EPISODE 122 | Reconnect to Your Body, Make a REAL Difference with Nashville Yoga Instructor, Doula, and Activist, Renee Watkins
Watch Renee Watkins' interview on Human Amplified with Brandi Fleck on YouTube.
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EPISODE 122 | Reconnect to Your body, Make a REAL Difference with Yoga Instructor, Renee W
While searching for a way to improve my body I found my purpose, my peace, and my passion.
I am Renee Watkins, a dedicated yoga instructor based in the vibrant city of Nashville, Tennessee. With a passion for promoting wellness and inner peace, I have made it my mission to guide others on their journey towards a balanced and harmonious life through the practice of yoga.
My journey with yoga began in July of 2013... 14 months after I graduated from Tennessee State University, 7 months after the death of my maternal grandmother, and 1 month before a major fashion show. The abrupt loss of my grandmother and the end of the familiar routine and social structure of school created a void that led to severe depression (the chaos and cattiness of fashion show preparation was not helping). One day my runway coach suggested I try yoga or Pilates in place of the gym to prepare for the show, I chose yoga. In the depths of depression, I found solace in it as a means of healing. Although I started my practice for physical benefits, the emotional healing I found was far more valuable. It became a therapeutic outlet, helping me navigate the complexities of depression with increased self-awareness. A year after I started my practice, I completed yoga teacher training because I wanted to help other people experience the same transformative advantages. Yoga encompasses ethical guidelines focusing on how one relates to the world (yamas), personal practices for self-discipline and spiritual observance (niyamas), physical postures to cultivate strength flexibility and balance (asanas), breathe control and breathing exercises (pranayama), self-awareness (pratyahara), cultivating mental concentration (dharana), meditation (dhyana), and a profound spiritual experience (samadhi).
Since I started, the practice has transformed my life in ways I could never have imagined. I have trained extensively in various styles of yoga, including Vinyasa, Rocket, and Prenatal allowing me to offer a diverse range of classes that cater to all levels of experience and flexibility.
As a teacher, I believe in the power of yoga to heal, strengthen, and connect the mind, body, and spirit. My classes are designed to be welcoming and inclusive, creating a safe space for everyone to explore their practice and achieve their personal wellness goals. Whether you are looking to increase your flexibility, build strength, reduce stress, or simply find a moment of peace in your busy day, my aim is to support and inspire you every step of the way.
Today, we’re talking to Nashville-based yoga instructor, doula, and activist, Renee Watkins, about reconnecting to your body to make a real difference. And what does that actually mean?
It means using breath work, which is the common thread among all of Renee’s passions and pursuits, so you can find not only emotional healing for yourself, but also for your community.
It’s evident that Renee cares deeply about helping people and she starts with her local community here in Nashville. Through Renee’s yoga practice, she’s breaking down stereotypes and creating safe, inclusive spaces for Black and brown women. We get into all of that in this episode, plus we also talk about:
Why its important to be in tune with your body, what your body can tell you, how to start making a difference while protecting your peace, releasing anger, and breathing the correct way. And you might be surprised about what the right way is.
Then, we get into the topic of high birth mortality rates, especially for Black women, in the United States, what to do to minimize birth trauma and how it all fits together with Yoga, human advocacy, and teaching our kids what they really need to know so they can avoid some of the pitfalls we're seeing in our time.
We finish up the episode talking about sexuality and sensuality and dealing with repression of it. It’s all connected.
Throughout the episode, Renee gives us awesome expert advice and she mixes in personal stories too, so you’ll love getting to know her and her bright personality. Her Yoga practice, which is her primary focus right now, is called RW Yoga. She’s trained extensively in Vinyasa, Rocket, and Prenatal Yoga.
This episode does come with a trigger warning: About half way through, maybe a little before, we start talking about sex education with several hard truths and then move into the topic of birth trauma with real life examples. These are very important, critical conversations to have, but proceed with caution if these topics are triggering for you.
Now, let’s dive in.
Coming soon! Hang tight.
Support for this podcast comes from Bed of Nails.
You’ve probably seen acupressure products before, maybe in your FB feed or something like that. It could be for any number of brands, but it’s a fact that the Bed of Nails is the Swedish original. I’ve been using the Bed of Nails mat and pillow since 2012, before they were popular, no joke. I personally remember when no other products were widely available and when I was scared to even try it. But, I did try it.
When you lay on it at first, it can get a little uncomfortable, but that’s short-lived. After a few minutes, your back gets warm, starts pulsing, and then starts to relax. You quickly get used to distributing your weight on the bed of nails and it’s nothing but a welcomed reprieve from a stressful day.
Over the years it’s helped me increase circulation, relax, and reduce pain in my back and neck - something you can probably relate to needing help with, yeah? I also use my bed of nails every single time I meditate. I love it.
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CREDITS: Original intro and outro music by Ryan Sauls. Episode creation, editing, production, and graphics by Brandi Fleck. Sound effects from zapslat.com. Bio and photos provided by Renee Watkins.
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Hi, I’m your podcast host, Brandi Fleck. I’m a recognized communications and interviewing expert, a writer, an artist, and a private practice, certified trauma-informed life coach and trauma recovery coach. No matter how you interact with me, I help you tell and change your story so you can feel more like yourself. So welcome!
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