MC4P - Peace in the Body Episode 10 - a deeper dive with Angelica Lopez

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Peace in the body. What is it and how do we experience it? This is the question Wren and Fallon explore in season three of Mujeres Co-labor for Peace. When it comes to healing and you're stuck in healing, where can we invite in that energetic peace bringing you expert advice and healing from a host of practices and practitioners, Wren and Fallon seek to increase complete wellness and lasting peace.

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One insight at a time.

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Hey. Hello and welcome to the show. I'm your host, Wren Ribeiro, back with our guest, Angelica Lopez of Mitra Healing Center Yoga. And, again,

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sending wellness thoughts to our host, Fallon Stone.

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and complete wellness and lasting peace to all of you. This is season three. Peace in the body of Mujeres Co-labor for Peace, MC4P. And, we are going to talk a little bit more about peace in the body today with Angelica Lopez. So we covered hypnagogic states and

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Unknown
Yoga nidra and some of the amazing work that you do out in the world, some of your aspirations in the last episode. But we just kind of scratched the surface of, what the transformation looks like. The transformation like that. You and I both, we're talking about pre yoga to, you know, to having it be a core part of our lives.

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Unknown
So maybe talk for a minute. Like how is it that you guide folks into yoga to trust yoga, to trust the process, to trust the breath, to trust their own body? You know, you are very artful with that. And I'm wondering, do you want to share a little bit of stuff? You don't have to give away the secret sauce but

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Unknown
No, no. A little bit about what you do to to really help folks get into that trusting space and to embrace yoga. That's a really good question. It's it's kind of tricky. And honestly, it's it's been, a learning curve. I'll say, because there's plenty of reasons why people don't feel like it's for them. Sort of like we were talking about in the last episode, it is now sort of dominated by the, the white community.

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And so people feel like it's not for them if they're a person of color, which is crazy because it's developed by people of color. So it's just, terrible how much our culture has really shifted. What this practice is. It also just looks like a physical fitness practice. So I remember someone saying to me, like, I don't need to fold myself into a pretzel to heal.

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And I was like, you're right. That's not what we're doing here today. And so it's really just I know it's kind of cliche to say as a yoga teacher, but meeting people where they're at, you know, if people are not comfortable with getting on the floor, I'm not going to make them. We're going to do a chair practice instead.

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Unknown
And really just being aware of who's in the room, I, I've taken so many trauma informed series and I think so many people are hoping for like a checklist. But really, the practice of yoga is to be present with what is right. And so as a yoga teacher, that's our job. The best way to be trauma informed is to be present with who's in the room.

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Unknown
And like, of course, I always go in with a plan. I always have my little book and my little theme that I want to talk about, but if I'm realizing, oh, that person's got me issues, well, then we have to change things. And so again, it's it's it's being aware of who, who's in front of you and again, making sure you offer that agency and you.

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Unknown
Really keep going back to that. I can't tell you how many times like in teaching a class, I'll say something like, are you doing this because you want to be doing this or because I'm telling you to do this? And then I'll hear everybody chuckle because they're doing it, because I'm telling them, do I have to correct you?

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Unknown
You never. Well, I don't know about never. But you invite people to do things and, you don't tell, which is, I think one of your special gifts is that you really know how to welcome and invite people into something. But we are programed to just want to please you and want to please our teachers. And so like the agility that you have, the flexibility to be able to adapt and respond to who's in the room is huge.

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Unknown
I took a yoga teacher training two of them actually; one was 14 months and one was a shorter thing. And I, I know how complicated that is to be able to like, have a plan and then completely shift it based on who's in the room. So amazing. And you also mentioned, I heard you, you know talk about people wanting a checklist.

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Unknown
And instantly that makes me think of how colonized our minds are. It is, you know, capitalism extraordinaire on steroids. Whatever. It's so extractive. It's it's like I call it internal gaslighting because we have taken the, you know, the consumerism, the the box or the lane that, that the corporate giants want us to be in. And we're just putting ourselves there.

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Unknown
We're staying there. We're not reaching out and trusting the invitations that might be in our periphery. And so you going all these places and and just showing up week after week, day after day, and with those invitations, I don't know how many times it takes people to really, like, trust, but you're you're just there, like a drumbeat, like, steady and be like, I'm still here.

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Unknown
I'm still here. You ready now? You ready now? That's how I feel and how I'm seeing it, because I did go to your Holyoke class and I loved that. Ah thank you. And I just want to keep taking classes from you. Oh thank you. Yeah I hope you do. I feel like there's a question in there.

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Unknown
There was something about like this decolonizing the mind and the checklist. Oh, yeah. Yeah, the decolonizing the mind, I think is is such a difficult, practice. And again, in terms of finding peace in the body like that is like one of the hardest things we'll have to try to do, I think, in terms of finding peace in the body, because whether you've been through a traumatic experience or not, like society is built to tell you that, you're flawed.

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Unknown
Yeah. Because it's the only way to convince you that you need to buy all these other things. And there is a wonderful quote or, speech by James Baldwin. It's like the integrity of the artist or something like that. And basically he's saying, like as you try to resist those tides, like, because you're a writer or an artist or whatever, but really he means like anybody who does any, like, hard work.

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Unknown
Yeah. Is that, you know, everybody's going to tell you, like, what are you doing? Like, why don't you get a real job? Why like, shouldn't you, like, I'm 36. Why don't I have kids? You know, like, all of that sort of stuff. And, the box. Yeah, it's that box it's our parents want because that's what's best for.

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Unknown
Right? Maybe not. So they say. Right, but it's like that doesn't, respond like those boxes don't shift or respond to the society around us. So like, yeah, I don't have a house at 36 because the housing markets insane, you know, like that is not a personal flaw. And I think that's that's the key to that decolonization is like the system is flawed and it is designed to make you feel like it's your fault, but it is not on the individual.

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Unknown
It is on the the government to change that system and the society to change the system. And even the idea of like a nonprofit, right? Like I work with a lot with nonprofits, I love nonprofits, I truly, truly admire everyone that works there. But the concept of a nonprofit is to kind of take the guilt again off of the system because the system funds the nonprofit, which means, like you, the individual needs to go find the resources from the nonprofit.

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Unknown
And the government did their job because they funded it, as opposed to just providing the resources for everybody. You know, instead of having more than 50% of all of our taxes go to, military. Right. All the things that are happening around the world right now are, we are so complicit in that. And it's really hard to not buy that.

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Unknown
Your flawed story, when when you feel like. What are my options, right? Yeah. And so they you mentioned in the last episode you're working on the micro level, and that micro level, I think is for me where, where this whole dialog, internal dialog happens, it's really small. And when, when there's insight and there's like new awakenings and, or even like something that I might have thought of many years ago, if I come back to it like that spiral staircase

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you come to that same point with same thought. It's like,

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It's, it's a springboard or an opening or just like a, like the possibilities just are just so much expanded. When that, when that clarity happens the, the and we talked about the fear just kind of like fading into the background because the rootedness of the light and the micro, the work internally to, stay in love with our self, in our heart space, in our body, and, and in the yoga practice.

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Unknown
Isn't that like

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like foundation? Yeah. Yeah. The foundation is really to and suffering and and going if you know that you are not just this body and that you are not and that you are a natural animal, you can sort of try to remember that these systems are the unnatural thing around us, you know what I mean?

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Unknown
I feel like my thoughts go so far. Yeah. And that. All right. And not by and but I want to I just I do feel like it's important to name that. It's not like, flip of a switch, right? Like, it's not like you start practicing yoga or whatever, and then you're like, I feel great and forget society.

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Unknown
It is a constant daily, hourly practice of just constantly, you know, I think I talked to you before this started. I was nervous to come here because I was listening to your other podcasts, and I was like, oh, they're so knowledgeable about and, like, deeply, richly knowledgeable about all of these different, things. And like, what do I know?

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Unknown
You know, I'm just kind of over in this little corner. And I think and again, so it's that constant practice of like, I know that I have something of value because I exist. Right. And I'll just I'll just say that you might be over in a corner, but you are so deep into that you are practicing and knowing and so knowledgeable about yoga to such an extent that I certainly couldn't hold.

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Unknown
And you hold it for others to to come. So it's like broad and deep and I'm, I'm more broad. You were just like, so rooted in deep into, all the nuances and the beauty of the yoga practice in all its ways and how it can blossom in different ways and like, like it was just saying, like, so flexible with who's there and, and that's because you are so deep into it.

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Unknown
And I think, yeah, really grateful. Grateful that, you do what you do. And like, I've been doing yoga daily for so many years, but it's really just a sun salutation, like 15 minutes. It's an extended sun, but it is just, like the best thing ever. Could I be deeper? Could I do more with yoga itself and all it offers?

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Unknown
Absolutely, yeah. But like I said, I think you already do. And I think that's the other piece. In terms of inviting people into the practice and kind of getting over that hump is like, you're already practicing. It's not this crazy. It's not like, get on your mat for an hour every day. It's conversations like these, right? It's right.

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Unknown
It's being present. It's being attentive, it's self-awareness. And reflection. It's breathing. You know, like I used to teach for briefly at the Soldiers Home. And I had a guy who was bedridden, but he was breathing. He was there, he was doing the practice. You know, you don't have to do a headstand. In fact, I cannot do a headstand.

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Unknown
I can't do a handstand. You don't have to do to be a yoga teacher. I think that is that's like the Western versus eastern issue is like in

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the Western society. It's like to be good at yoga. You need to be able to do all these crazy moves. And why can't you be more flexible, like around your neck?

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Unknown
Yeah. And whereas in eastern philosophy, that's not even it like, can you like, sit with yourself for even five minutes, you know, that's more important. You

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know, that's so huge. Like, how many of us are like, have a have whatever the nurse legs syndrome or just like, have to have multimedia things happening simultaneously. Study with headphones, with music.

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Unknown
You know, some people are, watching movies while they're driving. I mean, it's really scary. I see somebody doing that the other day. I was like, whoa, I listen to podcasts and I kind of feel like, can I just be silent? I do love being silent. And you mentioned audiobooks. That's love. That's like the best time to listen to audiobooks.

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Unknown
Yeah, but I really like silence. I don't like commercials or radio or anything like that. I just like silence. And I think it is because of the yoga practice. It really has informed my relationship to myself. And, it would be it's becoming a I feel like people are seeing the importance of self-care and, and, and you mentioned something in a class recently or one of the classes about self-care is, flexing or something like, not really self-care, like the difference between like just saying you're doing something like, going to the spa and spending a crazy amount of money is not necessarily self-care, right?

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Unknown
Right. That's that's being stuck in that colonized mind of that's what self-care looks like, not what your body wants. Right? Right. Yeah. So, so that idea of self-care, again, because we live in a capitalist society, has been commodified. So self-care is a spa, a massage, a retreat. And not that any of those things are bad. I love a good massage.

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Unknown
But it's again about like, how can I take my agency back and know that I can create a space of peace for myself in my life without having to spend extra money or do anything extra? Like I can find that within me. And that's really hard because again, we have all been conditioned that we are inherently flawed.

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Unknown
So a lot of the struggle that I find, I think even you said this when we started practicing is that it was too slow, it's too slow. And people are I'm, I'm really encouraging people to slow down, get quiet, start to turn inward. And that is so uncomfortable. And so that I think and that's by design, right.

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Unknown
Like we are meant to constantly be distracted and pulled in a million different directions so that we can't come to that peaceful place within ourself and that we feel like we need to keep buying to find it. So really, it's more of like a pulling in,

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Unknown
guess I just keep going back to the fact that that remembering that we're nature, you know, and that we are natural beings here on this planet.

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Unknown
We have been so pulled away by technology and and the development of our society. And not that that's a bad thing. Like we all appreciate a working toilet. But we have gotten so far from it that now it's like there's like, oh, forest bathing. Like, did you know it's good for you to go for a walk? Like, of course it is.

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Unknown
You know, like, yeah, you know, of course, with other people, but it doesn't have to be packaged. Right. Like, I don't need to pay a guy to go for a walk in the woods, like we. And I think, yeah, we just need to remember that we have the agency and the capacity to go do that. And like, the motivation to do that, I think is really the, the line that we're dancing around.

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Unknown
Because it's like we know this inherently that breathing outside and being with the trees that are giving us life that are, you know, breathing in the carbon dioxide and generating that oxygen for us and, and inspiring us. And just like having that un-failing relationship with all the elements, is good for us. Why don't we do it?

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Unknown
Why don't I do it more right? Like it's, it's that,

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Unknown
I'm good enough. I'm fine. Right. Like you are. You really like, is there anything in your body that's saying you're not fine? Then listen to that. Yeah, I that's hard, though, because we have been again, like, I don't I think we have to be careful about the language because I don't want to put the blame on any individual.

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Unknown
You know, it's it's again, like the systems in power have made it so that people can even feel that they are unhappy, uncomfortable, tired, whatever. Because they're they're set on such a go, go, go track. Someone one of my students referred to it as tyranny of the urgent. It's like, you know, there are all those things that you want to do and that would be good for you.

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Unknown
But like, you know, the laundry's got to get done. Dinner's got to get made, like, and so stuff. Right. So stuff always happens that we put in front of our own self-care. And again that's, that's no fault of anybody's, but it's that reframe of seeing that you, you have value as you are, and not just by what you can do.

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Unknown
And you deserve to rest like all other living things. And to be able to have that deeper connection to yourself. Before it kind of takes you over.

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Unknown
So I always go back to this analogy. I was a little tomboy growing up, and

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I was a big Batman fan, and I loved the concept of like, Batman versus the Joker, because it's this idea that something terrible can happen to you and it's what you choose to do with it, right?

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Unknown
Like that. And lost his parents, and then he chose to become a superhero so that other people don't suffer the way he suffered versus the Joker, who, you know, the history, depending on whatever comic you're reading, is different. But he became so damaged by what happened to him that he can only cause harm to others. And, you know, that's the very modern version of that Native American story of like, the two wolves, and whichever survives is the one you feed.

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Unknown
Right, Mohawk. And so I think we are at this point in our lives where we are being pushed to be the joker because we don't have the time. We don't. We're made to feel like we don't have the time to kind of tune in and heal. So we just get more aggressive and, you know, you hear people saying like, yeah, I was hit as a kid too.

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Unknown
Like, so what? You know what I mean? Like there is an empathy for other people. Yeah, yeah. And they lose empathy because they're so hardened by their experience in this constant need to like push past, push past, push past. Yes. Yep. Like, oh well toughen up. Yes.

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Unknown
I love that analogy. Yeah. Absolutely love that. Like,

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can we all be Batman?

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Unknown
Yeah. Yeah. Like heal and then want others to be whole and healthy, complete wellness and lasting peace. Yeah. For everybody. Yes please. And let's be realistic. Batman's not perfect. So. So it's not right.

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Unknown
It's not like we have to get to this. Like. Enlightened state. And I think maybe that's the other part of it is, you know, and even some yoga teachers will present themselves in this inaccessible way where they are so peaceful and so.

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Unknown
A quantum is, Yeah. And it's beautiful. But it's also, I think that gives people a sense of like, well, I'm never going to be that. Right. And so and I don't want to be that. Right. Yeah. Right. Right. And so like, maintaining our humanity like knowing like I'm flawed. Like I am not perfect because I study this.

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Unknown
Like I study this because I am a flawed human. Right. And so, yeah, going back to that analogy, like that man is by no means perfect, but he's doing the best he can to try to make a difference. And that's really, the invitation, I think. Yeah, I love it. And if we find ourselves being the Joker, like, let's just look at it and try to, accept that's where we are and not take it as a weakness.

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Unknown
Or if, like you said, the flood of a flawed reality is not a reality. It's we can change. We can change all the time. Like our cells are constantly healing and regenerating and sending them love just like this keeps keeps happening. Yeah. So I mentioned in the last episode your newsletter and it's just like thinking about how lovely it is with the images and all that.

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Unknown
But, but you shared because it's like 2026, the the, the aspirations or intent content intentions that you have. And one of them is like these three pieces that I really resonate with, like the, presence, patience and peace. Do you want to say anything about that? Sure. It's sort of,

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Unknown
Well, patience is like a long term struggle for me, and present. So, you know, as, survivor presents has always been a struggle. Dissociation comes a lot easier. And so I've just become so much more aware, even in conversation and moments where I'm like, kind of leaving and so and how that disrupts things. Right? Like I have a habit of if you make a certain facial facial expression, I'll stop listening to what you say and create a whole narrative.

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Unknown
And now I'm stressed, and now I feel bad because I am not listening to you. So now there is no peace, right? And so by just staying present and having the patience to maybe hear what you're saying in addition to the facial expression you made or something. Then that will keep my peace and help. Nice. It's so interesting because similarly, like, I grew up with, not very healthy households, and my mom was, like, the queen of facial expressions.

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Unknown
And you get really sensitive to facial expressions. Yeah. Like, they could be life and death or, I mean, it could feel like life and death. It could for some people. It could be, you know, deprivation. It could be, in deprivation, like, like withholding of love, withholding of of things that, you know, touch or affection of some sort.

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Unknown
And that's pretty common, for folks who are survivors and or even just like parents who couldn't hold it together, for whatever reason, like, it's, it's pretty heavy. So, like, being really, kind to the self when activated and, and, and like, having that internal dialog to say, oh, that happened. Let's breathe. Let's come back to the breath and, and find the peace that's always waiting there.

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Unknown
Yeah I'm seeing and seeing my dog wagtail. That's always there and it's really beautiful. And I think the other piece of that is that I specifically use the word intention or in yoga it's sun culpa. San culpa. Yeah. Versus a goal or a resolution because again, society already pushes us so much to feel like we need to be doing a certain way, a certain thing, a certain way.

00;26;10;20 - 00;26;42;19
Unknown
You know, we need to constantly fix ourselves. We need to constantly produce. And so when we set these resolutions, these goals, it's another rigid push and pressure on ourselves. And because we set them, then we get very self-critical when things don't go well because life never goes as we planned it. So by being an intention instead, and I say this in the newsletter, it's more like planting a seed and nurturing that seed.

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Unknown
Let's say it's like an apple seed. So you are nurturing that seed and nurturing that tree, knowing you may never actually get to eat one of those apples, but it matters to you. And, you know, those apples can nourish people beyond you. And so it is what you return to as your daily practice and purpose. And so with our intention, it's like, I want to be a more peaceful person.

00;27;11;25 - 00;27;30;18
Unknown
That's what I'm going to try to do every day when I wake up. And even again, if you fall back, it doesn't have to be like, oh, I failed. It's just like, you know, the practice of yoga starts now. So now I get to try again. Yeah, yeah. Each new breath, each new day like. Absolutely. Right.

00;27;30;20 - 00;27;54;24
Unknown
Yeah. It's so liberating. Really liberating. I've been noticing some people instead of using the word resolution that which you mentioned using revolution. Ooh a revolutionary. How can I, just like, completely turn things upside down and, I'm just having a conversation with a friend who was talking about, like, the Chinese New Year is,

00;27;54;26 - 00;28;16;18
Unknown
Fire horse. Yeah. Fire horse. Right. So it's there's a lot of intensity, a lot of power. And one of the things that is recommended is we we just, like, get rid of all of our clutter, all of the old identities that we no longer are. And I am telling you, with the inner fortune, just inner fortune alone. I've got so many journals.

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Unknown
And then before I even created an inner fortune, which was 19 years ago, now I have journals all the way back till I was nine years old. Oh wow. And lots of them have of them I like, could I burn them? Could I, could I just like, throw them away? Can I recycle them? Maybe I know, could I organize a party where other people did that together?

00;28;39;16 - 00;29;03;15
Unknown
Yeah. Like that feels really cool. Scary. But when we do things together, it's easier. So I've been thinking about all of that. All the things the memorabilia, all the old me. It's not me anymore, right? Even I've done dozens of community projects. Why do I save the details? Why? Like, I don't I like, just recycle it all, but yeah.

00;29;03;22 - 00;29;37;06
Unknown
So that's something I'm trying to set as an intention. It's a very I like I haven't even watered the seed yet. That's okay. So like what the six. You've got time. No. That's a really interesting concept. And I'm curious. And I don't know if this is maybe too in-depth for the purposes of this podcast, but as a survivor, if there's a part of you that feels not so good about, like, letting go a backup.

00;29;37;06 - 00;30;04;28
Unknown
So again, going back to those guided imagery and music things, I have had a vision, a journey where, you know, on one hand, there's my fiancé and my friends and like, I'm at my wedding, but the child me is like, weeping and doesn't want to be left behind. And I had to, like, turn around and tell her, like, letting go of my past doesn't mean letting go of her.

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Unknown
And so it's this, like I'm struggling. It's interesting that you mentioned that I'm struggling with, like, yeah, I want to let go of that, but I don't want to let go of that part of me that already felt so neglected. I don't want her to just, like, abandon her, you know? So, yeah. So with you on that, I, I really resonate and I do, like, sometimes get advice from people of, like, that's your old story, but but I have that relationship as well.

00;30;32;22 - 00;31;01;29
Unknown
It's like we haven't healed yet. Right. There's still work to do. So what if I got rid of something that's going to help us do that. Like me and my, my younger self. Yeah. And, and so for me, I think it comes to faith that I'm, I'm going to be okay even without materials or objects that all of the things because, because like, I'm coming into that I shared it in the last episode.

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Unknown
I'm coming into this understanding of all that, like, who was it? Some some old, like, dead guy said, we contain multitudes, right? And so coming into knowing that those multitudes and knowing that it's across time, it's like quantum, all these mind blowing, really crazy things. But in, like you said, the micro, the micro of a moment, it's all there.

00;31;26;27 - 00;31;50;00
Unknown
It's unbelievably all there. Yeah. So it's like, why, how am I attached to the material things, the emotion that was in that journal as I wrote it. Right. How can I let go of that? And and that's why I'm kind of inclined to think about it in terms of ceremony, because it's like ceremony is celebrating what was there.

00;31;50;00 - 00;32;17;23
Unknown
And it's not like it's not like throwing it in the trash because that's disrespectful to all that went into that. But it's it's honoring and saying we're ready to move on. Yeah. Like I could totally see and visualize that whole imagery of your child at the wedding. And there is still part of me that would say to that if it were my child say, come on, we're grown now.

00;32;17;25 - 00;32;32;21
Unknown
Hey. Yeah. What that child wants to hear. Right. It's like, oh no, no, no, I'm just going to take my heels in. I'm going to like, I'm going to be on the leash and I'm going to make sure you can not drag me, right? Yeah, yeah.

00;32;32;24 - 00;33;05;13
Unknown
He's all my snakes. Yeah. So how do you. How do you do that? How do you like in the in the yoga practice? Like, how how are you engaging? That is, I too haven't even planted that seed. That. So that imagery, that journey just happened a week ago last Monday. And so I've just been sort of digesting it and trying to figure out, like, what does inner child work look like?

00;33;05;13 - 00;33;31;22
Unknown
I mean, I'm sure there are meditations and things like that that I could tap into and the practice itself, honestly. Right. Because I found it when I was like nine, ten years old. And so, when I can stop, I think part of the growing as a yoga teacher, I think all yoga teachers can agree is that you start practicing as much, which is really a bummer.

00;33;31;24 - 00;33;52;23
Unknown
And so then I get really rigid. And even when I'm practicing at home, I'm like, planning and prepping. But I do teach a group of men at the Western Mass Wellness and Recovery Center, and they like a more active class. And, you know, I mentioned like having to meet people where they're at. So I started with slower classes and they hated it.

00;33;52;25 - 00;34;15;25
Unknown
So now I do more active classes, but I end with a meditation and they let they'll fall asleep. It's great. But in those classes I get to really play because they want a really active class. And I remember when I started teaching, it sort of felt like Simon says, you know, I felt like we were just little kids in a playground like, ooh, look at what I can do.

00;34;15;25 - 00;34;34;14
Unknown
Can you do a cartwheel? You know? And so, I kind of feel like that when I'm teaching those guys and so even the practice can be a way to kind of tap back into her and, and just get back into, like, a sense of play, which I think is adults. We all, we all need to find our ways to tap back into.

00;34;34;15 - 00;35;02;10
Unknown
We let ourselves get a little too rigid. Yeah. Yeah, definitely. I love how you bring that up. Like, the, the gender dynamic of pace and meeting people where they are. You know, again, it's such a beautiful skill that you have developed in, in our practicing and growing and expanding and all of that. Yeah. So like the do you see it as a male female binary of, of pace or.

00;35;02;13 - 00;35;21;26
Unknown
No, I think it's more probably just because they are incarcerated and so they can't, you know, they do get to work out. But, there's just a lot of stillness and so they don't want more stillness, you know? So they kind of need a move first before they can kind of get to that place of stillness.

00;35;21;28 - 00;35;45;24
Unknown
But no, I don't think, it's specifically, you know, nothing is is a monolith. And so I do think, you know, I've had men in other classes, even in the Survivor Series, that really like the slower movement. Or would prefer that I even slow down more, talk less. So, I yeah, I don't think it's gender specific.

00;35;45;24 - 00;36;12;16
Unknown
I do think that men I feel like this little I might get some backlash, but I do feel like men are underserved in this particular realm. I think it's beautiful that there are so many women who want to create healing spaces for other women. And thrive is intentionally not specifically for women, because there are men who are survivors.

00;36;12;16 - 00;36;36;29
Unknown
They are men who have dealt with trauma. And again, going back to the Joker or Batman, like if there is no one there to offer them a safe place, they're just going to harden further. Right. And even though I grew up in an abusive household under a complete piece of shit of a father, I had an older brother who loved me and cared for me and also grew up in trauma.

00;36;36;29 - 00;36;56;17
Unknown
And so I can see, like my father is a traumatized individual who just let it burn him up and destroy him as a human. Whereas my brother was a beautiful person who was damaged by trauma and just tried to stay soft and then died because he got cancer, you know. Right, right. So it is like the Batman and Joker.

00;36;56;17 - 00;37;17;01
Unknown
And so that's kind of what I, what I think when I work with these guys is like, again, they're not flawed, like life happened to them and or they are flawed. We're all right. Life happened to them. And I am not better than them because I didn't end up where they are. Right? Like, I could have very easily ended up in their shoes.

00;37;17;01 - 00;37;36;22
Unknown
Yeah, yeah. Wow. Ooh. How about we do a heart attack in such size? I'm talking a lot. I know, I know stories, I really, really do, but I had. So it's been two years since. There's a couple things I want to say. Oh my gosh. Look.

00;37;36;24 - 00;38;21;17
Unknown
I started this only two years ago. January. Oh, wow. And, I heard a whisper. Had a name of obese. And I was like, okay, it's great. It's for women, you know, a show for women. And it's going to uplift. And at least, at least nod with deep respect to black and brown women who have done the bulk of healing work through grief, systemic grief and, and really, like, guided the way, I don't speak Spanish, so I feel like an imposter about that, but I still feel like, showcasing women for me for the past 20 years, maybe not even that long.

00;38;21;20 - 00;38;49;01
Unknown
Choosing women writers, choosing women directors in films and, and and just like the work that women are doing still feels really critical because there's such an imbalance, because the dominant hetero patriarchy is still, like if you go on any streaming channel, you're just going to see people I don't want to name, male white male people.

00;38;49;01 - 00;39;22;22
Unknown
And, and and it's, it's like, you can't get out of it without a lot of labor. You got to do the work to find the good things that are on these streaming platforms. So I still feel really good about the name of the podcast and the intention, but your point of really like it's the access. If PBS didn't have that yoga show for you, or my yoga teacher, who was a man who was a Yogi, like just like you would expect, super skinny and learned in India, actually took me aside and said, this is really important for you.

00;39;22;25 - 00;39;56;10
Unknown
And I listened like with without those moments of access, the world's not going to be what it can be. It's not going to blossom in the way that it needs to with all of us. Like feeling sovereign. So that work that you're doing and really seeking out those people, knowing that that is your story, that you want to be the Batman for all these folks who are not going to be, you know, coming to the white female yoga class that is still predominant.

00;39;56;13 - 00;40;24;01
Unknown
It's such an important thing. And I started off doing a heart check in in every episode. And this piece in the body series, we have just been. So. Yeah, like, so hard to remember to do hard check ins. But I also think, like with, if you know, this fire horse, you know, new, new, energy coming in with the Chinese New Year.

00;40;24;03 - 00;41;18;06
Unknown
We got to figure out how to, like, manage our fire energy. And so for me, a heart check in is usually is usually that. Would you indulge me? Sure. Okay. So let's just, like, take a moment to to take a breath and everyone take a breath and feel where where we where you are. Where's the body?

00;41;18;09 - 00;41;46;27
Unknown
Would you like to share first? I said okay, you can go first. Yeah. Yeah. I dropped into the enthusiasm and the high energy. It feels really good. And then I felt this, pulse that's been in my head for a long time. I have tonight nights in, and I. I got, like, like, so much sad grief.

00;41;46;27 - 00;42;16;21
Unknown
Fear. You know, grief is is a combination of feeling, of sadness or, mixed emotion, of sadness and fear. And, I really felt that, like, this pressure in my head. So my heart is in that, like, ooh. And grateful for slowing down. So taking that moment. How about you. Thanks for sharing that. I I'm just feeling really grateful for this opportunity in this conversation.

00;42;16;21 - 00;42;39;19
Unknown
I also feel like yeah that like energy and it's like really expansive and excited. Yeah. So I just feel really, really grateful for the opportunity to be here. And as you mentioned, that grief. I just want to, yeah, just extend a little sympathy, a little empathy for you and your loss. Thank you.

00;42;39;22 - 00;42;44;18
Unknown
Is there anything else you would like to share about Mitra healing centered yoga?

00;42;44;19 - 00;43;09;29
Unknown
Some of the things that are on deck for you? Sure. I do have the, Bipoc, free Bipoc series, is every other Wednesday at 50 Arrow Gallery here in East Works. It is from 6 to 730 that come the series returns January 14th. And every session we talk about a different theme. Honestly, it's become a bit of a book club.

00;43;09;29 - 00;43;33;09
Unknown
I'm a bit of a book nerd, so every theme is based out of a different book. So that's exciting. And coming up on the pipeline, and then thrive will certainly return again in the spring once, we don't have to worry so much about the weather randomness. So I will definitely, be promoting that more when that occurs.

00;43;33;11 - 00;43;55;19
Unknown
And besides that, Mitra is always looking for collaborations. So if you or anyone run, you know, is it an organization that you feel this could benefit? I work not just with the communities of the organization, but also with the staff. So I'm just partnering with gondola right now to offer their their staff, their therapists or psychiatrists or social workers.

00;43;55;25 - 00;44;12;25
Unknown
So sometime for self-care as well. Thank you so much for that. Yeah. I mean hopefully they they are. So again like that that hard work is so strong. It's the practice of like taking the time for themselves is really what we'll be working on. Yeah.

00;44;12;28 - 00;44;36;23
Unknown
And what is your what is your website? Oh, Thank you. My website is Mitrahealing.com Mitra healing.com. Mitra. Yes. And Mitra is Sanskrit for one who walks the path with you as a friend. And so going back to that sense where, like, I never want to be a guru, I never want it to be that, like, do as I say model.

00;44;36;25 - 00;45;06;01
Unknown
I am just someone else, on a healing journey. Just kind of walking along it with you. You know? I just got chills on my back for explaining what. Oh, of course, Angelica Lopez, you are a gift to the world. Thank you. Thank you for joining me for peace. Thank you. And thanks for watching. Check us out on social media when these episodes actually get there,

00;45;06;03 - 00;45;06;27
Unknown
See you next time.