This week, my husband Rabbi Yonasan Reiser and I talked about something I get asked about fairly often: how to choose a somatic training program. My answer might surprise you. We're taking a model of learning that's designed for cognitive content and applying it to body-based work. The model is  information-heavy and lecture-based, and I think that's a problem for what we have here. If you're learning a somatic modality, at least 70% of your time in training should be experiential. Learning this modality doesn't work by watching or listening to lectures. To be effective, we need to actually practice it in all three roles: as a practitioner, as a client, and as an observer. The reason is simple: if you don't have the lived experience of what you're guiding your client through, you can't guide them.  In this week's episode, I also talk about why the nervous system needs a little context before jumping into practice, and why ongoing practice after training is what separates the practitioners who can actually use this work effectively from those who can't. And then I tell a story I don't share often. When I was looking for a focusing practitioner for myself, I worked with several people who claimed to do focusing, and I was appalled. What they were doing caused re-traumatization. They were good people trying their best, but they didn't have the depth of lived experience that this work requires. This kind of training needs to be lived. Join the conversation and let me know what you think. If this episode resonated with you, I recommend The Power of Focusing by Ann Weiser Cornell. Cornell studied directly with Eugene Gendlin, the originator of Focusing, and this is probably the most practical guide to Focusing that exists. It's not theoretical; instead, it walks you through how to actually do it. This maps directly onto everything we talked about today: the difference between understanding something conceptually and having the lived experience of it. This book won't give you the lived experience that only comes from doing the work with another person, of course, but it's the closest thing to a hands-on guide you'll find in print. Order a copy here. This is an affiliate link which doesn't cost you anything extra and helps support my work. https://www.amazon.com/Power-Focusing-Practical-Emotional-Self-Healing/dp/157224044X?tag=towardsahealt-20  

When someone comes to you with a request or a demand, there are two things you can do: support or acquiesce. Supporting means both people exist. You're here, they're here, and it's a real relationship. Acquiescing means you stop existing, like a balloon where all the air goes out of one side to inflate the other. In this episode, we talk about what it actually looks like in a business context to stay present while serving your clients. We get into the nervous system piece: why fawning is a behavior and not a state, and why it doesn't actually regulate you. We talk about hishtadlus inside Menuchas HaNefesh. And we get practical: filters, recordings, scheduling, and how to use your needs and your clients' needs as the compass for every business decision. If you've ever bent yourself into a pretzel trying to accommodate a client, and then felt resentful or burned out, like you're serving everyone but yourself, then this one's for you. If this episode resonated with you, I recommend Complex PTSD: From Surviving to Thriving by Pete Walker. This is the book where fawning as a concept was developed, originating in Pete Walker's work with complex trauma. The way he describes it maps directly onto everything we talked about today: giving yourself up in order to feel safe, stopping existing for the sake of the other person, and the nervous system cost of living that way over time. It's not a light read, but it's not overly clinical, either. Walker writes from both a professional and a personal place, and that comes through. Order a copy here . This is an affiliate link which doesn't cost you anything extra and helps support my work.

What is therapy actually for? This week, we got into one of the questions I think about most,  and it led us somewhere really unexpected. We started with the idea of "the edge," that place in Focusing between what we already know about ourselves and what we don't yet know. That's where real change happens. Not in the rehashing, not in the advice-giving, not in mapping everything we've already mapped, but in the unknown territory that only opens up when we slow down enough to get there. From there we talked about why self-help books, while genuinely valuable, can only take us so far, and why knowing something and actually integrating it are two completely different things. The Sifsei Chaim has something beautiful to say about this: the avodah isn't the knowing, it's the bringing-to-the-heart. Because the longest distance is to our hearts, and our hearts need constant reminder. We also got into what focusing sessions actually look like from the inside, from the "edge extravaganza" days to the days you just don't want to go there at all, and why a person cannot take themselves out of jail, and why that's not something to be ashamed of. Plus the Super Mario metaphor that I'm pretty sure will stick with you. Join us. If this episode resonated with you, I recommend Focusing by Eugene Gendlin. This is the foundational text: the book that introduced the concept of the edge, the felt sense, and what it means to bring something from information into the body. Everything we talked about today lives in this book. If you're a practitioner who wants to understand what you're actually helping your clients do when you slow things down, or if you're someone who's been in therapy for years and wondering why knowing things isn't moving you forward, this is where to go next. Order a copy here. This is an affiliate link which doesn't cost you anything extra and helps support my work. Focusing: Gendlin, Eugene T.: 9780553278330: Amazon.com: Books

Rena led a meditation exercise aimed at connecting with the inner world, focusing on the breath and finding relaxation in the body. She guided the participants to bring awareness to their thoughts and emotions, and to observe where and how they experienced these in the body. She then encouraged the participants to imagine the opposite of their recurring thought or emotion, and to experience this as if it was their only reality. Finally, she suggested the participants practice holding both the original and its opposite thought or emotion simultaneously, noticing the effect this had on their body and mind.

Rena guided the participants through a somatic mindfulness practice aimed at practicing mindfulness and focusing the attention. The exercise involved alternating between intently focusing on a physical object in the room and an internal sensation, emotion, or thought, and then defocusing the attention to take in the surrounding space. Rena emphasized the importance of not forcing the breath or the focus, allowing it to go where it naturally wanted to. Rena then guided the participants through a deep breathing exercise and a body scan, encouraging them to relax and notice any resistance or discomfort they were feeling. She emphasized the importance of trusting and relying on Hashem's love and support. She also reminded the participants that they can always fall back on this inner resource of Hashem's loving presence whenever they need to. Towards the end, she encouraged them to continue focusing on their breath and notice any changes.

Rena guided the group in a somatic mindfulness practice to connect with their bodies and emotions. She invited them to imagine their breath going in and out of their heart space, and to release tension as they breathed out. Then, she invited them to bring the emotion of joy into their bodies, noticing its shape, color, and texture. Rena encouraged the group to become aware of any blocks to joy, and to spend time with these feelings. She also guided them in holding both joy and the other emotion simultaneously, returning to the imagery of Hashem holding them for a sense of safety and security. Finally, she invited the group to ask for anything they needed from Hashem, filling themselves with love and spreading it out to others.

This episode is from an interview with Parenting Coach Blimie Heller. Blimie is one of my all-time favorite interviewees and this is my 3rd episode interviewing her. Blimie and I have changed so much over the course of the last five years from the time that I first interviewed her. In this episode we talk about the ways we've changed in our approach to our work. We also talk about a major tool in creating a compassionate approach to viewing ourselves, our clients, and our children. Below are some points we cover: Being able to spend time with shame. The significance of having a second person witnessing our discomfort and helping emotions shift. The philosophy of Non Violent Communication on seeing the beauty in unpleasant emotions. Does being divine mean we only embrace the positive? The gift of presence and being triggering - realizing that you don't have to do something about it. Needing to fix each other  Having needs vs being needy Creating compassion for our children. Seeing the need in resistance from parents and clients. Genuine compassion doesn't feel like work. Blimie wanted to clarify that she exercises caution when sharing her feelings with her children so as not to make them feel responsible for her feelings. Also, sometimes, she doesn't share her feelings at all and simply processes them with someone else. She only shares her feelings with them when she is 100% clear inside that her children are not responsible  for her feelings and only if she believes it will in some way be beneficial for them to know. Join Blimie's upcoming Essentials Course which starts on July 3rd! https://www.blimieheller.com/essentials Join Rena's Embodied Jewish Woman Circle for July which is now open for registration! https://renareiser.com/circle

This episode was from a live Q&A that I opened up to my e-mail list. The questions were amazing and covered a spectrum of topics that relate to regulation and creating change in our lives. Here is a brief overview of some of the questions and answers: Q 1) How do we help our children regulate? The importance of regulating the child within us. Being regulating and not doing regulating. The power of mirror neurons.   Q 2) Is being triggered another way of saying dysregulation? The process of being triggered and/or dysregulation.   Q 3) How does dysregulation relate to concepts of Intuitive Eating? Regulation can replace Intuitive Eating without the cognitive construct.   Q 4) Can sharing our state with our children have a negative impact? The importance of not leaving internal struggles internal. Ways we can relay our state to our children. Finding ways to meet our needs in less than ideal situations.   Q 5) How does one balance regulating themselves and others? Changing your trauma story. Being honest about your own needs in a dysregulated environment.   If you like what you heard on this podcast, explore some of the other ways you can work with me at www.renareiser.com, including lots of free resources, all there to help you live life from a more embodied place.

This episode is from a live event I did in my community. The topic of the podcast is How To Fight Fair in Marriage, but the tools I share in this episode can be applied to all aspects of life. As a child of divorce I always feared that a fight meant the end of my marriage. I give my five rules for fighting fair.  Here are some of the topics I cover: Remember the 80/20 rule - take the 20% that will make the 80% difference for you. Here are my five essential ingredients to fighting fair: Needs Parts Felt-sensing Nervous system regulation Neuroplasticity / visualization Fights can be an opportunity for growth when fighting is fair, an opportunity for understanding each other's needs more clearly and truly being there for each other. Download my free Tune In Journal to tune into your needs and create lasting change at www.tuneinjournal.com.

Last month I sat down with Miriam Campbell, a speech therapist and a social worker. I found Miriam to be such a breath of fresh air. She's honest, insightful, and full of positive energy. We spoke a lot about parenting but also personal growth. I hope you enjoy listening to her as much as I did. Among the things we discuss are: The importance of seeing parenting as a process How we need feel safety in order to access to higher mental capacities Using challenges to our benefit. Turning what feels like danger into a learning opportunity. Being able to model for our children / coregulating That it's okay that were not perfect - that we're always growing What relationships reveal and how they can motivate us toward growth Why struggle / discomfort is good Having awareness of what my dysregulation feels like in order to plan "what can I do right now?" Teaching self-awareness Apologizing to children can be good The goal of being an 80% parent Planning your support ahead of time Miriam Campbell is a Speech Therapist and Social worker who trains and coaches parents how to support child social-emotional development. She runs course series on Self Awareness, Relationship Skills, Problem Solving, and Emotional Regulation. Her social skills book, Bubble Double is available on Amazon. She can be reached at [email protected], or find her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/skills4connection/ or on her website https://www.skillsforconnection.com. Email Miriam to receive the link to join her free WhatsApp group. Download Rena's free Tune In Journal and sign up for her mailing list at https://tuneinjournal.com.

Chaya Hinda Allen empowers others by imbuing them with an optimistic approach to life, born of faith and trust in Hashem's goodness and love. For the past twenty-five years, Chaya Hinda has been guiding, teaching, coaching, and mentoring women of all ages and stages ‎‎(from teenagers to great-grandmothers; professionals, entrepreneurs, stay-at-home ‎moms, Rebbetzins, community leaders and more). She specializes in helping them cut overwhelm and frustration, and ‎gracefully navigate challenging relationships and life situations, sharing tools and insights through classes, guided imageries, one-on-one coaching, group coaching programs, trips, retreats and her newest venture, the Chaya Hinda Coaching academy.. When you join her community, be ready to laugh a lot along your path of growth, and to be surprised by how much goodness you discover within yourself. Find out more, give feedback and be in touch at chayahindacoaching.com.

A few weeks ago my husband and I sat down with Igor Mystelman to record a podcast. Igor and my husband are old friends, but he is also a former Divorce Attorney who has become a very popular couples' counselor. We took this opportunity to discuss different perspectives on relationships and our role in creating positive connections.   The podcast has a great casual and really fun feel. Between the jokes and the shmoozing we cover a gamut of interesting and diverse topics. Among the things we discussed are:   The work of some early pioneers of mind-body work like Dr. Sarno and Dr. Gabor Mate and how they played a role in our journeys to healing. How I discovered Focusing, what it is, and some of the steps of Focusing and how I use them. How Igor uses the Imago technique to work on relationships. Why top down modalities cannot be the only tools we use. Comparing notes about men and women in therapeutic work and what they each need in their healing journey. Safety cues between spouses and whether we are hearing the other person - the power of mirroring and true empathy (and me chirping like a parakeet). The intersection between working on yourself and working on relationships. The importance of fighting. How many clients' dissatisfaction comes from confusing strategies with needs. Enjoy this episode! About Igor: Igor Meystelman is a Family Law Attorney turned Relationship Coach whose goal is to change the world, one relationship at a time. He is also a host of Dating, Marriage, and Divorce Conversations - Podcast. More information is available on his website: www.relationshipreimagined.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. To learn more about Rena's work, download her free Tune In Journal at www.tuneinjournal.com.

We are surrounded by the mentality of "man up", "grow up", "don't show your emotions", "stop being a cry baby", etc. This unfortunately has led many of us to close ourselves off from our emotional world. What happens as a result is that when we do feel an avalanche of emotions coming, most of us go into either dissociation, disconnecting from the emotion, or getting flooded with the emotion, having it take us over, since we haven't learned how to be with our emotions. This leads to all sorts of chronic pain, and distress in our most important relationships, where we should feel safe to be ourselves, and we don't. So today I'm sharing a somatic exercise called Somatic Tracking that helps us learn how to stay with our emotions, bodily sensations, and felt sense, teaching our systems that it's safe to feel, leading to reduced pain and enhancing our relationships as we show up as our true selves. Disclaimer: By listening to this episode and implementing this exercise you are not engaging in coaching with Rena Reiser and agree to take responsibility for your own health and wellbeing. This segment is part of a longer series of classes offered through my membership program, the Tune In Circle. Read more about it here. -- Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join Embodied Dance at renareiser.com/dance.

We're finishing up the week of Sefiras Haomer on Hod, which is about surrendering and introspecting. In this guided meditation we sense into how Hashem is breathing us throughout every moment of our lives, and how that allows us to surrender ourselves to Him. This segment is part of a longer series of classes offered through my membership program, the Tune In Circle. Read more about it here. ** Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join Embodied Dance at renareiser.com/dance.

We're finishing up the week of Sefiras Haomer on Netzach - bringing things out into the world, accomplishing, leaving a legacy. This EFT routine (written out for you below and recorded in this episode) will help you clear the blocks that are preventing you from taking your next step in bringing out your legacy. This segment is part of a longer series of classes offered through my membership program, The Tune In Circle. Read more about it here. The EFT script: Even though... Something in me is unsure of what my legacy is, I accept my parts anyway Something in me feels blocked from knowing my next step, I accept my parts anyway Something in me might not even believe I have a legacy, I accept my parts anyway Legacy Leaving a legacy As I say the words I notice what I sense inside Sometimes I sense a mixture of feelings Sometimes I sense nothing at all All these feelings All this numbness Something in me is scared Something in me feels inadequate Something in me wants to hide Something in me prefers staying small Something in me feels unsafe Something in me wants someone else to do it Something in me would rather do anything else Something in me is scared As I recognize all my parts I give them room to express themselves And when they feel heard When they feel seen When they feel understood When they feel worthwhile Then something shifts Something opens up I start to feel freer I start to feel unblocked I start to feel the Shefa pouring in Hashem helps me with my awareness With my next step With my vision Of the legacy I'm building My legacy -- Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join Embodied Dance at renareiser.com/dance.

Last Wednesday we joined together for the third live Q&A on The Frum Women's Insight Panel! Our topic was "How to Manage NOSH on Purim" Our panelists were Esti Asher, Gila Glassberg, and Yaffi Lvova. Here are the questions that our panelists answered: 1) There is tons of unhealthy food around on Purim, coupled together with a lack of schedule. How can we make sure to eat healthy food, especially as in Yerushalayim it's on Friday? 2) Trading nosh for money? Is that right? Do you agree? Disagree? What message is that giving? Is it healthy? I'm never totally at peace with it. But I see people doing it all the time. 3) I'm so torn. Should I let my kids eat what they want and they'll naturally learn that eating too much junk makes them feel gross? Or should I put a limit on the amount they eat? It's just one day per year! 4) In the past I've thrown a lot of the extra nosh in the garbage, because neither me or the kids can resist having it in the house. Is that because we have no self control? I feel like some people just aren't wired to have self control and it's not fair to have it there as a temptation. It's human instinct to want to eat when you're hungry. And if you're hungry and there's nosh… It's as if the bechira chofshit goes out the window! What do you think. 5) I still struggle with the onslaught of nosh in my house on Purim. It gets me every year. I'm sure this is a BIG question, but how can I enjoy the nosh without going overboard? 6) How can I limit my kids Nosh intake when I sneak it when no one's looking! I feel like a hypocrite!  -------------------------------- Links to panelists' websites: Esti Asher: https://www.estiashernutrition.com/ Gila Glassberg: https://gilaglassberg.com/ Yaffi Lvova: https://babybloomnutrition.com/ ----------------------------- Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance.

I recently gave a class called "How to Embody My Femininity", and the recording is now available. In the class I taught: -What the differences are between masculine and feminine energies -Where feminine and masculine natures are found -What wounding in these areas looks like -What gets in the way of us experiencing our feminine nature -Why we need to practice being feminine in order to feel more feminine -How to practice embodying our femininity -Some questions we can ask ourselves to tap into our feminine nature -How my Embodied Dance sessions can help you strengthen your connection to your femininity Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance.

Where do we get our inner resources from - from a limited place or an unlimited place? The answer: It depends on how we choose to identify. That's the topic of this week's podcast. Listen in to this episode where I discuss: Which part we often tune in from when we go inside to do the inner work What ends up lacking when we use this part to tune in What happens when we choose to identify differently How to tap into the Source of unlimited resources What can help us connect to our true selves P.S. I've updated my free Tune In Journal with this important Step 0. Download it here. For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance.

This past Wednesday we joined together for the second live Q&A on The Frum Women's Insight Panel! Our topic was "My Child Needs 100% - What About Me?" Our panelists were Jodi Fried, Sara Shaindel Goldwasser, and Chaya Breindy Kenigsberg. Here are some of the questions that our panelists answered: 1) My child struggles with aggression and dysregulation. Sometimes I literally feel like I'm in a battlefield. And after an hour and a half of dealing with a total explosion, and trying to keep him, me, and my other kids safe, I'm totally wiped. Often I end up in tears from sheer despair and feeling so bashed. What advice do you have to stay calm in those moments, without it wiping your energy? How you replenish your resources afterward. How can you bounce back into real life, after episodes like that?! 2) There are certain of my kids whose demands feel like they are sapping allllllllllll my energy. Like one request feels like I'm being bullied. How can I not translate their requests as FULL BLOWN I NEED THIS NOW demands? 3) Hi! I've been doing a lot of inner work and still have a long way to go. I know that my kids need me a lot more than I am currently giving of myself to them, but I have a hard time putting my "stuff" on hold in order to fully give to them. I have this fantasy wish of being able to fix all my stuff and then come back to my family fully (maybe a time machine so they don't need to wait! :) ) 4) A) I myself have my own feeling of not being heard and supported by my own parents. But I also literally cannot be there all the time for my own kids. What do I do with this guilt/need? Their needs vs my needs. I can't seem to find that guilt-free balance. Should I just be ok that they will also feel like their needs weren't met either, and that's just part of life? B) My Mother had a loving, humble personality, whereas my Dad was a tyrant. Mom never raised her voice nor did she hurt us verbally or physically. To my biggest surprise as a mother of 3, I often follow that father figure. My ongoing attempt to grow as a parent I have been taking parenting courses for decades, yet I still have difficulties parenting after my heart. How do I disconnect myself from that father image, the outbursts, and the negativity? 5) A) How to stay calm, not reactive, in the face of a child who is reactive and triggering your own buttons? B) This might be more of a general question, but do you have any tips for being more laid back and calm? I am in awe of women who are so relaxed and calm even when their house seems to be flying. BH I have worked on myself and my type A personality, trying to fully internalize that only Hashem is in control. I have recently been focusing on Simcha and regularly reviewing Igeres Haramban and definitely feel improvement, BH. I also know that there is so much Bracha and I am definitely not complaining, but would just love to radiate a calm, cool, collected, and happy presence. Any tips and tricks or mantras would be greatly appreciated! :) -- Links to panelists' contact info: Jodi Fried: http://loveadventuremom.com Sara Shaindel Goldwasser: https://awakeninggreatness.co Chaya Breindy Kenigsberg: [email protected]   Download Rena's free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation: https://tuneinjournal.com.  For more information about Rena's 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out https://renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance.

Why is it so hard to make changes in our lives, whether with food, relationships, technology, or anything else? Listen to this week's episode where I discuss: - What the missing piece is in the work we do in our lives - Which part of us is imperturbable - Why it's so hard to do the work - The importance of doing the work every day - The distinction between compassion and agreeing with someone - What one question can redirect who is running the show -- Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 sessions and group programs, check out renareiser.com.

Yesterday we kicked off the very first live Q&A on The Frum Women's Insight Panel! Our topic was "How to be more accepting of my husband." Our panelists were Chana Eisenstein, Kayla Levin, and Rivka Slatkin. Here are some of the questions that our panelists answered: 1) How can I be accepting of my husband but also want him to change? Can I do both? 2) My husband is an incredible, super-special person. He suffered emotional abuse and neglect as a child and only recently began a journey of diagnosis and treatment for ADHD. He has grown immensely; but the more he grows, the more it becomes clear that certain obstacles - like PTSD and ADHD - will never go away. It is sometimes hard for me to accept that even with therapy (forever?) and medication, he might always be mistrustful, forgetful, a mess, have low self-esteem, hard to find a job, etc. I understand getting through "hard times," but how do I accept a "hard life" without feeling resentful? 3) My husband suffers from low self-esteem and a very poor self-image. How can I show my husband that I accept him if he doesn't accept himself? His inner voice is so much louder than me; on top of that, my "love language" is NOT words of affirmation and I find it difficult to communicate this message to him. 4) I am intuitive and creative, and my husband is black and white, and I'm very sensitive to his energy which often shuts me down. The problem is that he also is home a lot. How can I be more accepting in a way that doesn't affect me? 5) I want to be more accepting of my husband but it's hard because I carry the financial burden and all kid-related responsibilities. He is clueless about these things and in his own world. So I get stressed and anxious and wish it could be different. I don't know how to be more accepting. 6) How can I be accepting of my husband's parenting style when it is so different than mine, specifically in the way we speak to the kids. I deeply believe that children's self-esteems need to be built up and validated so I use a gentle parenting approach (ex giving them time and space to think for themselves and solve conflict - even when quarreling with their sibling, validating their feelings, etc). My husband is more stern and uses harsher language to get the kids to listen and respect him (ex uses threats like taking away their toys for the night). In his more authoritarian approach, it's hard for me to sit back and hear it, because while the short term goal may be reached (ex they do what was told, albeit grumpily), it hurts me to think that it could have been handled much more gently and their self-esteem preserved. My husband is sensitive when I mention our different styles because he believes what he's doing is for their best and I couldn't disagree more so it makes for a lot of tension. 7) My question is, how can I know if I have become accepting, or maybe I am simply numb, to something that really bothered me a lot in the past? I used to try to be somewhat controlling in a certain area, and nowadays I just don't get involved. But I am not sure if that's because I've accepted the situation for what it is, or if I've numbed out because it was so distressing. -- Links to panelists' websites: Chana Eisenstein - http://chanaeisenstein.com/ Kayla Levin - https://kaylalevin.com/ Rivka Slatkin: https://themarriagerestorationproject.com/ Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com.

I was having a conversation with someone recently about chinuch. In it we discussed the idea that if we connect to our kids through their misbehavior, they'll learn to continue that misbehavior. I think there's some truth here, but there's an important nuance that is missing and can change the whole picture. That nuance is compassion. We can learn this from the way Moshe Rabbeinu responded to Korach. Listen in to this week's episode where I discuss: - Why connecting to your child even through their "negative" behaviors doesn't mean ignoring them - How every behavior is an expression of an unmet need - Yes, even when your child isn't going to bed on time, there's some sort of unmet need - What compassion is truly about - Why compassion isn't counter productive when someone acts against the rules / inappropriately - The ultimate story of compassion in the Torah: the story of Korach, and Moshe Rabbeinu's compassion - The steps of compassion we can learn from Moshe Rabbeinu's response to Korach -- Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Try your first class for free!

There are many of us who for years believed we couldn't write. And this has held us back from using writing as a healing tool. Enter Yocheved Rottenberg, founder and creator of Write Your Way Home. Yocheved runs therapeutic writing workshops and has written a book on the same topic. I've personally taken her workshops several times, and each time walk away with greater awarenesses and integration of parts of myself. I've been wanting to share her work with you for a while, and so I invited her onto my podcast this week. Here's what we discuss: - How Write Your Way Home was born - What some differences are between therapeutic writing and traditional therapy - Why you don't have to "like to write" or "be a writer" to do therapeutic writing - How therapeutic writing groups allow you to be in your own private experience and journey while in the containment of a group - The differences between WYWH the workshop and WYWH the book - What you can do when you're feeling combobulated - in 5 minutes Find Yocheved at www.writeyourwayhome.com. Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Try your first class for free!

In this episode I discuss: - How I feel about the advice of "never go to sleep angry" - In what way the noise of the washing machine impacted my family - What the noise of my washing machine is a metaphor for when we're in conflict with someone else - How my washing machine is different than us humans - That where there's anger there cannot be peace - What is the first step to do when we're in conflict with another person - What creates the resentment we feel towards the other person - Why pausing for the sake of shalom is better than moving forward in discussion - Which part of the conflict is our responsibility Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Try your first class for free!

In this episode I interview Chana Jenny Weisberg who is the creator of JewishMom.com. Here's what we talk about: - How JewishMom.com was born - How Chana Jenny went from "I can't write" to writing one sentence at a time, and then a paragraph, and then writing entire books - How emunah helped her through her insecurities of putting herself out there - Where her self-esteem of "I can put out things that aren't perfect because I see my self worth" comes from - How she imparts the sense of "we can do hard things" in a positive, healthy way to her kids - How you can move forward when there's something you're passionate about but seems out of reach - What the root is of Chana Jenny's mission of wanting to help moms smile every day - Where she sees her blog going in the next 50 years - What words of encouragement Chana Jenny has for Jewish moms Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com. Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Try your first class for free!

In this episode I interview Chany Rosengarten who helps women get to a place in their marriage where they feel safe, connected, and happy. She's also an author, having written hundreds of articles, and most recently wrote the self-help book "The Boundary is You". Chany used the skills she outlines in today's episode to turn her own relationship around. She works with the woman who says, "I'm in pain and I want better. If I'm going to be here in this relationship it has to be different, because this isn't working. And I'm willing to work on myself." Here's what we discuss: - How Chany got into this work - Where she knows her clients will be in 6-10 weeks - What some of the changes are that Chany sees in her clients - The steps of Chany's simple method she uses to help her clients - What happened when Chany put her marriage on the backburner and instead chose to take care of herself - Why this applies to all women whether they are married or not Contact Chany at [email protected]. -- Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Your first class is free. This week's theme is Self-love, inspired by this episode.

Some of us have a tendency that when we feel blah we need something really big that will give us an adrenaline rush to pick us up: things like food, retail therapy, or scrolling through social media. Others of us recognize the need for something that will fill us up with happy hormones: dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin, and endorphins. But those can feel gentle and boring, and it can be hard to inspire ourselves to do those things when we're in a state. In this episode I explore: - What it means that our state creates our story - Why we sometimes enjoy certain things in life and other times those same things grate on our nerves - Why shifting our state will make everything around us feel much better - What it means to be "up the ladder" and "down the ladder" - How to sense when we're "down the ladder" - How we can shift our state - What neuroplasticity has to do with this - How shifting our state can help us shift our instincts -- Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Your first class is free.

One of our listeners sent in this question: "When you allow yourself to encounter these often repressed emotions stuck in your body...certain topics/memories can really get you down. Almost feeling depressed or out of sorts for a period of time. How do you deal with that? I know it is important to let the emotions work their way through the system in order to get to the other side, but sometimes it is hard to put our positive, cheerful disposition on hold, if even for a limited amount of time, and even if it is in order to make space for more health and joy. Do you know what I'm saying?" In this episode I answer her question with these points: - What happens when we go inside and really listen to an emotion, topic, or memory - Why and how to greet an emotion with an energy of acceptance - How an emotion is similar to a child's temper tantrum - The underlying challenge many of us have when we have a difficult emotion, topic, or memory come up - Who we truly are at our core - How we go about recognizing our true essence - What the role of our Neshama is in all of our life's experience Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Your first class is free.

Let's talk about ASKING. Asking for the things that we need in life. Usually, when we want something, we think about how we're going to ask for it, and then... We use all kinds of excuses and reasons as to why we can't ask for what we need right now! In this week's episode I explore: - What feelings are behind us not asking for what we need - What happens when we reach our breaking point - How this relates to all our relationships in life, including with our husbands, kids, bosses...and Hashem - What it creates in our relationships when we don't ask for what we need - How people pleasing is actually us not giving our full selves in relationship - How not asking for what we need creates a lack of self-trust - What happens inside when we end up asking for things from a place of aggression - How it enhances our relationships when we ask from a more feminine place -- Join an Embodied Dance session at renareiser.com/dance. Your first class is free.

As a growth minded person you know how important it is to repeat, review and practice. But let's be honest. It gets BORING. We crave newness, freshness, and excitement. Right? In this episode we'll explore: ⁃ How to bring newness and freshness even when you're faced with many repetitive, boring daily processes ⁃ How to find balance between repetition and freshness ⁃ What "within our problem lies the solution" means ⁃ How to find newness from within Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com.

What's getting in our way of making a change? We know in our minds where we want to be. But something is blocking us from creating the life that we want. There are so many excuses getting in our way We may feel motivated initially, but when it fades away, we get stuck waiting for something external to get us moving. In this episode we'll explore: What is the role of inspiration to catapult change? How do we retain that inspiration? How do we bridge our heads and our hearts? How do we take what we know intellectually and start to live it? What do we do with all our excuses? What happens when we do? How do we generate our own internal inspiration? What are the practical steps to creating change? Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com.

Elul. It's a time for teshuva, right? So that means...it's a time for fear? Nope. Actually, it's a time for LOVE. As we learn from the words: Ani Ledodi Vedodi Li. But how can we access that deep love and closeness? In this episode we'll discuss and use a guided exercise to explore: Why is this a time for love, not fear? What happens when we actually connect to Hashem and feel His closeness? How do we create space inside for the Shefa to come? What is blocking us from experiencing closeness and love? How do we embrace our emotions in a healthy way? Download my free "Tune In Journal" and accompanying guided meditation here.  For more information about my 1:1 coaching and group programs, check out renareiser.com.