Light on Living

Hi friends, Welcome to episode 13 “Wisdom from a Humble Warrior” of the Light on Living podcast. This time I am thrilled to introduce you Michael, who is a real and humble warrior. Michael spent 21 years in the military, working in the US navy as a Chief Hospital Corpsman. Since retiring from service, he fulfills his hearts desire for fighting others on the tatami. He is the founder and main instructor of Wisdom Jiu-Jitsu, an affiliation academy of Carlos Varona, located in Jerez, Andalucia. In this conversation, Michael shares his views on what it really means to be of the warrior class, and what its like to come back home from a warzone. We talk about the perspective on reality that comes with the experience of going beyond the comfortable zone inside which most people live, without realising the price someone else is paying for their freedom. I think you will find this conversation as enlightening, heart-warming and mind-blowing as I did. You can connect with Micheal and find out more about his Jiu-Jitsu team via instagram @wisdombjj08 Thank you for tuning your beautiful ears and hearing us out. Please remember to like, share, subscribe, follow, and give us a review wherever you are listening to this. Great conversations are always worth sharing. From the Heart, Maya

Hi friends, Welcome back to Light on Living! Thank you so much for your patience, and for your requests for more of these podcasts, all your feedback motivates me to continue shining light on what it is to be living. In this episode I am having a conversation with K, who I first met 5 years ago. She is an amazing singer with a versatile and explosive voice, and soulful DJ who’s sessions are deep and bone rattling. Since I last connected with K, she has been on a big yogadventure of her own, and has taken on the vocation of teaching Yoga. We talk about her spiritual awakening which happened a retreat where I was teaching Yoga (which is actually where we met for the first time) our love of music, the power of our voice, expressing your Self, the healing journey, Yoga, breathing, showing up fully, knowing that other people will judge you, and still choosing to show up with a strong back and a soft, open heart. You can connect with K on instagram @KMiss or @defygravityogi and if you’re in Marbella come join her for Rhythm&Flow at Radiant Yoga on Thursdays at 19:00 or for Aerial Yoga on Mondays mornings at 11:00 (book via www.yoga-in-marbella.com). For those of you who want to join us for our Freedom Movemeant CHURCH Ecstatic Dance for the 7 Chakras, please contact me to get your tickets. Thank You for tuning in and hearing us out. From the Heart, Maya

Have you ever had a feeling that feels so big, it is impossible that it could be yours? Well thats how I felt one day sitting on the beach about a year ago. I felt all the despair of the world, and it was too much for me to hold, so I just let it break me. I felt despair at being so disconnected, at being overwhelmed by the internet, the fast-speed downloads, the busy-ness and photoshopped perfection. I cant keep up with it all, and it feels like such a distraction. As I broke apart, I realised there was a deep yearning in my heart for real connection. As I sat there on the beach, a silent knowing manifested inside me, and I knew what to do. It took a lot of planning and organising, but in August me and 11 other women travelled to nature to spend 4 days together. Each one sharing her skills, her passion, her work with the group, and all of us receiving so much healing. This is my story about those days, and what I learned. Our Shering continues, and even though it has changed, especially during the last few weeks with this quarantine, when we get together and share our energy, it is such a powerful and profound connection. I am very grateful for the despair that led me to create our Shering. I hope this will inspire you in some way, to open up your heart a little more, breaking a little more free each time.

Hey Friends My intention for this podcast was always to shine light on the practice of Yoga beyond asanas and tight pants. So many of you have reached out to me and expressed your frustration over not being able to DO anything about the situation right now. So I am here to remind you of what you CAN do, about the moral duties we have not just to ourselves and our immediate families, but to our communities and to life as a whole. In this podcast I read from Georg Feuersteins book "The Deeper Dimensions of Yoga" and together we contemplate the first step on the spiritual journey towards awakening. There are many spiritual teachers out there who sell you on ideas of enlightenment as a personal experience of eternal bliss. Perhaps you are ready to wake up and see them for what they really are, and that true enlightenment means seeing how we are all connected and opening to the light flowing through you and out of you as thoughts, words and actions that are of benefit to everyone. Please share this podcast.

Hey Ohmies, In this episode of Light on Living I am sharing about my own yogadventure and how I learned how to put into practice what my first yoga teacher taught me. I hope you will find it useful and that it will inspire you to move through the illusions in your mind. I mention my husbands daily Yoga-Jitsu workouts (17:00 @carlosvaronabjj) which you are very welcome to join. Song in the beginning and end of this episode is "Tribal People feat John Twobirds" by Peruquois Namaste. I feel you even if I cant see you right now.

Hey Ohmies. I was waiting to record something to share until I knew what to say. I have been waiting a few days now, and still everything is so uncertain. There is never a better time than now, so here are some insights from me to you. Todays reading is from Georg Feuersteins book "The Deeper Dimensions of Yoga". Hari Om friends. Stay sane. whatever that means.

Light on Living episode 007 with Paul Smith One of the spiritual symbols we have appropriated in our modern, new age culture is the lotus flower. Some of us are wearing lotus flower necklaces, or lotus flower tattoos, and the lotus flower is featured in many company logos (including The Flow Academy). The lotus flower is a symbol for hope and purity. The lotus, rooted in the murkiest of waters, emerges as a beautiful and white flower that inspires us to find the strength when we are struggling with darkness in our lives. There is a saying: “No Mud, No Lotus” and it is known that it is the dirtiest of waters that produce the most beautiful flowers. The unfolding of the lotus flowers petals thus symbolise spiritual awakening and our souls expansion. In this episode of Light on Living, you are invited to hear Paul’s story. Recording this episode was the first time Paul and I met. We went for a drive up into the beautiful nature we have surrounding Marbella and over the course of a little over an hour, I had the honour to bear witness to his telling. Paul has been through a lot, some say it is the worst thing that can happen, when a parent loses a child. Muddy waters indeed. This is part of Paul story, and is not about what if, but about asking what now? How do we heal from such enormous pain? By the clear waters of Marbella, Paul made the decision to find help. Some of the people who helped him have been guests on this podcast (Lifecoach Lydia Hill (episode 002) and Personal Trainer Natalie Guyan (episode 006). If you haven’t heard their stories yet, I hope you will check them out. And with their help, and a lot of personal effort, just like the lotus flowers petals, Paul is now living in the unfolding of the petals of his soul. I hope that as you listen to this story, you are also inspired to heal, and to root yourself deep in the knowing that just like Paul, the lotus flower and all of us, your roots may be muddy but you deserve to grow up and be happy.

Let's talk about the F-word. The one that most of us find much harder to say. F a i l u r e is hard to admit to. It's the darkest place, where we have no choice but to come to the realisation that what we've been doing is not working. Failure, when done right, motivates us to change - to transform, - or maybe even, like Natalie shows us - to transfigure beyond recognition. Because there is no going back when you've learned the hard way. And perhaps the only way to really fail in life, is when we stop trying. Natalie is a food and fitness instructor based in Marbella. She knows about failure, and she knows about transfiguration. She learned the hard way both about what doesnt work - and what works when it comes to self-care, business, and weight-management. She became morbidly obese without noticing, and she describes the moment when she couldn't ignore reality anymore, when the blinkers came off and she was forced to see her self as she really was. Her journey from a culture of self-abuse to living in the light of self-love and committing to daily failures is inspirational to say the least. If this episode has planted some seeds in your soul and you're in need of guidance, just want to talk, or are ready for some real trans-formation/figuration - get in touch with Natalie: www.natalieguyan.com or instagram: @becoming_she_ra Until next time Ohmies, Stay Light

Episode 5 with Martin Valloe Escaping the prison of addiction and the key to freedom In this episode of Light on Living I am talking to a man who grew up. Growing up has nothing to do with how old we are, but rather how we choose to grow, taking responsibility for ourselves and our story. Since I first started this podcast, I have wanted to talk to Martin. I knew his story is worth sharing, and I feel so grateful to him, for the way he showed up, and so openly shared about his painful past. His story is extreme, beginning with an alcoholic and abusive father, getting into the dark world of drug addiction, confusing value with having money, crime, and punishment. Martin has spent time in prison, and has learned hard lessons through pain. I am proud to publish this episode today, as October 2nd 2019 is is the 21st anniversary of Martin becoming a sober man. He now still spends time in prison from time to time, but now he visits to teach prisoners about meditation, self-discipline and love. If you are in a dark chapter of your life, but feel inspired and committed to make real change, there are people out there who want to help and support you. If you want to contact Martin, I will happily be the middle woman - just send me a private message. Thank you for listening. Please support Light on Living by liking, commenting and SHARING. Namaste

I first met Alex at one of my Shamanic Breathwork sessions, after she came over and offered me a free treatment with her at her clinic. I loved her energy and went a few days later, and was blown away by the way she worked with my body. She not only has too many university diplomas and degrees with 17 years experience in the field of scientific bodywork - she is a certified physiotherapist, a licensed osteopath, an expert in myofascial induction (and more); she is also profoundly spiritual and gifted with healing hands. In this podcast we talk about what its like to grown up with two nationalities, and bridging the gap between family life in two different cultures. I find it I find it ubiquitous that she now has grown to embody a bridge between two other worlds: science - and spirituality. We talk about pain, as a teacher, and the importance of finding the origin and not just take pills to kill the symptom. We also talk about energy work, what its like giving so much of your energy to others and working with people who are suffering. Since Alex came into my life, I have sent her many of my friends, team mates and yogis and everyone has been amazed at her skills. She has also become a true friend, and I am so excited she agreed to shine her light on this podcast. Please see below for an abbreviated list of her many studies: 2002 – 2005: Physiotherapy – San Pablo CEU University, Madrid. 2006 – 2007: Expert in Lymphatic Drainage, European University of Madrid, CEES. All pathologies but  Specially in Oncology patients. 2009 – 2010: Sports Physiotherapy, Complutense University of Madrid: Sport injuries, Nutrition in sports, Sport physiology, Cardio, X-Rays, Treatment, Proprioception, Myofascial Liberation (Andrej Pilat), Maitland, Hydrotherapy, Bandages, Trigger Points-Dry needling, Lymphatic Drainage, Cyriax- Hook/Clasp, Pilates, Kinesiotaping, Muscular Chains, Electro-stimulation and Neurodinamia. 2012 – 2014: Degree in Structural Osteopathy. ONCE University of Madrid. 2018 - 2019: Myofascial Induction level III. Tupimek. Madrid. I sincerely hope you will enjoy this episode. If you want to find book a session with Alex, you can find her at healthfirststudio.com and if you want to contact her directly for any questions related to the topics of this podcast or any of her many specialities her email is gassolashley@gmail.com

Connect with Melanie and find out more about her work: www.melanie-sievernich.com

Welcome to Light on Living a podcast to inspire conscious connections on Costa Del Sol, Spain. This episode features Lydia Hill, the brilliant business brain behind YogaZone (www.yogazonemarbella.es). We talk about life after trauma, overcoming depression, and uniting business, money and energetic sensitivities. Thank you for tuning in. x Maya

Hi friends! Welcome to Light on Living. In this first episode I'm introducing you to Mihaela Giurgea, founder of Art of Living Mentorship. Mihaela showed up to this conversation like a true warrior, and the authenticity of her voice will move your heart. You can find Mihaela at www.artoflivingmentoring.com Contact me if you have any feedback, comments or suggestions for how I can improve, or if you know anyone who would be a great guest on my show. Stay tuned - and Stay Awesome!! x