Nisha: We're playing sports get ball. Prem Brulee audio: What it do, number one podcast listeners. You've tuned in to the number one podcast in your headphones and for your eyeballs, Prem Brulee. I'm your host, Premel Bot, and I am so honored to be joined by my cousin, Nisha Bot. Welcome, Nish. Nisha: Happy to be here. Prem Brulee audio: You've sang the initial intro song for years, so it's a long time coming that you are finally a co-host on Prem Roulee. Nisha: Heck yeah. Listen, first time sounder, the you save the best spot for last. Prem Brulee audio: There you go. You're gonna have to take that up with the rest of the family. But number one podcast listeners, I'm trying to deliver on my promise to you all to have some more non-sports content. Niche, you're self-described, not a big sports person, although y I know you're a big World Cup person, so you're kinda eating your own words there. But nonetheless Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: This is an area I'm pretty new to. So I thought you're the perfect person to have this non-sports edition. And this episode's gonna focus on yoga, mindfulness, and kind of everything that branches off from that general category. Not to put anything in a box, but we're gonna see where the conversation goes. You are someone who I consider an expert in those spaces, so I thought me being new to that area of of trying to be a more complete person. I figure there's a bunch of number one podcast listeners out there that are at the same level as me, maybe haven't even thought about getting into yoga or in the mindfulness meditation space or don't know where to start. Or there's people that are already self-described kind of experts and you're someone who can help them further that. So you're the perfect person for this. You might not describe yourself as an expert, but you're an expert to me. I'm guessing that's more about your modesty than anything else, but I'm pumped that we're doing this. It's a long time come in niche. so thank you for joining me. Nisha: I'm so happy to be here. Thank you for that. And definitely the yogi in me is already gonna start off with nobody's expert and everybody's an expert. So you spot on there. But I'm so happy to be here. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah, of course. This is a This is this is our f family dynamic, you know. Of course it's it's checking, still learning how to talk about things. obviously number one podcast listeners know I get pretty deep, but trying to find my way into practicing it and not just preaching it. So here we are. My Nisha: Mm-hmm. Here we are. I'm honored. I'm honored to be your guide and the number one podcasters who have not also ventured into that space, honored to help you out in any way I can. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. So number one podcast listeners, just so you know, this is gonna function similar to how other editions go, but it's gonna focus in more on yoga and mindfulness. And I'm gonna ask questions from my perspective and hopefully it's enlightening for people that are all different levels, whether you're an expert or not. But hoping this will be informative for you in in some way, number one podcast listeners. And I think it will. But before we begin, Niche. I do wanna, you know, talk about our sponsor and I know it's near and dear to all of our hearts because you we got dogs in this fight, but this edition of the number one podcast in your headphones is brought to you by Mush Noom. That's M-U-S-H-N-O-O-M. You already know I'm number one podcast listeners that in this quest of self-improvement and making sure everything is interconnected, my health, my mental health, everything in between mushrooms, a product that I believe in wholeheartedly. It's minority and physician backed. And they are functional mush mushroom extracts that can be part of your morning routine or pick me up in the middle of the day. the one I just showed to you number one podcast listeners on video form is the red reishi and it's in capsule form. I've had powder form. but you can get yours and help your own self in the supplement world as part of your daily vitamin intake by going to mushnum.com slash prem brulee. That's m-s-h-n-o-o-m dot com slash prem brulee. You know how to spell that since you're here and tuned in. don't play yourself, go get you some and feel better about yourself by listening to this episode and getting yourself some mush new. So that's our Nisha: I guess Rishi's my favorite one actually. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. I've tried I've tried their three different ones and I'm a big fan of all. So yeah. Nisha: Yeah, same. For different things. I sometimes I add it into my like coffee or protein shakes in the morning and it's perfect. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. That's why I initially got the powder. I will say I like the pill form because I'm you know, I take other vitamins and stuff like that and allergy meds and whatnot. So it fits right in with the routine for convenience. So if you're one of those people, you can add it right into your your daily vitamin intake. So they got all forms, so no excuse not to give it a try. Number one podcast listeners, you already know, mushroom.com slash prem brulee. Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: All right, niche, now that our housekeeping is done, shout out Mushnoom. Are you ready to get started with this edition of Prime Roulet featuring you? Nisha: Yes. So ready, let's do it. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Number one podcast listeners. You already know we start with the FMR na. So as an intro. I first want this is obviously a yeah fam in general, but first tell us about you, what you do, like a history of how you got started in yoga, and then how you expanded beyond it into somatics and mindfulness. Nisha: Yeah. Absolutely. So yoga and as you know this in our culture, like growing up this ye, it's really embedded in our you know, in Hinduism and like a lot of the pillars we grow up with. So I think it's like fr a little bit from birth from our families, you know, it's there's a lot of facets to yoga. Like people think it's just the posture, but there's so much more. Like it's the way you live your life, it's how you breathe, how you look at yourself. practice or your nourishment. So a lot of that is in our upbringing, in our within our culture. So I would say that's like how I began in that way. But in terms of the posture, I I remember taking my first yoga class when I was like a preteen and I had gone to a couple. I had been with my mom to a class. I had been with Gaki to a class, like, and I just had this one practice that I remember taking and I remember having this like alteration in my body of feeling so clear that I I think I was like 13 and I thought I really want to do this one day. Like I want to learn how to help people feel that all the time. and then life happens. Yeah. Yeah that early yeah. And you know like my mom, my mom just introduced us in so many practices growing up in the spiritual and like your mindfulness practices that it really opened my mind to that. Prem Brulee audio: Wow, that early you had that Really? Nisha: lane in general and my dad too. So but yoga itself, yeah, at 13 I remember feeling that intense love of it. And then life happens and, you know, I went through my teens in college and I went in and out with my practice. But then about I would say nine years ago, I was really consistent in my practice. And after about a year and a half, I was like, I want to learn yoga to further like do the teacher training to learn my practice a bit more. and two of my teachers who I really, really loved one pr they both practiced different types of yoga. So I wanted to learn with them specifically. And then when I entered the program, I fell in love with the teaching side of it too. and that I got certified in twenty nineteen. yeah, so I've been teaching for seven years now, which is wild for yoga. Yeah. Not wild. Prem Brulee audio: Wow. So what are you what are you certified in? Like what are the titles that that make make you you in the yoga space? Nisha: Yeah. Yeah, good question. I'm a two hundred hour registered yoga teacher with Yoga Alliance and then I have about seventy-five extra hours of purely yoga teaching training experience. So I'm certified in that as well. And I'm also certified in somatic embodiment, which is a furthering of my practice after a couple years of practicing. So those are the three major things I'm certified in. I also within yoga you get certified in mindfulness and meditation training and I've taken a couple of extra certifications to become well versed in guiding meditation too. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. So Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Someone with your resume, I assume there's levels to this, but that's from what you described a lot of hours in a in learning and teaching. So Nisha: Yes. Yes, a lot of hours. And that's not even my teaching. Like now that I've been teaching for seven years, like I would have to tally up how many classes I taught to see how many hours that would be. but those are my certifications and those are in like power of nyasa, hatha, and restorative. So three different types or pillars of yoga. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. So you're gonna keep going into segues that need explanation because I am approaching this from a novice. Yeah, I wouldn't say I'm a rookie. I'm I'm a novice. So I'm new to it. I'm no longer in the denial phase, which I think you guys all knew. I was like we'll talk a little bit more about kind of I think Nisha: A novice, yes. If I say something that's too much comment. Prem Brulee audio: the stereotypes you have before you start and then like what apprehensions essentially they're like apprehensions for people starting. So I want to get more into that, but I wanna get a foundation first of like you just said three different types that you're certified in and explain more about that and then just the basics of what yoga is could be to you or in general like a definition. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. Okay. So the three types I just mentioned in a normal yoga class, so vinyasa means a flow. So you're when you enter a yoga class, you're taking some type of sequence of movements, right? So vinyasa literally means the flow of postures or movements you're taking. So there that's a specific style. Power vinyasa is a faster paced style and a little bit more intense. And then hata is a more traditional, slower flow of movement. So two different styles, but very similar, both have a sequence of flow. Restorative, also sometimes called yin, that is an extremely, extremely slow practice where you're probably holding anywhere from five to twelve postures for the entire hour or so of class. So it's very slow, you're holding longer poses. So that just Those are the three like base definitions of those three. yoga in general, yoga literally means to yoke. So it's all about the way that you live your life. kind of like I mentioned earlier, it's not just posture, it's also about your social ethics, how you practice internally with yourself, your breath, your meditation. But in the Western world, as we understand it here, it is a movement practice. So That is one of the main pillars of yoga in the Western world. That's what people see it as mostly. Like you're going to a yoga studio to take a class of movement and you'll be holding a number of postures for sixty minutes and then you end in a shivasana or a closing pose that's meditative. Yeah. I guess whoever whenever it was brought over to the West, people really took it in that in its movement form, which is beautiful, but it's not the only part of yoga. There's so many pillars or limbs of yoga, but that is what it essentially is when in the terms we're talking about it here. Prem Brulee audio: 'Cause I assume there's a whole different like the Venn diagram gets probably pretty cap complicated with people who practice certain parts of it, not others, but in a complete sense it's all the pillars you're talking about. Nisha: Exactly. In a complete sense it's everything. In the Western sense of like, you know, moving your body, if we're talking about entering yoga as a new movement in your body, then it's like beginner's movement. But since we're also talking about meditation and mindfulness today too, those two are other two other pillars of yoga as well. Prem Brulee audio: Got it. Okay. So Nisha: I feel like I I hope I'm not making it sound complex. It is and it isn't. It's very simple. Move your body, breathe. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yes. And I think what it helps to know is when in doubt, someone who practices yoga, even in the complete sense, is gonna be welcoming to how however many of these pillars that you're into, even if you're just using it for fitness, they're everyone I've talked to that's that practices yoga is welcoming to However you choose to intersect with all the facets of it. Am I correct? Nisha: Exactly. You are correct. It is a very loving, welcoming space or in people. Prem Brulee audio: Right. But you don't have to fully dive into all the if you're purely using it for fitness, you can just use it for fitness. Nisha: Hundred percent. It if that is your goal and your desire, that can be the thing you focus on. Absolutely. Prem Brulee audio: In your practice, do you tend to, because of all your certifications and the additions that you've added, do you find your like clientele is more in the I don't want to say complete, because I know it's not necessarily complete, but people who are practicing a lot more of the pillars than someone who's just seeking fitness? Nisha: Yeah, that's a good question. I feel like it's a mix, honestly. I get beginners or people who have never ever heard of yoga before and they just know of the movement, and so that's where they're entering from. But once you start coming to my classes, since I do I feel like this responsibility, especially as a South Asian teacher, that I want to put my all into making sure it encompasses all of that. So I feel like I get a lot of students who start to become more curious about the other pillars as they keep practicing with me, or I have ad you know advanced practicing yogis who come and they know a lot of the pillars and they're really want that holistic side of the practice. So I get a gauntlet from like don't know anything to you've been practicing for twenty years and everything in between. Yeah. It's Prem Brulee audio: That's cool. Not surprising knowing you. Number one podcast listeners, you're new to niche, but welcoming's probably that'd be like top five descriptor for for you and your personality. So I I could feel that. Okay. I try. I try. Learn learn from the best. Okay. So you mentioned somatic. I Nisha: Yeah. Hey. Pacima case. Prem Brulee audio: I would love for you to describe more about what that means because I mean it is one of your your areas of I know you said expertise is probably not to be used, but just for layman's terms here for number one podcast listeners, explain more about that. Nisha: Yeah, for sure. I will say my I felt like after a few years of teaching I was missing something. There was some like peace I was hoping for. And when I started practicing somatic work is when it clicked for me. So somatic is all about the body. And I know that sounds weird because we're also talking about yoga, which is part of the body, but soma from somatic literally translates to the body. So it's the connection between your mind and your body's awareness. so it's a body-centric approach to healing. and so if you think of talk therapy, which is very you're talking about your feelings, you're expressing somatic experiencing or therapy is more about how are you experiencing that in your body? What is the physical feeling that's coming up for you? And how can you heal through that? Not only words. Yeah. It's like forgetting how you look, focusing on how you feel. Prem Brulee audio: Cool. Okay. So is that difficult for s if you're you're running a class, is it more intrinsic for someone who's attending one of your classes to figure that out? Or that feels kind of like I don't know, I feel like I'm taking the lens of of therapy of like that's usually one on one where this is more like internal reckoning or or evaluating. Nisha: Yeah, yeah. That's a good question. That's a good question. Yeah, I guess I'll explain a little more about somatic because yes, it can be in my class. Like I think I naturally tend to teach with that in mind, but like the trainings are super different. Like I can have a somatic session with somebody that we're doing zero yoga movement. it's it's like you're there are different somatic practices that you can use that are separate from yoga movement. So they can be like one-on-one sessions like you're talking about, or it can also be in a group, like a class or a workshop within yoga or not within yoga. Mm-hmm. Yeah, it's cool. It's there's like I I really like this quote. I wrote a while ago for a workshop that I brought for this is somatic practice is opening a connected dialogue with a long lost friend, and the long lost friend is your body. So yeah. So how do you Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Makes sense. Nisha: Yeah, virus, right? How do you start to listen to your what your body is telling you, where you have pain or tension or stuck energy, or if you start to talk about a subject and you feel tense in your throat, like how can you release that from your throat without talking in words? if you feel tightness in your shoulders clenching, how can you release that or experience it without ignoring it? That makes sense. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: You're gonna have to face something. It sounds like number one podcast listeners, you're gonna to face some things here. Nisha: Yes. Prem Brulee audio: Well, well, well, if it isn't the consequences of my own actions. Nisha: It always comes to bite you and that's what I'm saying. Prem Brulee audio: It's funny you're just talking about your shoulder and I'm like now I'm self conscious. I'm like, Am I tensing up my shoulder right now? Okay. I try I try to have good posture, you know, to it's it's a big thing in Indian culture, so Nisha: No, you're not, you're not. You're relaxed. Yeah. Yeah, posture is key. I will also say, like, you probably every single human, as a baby, you do somatic practices without thinking about it. It's like how your body also naturally regulates that we are taught away from. So some examples is like, you know, when you're talking with people you're comfortable with in a conversation standing and your body just is kind of swaying. Like that's your body just like acclimating to the space, the people and feeling comfortable in your body. So That's like a normal thing that we all do, or when you take a deep sigh without thinking about it. That's your body being like, let me relax. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Wow. Things you don't even think about. Love it. Okay. Long conversation with a long lost friend and that's your body. That's that's the bar. I love it. Okay. Okay. Nisha: Right. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: So I wanna give you space to did we do we feel like we gave a good overview of someone's just starting of what what all you do, what you practice, is there anything we didn't cover, niche, that would be important for someone to know? Nisha: Hmm. In terms of what I I do, right? Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Or the practice of yoga in general. I mean, we're gonna talk a little bit more about it. I have some specific questions, but I just meant the do you remember what it was by the way, when you were thirteen, that feeling, like was it anything in particular or was it just like an overall feeling when you went to that particular class when you were thirteen? Nisha: Yeah. Yeah, I do. I remember it was the end of class and it was a specifically a kundalini practice, which is a different type of yoga that we won't even go into, just a different style. And at the end, in every yoga practice, the end has this post called Shivasana, which is all about deep rest for a few minutes. And that integrates everything you just did in your body, like it calms it down while you're resting. And I was in Shivasana and I had that like moment of clarity where I felt like, you know, you feel the sweat dripping down your body, you're starting to f your breath and your heart rate is coming down. You just feel clear, just like in any workout or movement when you feel that clarity. But the way that the teacher spoke holistically about diving into yourself, I think just started to ground in my body then. And that's where I felt an opening for myself. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Cool. At thirteen. And what made you fall like before you found it about nine years ago, what made you fall out of it? Was it just like life lifing or what was it? Nisha: Yeah, pretty crazy. Yeah, good question. Life lifing and you know, going to school, being a dumb college kid, like parting too hard and I mean I still did my practice within that, but life happens. Like we all we're human. And I will also say like something about me, there is anything I say or share today or am talking about, I have experienced or am experiencing myself. So there's no like high horse or like I've gotten to this point. It's it's we're in it together. Like I'm also Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Nisha: Growing at all times. So yeah, it was life. Life lifing, being a dumb college kid, having fun, partying, like yeah. Thinking that I needed to do like strength training only and not meditate or take care of myself in those ways. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: More on that later, like the you know, the idea that preconceived notions maybe. I wanna address some of them 'cause I was guilty of them too. before and again, I'm still new to the space but trying to learn more. So I think it'll be helpful for people to get those questions and truly get a sense of like how welcoming people are to this. Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: in options you might have to to get started like based on your own comfort level. Okay. so on that note, I think that's a nice segue. Yes. Obviously I'm guessing you're a fm to starting yoga later in life. It's never too late to start. Nisha: That really was. Hundred percent. Never too late. I don't care if you literally have never moved a your finger in your life, it's never too late. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. So on that note, niche, how can someone who's never done it before, who is just starting, get started with yoga? Nisha: Yeah. great. I would say think about your comfort level. Like there, it does not matter where you are in your body, like your weight, your height, your like your sizing, anything, where you are in your like flexibility, none of that matters. I think the point is to start. So if your comfort, if you're gonna feel more comfortable at home, I would say start with the beginner's online video. do a 10 minute practice. There are so many resources on YouTube, like all over online. I would say, you know, I know we all say no free ads here, but I'm gonna pump this girl, Yoga with Adrian, on YouTube. If you've never heard with her heard of her, she's a great beginner's like starting point. And she has so literally hundreds and hundreds of free yoga videos on YouTube. So if you're more comfortable in your home, start there. Prem Brulee audio: Mm-hmm. Nisha: And start with five minutes of a video, the next day progress to ten or the next week. If you Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. number one podcast listeners for context, that's where I started. I think part of it was like a yoga studio's financial commitment too, obviously. So for someone who's just starting, you know, like obviously Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: People's finances are limited. That's their business and whatnot. So it is a financial endeavor to join a studio. Now, if you're the type that needs to go somewhere or you won't work out, that's a different story. So maybe you try one out. A lot of them probably have like take a free class or meet someone who's going somewhere. I'm sure they'll be welcoming for you to try it out. not to not to put that on any yoga studio out there. So forgive me if that's not the case, but Nisha: Definitely. No, it it is. There's so many most studios offer like a free class. Some offer a free week, a free two weeks, like there's so many resources out there. I would say even like your local YMCA or rec center will have free classes or in person or like five dollar drop-ins, things like that. So if it feels better to go physically in person, do that. Like find the free passes, get into your rec centers, get into YMCA, like all those things. There's always a beginning there. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Right. so I started with we we already pay for again, yeah, no free ads here. We already pay for a workout app and in that platform were we're yoga classes. So that's where I've s I started and where I currently still am. and I mix it in with my workouts or as my workout. It it's a mixture of a lot of things depending on what needs attention for that day. So Nisha: Awesome. Prem Brulee audio: Number one podcast listeners, you're looking at someone who historically probably wouldn't have or was skeptical and just gave it a try at home in the comfort of my own home and something that I was already paying for monthly in a on a platform where it's kind of self-paced and you can pick what kind of course meet meets your needs for that particular day or week. Nisha: That's awesome. What did you think like in your first few practices? Prem Brulee audio: I mean it's still it's still rough. It's an uphill battle. I'm not naturally like I'm a pretty just in general kind of stiff person. You know, I've had back issues in my past, so they all cater it to it and I you know, I don't ever feel pressured or or pained by anything, so and I assume a studio would be the same way. So it's gone well. I feel like Nisha: Right. Prem Brulee audio: it's only helped things because, you know, you feel yourself improving as you go along. I mean, it's probably been a few years since I've actually started consistently mixing it in. You you and our family is a good reason why, 'cause we have so many of us that were We're yogis, not necessarily the level of teaching like you, Niche, but you know, have a lot of us that that practice it regularly and I was a little late to the party, but it's never too late. So I figured it can only help. And I think the back problems were what really kinda got me motivated into it, just like doing things to help you know, alleviate and and get me more Nisha: Never too late. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: balance with areas that were not doing so hot. Nisha: Yeah, I feel like that's one of the top reasons people start who have never like some type of pain or injury they're having in their body. And I will say even especially for like people in athletics or sports people, what do you call them? Athletes. There it is. Nailed it. for athletes, that's like an intro point that then they add on into their regimen because of how much it helps your body. So it's that's a very normal way to enter, but I would Prem Brulee audio: App nailed it. Nisha: prefer if people didn't injure themselves and just started. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yes. Yeah, so if you're not injured and healthy, this is this is a nice time to start. If you are, you're still welcome, obviously. But it's nice to start I will say it's much nicer to start from a place of like not feeling like anything is needing a lot of modifications. I think I get more out of it now that things are obviously you get out more out of things when you're a little bit more healed. news flash everybody. But yeah. Okay. So there's no right or wrong way. If you're someone who needs to go to a class, try out a spot. Try I'm sure you have a friend that that practices. Join them if that helps you. If you prefer to be incognito, maybe you you find one locally that they're likely gonna have a free free class or Nisha: Yeah. No way, what? Yeah. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I'm sure if it's not advertised, you can go in and ask. I'm sure they'd be very welcoming for you to try it out. Nisha: 100%. And I would say just be open to sharing with the instructor too that you're new and you're wanting some guidance. I think, you know, great instructors will always be really open to that and be welcoming to you. Like, I got you. Like, let me show you where everything is. Let me show you how to set your mat out or what props you need. Or I'm gonna come over and check on you and make sure you're okay. So whatever you need, express that before you get into class. Like I'm a beginner, I don't know what I'm doing. So Either pay attention to me or don't if you want some time to yourself to acclimate. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: So niche, what I wanna know a starter pack for someone who's just getting started in yoga, what do they need to show up to? A studio or if they're setting up at home, what are things that they would need to get started? Nisha: Okay. Top one where comfortable clothes you can move in. Top. And I don't mean you don't have to have like the best freaking matching yoga set. It can be shorts and a like loose T that you feel good in. That's that's comfy, that you can move your body. If you do not have a mat, do not let that stop you. Every single studio will have a mat for you to borrow. So if you don't have a mat, it's okay. If you do have a mat, that's all you need. Your body, a comfy clothes, and your mat, and that's it. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Yeah. Good in. Okay. Good to know. And if if you're at home you probably would need a mat if you're starting at home. if you don't already have one. A lot of people have have for one way reason or another, of course, but okay. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. I mean listen, a rug a rug can work if you have hardwood. You don't have a mat yet, use your rug. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. All right, there we go. You don't need to commit to anything financially, basically, is the gist of this. Nisha: You don't, you don't not at all. That's what I like wanna convey to people. You don't have to have the coolest water bottle, like the coolest set, the coolest mat. It can literally be like a Waldreens mat. It's okay. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. All right, niche. I wanna ask you like this may seem like a silly question since we're already in into the conversation. If you're trying to appeal to someone who's on the fence, what are the benefits of yoga in the sense of like using it for fitness reasons? Like we're talking about the Western way that people know yoga as, of course. Nisha: Yeah. Absolutely. longevity of your body, like the stretching of your ligaments and your joints and getting fluid moving in your joints helps any physical practice of your life. And you do that the most I would say in yoga practice. So literally you're training your body to b get stronger in your joints, in your ligaments as well as your muscular strength. So you build that type of endurance in your body, which is really beneficial. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah, I think as I've gotten older, the name of the game for me and everything like you have a lot of vanity in your youth and and yoga I think is a means to like my goal is just to live longer, you know, like that that perspective of and even if it is still vanity reasons, yoga supports any type of workout like you're a runner, it's Nisha: What yeah. Yep. Prem Brulee audio: a great means to recover or to supplement your workouts. If you're a lift someone who lifts, like how how everything niche just Nisha: Yeah. Everything. Yeah. I mean it strengthens Yeah. It strengthens your wrist, your ankles, your core muscles, like everything you're using when you're lifting, when you're running, if you're doing HIIT training or CrossFit, like all of it repurposes your joints, your strength. I mean, people don't realize until they get into yoga class, like you're doing certain things that look like look like a push-up or balancing things that have you really grounding into your ankle or Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: So it really builds strength for anything you're doing in your life. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Be prepared to be humbled by a a pose that doesn't Yeah. I think Nisha: Yeah. I always say in my classes you can be practicing for one day or twenty years and your balance can be shit any day. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Thanks. Yeah. okay. So niche, I wanna give you some like I feel like typical excuses, I would say that I use I'll use my own example, but things I hear a lot, okay? addressing people that might be apprehensive about it. What if I'm not coordinated? Nisha: That's a hard one. Huh. If you're not coordinated, you'll become more coordinated by going to yoga. And your teacher yeah, your teacher will come over and help you with your coordination. Prem Brulee audio: Okay, love it. Yeah. And you you're not expected to do like handstands in the first one anyway, so yeah. Nisha: No, no. You can literally sit there and that's your coronation. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Okay. What if I'm I feel like this is probably the one you hear the most, I'm guessing. Or you can tell me if I'm wrong, but what if I'm not flexible? Nisha: Top. That's one of the top ones for sure. How are you going to get more flexible if you do not start stretching? Is my question back to you. So you cannot help that if you do not start. And it's not about flexibility. You're gonna come there and practice consistently. Your flexibility will start to increase. That's the only, only way is that you start. So yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Flexibility is not necessarily the name of the game for yoga, it's just like a benefit that you gain by practicing it. Is that correct? Nisha: Yeah. Absolutely correct. And everybody's body is different. So like the person next to you's flexibility is gonna be different than yours. Like it's it's a range, depends on your anatomy. Like you could have longer legs and a shorter torso and your flexibility is just gonna be a little different, but you will improve as you keep consistent. Prem Brulee audio: Got it. Okay. So I feel like there's the people that are apprehensive about yoga have this like stereotype of the type of person a yogi can be, you know, like you know, like you're just picturing someone who's I don't know, w walking in their bare feet everywhere and like, you know you know, I don't know. I don't know what the exact stereotype Yes, like group Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Like granola y and like doesn't we're deodorant. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah, very very granola, you know, like so what do you say what do you say to those people? If anything, is it just give it a chance? Is it doesn't mean that by starting it you're gonna necessarily become that type of person. There's nothing wrong with that type of person, but if that's not something you're used to, I think that's what probably is it it's more at a a reflection of like what Nisha: Whoa. Prem Brulee audio: people are comfortable or uncomfortable with, like something different than what they're used to, but Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. What would I say to people who think that? Yeah. No, it's there is every type of person you see in the world, you will see in the yoga class, like from the broyest of brohan people who are like bodybuilders, don't like drinking creatine. Like th there is that kind of person in the yoga class. And then you have the most granola barefoot on the ground communing with Mother Earth. Like there's the gauntlet of every type of person. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Nisha: And it's your practice. Like the biggest thing, it is your practice. So whatever you want to get out of it, that's what it will be. And if you don't want to turn into a granola person, that's in your control. It's it's not pushed upon you in any way. Like you you will encounter people like that. So it's also about your tolerance and your ability to be around different types of people, just like anywhere that you are. but yeah, that's not everyone. There are so many different kinds of yogis. Like we're Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. But Nisha: Multifaceted humans. Prem Brulee audio: Exactly. and obviously if you're going into a yoga class, you can interact with a as much or as little as you want with people, especially as you get more or less comfortable. maybe you're not an extrovert or whatever and you're not looking for that and it's purely just an internal practice, which is fine. But obviously I think most people are accepting of the whole gauntlet, but Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: You hit it. I was just trying to get at the point that you're gonna see all all types of people practicing yoga. I just think the ones we see the most of are like the stereotype obviously, but just like I'm sure there are people that lift that don't wanna be pigeonholed into one sort of stereotype either. So Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. It's interesting the stereotypes that come with it. Cause I would say like even myself in my own practice and feeling that way in yoga studios, like in the Western world, like, you know, I'm a curvier girl, I'm a brown girl. We are in America. And so Western yoga sometimes is seen as like the matching set, like skinny typical person or whatever. But so I've had to kind of undo that for myself too in my practice and then in my teaching. Like how can I Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: really embrace who I am in this space and help other people feel embraced in that too. Because there's every kind of body, every kind of color, every level of practice that show up to classes. So it's you're in good company. So I would just say trust your gut with the types of classes you go to. And if you really vibe with an instructor, go to their classes and express what you need. And you should be getting like beginner modifications that they can offer when you're in class. Like it's very welcome. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah, I would I think you probably play a really important role 'cause I you I think the idea is that part of what can be intimidating is you see a certain body composition that the stereotype is for yoga and and to know how many different people practice it I think helps helps to see yourself in people doing it. So Nisha: Yeah, definitely. Prem Brulee audio: Just like people I think can be intimidated by starting to lift weights 'cause they see people that are super strong looking and they think that's that's the gist of it, that you can only be that way. So I would encourage people like to to find someone that works and and know that if that's holding you back all Nisha: Yes. Yes, absolutely. Prem Brulee audio: there's all types of body body compositions that practice it. You're looking I mean, everyone podcast listeners, you're listening to to one who's who's not that and who's trying it, so don't let that deter you. Nisha: Definitely. Yeah. Which is awesome. I'm so proud of you for doing that because I know that's not always easy to get out of your comfort zone. And I think we've both probably experienced that in like life, you know, like trying out different things either in a physical or a sport, or you know, that's not we're not the typical person. And I think that's like made us more passionate helping people who don't feel like they're the typical person, whatever that means. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, whatever that that stereotype is, obviously. All of its relative and maybe you're not that's not a concern, but just in case I wanted to address all parts of it that might be holding someone back. Okay. Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: All right, I wanna shift over before you we're gonna bounce a little bit around, but we've talked a little bit about mindfulness. you know, we've defined a few things. What does mindfulness mean like when we're when we're speaking about that? Nisha: Mm. To me, mindfulness is noticing, but it's presence. It's being fully present in the right now. Yeah. Like even when your brain is monkey braining, you know, like we call it there's a thing called monkey brain where you're constantly like you're on in the thoughts and you have a to do list and you're like, I gotta do that and I gotta do that, and I have to do this at work, and I have to go pick up your kids or do Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Nisha: all of the things we think, that's like our brain. And sometimes when we're sitting in the now, our brain starts to do that. That is still mindfulness. It's just the practice of bringing it back. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Got it. I love that. Is that mindfulness versus meditation? Are they like two sides of the same coin? Are they different? Wha how would you I don't mean to ask you gotcha questions here. Is like meditation in the broader category of mindfulness, would you say? Nisha: Mm. No, I love this. I love this. Yeah, I don't that's hard. I feel like meditation because traditionally people think meditation is like sitting in silence and being like doing some type of guidance or listening to a track and that's the only thing you're doing. But to me, meditation can be multiple things. Like it can be your everyday walk that you're taking. It can be, you know, your practice of cooking with your music on. It can be like smelling your flowers. Like there are so many practices that can be meditative, not only sitting and doing a guided meditation. I feel like mindfulness is the thread in between everything we do in life. Like how present are you in the things you're doing? You know, like how present are you when you are cooking or making your coffee in the morning or how present are you when you step outside to get into your car? Like Are you really here or are you on your phone scrolling? Are you thinking about all the things you need to do? So I feel like mindfulness is threaded through everything, including meditation. So perhaps yeah, meditation kind of falls underneath mindfulness. Yeah. Long-winded way of saying, yes. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. How can someone practice mindfulness? How can someone Execute, being mindful. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. I think there's s like so many ways you have to find what works for you. Something I would say it's not adding something to your day, it is bringing presence to what you are already doing. So you don't need to add something to your to-do list. It can be if you make coffee every single morning or your tea or your matcha, you put your phone aside and you're really present in the process of making your coffee for that five minutes. And Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Nisha: Even if you don't know what to do, literally say or think the things you're doing. I'm placing my cup here. I'm pouring my coffee grounds in the thing. I'm putting it into the machine. I'm pressing the button. Ooh, I can smell the coffee. Like you can narrate that for yourself if it's hard for you to stay present. Yeah, I would say if that's not your thing, put your phone away in another room and for five minutes that you're drinking your coffee, just be there without being on your phone. That can be a start. Yeah. What I really like to when you first wake up and you put your feet on the floor, pause right there. That's it. Take a few breaths, notice your feet on the floor, and then get up and start your day. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. It's a great start. Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I like it. Easy ones. Nisha: If you need more ideas, tell me. Yeah. I'm I'm trying to be easy. Approach it lightly and then Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: No, those are great. Those are easy places to start to to start your it doesn't have to start your day, but not add anything to your to-do list. Just it's just things you're already doing. Okay. before we begin, I before we get further into it, I wanted since we talked a little bit about your history and stuff, where you are presently, I want to talk about like Nisha: Exactly. Prem Brulee audio: How often you practice right now, like what is the breakdown of classes you teach, what how often you attend yourself as not a instructor, and then also I would love for you to plug with the special event that you have coming up if and talk just a little bit about what that is and how you came to that event. I don't want to tip it off before you talk about it. So but what's your breakdown like a typical week as an instructor and a practicing yogi? And then also a little bit about what's coming up for you. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. I okay, I have a full time job. So I am I work full time. I have a day job doing creative branding work. So I teach a little less. I mean, if I could teach every single day, that would be amazing, but that's hard with the full time. So I teach Monday evenings at five thirty and that's in all levels class. And then Sundays I teach a power class, which is a bit more of an advanced flow class. in the morning and then right after I teach a restorative flow, so a different class that's slower. And after that restorative, I guide a meditation class. So I teach a total of four times per week. and sometimes I'm taking up private sessions as well for yoga and embodiment. So that can vary from week to week. so that's what my path as an instructor right now looks at. I looks like I am looking for potentially a second place to teach just to get a little change of pace from the studio I'm at currently, which I love. and then my personal practice. Ooh, it's such a journey. When you start to teach, I feel like sometimes your personal practice can wane because you're like giving and pouring into other people. So then you're like, I want to be removed from the physical practice a little because I'm so in it planning my classes and my flows. So it can ebb and flow. but currently I'm in a really Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: I'm I I love the place that I'm in with my practice with my physical. I probab I practice every day, I would say, my own flow at home, but going to studios for other classes, which I really love doing. I love my personal practice at home, but I love going to other studios to be a student and be surrounded by other people and community moving like that. So I would say I probably go to four plus classes a week externally at different studios. Yeah. Yeah, some three to four I would say consistently. Yeah. I love it. I l love the practice. I go to different studios than where I teach 'cause that helps me be a bit more of a student. I think sometimes for me at least and my own community there, it's hard for me to step out of the teacher mode. So I love to go to other places and be a student. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. What Do you find yourself like stealing ideas as a of when you Yeah. Nisha: yeah. my gosh. I think that's like in any creative practice or thing you're inspired by, you get little tidbits and you're like, I want to try that and put that in my flow or you know, change up this sequence. So sometimes it's hard to turn that off and just be in my body. And I have to be very intentional with myself. Like, hey, no, we're in Yes. Like, okay, we can we can remember that if we remember it, but right now we're in our practice. So me to me. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. No, this is for me. Got it. Yeah, talking about talk about being mindful, yeah. so when you design your class, do you like do a run through at home when you're designing it or you've practiced enough where you can picture like these combos are gonna work? How does it work like logistically for you as an instructor? Nisha: Yeah, it's not easy. Yeah. Yeah. Ooh. I would say I am a very intuitive person and teacher. And yeah, and I I really appreciate the place I've gotten to in my you know teaching style where I can figure out flows and piecing them together on the spot if I need to. But if I'm planning something specific like a theme that I want to hit on, a specific pillar of yoga or something that's going on in the world and I want to Prem Brulee audio: X. Nisha: Weave that into my practice, I will practice those specific things. if I'm doing a new flow, like I was really inspired by someone's flow, and so I created something, a new sequence of movement, I'll definitely practice that in my body so I can know how to cue it for other people. So I would say definitely practicing like different chunks of the flow first, but not always the holistic flow, if that makes sense. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Got it. And when you're instructor, like a a power yoga or whatever, you're walking around the room, I assume, like you're you're you can't fully take the class while you're instructing it. That would be tough, tough, right? Nisha: Yeah. That would be it would be tough. I've done it before. Like when I had to teach online during COVID, I did have to do that. Which is a trip. But yeah, in where I teach currently and how I prefer to teach, it's you're demoing sometimes, you're f like moving and doing the postures with students sometimes, but you're walking around the room and you're focused on the students in the room and their bodies and making sure their alignment is right and they're in the posture in a safe way and helping them get deeper in the pose sometimes with. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: hands on adjustment. So I'm being very I have I want to be very present with my students and their bodies versus me practicing with them. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Right. So okay, in a typical class, what would you s how many people would you say are in if you go to a studio, how many people are in a class usually? Nisha: Hmm. i like in my class or just in the general? Prem Brulee audio: In your class and what what would you say would be in your own estimation like a usu a typical average? Nisha: Yeah. I would say like a typical average in any studio you go into, like you could have five people in a class, you could also have thirty people in a class. Depends on the size of the studio and the, you know, time of day sometimes too. midday you might get like less people in a class, early morning you could typically get less people, but evening classes like right after work will be a little bit more. so yeah, sometimes I've had like Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Yeah. Nisha: four people in my class and other times I've had like twenty seven. So it it varies. Yeah. It really varies. Prem Brulee audio: wow, okay. And you mentioned this, but if you go to a studio, like the instructor will be walking around and like I don't know if challenge is the right way, but like assist and maybe challenge a pat a particular pose you might be in. Is that true? Nisha: Yeah. It depends on your practice. So yeah, challenge is a tough word. Like if the person if the instructor knows you and your practice and where you are and knows places to like push you to go a little deeper, definitely could be a challenge. typically, yeah, they're the hands on assist and adjust, I like to think of it as you're helping someone's alignment in their body. So if someone's like in a mountain pose, if your their shoulders are like in their ears, putting your hands there to help them like relax them down, that's proper alignment and helps them not like injure something in their neck. So it can be that it can also be helping them get deeper in the pose and feel stable in it. So if you're there helping them be stable, they can feel more confident in the posture. Prem Brulee audio: Got it. That I will say that's something probably that you don't get by trying it at home, the comfort you might feel y there is a level of like, am I doing this right? That's for that's for sure. So Nisha: This is here. Yeah. And I would say definitely like listen to the cues to tur like about alignment if you're doing it online at home. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yes. Okay. All right. We talked about a little bit What pressures do you feel this is more a diving into you niche because this is also opportunity to to provide your perspective. What pressures do you feel like we talked a little bit about instructor versus practicing on your own? What pressures do you feel as an instructor in maintaining yourself, like taking time for yourself, versus pouring into others and in your instruction? Nisha: Yeah. Ooh. That is, as you know, one of the core pillar challenges that have I want to say challenge, just a core pillar of learning that's been in my life in general. Like to and I think you you also are this way, like how much I want to pour into others, like that is a part of who I am in my soul, in my being. Like I want to give and help people so much, but Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Nisha: I've definitely gone into the mode of that's a detriment to me and my own self-care or self-abandonment. and so that's like a a practice within itself that I've had to really pay attention to. So I think for me, I've had to learn certain tells within myself of when am I pushing myself too far in terms of pouring into others, like to the point where I'm Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: feeling things in my body or my heart that I'm like, I can't, you know, there's things I've learned about myself that I'm like, this is where I have to like take a step and go take care of myself in some way, or pour into myself, or ask for help from someone who loves me to pour into me. So yeah, it's definitely been a learning process and I still struggle with it to this day or am learning from it. Like I recently went on a stint of subbing so many classes and Teaching a lot and then I hosted an e an embodiment or somatic event and I was pushing myself so hard for this stint of two months as well as like getting ready for this event that I'm launching. and I got to a point where I was like, Ooh, I went past that point that I know and I look I kinda crashed. I crashed out a little bit and I had to. I had to crash out to be like, Ooh, that's why we don't do that. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. See what we did there self? Yeah. Nisha: You see what we did there? Don't do it again. Prem Brulee audio: so what are things that you employ that work for you when hopefully you don't always get to crash out, but like when you start to sense it, what works for you to kind of get back to center or at least closer to center? Nisha: No, I don't. No. Yeah. the earth. I'm gonna be touch some fucking grass, people. It helps. I that is my number one coming back to myself is going outside and legit putting my feet or my entire body on the grass. I'm not even kidding. It's like a tr truly, truly I have well I think when I did that happened to me, I legit went to my favorite park and I lied. Prem Brulee audio: Touch grass. Yeah. really? I don't think Nisha: Is it lied? I laid. That's the word. I laid face down in the grass and put one cheek and then after a couple of minutes, the other cheek. We're talking about face cheeks if you're listening on the podcast. And then I flipped over and did the same on my back. I was just like starfished, letting Mother Earth take care of me. That's like my number one beginning point. so that's one of my top, and then I would say talking to someone I love. Prem Brulee audio: Like yeah. Wow. Like Yeah. Yes. Nisha: Who loves me and knows me, like that sometimes I need to verbally process the things I'm feeling. So therapy helps me with that as well as my loved ones. So sourcing my help and my people that can be there for me and support. And then moving my body for me, movement feels like realigning with myself and feels can feel meditative. So doing something vigorous sometimes really helps me like get that energy or angst out. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. do you find yourself like do you when you're having those moments, like, do you need to talk about it? Or are there times where you just need to not think about it? Like or is that just delaying it, essentially? Like do you always address it when you're talking to someone? Is it always about that subject of what's like burning you out, or can doing something else totally unrelated snap you out of it? Nisha: Yeah, that's a Yeah, that's such a good such a good point. I think staying in it isn't always helpful. Like talking about it constantly or at nauseum does not help. And you just reminded me too. I feel like something I've been really trying to practice in my own self is like where how can I have more fun? And I think when you push yourself to burnout and you're doing so much for others, like play and fun is such a beautiful thing too. So getting out of the mode of talking about it and doing something you love doing or going to explore something new, you know, laughing with somebody, going to a comedy show, whatever it is, that is super helpful to you. So ha being in play and joy is so awesome. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. 'Cause maybe maybe you're feeling that sort of way 'cause you haven't had that release, like that whether you're an extrovert and you need a social release or you're introvert and need to not see people like Yeah. Yeah. Nisha: Yes. Yes. Yeah. Exactly. And I would consider myself I don't know or I feel like you would consider yourself extroverted, but I'm very ambiverted now as I've gotten older. Yeah. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yes. Okay. Yeah, you you you know, you and I talk life more often and you you said like, you know, candidly you had a busy week last week and you're like, I just need to not do s do something right now, you know? And yeah, I think I get that. I think as I get older there are some times where I'm like, I don't Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I don't feel like I need to. I'm I'm would still qualify as an extrovert. I get a lot of juice out of like, you know, interactions with people. But also, I mean, that's is that would it be fair to say part of that might be because you are instructing every week, so you are already like naturally have to be on. So do you find yourself like you need a break from seeing people? Maybe that contributes to it? Nisha: Yeah. Yeah, kind of. Sometimes. Sometimes it really fuels me, honestly. Like, it but it depends on what's going on that week for me. Like if I've done a lot of pouring in other ways as well as teaching, then I'm like kind of zapped and I need some re that's the word I keep using. Like I'm zapped and I need to recharge. a lot of times, like even when I'm zapped, going to teach like refuels me in a way because I'm connecting with this part of myself and with Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Yeah. Nisha: spirit or the universe, whatever you want to call it, and with the people in the room, that makes me feel really like purposeful and aligned and that recharges me a lot of times. So it really depends. Prem Brulee audio: All right. okay, so we skipped over it, but tell me about what's coming up for you and you hinted at your event coming up, but we almost missed talking about that. So tell us more. Yeah. Nisha: Yeah. thank you. I am s I'm very excited about this. I have been dreaming about this for years, but I am hosting my first ever international retreat, and it's a yoga and somatic retreat that I'm co-facilitating with one of my dear friends, Ambra. And we are going to Tenerife, Canary Islands, which is the islands of off of Spain. So Yes. Prem Brulee audio: Wow. That is incredible niche. I know that that's no easy task. So the two of you I'm sure are very proud and probably can't wait, but I'm sure there's a little bit of anxiety with like making sure everything goes to plan too. So you probably like let's you just wanna know that it go you know, like gets started. I'm sure it's that anticipation. Nisha: It goes well. my God. I'm so excited. Exactly. The anticipation. Like I can't wait for it to be here. It's in October of this year. And I I mean, it's a long time coming. I've been working at it for years. That's been a like desire of mine for so long. And I used to do in one of my old jobs a lot of events and you know, running certain types of arts events or nonprofit events. And I really loved that part of like putting something together and helping people have an experience. But to marry that with like purposeful things that I feel with yoga and embodiment and helping it's a women's retreat. So like helping women come fully in connection with themselves and each other and their joy, that's what it's all about. So I'm it feels like such a like juicy moment that's coming together in life. I'm so excited about. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: So what's what's it called what'd you guys call the Nisha: Yeah. Where our retreats are called Sanctuary of Her, because it's all about women and women led retreats. And this one specifically is called Return. So it's a return to yourself, a return to sisterhood and nourishment. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Love that. Shout out you guys. And how many like how many days how do these work logistically? How many days of retreat? Nisha: Yeah, okay. Your ticket for the retreat covers it's all inclusive except for your airline airline ticket. So all of your meals, your stay, your transportation to and from the airport and the excursions. It includes two bigger excursions and then all of the programming, the yoga embodiment, and some other ceremony practices like a cacao and a sound bath experience we'll be having. And it's six days, five nights, October twelfth to the seventeenth of this year. Yeah. Yeah. I'm excited. Sanctuaryofher.com, all the info. Also on Instagram. Prem Brulee audio: Wow. Incredible. What a cool thing. Yeah, we'll if we'll put that information, we'll tag niche's account so you can go check it out there. And you know, if you're interested, go check that out. I'm sure you guys will be enlightened by this conversation from niche. So what you're seeing if you're watching on video form or hearing if you're listening on audio form is what you get with niche. So Nisha: Would you love to? Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: It's everything you want out of someone, that's what niche is. So I encourage you all if you're interested to do that. And those of you you know, number one podcast listeners that are men, they're equivalent events like that that happen for I would imagine guys only or or all all things. So I'm Nisha: I think. the glory. Prem Brulee audio: I know your guys are geared towards women, which is great. So don't let that discourage you. There there are events like that. So Nisha: For now. Yeah. There are. And if you are interested in resources and you're a man, for sure, like reach out. I will absolutely connect you. And for now, I think in the future I would really like to offer co-ed spaces too. just because I think men need a lot of support and love and opening into these spaces as well. But yeah, for right now, it's women. Thank Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. But shout out you guys for doing that for for women and having a safe place to do that for other other powerful women there with you guys leading the way. That'll be I'm very proud of you. I know you I'm sure you're proud of yourself. I hope you are. I'm excited to hear how the event goes and Nisha: I'm sorry. No. I am, yeah. Thank you. No, it means a lot. Your support means a lot. And it's like I mean, it's gonna be cool too. I mean, you just went to Europe, so you know like the vibes there of being able to really relax and tap into yourself in a new way. And we're in the it's gonna be in this amazing villa that's overlooking the ocean and it's so it's just it's beautiful. So you'll be really rested too coming back. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: man. Yeah. That'd be very cup filling I call it, so Nisha: Yeah. I gotta plan one for the family after I after this one goes. Right? Wouldn't that be fun? Prem Brulee audio: I know. You're you if you're planning that big of an event, I feel like you're asking for it from our family. You're gonna be b Yeah, you're gonna be voluntold by default. Okay. Niche, I feel like we covered a good just of kind of what makes you you in the yoga space and the branches off of it. And hopefully number one podcast listeners we covered Nisha: Yeah. I'm ready. I'm ready. We need a family reunion. Why not make it like this? Prem Brulee audio: a nice breadth of the practice. It can go so many different directions, but I really wanted it to be from the lens that I'm in as a novice. And hopefully if you're a rookie that you learned a little bit enough to at least start somewhere. You know, we talked about mindfulness, some things that you can do. Put the phone in the other room, be present in the moment. For yoga, there start somewhere. Start with a five minute, a 10 minute, whatever environment you're comfortable with, whether that's trying out a studio or starting at home. You don't need anything special for it. just encouraging you to try. So there's some very simple actions that you can take that'll help you better yourself. and I do, you know, we're gonna address the meditation part of it because that's something I've started to practice. And I remember when I first started, you were one of the first people I talked to. Like, how do I how do I go about this? And I think we'll Nisha: What do I do? Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: We'll segue into that towards the end of the number of this edition of the number one podcast in your headphones and and for your eyeballs. hopefully you're tuning in video, by the way. So you know we've talked about the last couple episodes. I'm hoping you guys are digging the content on video. make sure I continue that. So I encourage you to do so. to watch, tune in if you're listening in audio. switch over to video after you get through a listen and if you're starting on video make sure you run up our our numbers and go listen in audio for them too. So okay. Niche. Well like I said, we'll talk a little bit more. We'll get into meditation a little bit a little later, a little tease for later in the episode. But this is the number one podcast in your headphones. As you are aware, you are very supportive of this podcast, even though you're not typically a sports person. Nisha: Mm-hmm. Prem Brulee audio: So I know you listen. Nisha: I play them all even if I don't listen. Prem Brulee audio: Yep. And you always give me commentary like I don't know what you're talking about, but you guys were laughing, so it was fun for me. And I know you know the segments at least. So you know we always gotta deliver on you played yourself. So without further ado, let's go to You Played Yourself and you know, you are this mindful person, but you are Nisha: And yeah. Prem Brulee audio: You feel all emotions. You get angry too. So you played yourself as a safe space for that, to address those moments. So niche, as you know, if you're new tuning into the number one podcast in your headphones, this segment's called You Played Yourself. It is things that happen that maybe you didn't expect to happen and probably shouldn't have happened, but we're placing the blame on them that they screwed up. So niche. Do you have a you played yourself for the people? Nisha: Yes. In true niche fashion, I have multiple because it was hard to not. All right. You played yourself. Yeah, truly. And you know, I couldn't start at first and then when I started I couldn't stop and I was like, let's you know. Okay, you played yourself on theme with the episode. You played yourself if you think you can only practice yoga if you have a matching Lululemon set, know all the poses, or say namaste. Prem Brulee audio: Go. It's been a long time coming. Yep. That's what happened. I love that. That's a great one. Cause we've been dancing around being nice about it, but it really is true. Nisha: Yeah. Listen. Yeah. It's so much more than that. As you heard It's deeper. It's so much deeper than that. And I like I really after this, I want beginners to feel like empowered to come and do things because that is you don't have to be any of that. Okay. My non-on-theme one. Okay, let's see. Mine is all about matcha and justice for matcha. Okay. Yes. You played yourself. If you had one bad matcha and now every time someone orders one, you announce it tastes like grass. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Exactly. Okay. Yeah. Nisha: Like I don't understand why people have to continue to say that because you had one bad sip of a grassy matcha in like years ago. It's like eating one French fry and thinking that potatoes are all bad. Like it doesn't make sense. I am a matcha lover, like through and through, before it got Yeah, I love it. I'm kind of caffeine sensitive, Bram. I don't know if you know that. Like I as I've gotten older, my caffeine tolerance is lower. So it's interesting. Prem Brulee audio: I didn't realize that about you. Whoa. Well you're you're naturally high on life, Niche, so yeah. Nisha: Exactly. I think that's why. So I've had to switch to matcha, like if I drink caffeine a little later, and I've just fallen in love with the earthiness of it and the different flavors. And I was with Sunny the other day and we went to this place and I had an earl gray matcha that actually changed my life. So justice for matcha. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Okay. A a cross between multiple T's. Okay. I like it. I like that you went left field too. Okay. all right. Nisha: Yeah. Literally. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: So you this might be controversial for you, but this is on brand for this podcast. So we when in doubt, we go there. Okay. My you played yourself for this edition is kind of adjacent to on brand for this episode, but it's trainers who try to be motivational at the end of like a tough long workout. Nisha: We signed it. Prem Brulee audio: like brother or sis or sister or they or whatever you identify it as. Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I mean, what are we shut the hell up, please? If I'm struggling, if I'm huffing and puffing towards the end of a workout, I do not need to hear why I shouldn't give up or why why your life's gonna be better by doing this workout. I just need you to shut up and let the music play and let me let me try to struggle through the end of this long ass workout. So I have some like favorite instructors on the platform I use. Again, no free ads here. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I would drop the name of what I work out with at home. But some of them I love. But it's like if I do like a 30-minute version of a workout, it's fine. But when I get up to the 45 or hour l versions of them, that extra fifteen does something to me where I'm like, just shut the hell up. I do not need a motivational speech right now. I need you to shut the hell up and let me finish. Nisha: Two. Yeah. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I don't know what I look like. I'm glad I don't have a mirror in the point, but it can't be pretty, so I don't need you to tell me why I'm not giving up. So Nisha: That's so funny. That is amazing. So it's specifically that at the 45 minute or over 30 minute mark. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: That's what I've noticed. Like I'll I have other friends that use the same platform and I'll tell them like even my favorite instructors annoy me at that point. And I'm like, it's such a nice, like good sweat of a workout. And I'm glad I did it after. But I'm like, I just find myself so annoyed with them at the end when it it reaches that threshold when you're just like, is this class over yet? You know, when you just the workout's like, Okay, this has been tough. I've gotten a lot out of this, but is it over yet? Nisha: Yep. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. yeah. I mean I have the same experience in classes too. I mean if I and yogis if you've practiced and done chair pose before, i if a teacher keeps you in chair pose too long, if it's like my 17th chair pose, I fucking hate that instructor. And if she's talking and laughing or he, I will literally be thinking, You shut the fuck up. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Okay. So like this is what I wonder. Okay, you're in a yoga studio, right? And it's in a tough you're in a tough pose, like a chair pose. Which number one podcast listeners, if you're not familiar, it's kinda like being in a wall sit picture. Like Nisha: Yes. It's like a thunderbolt lightning with your body. So you're sitting back like you're sitting in a chair, but you're hovering. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yes. It's what it sounds like. But like imagine being in it too long. It I think it would piss me off if like they were adjusting someone else or like shooting the shit with someone in the class. Like you shut up, you're ruining it for us. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. And I will say, low key, as an instructor, I do this and I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm not sorry. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah, it happens because you probably don't realize it. I'm sure you don't realize it. It's not intentional, but also you you get so annoyed with someone because they're like, you gotta be doing this on purpose. So I get more out of this workout. But okay. Niche. Great debut on you played yourself. I'm impressed with the preparation there. One adjacent and one not at all. It's right on brand with this podcast. Number one podcast listeners. If you're new here, this is how it usually works. We Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Thank you so much. Prem Brulee audio: We issue you played yourselves to a lot of people we have we have beef with, and it's usually sports related, but we try to mix in non-sports. So this one's right on theme. Okay. Next segment up is called Am I Hatin? It is a safe place for us to say stuff that might be controversial that we're hating on, but we're gonna say it anyway, niche. So Nisha: To be Prem Brulee audio: niche. You gotta am I hating for the people? Nisha: I do. I also have multiple here. I'm nothing if not thorough. also I got a shout out in the last one with the fam. Like y'all had some great ones, like the pickle flavor things and like Fourth of July Stupid. Prem Brulee audio: yeah. I love it. we we got something to address with I'll let you you know thank you for shouting out that but the pickle f flavored one especially I gotta I gotta issue kind of a you played yourself to recent co-host Rachel who was saying disparaging how overdone pickle has been and I get a gas or ass video from our beloved cousin Roshin. Nisha: Tell me. Mm-hmm. Prem Brulee audio: Who shout out him? He just celebrated a birthday, so happy birthday to Roche. Yes. but he I got a Gasser Ass video, which if you tuned in last episode, we debuted Gasser Ass, but you know that it stemmed from a a text thread that me, Roche, and Josiah have. Well, I got a video and Roche was eating a new type of pizza and just casually mentioned Nisha: Happy birthday. Prem Brulee audio: Another slice in the box he had was a pickle pizza that one one Rachel Bott had ordered after she just issued a you played yourself or Am I hating to pickle being overdone? And yet she's eating pickles on a pizza, which is out out of bounds. Just out of bounds. We love you, Rach, but that's out of bounds, especially after you you called yourself out. Nisha: Shut up. Ha ha. We Also, Loki, that sounds amazing. Prem Brulee audio: I mean, it sounds ridiculous, but listen, I'd still try would I still try it? Absolutely, because if you tuned in last episode you know that I won't knock something till I try it. So But it was it was objectively a rich thing after what she said. So anyway, Nietzsche, continue. Nisha: Yeah. So we gotta try pickle pizza. That really is. That's so funny. okay. What is mine? Let's see, let's see, let's see. Okay, first one's a quick one. I'm I am definitely hating on this. You know how people are like, clock it, eight, you eat shut up. Shut up. Every time I see somebody do that and you're having a conversation, they're just like and if you if you're listening and you're not watching, I'm tapping my Prem Brulee audio: Yes. Nisha: index and thumb together and shaking my head or the middle finger and thumb and shaking my head. It can you use your words? I just like at first I thought it was cute and it was fun and I'm like, yeah, that's so cute, these little J's ears. And then they just use it in substitution of words. And I can't and it's in times when it doesn't fucking make sense. And they're just like, yeah, clock it. And you're like, what are you saying? Hate it. Prem Brulee audio: Yep. Yeah. Yeah. I love I no, I don't love that, but I love that you're issuing it 'cause I've noticed it and I didn't even know there were words associated with it. That's how washed I am. I didn't know Clocket went with it, but yeah. Nisha: Yeah. Well, this is like the middle finger and the thumb is the number eight in sign language. So that's why it's like U eight. I I learned that right. But then people misinterpreted and thought it was indexed to thumb. So then the internet went crazy. Yeah, exactly. Internet went crazy and was No, we're calling that clock it or like that's T. Shut up. I guess that wasn't that short. That's that was one my second one. Prem Brulee audio: no. Of course they do. Yeah. Stop people. Yeah. Nisha: Neither of these are on theme, but it's fine. My second one was Am I Hayden about the new Odyssey movie kind of being Okay. No, I know. I you know what? That's what a lot of people have told me. I will say I love a period piece. I love mythology. Like I mean the Odyssey the entire story is wonderful. And I was very low-key excited when I saw it was coming up in the first preview year ago. Prem Brulee audio: really? I'm so pumped to see it. I wasn't expecting that from you. Mm. Nisha: But then it's just the same actors, like the same white ass actors, I'm gonna say it, that are casting so right. do they? Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. We do have one of us in it though. Yeah, Himish Patel, he's a Hollywood actor. He's in he's in the Odyssey, so shout out. Shout out. Yeah. I don't know how big of a part I can't imagine. I haven't seen a ton of them, so it can't be that big of a part, but anyway. Yeah. Yeah. Nisha: Okay, well that's that's great. Shout out to our brother. Right. Wait, go himish. We love that. We'd love to see that. Okay, that's good. But I mean like the main characters being like these same actors. I just feel like we could have got some fresh new talent. And also there are so many other stories to tell in mythology. Like, do we really have to do Achilles and Odysseus again? I don't think so. But am I gonna watch it? Of course, and I'm kind of excited, but I do have like a weird taste in my mouth. Like, can we do something else? Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. I am hating a little bit because, you know, they've been hyping up this, you know, IMAX 70 millimeter. And just on a whim I looked up like, what theaters are them? There's only like twenty-six in the United States and like a double-digit amount worldwide that have 70 millimeter IMAX, like how Christopher Nolan intends you to see it. Nisha: Won't. Prem Brulee audio: In like I live in Ohio. There isn't a single theater in Ohio that does 70 millimeter IMAX. So obviously it's available at all theaters, but it's like they keep showing all the I can get in a lot of Odyssey content. I don't know if it's myself where they're just pumping it out to everybody, but I'm like fully invested in it. But the Nisha: Right. No way. Aw, that's a bummer. Me too, actually. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: the width of the screen, like you're not getting all of it. It it's getting we're all inevitabl inevitably gonna see a cut off version of how he intended to film it. So Nisha: Yeah, that's true. And then I will say we have one here. I'm in Texas. We have one near where I live, but I it's very limited times that they slot it for. So like sometimes hard to get tickets, but I am excited for that part and like the pure like you know, we're years later and so the picture quality and all that will be great. And don't get me wrong, I love Anne Hathaway, like all that stuff. But when I keep seeing the like ads, because I'm getting pumped, those ads too. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Nisha: When they show Matt Damon in his American country ass accent, being like, Let's go home. I c I can't take it seriously. So I just Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. I'm not gonna be able to unhear that. I hope I hope he doesn't have that in the movie. Nisha: No, that's in all of the trailers. She's like, let's go home. And I'm like, what? Year is it? Prem Brulee audio: Yeah, yeah. spoiler alert, he doesn't get home right away. Nisha: Ha ha ha. Prem Brulee audio: I saw something where it's like it's not a spoiler, you've had centuries to read it. Yeah. Nisha: That's nice. Literally, literally. Do you know? I don't know if you know this, Bram. In high school, I did a whole thesis on Ovid's Metamorphosis, which is like a novel this thick about so many different Greek and Roman and mythology things. And so there are so many rich, beautiful stories in those like that we can pull from, even from like Hindu and Middle Eastern ancient mythology texts and from even Celtic. Like there's so many other stories we could be telling. So I'm just Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. It is the low hanging fruit, but am I gonna go see it as soon as possible? You bet your ass. You bet your ass I am, yeah. Okay. I like those two. All right, do you have did you have any more am I Haytons to feature? Okay, same for next time. Okay. Nisha: Same year. Mm-hmm. I'll save Y you go. I wanna hear yours. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: I interrupted you with the pickle thing. You wanted to shout out other ones we had. W did you agree with the other ones that we presented from last episode? Nisha: Yes. Okay, the the Fourth of July is stupid. Completely agree. Especially because the dogs thing. Like I feel so bad for dogs. Yes, I love that. Prem Brulee audio: Ste Steph Sammy Hayden. It got quite the quite the mixture of responses. Some people were all for Fourth of July, but what I gathered is a most of the people that are big Fourth of July people have like benefits of like, we always go here for it or like they have some nostalgic Nisha: Really? Okay. Prem Brulee audio: I'm finding a lot of people have access to like waterfront houses and I feel like that's where the people that love not a lot of people, the people that do love it, the rare ones like have some sort of access to a cool place to go for So I'm like Yeah, that's right. I need I need someone with a lake house or something to then maybe I'll be Fourth of July person. Okay. I think for mine was Nisha: Wow. That's cool. Listen, send us an invite and then maybe we'll change our minds. Yeah. Exactly. Well, what was yours on that episode? Prem Brulee audio: People who won't try new foods. Nisha: Yes, to I actually agreed with all four of yours. That one, the pickle thing, what the shell Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Cause it's very much like your matcha take. It's like you tried you tried it once or like like trust me, I know ball. Like when people don't I think I said this is like or some people after I posted my Emma Hayden like not trying new foods, it's like trust me, I'm presenting you with something that's good, like I know what I'm talking about. I I know ball with food. I mean yeah, so Nisha: Yeah. Yes. You really do. Prem Brulee audio: I'm not gonna tell you I'm not gonna offer you something that's not good. First of all, I I'm unlikely to order something that isn't good if I'm being real with myself. So I had a few friends that were like, my gosh, I turned down trying a bite from you the other day. I'm like, see I I tried to tell you, I know ball here. I'm trying to say. Nisha: Right. You play that means and also you played yourself kind of both. Prem Brulee audio: I used to you know, I'm not trying to only be self disparate. It was more like for c comedic value. I'm like, I didn't get big by being picky or by accident. So that's what I would say, but I know you would stop me from saying that, so I had to add Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Had to do it though. Nisha: Stop. I absolutely would, because what the fuck? How dare you? And also Rush is was like hate on things more. Totally agree. Like you don't have to like everything. It's okay to not like shit. Okay. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Well and his was like supporting local, like don't go to chains and stuff too. Yep. And you're you're you're an artist too, so like you're a creative, so of course. Okay. Nisha: you know I'm a proponent of that, like yeah, you Yeah. Yeah. Have to support. Okay. What's your MI hat in? Prem Brulee audio: My am I hating is about flaky people. Okay. I I don't know if I'm just hating because like maybe I shouldn't care, but the idea that like someone can cancel plans or say no enough that you no longer believe the reason they give you is wild to me. Like that you've done it enough that maybe you don't even realize it, but like Nisha: And Prem Brulee audio: Am I hating that I don't know how you could ever be so unaware or even worse, okay with being that way? Like if you knowingly are making up something and just like believing people, are you Am I hating if I say like that's wild to me to be either unaware or purposely doing it? I don't know which one's worse, but being a flaky person to me is my am I hating? When you make up an excuse to miss something, Nisha: Mm. Prem Brulee audio: Is the feeling that you think the reason you're giving is automatically being believed? Like I have to think that's the reason. Like you think this made up reason is like just because nobody's reacting to it, we all believe this made up story you tell, or do you think we're dumb? Or I think when I get down to it, I'm like, maybe I shouldn't care, but also I would hate to be known as a flaky person. And I can't imagine getting to that point where The reasons you pr provide, even if they were valid, can't be believed anymore. So that's my am I hidden. Nisha: Damn. Damn, who hurt you recently? Just kidding. Not putting it. Prem Brulee audio: No it it does it's not even that dude. I feel like I feel like a lot of these used to be things that were happening to me, but they don't really f faze me a ton anymore. It's just like I think about more of like why would you wanna be known as a flaky person? You know, like in function when you could just say no in the first place or be honest in the first place and I think that would be received better. So I'm just surprised, I think, and like Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Am I hidden or is it just a common thing and I'm just ignoring it? So Nisha: No, I d I don't think you're alone in that. I think a lot of people feel that way. And as a person who has been guilty of this personally, Prem Brulee audio: I don't know. I don't maybe we have a different dynamic of like I just I feel like you're honest every time. I consider flaky as like made up recent or like committing but then like not even I can't even trust when you commit to something. Nisha: Anyone call me flaky? No, I I appreciate that 'cause yeah. I get you, yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Your yes doesn't even fully mean a yes to me until you're physically present. And I don't understand how you would be okay with being that way. Maybe you don't mean to, but like probably it's time for some self evaluation or being present in oneself, you know? Yeah. Nisha: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. That that part. And I will say like spicy alt take, but but what you said at the end is perfectly I agree with that. Like if you're continuing to do that even after being like called out or called forward in that way from people you care about, then you got you have to self-reflect. I do know some people, like myself included, or friends that I've talked to who have been like this, you know, that I've had I've had to have the conversation of like, why do you keep canceling? Like you're not even there's no effort, right? I think some people Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: Have different reasonings for that that they're not even realizing that they're doing it that much. So then they have like a moment of, crap, I didn't realize how much I was doing that because I'm going through ABCD. or like people who are don't know how to be honest with even themselves about how much bandwidth they have, and then they get to that moment that they're like, I have zero bandwidth. So it's and there's like some understanding there, but then at what point does it become too much, you know? Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah. Yes, I wrestle with that. I think the reason I put this on M.I. Hayden instead of like too much sense or you played yourself is because like is this me being too difficult or is it like a something I'm I'm missing, you know, but I think that's why it can be a little controversial, I think, 'cause there's a lot of nuance to it. And then I also think Nisha: Mm. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: It's more likely that you treat someone like this as like you stop inviting them. And to me, that would that that stinks in itself. So maybe it's a am I Hayden, but maybe they do need called out for it. So 'cause I tend to be like, I don't care enough anymore. Like, if I can't trust you to be there, then it'll just reframe how I how I think about inviting, you know. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah, exactly. And then I Yeah. Right. Yeah. That's a good point. I feel like it's also like your boundary with yourself and with that person. I think that matters too. Like, is your boundary like, okay, I'm gonna bring it up in conversation? My max is one time, two times, three times, and then if there's no change from there, I'm gonna, you know, take a step back and d not yeah, not invite them to things or whatever it is. Like, what does the friendship mean to you in that regard and what are you willing to Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: put in effort or call that person out on. I think that's like so you're right, it's super nuanced. Like depends on the person, the types of experiences, like all that. But you do have to keep your boundaries of what your energy is deserved for because you are a fantastic friend and you know, all of the things, how you show up for your people, I think is incredible. And so I think getting that back is really important too. And if you're not feeling it, where's your boundary? Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah, so I think yeah, I that's a great that's a great way to to put it. I think there's probably there's probably a ton of nuance, but I think the MI Hayden part is like the made up part of it where it's like I think it's better received saying no, 'cause I think there's a fair amount of people that are like, sure, this is an excuse for me to stay in or you know, people have other shit going on. So like a no is not a big deal, especially at my age, you know, having kids and stuff's like Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah, I don't care if you said no from the start. I understand of all people, but or you don't need kids to understand that part. We're all adults, so but the the flakiness is the weird part that sits with me, I think. 'Cause I can't think we're getting too old for that stuff. That feels like kind of youthful energy. But anyway. Okay. Yeah. Nisha: Right. Right. Yeah. A dream. Yeah. That was a good one. Prem Brulee audio: Now we're gonna move on to a segment called Who You Got and What You Feelin'. It's like our pick'em section. So obviously in sports it makes a lot of sense because we're making predictions. But this one is on on trend with this theme niche. So I have a who you got for you that's themed with this episode. And then our what you feelin' is like something we're feeling lately. Nisha: Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Things we're into right now could be pretty basic into like shows and music. It could be any a big event coming up. So we'll start with who you got and I got some kind of rapid fire yoga related yoga adjacent ones for you. Okay. So if you gotta pick one or the other, you Nisha: So Yes, hear me. Cool. shit, I'm gonna be trash at this. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. You're you you might I guess you can have cop out answers. It's fine if you want. There's no roles. Okay. Niche. Yoga or meditation? What you got? Nisha: no. All right. I'm gonna say yoga because it incorporates meditation. Loophole. Prem Brulee audio: see. Okay. That that checks out from what we've learned. Okay. equipment wise, I know you said you don't need equipment. We said that from the start, but if someone is getting equipment, yoga blocks or yoga towel? Nisha: Yeah. Yoga blocks, hands down. Hands down. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: I can give more reasoning on why if you want to. Yeah. Yoga blocks, because you're learning new postures in your body. And so you might feel tightness or different alignment in specific places. The blocks act can act as extensions of your hands, of your feet. So it helps the ground come closer to you. So you feel more confident in learning that posture in your body to start with. And I would say, even throughout your practice, even if you're practicing for 20 years, blocks can help you get. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Tell us. Nisha: more aligned and deeper in a posture too. So they're phenomenal. Prem Brulee audio: So if if someone's starting and goes to studio, will a studio have yoga blocks that they can use? Nisha: Yes. Yes. Every studio will have yoga blocks you can use. They might. Some places even have yoga towels if you want to test that out before you ever purchase, but all yoga studios will have yoga blocks for sure. There are different kinds. There's like lighter ones or heavier cork ones. All of them are great. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. If someone is just starting yoga, w is there a piece of equipment they should invest in first? Nisha: Mm. The I would say a mat would be the first one. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Okay. For you personally, home or studio? Nisha: Studio. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Alright. Do you have a reason why you prefer that one? Nisha: Yeah, I it's so nice to be around other people practicing. Like even though your practice is for you and it's you're in your zone, like to be around a group of people in the same zone in a sense is really empowering and feels like you're not alone in that practice. So I think I really love that. And plus like the vibes are really cool. Like someone else is leading you in a practice and you can feel their energy, like there's such a tangible energy in a in a room when you're physically there. Like, you know, in any movement practice you do, if you're going to a hit class or a some type of like F forty five or whatever, you get that energy from the instructor and the pupils and it just feels so like, I don't know, it feels uplifting. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Got it. hot yoga, yes or no? Nisha: This is hard. I want to say yes with a caveat. Not always. The caveat is not always. Like you're going to you the way yoga inherently should be is you're building heat in your body already by your moving practice. So as you start to move, even if it's cooler in a room, you are building heat in your body by moving. So a room does not need to be 90 degrees for you to get a good practice. Like Prem Brulee audio: What's the caveat? Nisha: you do not need to be drenched and your mat and the floor around you and your neighbors mat. You do not need to be drenched to have a great practice. So I think there's like misconceptions about that a little bit, that hot yoga is the only way. When in reality you should already be building heat even if the room is cold. So yes, and Prem Brulee audio: Okay. If someone's considering hot yoga, is there like an amount they should do or not do like per week? Nisha: Yeah, that's I would say listen to your body. Like everybody is different how much heat they can handle. if it's your first time practicing, take more breaks for sure to f realize in your body like if I am I pushing too hard or not. So take more breaks in a child's pose or sitting on your mat. Feel how you're feeling with the heat. I mean, honestly, it really depends on your body and yourself. But I would probably if you're a beginner, do two a week, maybe that. Yeah. But like studios many studios will be warm or you know, at like seventy seven or eighty two degrees and that just makes your body get a little bit looser as you're starting. So sometimes that's obviously okay, but if it's like ninety plus, really listen to your body about how hot it is. Prem Brulee audio: Meditation guided or silent for you. Nisha: All of my answers feel like it's depends, but currently I would answer a guided. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Yeah, I'm I definitely still need a guided. Like I think maybe in function I every once in a while do practice like silent meditation or, you know, without assistance, but I'm not like fully aware that I'm doing it probably. It's probably just naturally happening. So I haven't been able to tap into it like on demand basically. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. Man, I wanna learn more about your meditation practice and learn what you've been experiencing as of late. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. I I still kind of use the same concept that you do, which is we'll talk a little bit about it in a little in a second, but what what how I kind of get in that mode. So Okay. What is one thing you wish someone would know going into yoga that maybe considering it or has been apprehensive if you could sum it up? Nisha: yeah, you're right, you're right. Yeah. I would say guided. Yeah. Yeah, there's so many things I wanna say. Okay. Prem Brulee audio: You dressed a few of them too, obviously, like you don't need a matching set and all that stuff, but Nisha: Yeah, I would say I Yeah, let me think about this. If you are a beginner going into yoga, just know that you are not the only person in the room struggling with being new. Your body will acclimate and start to adjust to the space. Like you the hardest part is showing up. So once you show up, let yourself be there in whatever manner you are. And I think one of the biggest things I want to convey is. No matter where you are in your practice, you are absolutely perfect where you are. Like there is nothing you have to do to be a yogi. There is nothing you have to make better. The simple act of showing up means that you are starting. So show up, start, and know there will be people in the room, in the community that will start to help and connect with you to make you feel less alone. Prem Brulee audio: That's great life advice too. Nisha: Yeah. Thanks. Prem Brulee audio: Clock that's Nisha: Yeah. Clock the clock. No. Don't do that. Prem Brulee audio: No, don't do that. But yes, do apply do apply that. Cause everything you just said could be about life too, so Nisha: Truly. I just yeah, I want people to feel comfortable where they are in their selves and their bodies to show up and be there and know that they're allowed to be exactly as they are. Like they don't have to change anything. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: You whether you exercise or not, there's something in your life that you've had to start. You know, not everything you did in your life you started as a kid. So there's elements of it. So yoga should be no different theoretically. It's if you work out and you you or you're a marathon runner, at some point you started. You just started running. You started with a five K or you just started you know, doing a mile or whatever. It started at some point. So Nisha: Exactly. You build, you just start and it and it builds and it builds and yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Just yep. Cool. All right, niche. What you feeling lately? Nisha: So many things, so many feels, so little time. Just kidding. okay, on theme. I have an on theme and a non on theme. On theme with this podcast episode, I have an acupressure point, that I step on hopefully mostly every morning. And it has I'm just I'm loving it. It is so I'm literally stepping on spikes on my feet. Yeah. So you know when you Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Okay, wow. That's what I was picturing. Nisha: Yeah, exactly. But they're not like I'll I'll show you after, but it's a little mat. I have this one called a Veda mat, if anyone's heard of it. This he owned, really awesome. It folds and you open it and you literally in the morning just step on it and kind of massage the pressure points of your feet. 'cause every meridian point in your body, like there every part of your body is attached in your feet. There is a pressure point for it. So when you wake up that way, it's a really an Ayurvedic practice. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: in yoga, it's a very good way to start to wake up your system into your day. And I'm just I'm loving it. Yeah. So that's my on theme one. okay my two that I have for not on theme, I'm reading the Crescent City series, if anybody knows what that is. Do you know what that is? Okay. There's an author her name is Sarah J. Mass Prem Brulee audio: Okay. Love that. All right. I do not. Nisha: She has a really famous series called A Court of Thorns and Roses, which I've read and is fantastic. And personally, I have legit was reading only nonfiction books about like somatic yoga practices, like psychology, healing for years. Like, you know, all of my book suggestions and things I was reading was in my certification courses and beyond, and wanting to further that. And then I finally got back into fiction and I Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: As a creative person, and like that is really fueling for me. So to get back into a practice of reading fiction alongside my, you know, purposeful nonfiction has been incredible. And this series, I was not expecting it to be so good, the Crescent City novels. And it is like I can't put it down. I was up till like four AM last week. Yes, reading this novel. It's so good. It's so well written. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Hmm. Reading. Damn. Nisha: It's awesome. Prem Brulee audio: Okay, love it. Nisha: And I feel inspired. Like I it really has inspired me in my imagination and even how I'm writing different things or like for my retreat, certain things I'm planning, even though they're not correlated, my imagination is so spurred that it's really fueling in my life, which is I just love. Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Love it. Okay. Nisha: Yeah. Yeah. That's one. And then my last one I will tell you. I every morning I have added a practice of dancing to one song that I've discovered or that I love every morning. So dancing or moving my body however I feel, which so this is kind of on theme and to me dance changes life. Like it is one of the most powerful practices in our world. And Prem Brulee audio: Yeah. Nisha: There's now literal scientific research that of how much it can improve your mood, boost your blood circulation, like make you feel connected and community. There are literal scientific studies if you don't believe in the spiritual aspects of it. So dance one song every morning. And today my song was Cherry by Naomi Scott. Yeah. Dude, sh that song is fantastic. That whole album, you should listen. Yeah. Prem Brulee audio: Alright. Cherry Punny May Scott. I love it. Okay. Gary and Naomi Scott. Okay. All right. What all right, one of us. Okay. what I'm feeling lately is the Bear, the final season. Nisha: Miss Scott. She's half Indian too. Mm-hmm. Prem Brulee audio: My wife and I finished it. It is a huge improvement, especially from season three, obviously. We all know that. But also from season four. It it wrapped up the series very nicely, I thought. and were the best seasons since the first two. And then the current season of House of Dragons so far, really feeling that as well. Very high quality, big budget. Obviously, Game of Thrones stuff is like movie quality each time you're watching tuning into an episode. So and then on a deeper level, I know we addressed it during my episode with them, the episode with myself, Steph, my wife Rushin and Rachel. The last episode, if you haven't watched it, go after you finish up this one, go back and watch that one or listen to it. yeah, but our episode altogether with the four of us, I'm definitely feeling that. and just our time that we got with them. It was truly quality time we got with them, and I'm proud of that episode we did, and that we'll always have that. Just like I'm really proud that you and I will always have this one. Nisha: So good. Prem Brulee audio: And that we had the time to like bond and video proof to commemorate it. and our our boys really love their time with Roche and Rachel. So that was talk about filling your cup. That definitely was one of those 'cause, you know, our our bond as cousins is really special to all of us. So you know, you you want that for you know, I I want that for my immediate family too. So that was cool to experience in person. So yeah. That that does it for who you got and what you feel in. Now, number one podcast listeners, we are in for a treat because this is the portion of the episode that is too much sense. And those of you that are new here, too much sense is Nisha: That's beautiful. Prem Brulee audio: My opportunity to give advice, it's usually more than two cents worth, hence the title. so it's my chance to provide that unsolicited advice or general thinking that I'm having lately. So with this particular episode though, this is I think the first time I'm doing this because it's a special occasion, but we're gonna end the episode with too much sense, but Before we do that, usually I do like a wrap up for the episode, but I wanted to end this episode strictly with too much sense, and you'll find out in a second. so I wanna thank you, number one podcast listeners, first of all, for tuning into this very special edition of Prem Roulette with my cousin Niche. Neach, who inspires me all the time and who I love to talk life with. so I hope you number one podcast listeners have gotten a glimpse into that and And feel that. So thank you to number one podcast listeners and watchers. We hope you've been digging the video content to go along with our usual podcast platforms. be sure to share our context, tell a friend, tell a friend to tell a friend. But the reason I'm doing this, number one podcast listeners, is because of my too much sense. We've been hinting at you know, meditation. So I thought, what better way to feature meditation than the niche? have you lead a meditation to wrap up our episode. Number one podcast listeners, if you this is your first go at meditating, this is a great intro into it because if you never have, this is an opportunity to get, you know, quick five minute meditation because that's all you need. You don't need a certain amount of time. It can be even shorter than that. But I want to start with the five minute meditation for those that might be new to it. Or if you already practice meditating, this is a good opportunity to get a session in built into the podcast you're already listening or watching. So My too much sense on that note is about meditation. It's the Importance of taking a second for yourself. You may not know that you meditate, but creating an avenue to take a breather is a form of it. And it's the perfect segue to hand off my too much sense for the first time to you, Niche, to lead me and the number one podcast listeners and watchers on a five-minute meditation. Maybe number one podcast listeners, this is your first go at trying it. So we hope you dig this. niche, I'm very proud. To have you do this. you were the one that gave me advice on how to start my meditation, and that was finding some sort of like audio backing to do it, maybe a guided meditation, which is what's helped me finding a comfortable spot to sit in. I found that kind of laying in a restful pose was beneficial for me. I could get into the mode best. Some people prefer to sit. You can even sit in a chair to do it, but that's what's worked for me. Nisha: Mm-hmm. Prem Brulee audio: And before I turn it over to you, Niche, to finish up our episode, I did wanna share with number one podcast listeners that very honored that the background music of this that you'll hear naturally pretty faintly is by my stepmom's late brother, the talented musician and composer David Schmoll, aka Das Ambient Works. It's called Constellations. So hope you dig the background. music that's faint in the background, but I wanted to give it due credit and honor to you know, the late David Schmoll. And without further ado, Neche, take it away for the benefit of our number one podcast listeners, a five minute meditation to wrap up this very special edition of the number one podcast in your headphones and for your eyeballs, Prem Brulee. All right, Nech. Meditation, take it away. Nisha: Give you a moment, our number one podcast listeners to find a comfortable seat, either laying down or sitting upright. Whichever form you choose to take, place your feet on the ground. If you're laying down, your knees will be stacked, feet on the ground. If you're in a chair, feeling them grounded on the floor beneath you. and start to close down your eyes. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Breathe it out of your mouth. Deep breath in, fill your belly. Deep breath out of your mouth. Third time inhale through your nose. Exhale through your mouth. And keep your breath going just like that. As you settle your body into your seat. Letting any tension or wiggles out of your body. Find your stillness here. And as you continue to breathe, bring your focus to the top of your head. And from the top of your head a bright white light travels down through your forehead. And feel that white light start to release any tension in your forehead. Then drop that vibrant light through your face and your cheeks, down your mouth, in your chin. Let your jaw relax. Then feel that white light in your focus travel down your neck. Through your shoulders. Let your shoulders melt into the surface beneath you. As that white light travels down through your chest and Down your arms, through your fingertips, let your arms be heavy. Then let that white light travel down your spine. Through your hips, your sitz bones connected to the surface below you. and feel that light travel down through your thighs. Around your knees. Through your calves and your ankles to relax. And feel that white light fill your feet fully. From the heels through the arch of your foot, the ball mounds of your foot into your toes. And feel that white light in the center of both of your feet pressing down into the earth. And as you feel that connection of your feet on the ground, imagine below your feet that white light opens up the ground below you. And feel that light open up through the soil of the ground, like two tree trunks. And let those roots of that light travel through the soil. The sand, the sediment, the rocks and all of the layers of the earth to land in the center of the earth. And imagine at the core of the earth that these roots from the bottom of your feet ground down into the core of this earth. And feel that white light from the top of your head down through your entire body, shooting down into those roots to the center of the earth. Take a deep breath in through your nose. Out through your mouth. Any heavy or tense feelings in your body. Feel that white light, take that tense spot, and press it down towards the opening at the base of your feet. Shooting that tension down through the roots into the center of the earth to be cleansed. Deep breath in. Deep breath out. And gently bring that focus back to the base of your feet, starting to move and tap the feet on the ground, lifting the toes, then press them back down. Thank the roots and the core of the earth for that grounded energy. Then close those roots at your feet. And feel that groundedness shoot up through your feet, your legs, around your hips, through your belly, your chest, your arms, your neck, your face, shooting out of the crown of your head to wrap around your body like a bubble of groundedness. And take a deep breath in. Sigh it out of your mouth. And gently start to wiggle your fingertips. Move your neck from left to right. Roll your wrists and your ankles and And on your next breath, start to circle your palms up to the sky, stretching up to the ceiling. Take a breath in. And on your exhale, bring your palms back down to your lap. When you're ready, slowly blink open your eyes. We can close our meditation practice right here, palms to your heart center. No must there.