The Wholly Aligned Health Podcast

Sacral: I dive into the salty waters of my cells. Fishing from my inner well. Willing to swim in the deeper waters. It is from here, in this sacred space, creativity rises. I move with fluidity in the watery current. I feel.Episode 2 of Embodying the Chakras.A series on the 7 map chakra. Chakra, a Sanskrit word, means wheel or vortex. There are various origin stories cross culturally so this episode touches on different ideas to access this root or bass note in your unique body.Each episode includes personal anecdotes, a relevant piece of research or deeper explanations of certain terms to cultivate your own understanding and some tips or suggestions to invoke this for yourself. When it is lived, it becomes practical and realistic. Any questions feel free to use the text or reach out via my website:Home | Wholly Aligned Embodied Movement and YogaCiara Jean RobertsWriter + Independent Researcher of all things Health + HealingEmbodied Yoga | Soulful Nutrition | Sacred Living | Astrological Insights2 kidney transplantsSay Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

Root: I stand bare foot upon this earth. Grounded. In my very bones. I am safe. I am secure. I am. A new series on the 7 map chakra. Chakra, a Sanskrit word, means wheel or vortex. There are various origin stories cross culturally so this episode touches on different ideas to access this root or bass note in your unique body.Each episode includes personal anecdotes, a relevant piece of research and some tips or suggestions to invoke this for yourself. When it is lived, it becomes practical and realistic. That is a very root principle! Build on good earth, root into good soil.Any questions feel free to use the text or reach out via my website:Home | Wholly Aligned Embodied Movement and YogaCiara Jean RobertsWriter + Independent Researcher of all things Health + HealingEmbodied Yoga | Soulful Nutrition | Sacred Living | Astrological Insights2 kidney transplantsSay Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

The culminating episode, the integrating finale to this series. We touch upon healing as an integrated approach. That our wholeness does not require perfection. We take it day by day and trust the process as much as we are able. Healing happens in a spiral. There is no single story around healing after a kidney transplant. Medical rupture can carry great intensity, sorrow, confrontation and upset - in our own lives, and in the lives of others. The holistic path asks us to feel what needs to be felt, express it in ways that promote and encourage healing, that is nuanced and unique and contextual to your own circumstances. You're stronger than you know. Step across a new threshold and let me know what you find.With love and appreciation.CiaraxDo reach out as you wish via the Wholly Aligned website. Remember too, you can avail of the free intro course to coherent breathing there. The simple things are the incredible thingshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

The Heart - the Hrid (sanskrit), the Kokoro (Japanese). What's the word for Heart in your native tongue?Yes we need to tend to our cardiovascular health when living with a kidney transplant. To keep circulatory capacity flowing. To nourish the rich vascular capillary beds by good breathing. We also need to tend to the spirit, the inner world of our heart's longing. This deeper feeling of living more truly from the spiritual heart. In this episode we talk a little of coherence and coherent breathing as a simple yet profound way to nourish the heart - what are we breathing life into?With shared story and tales woven in, to keep your heart open and engaged.Any questions or anything you wish to share from your experience with this series, feel free to do so via the Wholly Aligned website:https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

From skin and bones, we travel into the active tissues - the muscles. Muscles are all about motility. Movement. To build muscle tone, we need to create some stress to these tissues. Stronger muscles wraps more tightly to the bones, in turn making the bones stronger - what a gesture of symbiosis. Just as we climb trees, the tree becomes stronger. Kidney function is closely tied to electrolyte balance. The key minerals such as magnesium, support healthy muscle and nerves. Muscle is also surrounded and perfused by fascia - the connective tissues. They move together. When we become too stagnated or inert, the muscles and fascia can atrophy. This then can impact mood. Everything is connected. An epsom salts bath to restore magnesium, or a swim in the sea, or a good stew, can all be ways to keep healthy levels of magnesium. We talk also more symbolically and metaphorically to conjure up our own inspiration to move in ways that feel good. Introducing various somato-sensory terms such as interoception and proprioception - learning to feel from the inside. It's a wild ride! Enjoy the exploration into your muscles.Feel free to share musing or ask questions via the Wholly Aligned website:https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

We continue in our series, to bones. What weight bearing movements do we invite to keep the bones healthy. Do we understand that certain dietary intake of sugary sodas strip bones of calcium as the body excretes more calcium via the urine in an effort to deal with the sugars, weakening the bones.  This series seeks to ask you to tap into your own inner healer. So it's not intended as a list of instructions. It's a lighthouse or fireside to gather around and remember what tends your unique bodymind system towards greater feelings of harmony and feeling centred. Our bones are the inner foundation and living tissues. Much of our immune health and general robustness and vitality comes from the bones - given our blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Everything is interdependent and inter-related. In kidney transplantation we look to protecting and preserving bone health. Learn more in this episode. Who are we at our very bony marrow...Feel free to reach our with questions/thoughts via the Wholly Aligned website:https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

In this second episode of the 6 part series, we explore the skin - this semi-permeable interface between inner and outer worlds. Skin is nourished from the inside. Often dysbiosis (imbalance in the gut microbiota) can present on the skin. There is also usually an emotional root to skin issues, given the skin forms with the nervous system in embryology. In kidney transplantation, there may be various medications such as steroids (prednisolone mostly) and the calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus and cyclosporin) that require someone living with a kidney transplant to take care of skin health. This includes what we put on topically as well as the nutrients we put inside. We dive into this and more in episode 2. Any questions, feel free to contact me via the Wholly Aligned website:https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

This is the introductory episode to A Truly Holistic Approach to living with a kidney tranplant. This 6 part series is niche in that it speaks to an audience that has the experience of kidney transplantation.In this opener, Ciara shares her personal and professional experience as both patient and health practitioner. With her kidneys failing at a very young age of 14, with a diagnosis at 4 years old. Be kind to yourself in listening. Notice anything that feels difficult, is the body's way of communicating an inner need.The arc of the series is touched upon, given the body needs to rebalance and recalibrate with a kidney transplant, given too the kidneys do so much in our bodies, from regulating haemoglobin, to healthy bone mineralisation and understanding certain medications can impact skin health.Feel free to reach out via the Wholly Aligned website: https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

In this episode, Ciara shares her interest in the Sabian Symbols. Coming through via astrologist Marc Edmund Jones and psychic medium, Elsie Wheeler, in 1925, in San Diego in a parked car, all in one day. The two of them collaborated to bring through from Ancient Mesopotamia, these symbols, each corresponding to the degrees on the zodiacal wheel. 360 in total, with 30 degrees being assigned to each of the 12 signs. These bring insight and inspiration and depth into understanding ourselves and how the deeper realms can open us up to new and curious pearls. Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

Embodied movement over the years has infused into the world of yoga. In this episode, Ciara introduces terms such as interoception and proprioception, with useful anecdotes and invitations for the listener to reflect on the stories held in their bodies and how we can continue to remember our agency, sovereignty and autonomy. Bit by bit, remembering too, to be gentle in the process.Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

An introduction or indeed, a river of meandering into the slow lane of yin. Weaving in stories and contemplation on how yin, as a balancing energy, can help you in the currents and mysteries of your life. discover more about yin as a spirt and energy, an equipoise to the excess of yang we tend towards in modern life.With some reference to yoga and yin yoga, mainly though, an invitation to sip at the slower cup of replenishment and let this almost be a meditative journey.Ideas for listening:Listen when in the bathListen when on a walk in the fresh air and able to amble slowly, without rushListen when laying down after a long day at work, to switch into a softer and calmer mode.With love,CiaraCiara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

How to support your bone health:The new series for 2024 zooms in on a particular part of the body. Bones are many parts of the body! And a wonderful living tissue to appreciate how to take care of, in your unique context.  In this episode, Ciara shares some ideas to encourage better bone health, from nutrition, to the importance of movement and an overview of key bone cells and their function.For more ideas, event and musings around yoga, nutrition and sacred living, hop into the Wholly Aligned Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/energiseyourself and receive 5 tips to energise yourself. Love,CiaraCiara Jean RobertsWriter, Yoga Teacher, Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Creative SparkWholistic Health LighthouseWhollyAligned - Ciara Jean RobertsTwitter:@WhollyAlignedTedxSpeaker: https://www.ted.com/talks/ciara_jean_roberts_unlocking_you_inner_physicianSay Hi and what you found interesting!

A lovely soothing shorter journey into your own wise heart. Great for when you need a gentle reset in times of emotional turmoil. Also a useful soother to listen to before falling asleep.Ciara Jean RobertsYoga Teacher. Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Author, Creative Sparkhttps://www.whollyaligned.comTwitter @WhollyAlignedCheck out my Tedx Talk: Unlocking your Inner Physician: https://youtu.be/y0lmkEkNIukSay Hi and what you found interesting!

Ciara Roberts brings you a series of guided meditations.  You can listen seated, laying down, on a train, in a plane, under a tree...make it work for you.Beginning with Arriving and Centring.The energies of Arrive. The energies of Centre.Arriving and centring into the contours of our physical form. Centring into the essence of the deepest inner truths we hold.Arriving and Centring is a practise Ciara experienced with long time yin yoga teacher, Sarah Lo. A useful way to expand our feelings of body. How we experience sitting, in physical form, within an entire cosmology - which can seem so very peculiar or abstract when we have not had direct experience of this sense of connection. This enduring vastness.It resides within each one of us. Without exception.We arrive into the landscape of body.We centre into the inner beingness - perhaps we could call this grounding in our Buddha self. Or tapping into the well of sustenance within. Our inner power. It whispers and willows much further than the constraints of body. Enjoy. Ciara Jean RobertsYoga teacher, Writer, Naturopathic Nutritional Therapisthttps://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In this episode, Ciara shares 3 key learning outcomes for coherent breathing, expanding more on the intricacies of the nervous system and reflective invitations to allow you to explore your current inner state:1. Breathing through the nose2. Breathing into the belly3. An even rate and rhythmIt's all about balance. With a guided 15 minutes at the end to help regulate, sense and feel.For the 20 minutes guided coherent breath episode, listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/246643/3199480Say Hi and what you found interesting!

In the ongoing season of the Recalibrate/Recalibrating your nervous system,  season of the Wholly Aligned podcast, Ciara welcomes Dr Ela Manga.Ela is an integrated medical doctor, practising in South Africa. Trained originally as a GP in conventional medicine, a few years into her GP work, she swiftly discovered that patients kept coming back with the same issues.  Her work then broadened out into energy management and conscious living.  Very much including the power of breath. She is also the founder of Breathwork Africa.  A key passion for her, is training practitioners to shine this work more out into the world.She shares the Zulu word (also present in many other African languages across the southern part) Of Ubuntu. Hear her speak more of this as a way if life, a sacred way of being in the podcast.To discover more about wonderful Ela and er work in the world, her website is: https://www.drelamanga.com including links and detail of her upcoming virtual breath work sessions. Her book, which this episode title draws inspiration from: Breathe. Strategising energy in the age of burnout is available via Amazon, with the link also via her website, listed above.Love CiaraFind your voice. It's your real power nowCiara Jean RobertsWriter, yoga teacher and Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist https://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In the second episode of 'Recalibrating the nervous system' series, Ciara expands a bit more on the Autonomic Nervous Systems and its 3 key branches of sympathetic nervous system, para-sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. Making it relatable to your daily life. So not laden with jargon - infused with real life story and reminders to be kind and compassionate in your explorations! It's deep work...Touching upon the activating and pacifying components of the breath and how that ties in with the nervous system. Linking it in with the 3 key functions of the brain: learning, regulation and selection.Such a vast and fascinating arena to explore. Most importantly you are the adventurer of your own inner journeys.  Ciara Jean RobertsYoga Teacher. Writer,  Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Creative.https://www.whollyaligned.comTwitter @WhollyAlignedTedx Talk: Unlocking your Inner Physician: https://youtu.be/y0lmkEkNIukSign up to my practical and inspiring mailing list here and receive 5 powerful yet simple ways to feel more energised:https://bit.ly/energiseyourselfSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In episode 4 of Integrating a holistic approach to kidneys, Ciara speaks with Mike Stephens. Kidney transplant and vascular access surgeon. Part of the leadership team in Cardiff,  Wales. I first spoke with Mike, about 3 years ago, when a burgeoning interest in the wellbeing of medics working in a dysfunctional system became a passion I wanted to understand more about. Mike was open in the challenges he felt. Which was very refreshing for me to hear. Now here we are in October 2021, Mike speaks with experience and humility. A calm perfuses through his sharings throughout.A wonderful treasure of a conversation covering vulnerability, to pressured schedules, to being part of a team. So many gems in this. A valuable dialogue especially for those working in surgery or indeed considering it.Enjoy.Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com Say Hi and what you found interesting!

Episode 3 in the series 'Integrating a holistic approach to kidneys'.Ciara talks to one of her closest friends Vivien, who has a working transplant for over 25 years now. Ciara and Vivien met in the St Helier dialysis unit when they were both young students at different universities. And over 25 years later, they remain firm friends. Through the rollercoasters of their own unique journey with their kidney transplants, their friendship has been a solid through line  of soulful solace,  honest conversation, adventures, true kinship to rely on through highs and lows. What a gift to have these gems in our lives.A truly beautiful conversation where the pulse of deep friendship shines through.What does it ignite in you? Ciara Jean RobertsFounder of Wholly Aligned. Author, speaker, holistic kidney expert, yoga teacher and naturopathic nutritionisthttps://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

Episode 2 of Integrating a Holistic Approach to Kidneys features another brilliant human.Dr Sharlene Greenwood is a Consultant Physiotherapist at King’s College Hospital, an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at King’s College London, and a NIHR post-doctoral research fellow. She co-chairs the UK Kidney Research Consortium, and Kidney Quality Improvement Partnership (KQuIP), and is the President of the UK Kidney Association. Sharlene is an advanced clinical practitioner with 15 years of experience as a specialist renal physiotherapist. She leads one of the only commissioned renal exercise services in the UK, which includes renal rehabilitation, weight management, and specialist kidney transplant exercise clinics. Sharlene has a keen interest in holistic management and has recently developed Kidney Beam www.beamfeelgood.com  in partnership with Kidney Research UK and a medtech company Beam.  Ciara chats to Sharlene about her passion for Kidney Beam,  what it means to play to her strengths and the vision she has for the future. Note that Kidney Beam remains free with its current funding, to those impacted by kidney illness. So you can sign up and avail of all the wonderful resources for free on therehttps://beamfeelgood.com/kidney%20diseaseSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In the bright start of a brand new series,' Integrating a holistic approach to kidneys', Ciara chats to her good friend Anoushica.Including the very turbulent rollercoaster with her kidney transplant following a serious fungal infection that left her in hospital for over 3 months this year. Including days in intensive care.We cover the ache of her brother wanting to give her a kidney, her feelings of responsibility as the older sibling to him. Her eventual recognition that he was a grown man, wanting her to be alive and well. So that was the gift back to him. Reciprocity. We talk of the healing power of receptivity. As women especially, our willingness to receive. And how our healing journey happens in a. spiral. There is a divine timing - the courage too to cultivate self awareness. Always ongoing and evolving.And end with visioning a dream for the future. Get uplifted and join us in this intimate chat.A beautiful and honest conversation. Enjoy!The Harmony Hour video from November 2017:  https://youtu.be/KRU8U8OUJnsCiara Jean RobertsHolistic Health Educator, Author, Speaker, Yoga teacher, Naturopathic Nutritionist(Yoga teacher on Kidney Beam too)Connect with Ciara on Twitter@WhollyAlignedFind out more  via https://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In our fourth episode, Marley and Ciara talk about memories of Zambia. The change in dynamic, as now the memories include her daughters. The previous 3 episodes, were before children, or when both daughters were still very young.Zambia is a beautiful country in southern Africa. Hear more in this episode of a family moving abroad. Very fortunate to live an expatriate life, with a big house, yet also with the deeper experiences of growing together as a family. The sending away of both daughters to boarding school. The loss of their own elders, as they began to pass beyond the veil.Come join us in these containing sacred conversations.To find out more about Ciara:https://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In episode 3, we travel with Marley leaving London, soon after marriage to Philip. On their first adventures living in another land, to South Africa.Arriving in an apartheid Johannesburg. The reality of this meant certain workforces were trained in use of firearms as standard (my Dad included) and being stopped by the police for having our nanny Emily riding upfront. Such white hierarchy.Nonetheless, Marley discovered a deeper relationship with yoga, going on to train as a teacher. And met lifelong friends. Bringing all this back to 1977 Ireland! Alongside her practical knowledge of nutrition. Can you see where the yoga and nutrition seed might have been planted for me, Ciara - her daughter?!The mother/daughter conversations continue (bear in mind you don't hear the edits!!) and we land in Lusaka, Zambia in the next episode. Say Hi and what you found interesting!

It's episode 2 of Ciara and Catherine. Mother (Marley) and daughter. Sacred conversations in the now. To be remembered in the generations to come.In this episode, we've travelled from Marley growing up in 1940s Cork (check out episode 1 if haven't yet) onto her brave journey into London. So young. Arriving in 1961 at just 19 years old.From the localised domain of Cork to exploring the wider world. Not only did Catherine as a very young woman experience friendship, kindness and great synchronicity in London, she also travelled further afield to Italy and back to Dublin before a longer period in London.Where she met the man she went on to marry.Join us in these intimate conversations. And may they spark great fondness and possibility in you.In the next episode, we travel onwards with the young married couple, to Africa. Find out more about Ciara and her work:https://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

One of the great boons of this past year for me, has been the depth and vulnerability of conversation with my mother. These sacred women in our lives.In this new series on the Wholly Aligned podcast, Ciara lands in sacred conversation with Marley (as she calls her mother). Catherine Roberts turns 80 this year, 2021. Increasingly I have found her capacity to remember dates, names, places as if they were only yesterday, so rich. She is a storyteller and it feels time to share those stories. For posterity. For the next generations to come.And to plant seeds in you to reconnect with your ancestors. The sacred conversations you hold dear.Stay tuned for the next episode where Catherine arrives as a young, wide eyed woman, into the big smoke of London.Say Hi and what you found interesting!

Darryl Edwards is a movement coach and author of the 2018 bestselling book, 'Animal Moves'. His Tedx talk, 'Why working out, isn't working out' has almost 830k views at time of recording (March 2021). Darryl sojourned from software engineering in the investment banking world, to creating primal play. Hear more about his story of transformation on this Inspiring Souls episode.  A very honest, well articulated and vulnerable sharing.He is also bringing his passion for inclusion and diversity, as a trustee for British Association for Holistic Medicine and Healthcare.To explore more about Darryl's work, check out his Primal Play Method and blog pieces. You can also find his wonderful Tedx talk there too: https://www.primalplay.com/who-is-darryl-edwardsSay Hi and what you found interesting!

In this episode, Ciara chats with Janey Lee Grace in the week her latest book 'Happy Healthy Sober' is released. Janey speaks with honesty and clarity around her own journey with booze and where that has now lead her to as a strong advocate of Sobriety Rocks!Janey is an author, commentator, and co-presenter on the UK’s biggest radio show, BBC Radio 2’s  Steve Wright in the Afternoon.  She has written five books on Holistic living including the #1 Amazon best seller Imperfectly Natural Woman and currently writes columns for many magazines, and runs training workshops and consultations on Media Breakthrough for holistic businesses and solopreneurs.  Check out her excellent Tedx talk: https://www.ted.com/talks/janey_lee_grace_sobriety_rocks_who_knewAnd explore more about The Sober Club: https://www.thesoberclub.comThe Alcohol Free podcast as a free resource can also be found on The Sober Club website.Say Hi and what you found interesting!

Ciara in her brand new ' Inspiring Souls' podcast series, chats with Columbian born and raised Isabel Firecracker. A world traveler, avid kitesurfer, and childfree intersectional feminist, Isabel describes herself as a pragmatic, no-nonsense coach for childfree women who struggle with feelings of anger, insecurity, shame, and guilt that surround their choice to not have children. She has designed her coaching programs specifically for this end: to help childfree women evolve and grow into the very best version of themselves.Isabel is also the host of The Honest Uproar podcast, a space for childfree women to gather and tell their #childfreestories. It was created to foster a stronger sense of community and to connect empowered women around the World. Look for it on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more!Website and social media links:www.theuprisingspark.com@theuprisingspark@thehonestuproarSay Hi and what you found interesting!

Ciara chats about her Wellbeing Fund analogy. Allow yourself to reflect on the 6 different areas of your health fund. Where's off - where's in balance. Small changes, make differences. 1. Nutrition - what and how much we eat2. Sleep - how much and how deep3. Activity & movement - running, swimming, walking, jumping, anything?4. Purpose - sense of fulfilment5. Wealth - access to money and basic needs fully met6. Support - friends, family, community, work environmentCiara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

Ciara brings you a guided breath practise. Very useful for self-regulation and physiological recalibration. The breath has a profound impact on our emotions. This breath technique moves the body/mind into a safer state. To discover more about the benefits of this breath, listen to the episode 'How to breathe well. Understanding coherent breath.' https://www.buzzsprout.com/246643/9961875During times of intense stress, this is so helpful. Be gentle in your exploration. Let go of the need to 'get it right'. It all comes with practise. Don't give up.  Any questions, just reach out.Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.comSay Hi and what you found interesting!

Ciara, an expert in kidneys and a published author, shares with you the first chapter from her book in this podcast, 'Wholly Aligned, Wholly Alive: Awakening your Inner Physician'. The book launched 25th June 2019.You can get your own copy through: https://www.whollyaligned.comSign up for Ciara's mailing list there too to receive nourishing and practical advice every fortnight! Enjoy. To connect directly with Ciara to discuss consultation or 1:1 yoga, drop her an email: [email protected] Hi and what you found interesting!

In this episode, Ciara Jean Roberts talks about her experience in Peru learning more about the traditional wisdom of the Andean medicine wheel. using the cardinal directions and the symbolism of totemic animals, we dive into the beautiful nature of this ancient wisdom.Say Hi and what you found interesting!