Finding Harmony Podcast

Are you working out — or working in?

In this deeply enriching conversation, Harmony Slater sits down with Simon Borg-Olivier — co-founder of Yoga Synergy, physiotherapist, researcher, and one of the most original minds in the world of movement. Simon has been exploring yoga, breath, and consciousness for over 50 years, and his answer to almost every question is the same: find the ease.

 

Simon's philosophy challenges the deeply held assumption that more effort equals more benefit. He makes a crucial distinction between the workout (which leaves you depleted, hungry, and stiff) and the work-in (which leaves you energized, calm, and clear). His approach blends biomechanics, nervous system science, and ancient wisdom traditions — and at age 66, his biological age tested at 48.

 

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why strength without tension, and flexibility without strain, are the real goals of practice

The 'work-in vs. workout' distinction — and how it changes everything

The 12 hidden 'bridges' between the conscious and unconscious nervous system

Why the diaphragm — not the breath — is the true link between mind and body

Simon's concept of the gut brain and its connection to ancient traditions (Dan Tian, Tanden, Kanda)

What 'airplane yoga' means — and why it's the philosophy behind his teaching

His extraordinary life story: from a Tibetan lama in Sydney to machete wounds in Goa

Why Iyengar told him 'most people need 90% bhoga' — and what that means for your practice

How to become a chef in your practice, not just a student following recipes

Where to find Simon's free membership site and global retreats

 

CONNECT WITH SIMON BORG-OLIVIER:

Website: simonborgolivier.com 

Membership & courses: healthhappinesslongevity.co

 

UPCOMING EVENTS:

Harmony teaches at Agora Yoga, Lisbon (end of June) and Faro, Portugal (early July). Details in show notes at harmonyslater.com.

 

If this episode moved you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with a fellow practitioner. Your support helps this conversation reach more seekers.

The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc

Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

What does it really mean to build a life around practice — not just on the mat, but in how you love, how you work, and how you show up for your community?

In this rich and wide-ranging conversation, Harmony Slater welcomes Sonia and Luis, the founders of Agora Lisboa — a space in Portugal dedicated to yoga, meditation, and the deep study of Buddhist philosophy. This is a couple who left careers in international development and high finance, followed the thread of practice across continents, and landed in Lisbon to build something rare: a community where dharma and asana are not separate from how you live.

In this episode, you'll discover:

Why Sonia chose yoga over a prestigious French government contract — and what her teacher said that changed everything

How Luis discovered Zen Buddhism through the beauty of Japanese temple gardens at age 20 — and then meditated alone for 12 years

The humbling moment Luis realized community is non-negotiable on the path to freedom

What the ancient Greek word 'agora' has in common with Sanskrit and Portuguese — and why it became the perfect name

Why crises are turning points (not breakdowns) — and the etymology that proves it

How Ashtanga yoga and Buddhist meditation aren't just compatible — they're sibling traditions

The difference between practicing for self-improvement and practicing for freedom

Why you can't build an island of happiness in an ocean of misery — and what that means for your community

Sonia's beautiful story of finding her pranayama practice while rocking her twins to sleep

Why Harmony is teaching at Agora Lisboa June 25–28 — and how you can join her

Sonia was born in France to a Brazilian mother and French father, trained at Ashtanga Yoga Paris, and worked in international development across Africa before stepping fully into teaching. Luis grew up in Colombia, moved to France at 18, discovered Zen Buddhism in Japan, and spent a decade in finance before burnout and love conspired to change everything. Together, they created Agora Lisboa — a name that holds multitudes: the Greek marketplace, the Portuguese word for 'now,' and a Sanskrit term for light.

Whether you're navigating your own crossroads, deepening a contemplative practice, or longing for community that holds your whole life — this episode is for you.

CONNECT WITH SONIA & LUIS:

Website: agora-lisboa.com

Instagram: @agora_lisboa 

JOIN HARMONY IN LISBON:

Harmony teaches at Agora Lisboa, June 25–28. Register at agora-lisboa.com.

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW:

If this episode moved you, please leave a 5-star review and share it with someone who is living their practice off the mat. Your reviews help more seekers find this show.

The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc

Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

Have you ever wondered if your spiritual practice is actually holding you back?

In this rare solo episode, Harmony Slater opens up about something she has sat with for years: spiritual bypassing — the subtle, socially praised way we use meditation, yoga, journaling, and ritual to sidestep the emotional work we most need to do.

 

This conversation is deeply personal. Harmony shares her own journey from ballet-driven anorexia to years of devoted Ashtanga practice, and how all of it — every early morning practice, every pose, every certification — was also, in part, a way of hiding. From her body. From her feelings. From herself.

 

In this episode, you will hear:

What spiritual bypassing actually is — and why it is so hard to see in yourself.

How yoga, meditation, and breathwork can become sophisticated tools for avoidance.

Why discipline and control can shrink your world without you realizing it.

The difference between observing your experience and truly feeling it from within.

How healing actually happens — and why it requires relationship, not solo practice.

The moment Harmony's body finally said enough through burnout and autoimmune illness.

A simple 'Do Nothing' practice that reveals more than any technique.

Why life itself is the real practice.

Whether you have been on the spiritual path for two years or twenty, this episode will meet you where you are. 

With honesty, compassion, and an invitation to stop performing and start feeling.

The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc

Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

What does it really mean to stay devoted to a practice for three decades — and let it keep changing you?

 

Harmony Slater and Russell Case sit down with Jodi Blumstein: long-time Ashtanga yoga practitioner, founder of one of Chicago's first Ashtanga shalas, and the teacher who led the Mysore program at YogaWorks in Los Angeles for over 15 years. Now teaching online to a global community, Jodi brings the rare perspective of someone who has lived through the full arc of Ashtanga yoga in the West — from the early days of counting in Sanskrit with a German accent at a single Chicago class, to practicing on Oak Street Beach with Tim Miller, to navigating the post-COVID world of online Mysore.

 

This conversation is honest, nostalgic, nuanced, and full of lived wisdom.

 

In this episode, you'll discover:

What it was really like to study with Tim Miller, Dena Kingsbrough, and Nancy Gilgoff — and how each teacher gave something completely different

Why the traditional yoga studio business model is unsustainable — and what might replace it

How Ashtanga practice should evolve as you age (and why the 'marathon' model of practice is the key)

What the rise of Instagram did to the Ashtanga community (for better and worse)

How Jodi found her way into online teaching — and why she's never going back to in-person

The practice philosophy she now teaches: rotating series, building core strength, and adapting intelligently for the long haul

What Pattabhi Jois's presence was really like in those final Lakshmipuram classes

 

Connect with Jodi Blumstein:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jodi_blumstein/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jodibe4483

The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc

Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation

At what point does discipline stop serving us—and start becoming something we're afraid to question?

 

In this episode, Harmony and Russell are joined by old friend David Keil—yoga anatomy educator, body worker, and long-time Ashtanga practitioner and teacher—for a rich, honest conversation about what happens when devotion becomes dogma.

 

David has spent over two decades bridging anatomy, science, and Ashtanga yoga practice, always resisting the oversimplification that there is one right way to move, one right way to adjust, or one right way to practice. This episode is for anyone who has ever felt the tension between devotion and discernment—whether you've been practicing for two years or twenty.

 

In This Episode:

When discipline becomes dogma—and how to recognize the difference

The nervous system as the foundation of skillful adjustments

Pattern-based movement vs. fixing isolated details (and why it matters for longevity)

What actually makes Ashtanga yoga Ashtanga yoga

Pain, tolerance, and what we do (and don't) learn from pushing through

Why 90% of 25+ year practitioners mix and match sequences—and what that tells us

The vagus nerve, breath, and why focused attention is the common thread in all contemplative practices

Cross-training for yogis: bone density, muscle mass, and why yoga alone isn't always enough

The future of Ashtanga after Sharath

"Don't let yoga ruin your life"—what David means by this, and why it matters

 

Connect With David Keil:

Website: yoganatomy.com

Book: Functional Anatomy of Yoga (available at yoganatomy.com and Amazon)

New book: coming soon — sign up for David's newsletter at yoganatomy.com

IG: https://www.instagram.com/dkeil108/

 

The Inner Rejuvenation Codes: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/inner-rejuvenation-codes-mc

Join the Lightworker Mastermind:  https://harmonyslater.com/lightworker-mastermind

FIND Harmony online: https://harmonyslater.com/
Harmony on IG: https://www.instagram.com/harmonyslaterofficial/
Finding Harmony Podcast on IG: https://www.instagram.com/findingharmonypodcast/

FREE Manifestation Activation: https://harmonyslater.kit.com/manifestation-activation