MatChat with Mina Blair
89 episodes - English - Latest episode: 4 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 ratingNeed a regular wellbeing boost? Then this podcast is for you! We know looking after our physical and mental health is more important now than ever, and talking openly about what concerns or worries us goes a long way to lighten the load. Hearing other people's stories gives us perspective and reassurance. So, every month I invite a guest onto the "yogamat" to discuss what they have learned on their wellbeing journeys. The intention is to leave you feeling uplifted and empowered.
Homepage Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
Episodes
Honouring and listening to what your body needs with Ciara Roberts PART 2
November 16, 2021 07:00 - 36 minutes - 25.2 MBThis is Part 2 of a discussion with Ciara Roberts, a holistic kidney expert with lived experience of dialysis and transplantation. A yoga teacher and naturopathic nutritionist of 10 years, she is also the author of Wholly Aligned, Wholly Alive: Awakening your inner physician. Having chatted about Ciara's health story in Part 1, our focus moves onto the importance of honest conversations about unhealthy habits and relationships with food. The way forward offered is to own your health and ...
Honouring and listening to what your body needs with Ciara Roberts PART 1
November 09, 2021 07:00 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MBThis is Part 1 of a discussion with Ciara Roberts, a holistic kidney expert with lived experience of dialysis and transplantation. A yoga teacher and naturopathic nutritionist of 10 years, she is also the author of Wholly Aligned, Wholly Alive: Awakening your inner physician. Ciara shares her health story which started at the tender age of four, when a strep throat infection led to permanent kidney damage. Over her growing years she became her own best health advocate, learning how to n...
Liberating ourselves from fear for a happier world with David Rogers
October 26, 2021 06:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBThe constant and relentless news headlines about violence between human beings, particularly by men against women, is hard to ignore. What could be behind such an imbalance in human relations to manifest this level of anger? How do we achieve wellbeing for all? I put these questions to David Rogers, a yogi for over 30 years and a yoga teacher for ten, who offers helpful insight into the topics of male power and fear. We discuss whether the answer lies in self-liberation, in finding comm...
Bringing yoga to the corporate world and men to the mat with Scott Robinson
October 12, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.8 MBWhen I first saw a photo of Scott, aka the Yogibanker, on Instagram doing a yoga pose wearing a business suit on a street in the City of London, I knew immediately I needed to talk with him! Fortunately for me, he agreed to a MatChat Podcast and to tell his yoga story. Scott explains why he wanted to bring yoga into the office and put wellbeing on the corporate agenda. What was the response? Are more men finding their way to the mat and practising self-care in general these days? And if...
Why what you want is not always what you need with Kate Winter
September 28, 2021 06:00 - 47 minutes - 32.9 MBWe spend a lot of time chasing, wanting and desiring things that we think will fulfill us and make us happy, don't we? Well, sometimes the universe feels it needs to show us that this is not always true, that this is in fact a distraction that prevents us from understanding what really matters and who we really are. My friend Kate discovered this when she lost her marriage, family home and job in a short space of time. Find out how she climbed from rock bottom to new heights where she now...
How an injury can become a self-empowering opportunity with Bill Potts
September 14, 2021 06:00 - 41 minutes - 28.3 MBThis MatChat podcast celebrates my one-year milestone post arm-breakage - last September I shattered my humerus bone in a freak horse riding accident which left me wondering whether I'd ever be able to practice or teach yoga again. Fortunately, the universe sent me to physiotherapist and Pilates teacher Bill Potts of Perfect Motion Physio, who walked alongside me as I navigated the process of healing physically, mentally and spiritually. He shares his wellbeing story and why he loves his j...
Working through grief, choosing joy and empowering yourself with Hannah Wallace
August 31, 2021 06:00 - 54 minutes - 37.4 MBThis week I connect with Hannah Wallace whom I "met" online through a mutual friend. She describes herself as a speaker, model, podcaster of the Finding Grace podcast, mentor, healer, priestess and writer. I invited Hannah to chat "on the mat" with me about her inspirational wellbeing story which takes us through health challenges and loss but ultimately leads to self empowerment and finding joy. Listen to Hannah explain why life must be lived to the full! Find Hannah: @thehannahwallace, ...
How to thrive in an uncertain world with Sarah Cox
August 17, 2021 11:00 - 26 minutes - 18.4 MBI've invited my friend Sarah back onto the virtual mat and we thought this might be a pertinent question to ask and discuss because a) it's important to thrive and b) the world does indeed feel uncertain these days! It would be easy to fall into a state of high anxiety and feeling out of control, but there are things we can do to keep things in perspective and stay grounded. As my mantra goes, "nothing is so bad that good can't come from it." Find Sarah: @zephorium, www.zephorium.com
Spreading the joy of yoga - a physio's story with Diana Perez
August 03, 2021 06:00 - 46 minutes - 32 MBI'm delighted to be talking to my friend Diana this week about how she found the yoga mat along the busy path of being a physiotherapist. She shares her learning from working with Olympic athletes to running yoga retreats - it turns out that everyone has to work with what there is, even the sports stars! She explains why yoga will ultimately complement any other form of physical activity you do. Find Diana: www.dianaperezpt.com
Exploring the power of self-healing with Kris Botterill
July 20, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.9 MBCan the body heal itself or is this just another alternative therapy "thing"? I ask Kris Botterill this question, who, as one of Brighton's leading health practitioners with many years of experience in this field, is qualified to answer the question. In her aptly named "Pamper Pod" she offers all forms of massage, reflexology and reiki to enable people to heal their mind and body. Find Kris: @pamperpod, www.thepamperpod.co.uk
Why the journey of self-discovery is not a straight line with Sarah Seymour
July 06, 2021 06:00 - 51 minutes - 35.1 MBSarah Seymour's path to a life working with the arts - painting, singing, playing instruments and teaching music - did not manifest according to a plan! Rather, it was a winding road with many twists and turns, often unexpected. She shares her story of self-discovery and how she learned to follow and trust, and ultimately to let go. Find Sarah: www.sarahseymourart.co.uk
Why photography is good for the soul with Hamish Cameron
June 29, 2021 06:00 - 39 minutes - 27.2 MBOur lives are dominated by the power of visual imagery during most of our waking hours given the amount of time we spend looking at all forms of digital devices. From selfies to artistic shots, whether you are in front of the camera or behind it, photography is a creative process that just keeps on giving. With a camera lens on every mobile phone, everyone can now be a photographer. I talk to keen amateur landscape photographer Hamish Cameron about why taking pictures is such a powerful m...
Why travel broadens the mind with Karina Blair
June 22, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 20.4 MBWith the pandemic restrictions easing next month, perhaps we're thinking more about spreading our wings again! With that in mind, I chat with my globetrotter daughter about how travelling broadens the mind but also opens the heart which makes it an important part of life. We discuss the impact the pandemic restrictions have had on people's freedom of movement, both negatively and positively, and look forward to joyous encounters again!
Birdwatching for wellbeing
June 15, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBI'm flying solo (no pun intended!) this week and talking about one of my favourite pastimes - birdwatching. I share my research into the origin of birdwatching and man's fascination with birds that goes back thousands of years. I also share my most interesting bird spots to date. My conclusion? Put a bird feeder in your garden, invest in a pair of binoculars, watch and enjoy!
Birdwatching for wellbeing with Mina
June 15, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 20 MBI'm flying solo (no pun intended!) this week and talking about one of my favourite pastimes - birdwatching. I share my research into the origin of birdwatching and man's fascination with birds that goes back thousands of years. I also share my most interesting bird spots to date. My conclusion? Put a bird feeder in your garden, invest in a pair of binoculars, watch and enjoy!
Why it can be hard to trust with Sarah Cox
June 08, 2021 06:00 - 27 minutes - 19.2 MBIt can take a long time for trust to develop and yet it can be destroyed in an instant. My friend Sarah Cox and I explore why this is the case and why it's important to take the risk, of disappointment and being vulnerable, to trust.
How yoga and our fascia can work together to help us let go with Joanne Avison
June 01, 2021 06:00 - 48 minutes - 33.6 MBI talk to yoga teacher, yoga therapist, structural integrator, author (Yoga, Fascia, Anatomy and Movement) and minister Joanne Avison about the connective tissue in our body called fascia. Moving in yoga moves the fascia, an effect which can have some profound results in helping us let go of the story we hold in our body.
Discussing wellbeing with Personal Trainer Ollie Roy
May 25, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 26 MBStill thinking a Personal Trainer is for rich celebs only? Think again! I talk to Personal Trainer Ollie Roy about his fun and inclusive outdoor training offering - a one-to-one fitness service run from a mobile gym out of a van endearingly called "the tank".
The importance of music to our wellbeing with Tobiah
May 18, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 25.5 MBI chat to Singer-Songwriter Tobiah about her music journey and the important role music has for our wellbeing. We've all been there - we hear a piece of music which touches our emotions, indeed, sometimes our very soul. We can feel sad, uplifted, inspired or fired up depending. Music connects us not just to ourselves but also to the greater-than-ourselves.
Sharing the lessons and key messages from my spiritual journey book "Not for the last time" with Sarah Cox
May 11, 2021 06:00 - 40 minutes - 28.1 MBIn this fourth and final MatChat episode about my recently launched book "Not for the last time", I share the key learnings and messages. Sometimes the only way to learn life's truths is the hard way, but therein lies the gift. You have to go through it, the pain and the suffering, to reap the rewards of liberating and empowering yourself and find out who you really are. Nothing is so bad that good can't come from it. Ultimately, choose joy!
How Asperger's became part of my spiritual journey book "Not for the last time" with Sarah Cox
May 04, 2021 06:00 - 37 minutes - 26.1 MBAre you aware that 1 in 100 people in the UK are on the autistic spectrum, including Asperger Syndrome? That's surprising, isn't it. It certainly was a surprise to me to discover Asperger's in my personal life. Autism is more common than most people think, and yet it is not discussed as openly and publicly as perhaps it should be. Many are dealing with Asperger's without knowing it, at huge cost to their wellbeing, and in this podcast Sarah and I discuss how this can be addressed.
How yoga philosophy and practice inspired my spiritual journey book "Not for the last time" with Sarah Cox
April 27, 2021 06:00 - 40 minutes - 27.9 MBIn this second MatChat podcast of four about my newly released book "Not for the last time", I chat with friend and fellow yogi Sarah Cox about how reading philosophy with a spiritual mentor set me on a spiritual path of self-inquiry which eventually led to finding the yoga mat and the Eastern scriptures. And finding the answers to the timeless existential questions, "who am I?" and "why am I here?"
Launching my spiritual journey book "Not for the last time" with Sarah Cox
April 20, 2021 06:00 - 47 minutes - 32.4 MBI'm very excited to have launched my first book and being interviewed by friend and fellow yogi Sarah Cox! It's the story of the last 13 years of my life after I suffered child loss when my youngest daughter died age 12. This event led to a spiritual crisis followed by a quest to find meaning, a journey that took me on travels all around the world and meeting the people who would help me heal. Ultimately, it's an uplifting tale of finding self-empowerment and joy, and learning that nothin...
Accessing the hidden gifts within with Sarah Cox
April 13, 2021 06:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBAhead of launching my first book next week, Not for the last time, I talk to my friend Sarah Cox about how to access the hidden gifts each of us carries inside ourselves. For example, I never knew teaching was my thing but eventually discovered my inner yoga teacher. I never dreamt I could write a book either, but here I am, holding it in my hand! What inner gifts remain within you?
Overcoming health challenges to find yoga and wellbeing with Harriet Ivison
April 06, 2021 06:00 - 32 minutes - 22.1 MBI invite yoga student Harriet to the mat for a chat about her story of overcoming health challenges to finally arrive at a place of wellbeing. She shares the problems she had to face from a young age and how she eventually found the yoga mat 1 1/2 years ago. She explains how practising yoga keeps her physically and mentally healthy. Get ready to feel inspired!
Connecting to the spiritual through poetry with Dr Colin Bradley
March 30, 2021 06:00 - 33 minutes - 23 MBJoin me as I chat with my friend Colin, a retired Anglican priest, who shares his insights about the important role of poetry in connecting us to something greater than ourselves and how it can help us transcend to the spiritual.
How wellbeing was managed in wartime with Malcolm Blair-Robinson
March 23, 2021 07:00 - 32 minutes - 22.4 MBWith all aspects of wellbeing now a topical subject as a result of the Covid pandemic, it perhaps makes you wonder how people coped during and after the war. Is today's national challenge similar to what was faced back then, or different? Can we learn anything from that past experience? Enjoy listening to Malcolm Blair-Robinson, a family friend who was born the year war was declared on Germany and remembers this period of history, share his reassuring and uplifting recollections.
Discovering there is no such thing as failure with Sarah Cox
March 16, 2021 07:00 - 35 minutes - 24.6 MBYes, it's true! Listen to my friend Sarah and I discuss why there is no such thing as failure. "Failure" is laden with negativity, guilt and shame isn't it? Who needs it! Let's replace it with "change of direction" and "opening doors" instead. Ultimately, simply follow the trail the universe lays out for you! Prepare to feel positive and inspired.
Discussing the myth about "soulmate" with Sarah Cox
March 09, 2021 07:00 - 23 minutes - 16.1 MBThere's a lot out there in the media and in our culture about finding "Mr/Miss Right" or "The One", isn't there? Basing one's life on this search can be stressful and cause a lot of unhappiness and frustration. We offer an alternative and more relaxed view to take the pressure off!
Celebrating teachers with Mina
March 02, 2021 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBTeachers can be unacknowledged for the important contribution they make to our children's lives and the effort they make, especially in these challenging pandemic times. So, to celebrate their work, I share my favourite teacher stories from my childhood and chat to family and friends about who their memorable teachers were in school.
Celebrating teachers
March 02, 2021 07:00 - 29 minutes - 20.2 MBTeachers can be unacknowledged for the important contribution they make to our children's lives and the effort they make, especially in these challenging pandemic times. So, to celebrate their work, I share my favourite teacher stories from my childhood and chat to family and friends about who their memorable teachers were in school.
Celebrating our dog relationships with Tania Chappelle
February 22, 2021 20:00 - 30 minutes - 20.9 MBGetting a dog transformed my life - after a tricky start, the bond I developed with my Goldendoodle, Barley, is a continuous source of joy. I chat with Tania Chappelle, professional dog trainer and manager of Dogs First (https://www.dogsfirst.co.uk) about how and why dogs are a man's best friend. And why Barley is her biggest fan!
Managing expectations with Sarah Cox
February 16, 2021 06:00 - 29 minutes - 20.3 MBAre you familiar with disappointment and feel you spend too much time there? Then perhaps you're not managing your expectations and set yourself up for the fall! We take a light look at this easy trap and offer alternative ways forward.
Finding an alternative Valentine's Day with Sarah Cox
February 12, 2021 08:00 - 26 minutes - 18.3 MBIt's Valentine's Day on Sunday! But not like you've known it because we have to stay at home this year. Are you dreading it? Or looking forward to it? Either way, you'll enjoy this lighthearted discussion on alternative ways to mark the day.
Exploring Celtic Spirituality with Dr Colin Bradley
February 01, 2021 13:00 - 38 minutes - 26.5 MBI discuss key themes of ancient Celtic Spirituality with my friend Colin, a retired Anglican priest. These themes are relevant to 21st century modern life and offer guidance on how to reconnect to the spiritual within us.
Empowering children through yoga with Karina Blair
January 25, 2021 12:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBI invite my daughter onto the mat, a qualified yoga teacher and currently a Teacher's Assistant in primary school, to discuss her experience of teaching yoga to children and how it empowered them, enabling them to manage their own wellbeing. Get ready to laugh!
Empowering children through yoga with Karina Blair
January 25, 2021 12:00 - 27 minutes - 18.8 MBI invite my daughter onto the mat, a qualified yoga teacher and currently a Teacher's Assistant in primary school, to discuss her experience of teaching yoga to children and how it empowered them, enabling them to manage their own wellbeing. Get ready to laugh!
Bringing yourself back to centre with Sarah Cox
January 16, 2021 15:00 - 27 minutes - 19 MBI'm back on the figurative yoga mat for another chat with Sarah Cox - multi-faith minister, spiritual counsellor and founder of Zephorium Soul Tonic - on the subject of Bringing Yourself Back to Centre. We share how we react to being thrown off balance when something knocks us off course and how we get back to feeling grounded again.
Finding Joy with Sarah Cox
January 13, 2021 15:00 - 26 minutes - 18.5 MBI invite my friend Sarah Cox to "sit" on the yoga mat for a chat. A keen yogi herself, when she's not practising yoga she is a multi-faith minister, spiritual counsellor and founder of Zephorium Soul Tonic. In this podcast we discuss the importance of finding joy and why feeling joyful can be elusive.