224: Cultivating a Life of Self Compassion with Ashley Sondergaard
\u201cYoga is the journey of the self, through the self to the self\u2026 What we really truly desire, want, and crave that could actually fulfill us is when we settle back into our own wholeness.\u201d - Veronica Thai\xa0
In this episode of the Curious Monki Podcast, Ashley Sondergaard and I have an amazing conversation about creating more self-compassion, how practicing self-care doesn\u2019t automatically cultivate self-compassion in your life, and tools that we use to elevate our self-care.\xa0\xa0\xa0\xa0
Ashley Sondergaard is a self-care coach, yoga teacher, astrologer, and host of the Yoga Magic podcast. For 9 years, she has studied yoga, meditation, astrology and mindfulness practices that prioritize self-care and self-discovery. After having her two girls, Ashley discovered the hard way that taking care of yourself first is the only way to take care of others. Today, she supports her students & clients in up-leveling their everyday routines into magical self-care rituals.
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[00:01 \u2013 05:19] Recovering Perfectionists and Ex-Hustlers\xa0
- Ashley and I introduce ourselves\xa0
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[05:20\xa0 \u2013 16:21] The Biggest Life Shifts When We Stopped Hustling\xa0
- How I switched from hustle to ease
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- Having to first uncover what ease and flow really meant\xa0
- Starting in school, the pressure to get 100% marks and the nagging urge of never being enough carried itself into the corporate world, overworking, always wanting the next position, never being satisfied with which rung in the corporate ladder I stood on\xa0\xa0
- Bringing the hustle mentality into my yoga business\xa0
- How my life shifted when I hired my first coach\xa0
- How Ashley hustled for a pipe dream that wasn\u2019t even hers\xa0
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- Getting off the structured corporate pathway she was on enabled her to question what she really wanted\xa0\xa0
- We are not linear beings\xa0
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[16:22 \u2013 26:48] Are We There Yet?\xa0
- Divine feminine and masculine energy and how to ground yourself when you\u2019re getting impatient with your process
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- Hustling starts in your mind
- What are you making it mean?\xa0
- Ashley and I share where we want to bring more self-compassion into our lives\xa0
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- When something fearful or uncomfortable happens, our instinct is to want to breathe it away, but sometimes letting it stay and heal on its own is the best form of self-compassion\xa0
- How Ashley learns about herself through astrology, where she thrives, is challenged, how she interacts with the world and the people around her
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[31:35 \u2013 41:39] Self Compassion Means Embracing All OThe Pieces of Yourself\xa0
- Ashley and I dive deeper into astrology\xa0
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- Ascendant and descendant signs\xa0
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- As a life coach, you probably attract a lot of clients that have the energy of your descendant
- Looking at birth charts to help navigate self-care
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- The sun is your essence, your identity, and where you're shining the brightest. Use your sun sign to determine your physical practices\xa0
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[41:40 \u2013 52:27] Our Biggest Self Compassion and Spiritual Journey Lessons\xa0
- Ashley\xa0
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- Know yourself
- Don't shit on yourself\xa0
- Trust the process
- We are more powerful than we realize\xa0
- Veronica
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- Yoga is the journey of self\xa0
- Hold space for yourself\xa0
- Breathe\xa0
- Be with the fear
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[52:27 \u2013 53:43] Closing Segment
- Connect with Ashley Sondergaard! (Her links are below)\xa0\xa0\xa0
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Key Quotes:
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\xa0\u201cWhen I first quit my job, started teaching yoga and a podcast, thinking I'm now aligned, I still brought in that habit of hustle\u2026 It was highly unhealthy and it was that self-pressure of not being able to stop until you reach a certain point. And it wasn't until I hired my very first coach, who was fantastic, that she broke that mentality for me.\u201d - Veronica Thai\xa0
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\u201cWe are not linear beings, we are human beings, we're part of nature, which means that we're cyclical, just like how the seasons change from season to season, just like how trees change with the seasons, leaves grow, leaves fall off. We are human.\u201d -\xa0 Veronica Thai\xa0
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\u201cCoaches need coaches too.\u201d - \xa0Ashley Sondergaard\xa0
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\u201cWhen I look at a birth chart, whether it be mine, my partners, my kids, my friends, or my family, I get to see who they are at their essence. And that's not always like good or bad. There are spectrums to every part of the chart and what we choose to embody. Whatever we decide to take on at that moment is really up to us.\u201d - \xa0Ashley Sondergaard\xa0
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\u201cMy biggest lessons for self-compassion is to know yourself, don't sh*t on yourself, and just trust the process.\u201d - \xa0Ashley Sondergaard
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Resources Mentioned
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- This episode is brought to you by Offering Tree. If you're looking for an all-in-one business platform to put your wellness brand online, use my link to get a special discount offeringtree.com/curious
- Speakers mentioned
- Lisa Nichols\xa0
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Connect with Ashley Sondergaard
Website: www.ashleysondergaard.com\xa0
Instagram: @ashleysondergaard.yoga & @yogamagicpodcas
Listen to her podcast Yoga Magic with Ashley Sondergaard and explore the world of self-care and self-discovery
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Let\u2019s get connected!\xa0
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You can find me on Instagram @curiousmonki. Visit my website https://www.veronicathai.com
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Join the Curious Monki Newsletter to Receive more inspiration and exclusive resources https://www.subscribepage.com/cmnewsletter
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LEAVE A REVIEW + and SHARE this episode with someone you know who wants inspiration to pursue their purpose, and is passionate about the exploration of yoga and self-healing. You can listen to the Curious Monki Podcast on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.