week experience in Rome, Italy. This episode is all about food, from how to eat healthily in Italy to how to avoid tourist traps. Check out this page for all the extra links and more details. Daje!Also, my 6 weeks in Rome did not improve my Italian or pronunciation. Scusa! Piano piano. I also skipped so many things, I got overwhelmed! Ahhh well!This is what we spoke about during the episodeDon't go stressing about putting on weight in Italy. Time is too precious and there's too much fun and deliciousness to experience! Besides, in my opinion, the Italian typical diet is probably far healthier than the standard Australian or American diet. I talk about why I believe this. There's a huge focus on really fresh produce. There's a love and passion for food in general.If you're usually gluten-free (but not highly allergic or celiac) I invite you to consider trying the gluten in Italy. Eat the pasta and the pizza, and just see how you feel. Carla asks: How did you overcome the guilt and anxiety around food? Have a routine and something that gets you present and feeling positive about your body.Book restaurants later in the evening to experience authentic culture and avoid tourist traps. Don't eat dinner at 5:30pm (hahaha)If you want to maintain your budget, you can buy fresh produce from delis and markets to create meals at home.Pizza Nader is an amazing pizza place where you buy pizza al taglio made with ancient grains.Must-try foods in Rome: carbonara, cacio e pepe, alla gricia, all'amatriciana, artichokes, suppli, pizza Romana, puntarelleSweet treats in Rome: maritozzo, oh and of course cornetto.Pasta broth with broccoli was one of the most delicious pastas I've ever had. Italian food culture has played such an important role in healing my relationship with food. It has guided me from a past tainted by bulimia, body image issues and an obsession with dieting, to a present where I feel excitement, love and joy that food can bring.In the next week's episode, Emma chats about the places she visited in and outside of Rome.We'd love to hear it! If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Welcome to 2024! We feel like the first month has just been jampacked. Emma just got back two weeks ago from her 6-week trip to Rome. Her jetlag took about a week to get over (longer than normal!) but now we are back into everything in Merrymaker land. Can you belive it, on Sunday we'll celebrate our 11th year in business.On 17th of March, we'll start our 2nd round of Yoga Teacher Training. The first round was a huge project that was way bigger than we thought. This round is all about refinement and making small tweaks to make the program flow even better. We already have 21 amazing women joining us and the Early Bird special closes today, so if you have an inkling to join us, visit our site.This is what we spoke about during the episodeSurrender: our word for the year 2024We can only plan and implement so much, so having the intention of surrender reduces suffering and makes life more enjoyable.Letting go and trusting our path to create a more content and less stressful, anxious life.Our annual challenge, 21 Day I'm Already Amazing Challenge. If you're not a MerryBody member, you can still join us with a one-off payment.We are also running a live half-day urban retreat on the 17th of February on the Gold Coast, featuring Andrew, our philosophy teacher inside the Merry Body Teacher Training. Use the code MBLOVE and get some nice discounts for you, your friends, and your family.Carla's having a baby.. and it's a boy! In the next week's episode, let's all experience Rome, as Emma shares her experiences during her 6-week trip.What's your word for the year? We'd love to hear it! If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about the holiday blues, a common experience of feeling blue, sad, flat... during the holiday season. We provide 5 simple ways to help us navigate through it all.Read more about our Yoga Teacher Training HERE. Checkout the early bird rate! This is what we spoke about during the episodeLet go of expectations.Don't compare yourself to others or to past holiday seasons.Limit social media and welcome in JOMO (joy of missing out)!Make the effort to stay connected with your loved ones.Moving your body instantly puts you in a good mood and improves your mental health.Maintaining a routine during the holiday season and ticking off accomplishments throughout the day can help you get out of the holiday blues.If you have something to add to our list, do let us know. If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Although the holiday season is typically associated with joy, it is often filled with unrealistic expectations for events, gifts and family and friend time. This can lead to impatience, frustration and arguments. In this episode, we chat about the importance of patience and ways we can cultivate it during the festive time.If you're looking for the perfect wellness and calm-bringing gift for the holiday season, we now have gift cards for our MerryBody app. Or, if your loved one is looking to dive deeper into the world of Yoga, we also have our Yoga Teacher training available as a gift card. Best present ever! This is what we spoke about during the episodePatience is a skill that can be learned by adding a pause or taking a breath before reacting.Practising mindfulness and being in the moment helps you gain control and minimise impulsive reactions.Being empathetic helps with being more patient because you become more understanding of other people's situations.Soften arguments through empathy and don't dwell on the problem. Focus on the common goal, which is to have a great Christmas together.Set more realistic expectations of each other or just release all expectations of what might happen. Allow yourself to have fun and not let the little things get to you.Cultivating gratitude and laughter during these moments spent with our loved ones can help us navigate any quirks or annoyances that may arise.Remember, these moments altogether don't happen all the time!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is it possible to be yourself 100% of the time? We chat about this question in today's episode. We also provide actionable steps to help you feel more connected to your authentic self.If you're looking for the perfect wellness and calm-bringing gift for the holiday season, we now have gift cards for our MerryBody app. Or, if your loved one is looking to dive deeper into Yoga, we also have our Yoga teacher training available as a gift card.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWe don't have to show and share 100% of ourselves, but it's important that we are being ourselves and we just choose the amounts that we show.Have moments of self-reflection to understand who you are as a person.Our devices are big fat distractions that make us feel disconnected, so it's good to have social media-free days.Check in with your values and what's important to you.Self-acceptance is embracing our uniqueness. It's realising that we are enough exactly as we are.Confidence is the ability to be yourself in a room and then walk into another room and be yourself once again.Practising positive self-talk builds inner confidence.Avoid comparisons, both with others and with your past self. Release expectations that you should look, be and achieve in a certain way.Develop mindfulness through Yoga and Meditation to help you stay present and aware of what is going on.Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends and seek feedback when you need it.Learning helps add dimension to your true self.Set boundaries and learn to say no when something doesn't align with your values or goals.Be patient and kind to yourself.Maybe there was one action step that stood out that you can now go and implement. Let us know. We'd love to hear from you!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we continue our discussion about our journey in building our Merrymaker business. If you haven't listened Part 1 and Part 2 yet, we recommend jumping to those just so you can understand exactly where we've come from and how we've ended up here.The waitlist for the MerryBody Teacher Training Program is now open. Our second cohort will start in March 2024. It's going to be amazing!This is what we spoke about during the episodeHow we came up with the idea for MerryBody. We were trying to formulate an extensive program, then we simplified it. Often, less is more!We jumped into video with little experience, start before you are ready! The idea of MerryBody was not just our bliss, but it was a really important message to share.We did 3 MerryBody challenges first and then in March 2019, launched our membership.How MerryBody went from a desktop website to a simple app and eventually a custom app. We are so grateful for Jarrod in guiding us through this development.COVID-19 happened and we had a spike in members during the pandemic.We hired a business manager and a virtual assistant to help us build out our systems and processes so we can actually give time to the more important things and put our zone of genius into play.We got distracted with our personal stuff when crypto became a thing.We finally hired Mum! It's so fun to have her on board and part of it all.In March 2021, we bought an investment property together. And then, we bought another investment property.In 2022, we made the 200 Hour Yoga Teacher Training. What an experience this first decade of business was, we are even more excited about the next decade!Business can be hard, so you need to have a strong mindset and believe in yourself.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is the second part of our 3 part business journey series. If you missed last week's episode, go back to 395: Our Merrymaker Business Journey Part 1.Also! The waitlist for the MerryBody Teacher Training Program is now open. It's a 16 week course that will welcome personal growth, self-love and total mind-body transformation. Our second cohort will start in March 2024. If you have an inkling that this is maybe for you, we encourage you to join the waitlist so you are first to know about when our early bird opens.This is what we spoke about during the episodeBusiness relationships are super important, some will be amazing and integral for business growth!Going to conferences and networking events was a big positive, but not too many because they can get overwhelming.We said no to a book deal and self-published our very first hard copy cookbook. The self-publishing was a nightmare but we got through it. Listen to Episode 55: How Merrymaker Sisters Self-Published and Launched 2 Hard Copy BooksWe built a recipe app that went #1 in the App Store.We created the Merry Biz Hustle 4-week Challenge and had 49 sign-ups.We created the Merrymaker Club membership but ended up refunding people, and then publishing our second hard copy recipe book.We were featured in SBS Insight which became a very traumatic experience. But it led us to where we are today.In 2016, we moved to the Gold Coast. A year later, Carla signed up to the yoga teacher training and Emma signed up to the Pilates teacher training. We re-found our bliss and this changed everything!We got invited to teach in the studio and we created our own MerryBody 4-week program.We'll see you next week for Part 3!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We've been receiving quite a few requests for a podcast episode no our 10 year online business journey. So, this episode is a bit of a walk down memory lane as we share with you some stories, lessons, mistakes and key moments in our business journey. It turned into a 3 part series!The waitlist for the MerryBody Teacher Training Program is now open. Our second cohort will start in March 2024. if you have an inkling that this is maybe for you, we encourage you to join the waitlist so you are first to know about when our early bird opens.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWe were unhappy in our government jobs and wanted a change. "There's gotta be more to life!" In between all of this, we were forever on a diet. We soon discovered the paleo 'lifestyle' (still a diet) and started sharing photos of our dinner on Instagram.We began blogging. We realised this was our bliss!Don't be afraid to not know what you're doing. You need to learn, and the best way to learn, is to do.We created our first recipe e-book and got 300 sales from just one e-mail. Key lesson: don't just promote something once. Keep on promoting for a successful launch.We made a decision to quit our jobs. We were totally naive. Perhaps, this was a superpower!It's very important to have the supportive people around you.Our first online challenge was successful, and we replicated the challenge concept multiple times and focused on content marketing.We started our podcast in 2015.We said no to the accelerator program and yes to diving into the online business world ourselves.Stay tuned for part 2 and part 3. They will be published over the next 2 weeks!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Finding your centre is a phrase often used in spiritual, mental health, and wellness context. It is referring to a state of being internally balanced, calm and clear. Clear in your thoughts, emotions and your overall being. The theme inside MerryBody for November is about finding your centre.This is what we spoke about during the episodeFinding your centre is having a sense of balance, calm and presence.All three gunas: tamas, rajas and sattva.Tamas is the state of being flat and blah. Rajas is the state of being in action. Sattva is the bliss state.It all begins with awareness. You have to get out of balance to know where the balance is.Being centred is being present in the here and in the now. Not overthinking about future events or living in the past.Being in alignment with your heart or purpose is also being centred.If you are a MerryBody member, our new meditation called Find Your Centre is now live. Otherwise, download the app and start your FREE 7-day trial. If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about handling the sense of underachievement. Something we all feel, at some point in life. If you've ever felt like you're falling short or struggling with a sense of underachievement, this episode provides action steps to redefine your sense of achievement and embrace your journey.The waitlist for the MerryBody Teacher Training Program is now open. Our second cohort will start in March 2024. if you have an inkling that this is maybe for you, we encourage you to join the waitlist so you are first to know about when our early bird opens.This is what we spoke about during the episode Comparison with others can be a trap as it often leads to overlooking your own progress and accomplishments. So it's crucial to set realistic and personalised goals.It's important that we redefine our sense of achievement in terms of personal development, fulfilment and the impact that we make. Rather than the external validation or societal standards.What's your own idea of success? Stop and look at what you see as success and change it if needed. Make sure your goals aren't someone else's goals.Embrace your journey. Act for the sake of the action itself, not for the fruits of your actions.The true magic lies in the day-to-day moments.Check in with your goals and make sure they are realistic.Practise gratitude regularly. Reflect and appreciate what you've already accomplished.Focus on your continuous growth.It's never too late to redefine what happiness and success mean to you!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This month's theme inside the MerryBody App is all about purpose. Purpose adds passion and meaning to life. Finding your purpose brings a deep joy that money can't match. Or perhaps you can link the 2?! That's what we did.The waitlist for the MerryBody Teacher Training Program is now open. Our second cohort will start in March 2024. if you have an inkling that this is maybe for you, we encourage you to join the waitlist so you are first to know about when our early bird opens.This is what we spoke about during the episodeDon't know your purpose? Then get looking! Get to know yourself a little deeper, ask the important questions, and allow time for the answers to come. Purpose is very individual. It doesn't look the same as anyone else's.Purpose doesn't need to connect with something that makes money.Our purpose can change.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Stemming off from last week's episode, 390: Fad diets sabotage real health progress, we talked about self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-respect, self-care and self-love. We spoke about how these practices create genuine health.We continue the discussion in this week's episode.We're also excited to invite you to our free online event happening on the 26th of October, where we share with you how to stop the yo-yo on and off-again diet and exercise regime. It's about making healthy living easier than ever.This is what we spoke about during the episodeThoughts Are Things, a poem by Ella Wheeler, makes you realise how important our thoughts are. Your thoughts affect how you feel, and how you feel affects your actions.Skip the ritual of waking up, looking at your body, judging and hating your body. When you wake up, instead of saying the list of mean things about yourself, maybe swap it for just one good thing.Our MerryBody mantra, “You're amazing just as you are”, is a combination of self-acceptance and self-celebration.Self-compassion is being kind and “forgiveful” of yourself.Yoga, Pilates and meditation practices work because they're present practices. When you connect to the present, where you are here and now, you are more mindful of your thoughts and how you feel. If you need something more than a post-it of affirmations, try our MerryBody class, Mood Lifter Fusion!Exercise is so much more than just a weight loss tool. How about we unlink it from our self-hate practices and relink it to our self-accepting practices?Link exercise to your self-care, self-respect and self-celebration!If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about fad diets and how they can sabotage real health progress. We share our experiences in order to inspire but we also want to let you know that during this episode we talk about weight loss.We share our own experiences with yo-yo dieting and the detrimental effects it has on our physical and mental well-being. We talk about how we've overcome these fads and found a healthier mindset towards food and exercise. Now we can now talk about weight loss without the anxiety. We don't connect our identities or worth to our weight.If you're feeling vulnerable about your weight and relationship to your body, still listen but be mindful. We are each on our own journey, so if any subjects trigger you please look after yourself.We're also excited to invite you to our free online event happening on the 26th of October, where we share with you how to stop the yo-yo on and off again diet and exercise regime. It's about making healthy living easier than ever.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWe reflect on our past travels in Europe, can you believe we were reading a diet book while travelling in Europe!! How we look is the least important thing and the least interesting thing about ourselves.You can lose weight without being obsessed with the number on the scales. It's all about the daily choices you're making.When we discovered self-acceptance, Yoga and Pilates, our whole life changed.No matter what, you are amazing and you're enough!If we love ourselves, we treat ourselves differently. It is our self-acceptance, self-compassion, self-love and self respect.The changes in our mindset, and how we think and feel about ourselves are what helped us overcome the ongoing yo-yo effect.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we dive into a powerful story of transformation and how one tiny shift in your words, mindset and goals can change everything. This is inspired by our friend's story about their journey towards achieving their health goals.It's so simple with a profound impact! It will help you create healthy habits that stick!The simple swap is: saying "I'm going to get healthy" versus "I'm going to be healthy".Also, there's a slight audio issue with this episode. We are not sure what happened but we tried to correct it as best as possible!This is what we spoke about during the episodeOur friend had this continuous cycle of yo-yo dieting and exercising. Her goal was to always get healthy but it wasn't working. So she shifted one thing and everything changed.How this shift in words and mindset can lead to long-term success.Our words and thoughts influence our actions and ultimately impact our results. The conversation that goes on in the mind is important.Everyone's version of health is different, so always check in with yourself.It's not one big action that leads you to the goal. It's the realisation that it's step by step, and tiny choice after tiny choice that leads you there.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this Get Merry podcast episode, we chat about the glimmers in your life. Glimmers are brief moments of joy, hope or inspiration even during challenging times. This episode will inspire you to look for the glimmers and live a life with more presence, hope and vibrance.This is what we spoke about during the episodeLife is filled with ups and downs. Being adaptable in challenging times is essential. Live in the present, not in the past or the future.Being present and mindful helps you become more aware of the glimmers that are in the here and the now.To come back to the present, bring awareness to your breath and your physical body. Gratitude is the gateway to glimmers. Noticing the the good things around you and cultivating a gratitude practice, such as keeping a gratitude journal or a gratitude jar, help you feel a sense of hope and joy.Listening to a beautiful song (such as Gabriel's Oboe by Ennio Morricone) or admiring art in all its forms helps change your state of being.If you loved this episode, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to carla@themerrymakersisters.com or emma@themerrymakersisters.com or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.Always merrymaking,Emma + CarlaP.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.