#getmerry

If you find yourself forever competing with your friendship group, this episode is for you.The chat was inspired by the book, My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante, a story revolved around the friendship and rivalry between 2 girls growing up in post WWII Naples. The themes in the book are relatable, even though I grew up in Australia in the 1990s and 2000s. I remember feeling rejected with sense of competition between friends. Feeling lonely, like an outcast. The jealousy and the worry of what others think. Not only a fantastic, can’t put it down kinda read, it inspires reflection of your own life.No wonder this book series (yes there are 3 more books to read) is so popular.This is what we spoke about during the episodeYou can be competitive with each other but still, want each other to succeed.Competition can create suffering. Having an ally over a competitor is just a more joyful way to live. When you help each other, it’s a productive relationship.Reflect and check in, what’s your sense of compe

Do you suffer from low self-esteem and have a habit of running a constant self-hating monologue in your mind, this episode is for you. This chat was inspired by our previous episodes about how to stop talking about dieting and the epidemic of body image anxiety.In this episode, we talk about HOW to overcome negative body image and self-criticism. How do we stop our constant self-criticism and this negative view of ourselves?This is what we spoke about during the episodeAwareness is the first step. You need to acknowledge that you have a negative self-image. Having the intention that you want to make a change is step two. Then, you take action.How do we become self-aware? Be honest with yourself and acknowledge that sometimes you do need to make changes.Many people think that dieting is the answer to the problem of self-hate. It's like, you hate yourself then you have this bright idea that if you go on a diet and lose weight and then you'll love yourself. It's all conditional love!The philosophy of Yoga t

Your best friend is on a new diet and they’re telling you about it, maybe they’re even trying to convince you to try it. But you’ve recently set the intention to STOP dieting.You realise the massive impact Diet Culture has had on your life. Maybe it led to constant self-criticism or disorderly eating?How do we deal with this better? What do you do when your friends won’t stop talking about diets?This is what we spoke about during the episodeDiet culture allows and inspires people to put themselves in harm so they can look a certain way and it’s time to say, NO, no more!Step away, walk away and leave the conversation the quickest, easiest way.Change the subject. Have a story ready for you to interject when you’re stuck in this conversation of diet culture.Be open and honest to them that you’re not talking about diet anymore because of XYZ. Make them aware that you’re not into diet culture but do it with kindness and not anger. Maybe send them an article about body acceptance and make them feel like they h

We took a break last week because there has been so much going on! The most exciting news is that Carla got engaged two weeks ago. Yay! In this episode, we chat all things weddings and marriage.Weddings are beautiful celebrations of love, but are they really necessary? Are wedding's just about the big, fat diamond? Enjoy this sister chat, there was no plan, no research. We know many podcasts a beautifully produced, this one is not. Apologies for mispronunciations, faulty statistics and terrible googling.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWeddings are great economic drivers. If you want to and have the ability to spend that much money on one day, go for it.Originally, the purpose of marriage was to bind men and women to produce legitimate offspring. Romantic huh!  What does marriage and a wedding mean to you? Is it actually something you want?Carla (the younger sister) got engaged before Emma (the older sister) and we do not give a damn.The concept of Epicureanism is finding pleasure in si

The quote from Steve Martin, “Thankfully, persistence is a great substitute for talent.”, reminded us of the conversations we've been having as we get towards our 10th year of business. We never really felt especially talented in any particular field. We were never number one at anything. But we did well in everything that we did because we were persistent, we showed up, we were enthusiastic, and we did the work.This is what we spoke about during the episodeWhen you're trying to do something and it doesn't happen in the time that you expected it to happen, you can either quit or keep going.When should you give up or when you should pivot?It's hard work getting to the point of where you want to be, as well as maintaining it and going to the next level. You gotta have that resilient mindset to go through the hard times.A lesson from Yoga, detachment, teaches us to keep striving and reaching for our goals but know that wherever we end up going, that's where we're meant to be going and that the real treasure is i

In this short and sweet episode, our goal is to get you feeling motivated to exercise. Right now, we are in Canberra (Australia), in the middle of winter. It's freezing and a whole lot more difficult to exercise in Canberra compared to the Gold Coast! We feel the excuses creeping in, but we know if we don't move, we will feel terrible. So, we share simple tactics on how to get motivated to exercise. If you are struggling to get into a rhythm of consistent exercise, tune in!This is what we spoke about during the episodeAfter you wake up and put your coffee on, just move. You don't have to change into your leggings and crop tops. Whatever you're wearing, whether it's 50 layers, pajamas or bed socks, this is why online home workouts are great!We need to change the narrative that's going on in the mind. If you're really struggling to exercise, come up with your own mantra that resonates with you.Make doable micro goals. Even if all you have is five minutes to exercise, that's better than nothing. Leave

We read an article this week from the ABC Radio National about the epidemic of body image anxiety. Philosopher and author Heather Widdows says that "we've gone from beauty being one thing we care about to being almost defining of who we are. Societal pressure leads to image obsession."Body image anxiety has been a big part of our lives. With Carla starting her first diet at age 11, Emma developed bulimia from ages 17-23. We always had this belief that our bodies were not good enough. We felt that social pressure for years. We're so grateful for the work we've done to be here, at a place of self-acceptance. We discuss the above article and talk about how we moved through our body image anxiety. This is what we spoke about during the episodeBody image issues are more apparent because we love in a connected and more visual culture. The influence of social media leads to unhealthy comparisons. Ageism and the obsession with youth. Let's embrace our changing faces and acknowledge the utter privilege

To welcome something new into your life you need to take regular consistent action toward it. But how do you create new habits that stick? You can't just do something once and then expect to receive all the benefits. Change happens over time. Change happens with new habits. This is what we spoke about during the episodeFind joy in the new habit.If-when-then plan. Work out a time, a place and an anchor for the new habit. As Carla says "sandwich your habit into your current life".  Get an understanding of how you learn best. Audio, visual or doing?Think of a habit you already stick to. Now realise you can transfer this to another habit.Monitor your habits in a non-obsessive way such as marking your calendar, having an accountability group, or ticking off your to-do list.Don't be too hard on yourself. Remember you're human, you might fail, skip a session or feel like you go backwards even! Don't dwell on the past, focus on the next step.Know that you can create change and welcome new habits.I

We’re going back to a topic from one of our most popular episodes. People pleasing. A people pleaser works very hard to make other people happy. Often putting other people’s needs above their own.Are you a people pleaser?Also, listen to Episode 216: how to stop being a people pleaser.This is what we spoke aboutA people pleaser often says yes to something and suddenly feels resentment and anger, thoughts might pop up like ‘why did I say yes? I don’t even want to do this!’The first step of unlearning any habit is awareness. So, it’s acknowledging that you are a people pleaser and that you want to let go of some aspects of this behaviourSay yes when you mean yes and no when you mean no. When someone asks you to do something, check in with yourself first.Setting your boundaries is really empowering. Although it can feel awkward to say no, you’ll be proud of yourself for doing it.As a people pleaser, you might have old grudges that you’ve kept. Go inwards and welcome awareness, what you can learn from ot

In this episode, we chat about the 8 limbs of Yoga by Patanjali as defined in his yoga sutras. Yoga is not all about the tree pose or downward-facing dog, it's about life.In relation to this, listen to Episode 256: The 5 levels of the mind – The Yoga Philosophy Series and also Episode 255: How to surrender, let go and trust or Ishvara Pranidhana – The Yoga Philosophy Series.This is what we spoke aboutYamas are kind of like moral lines and how you show up in life. Ahimsa is non-violence or kindness. Satya is truthfulness and honesty. Asteya is non-stealing. Brahmacharya is celibacy and loyalty. Aparigraha is detachment.Niyama is more of a way you are inside. Shaucha is more like cleanliness or detoxification of our thoughts. Santosha is contentment and self-acceptance. Tapas is devotion, dedication and discipline. Svadhyaya is self-study and self-awareness. Ishvarapranidhana is the practice of surrendering and letting go.Asana is the postures and the poses. Traditionally, there was one Asana and that was sitti

This episode (hehe, ok it’s a rant) was influenced by a recent Facebook post that got quite a lot of attention with a number of very different opinions. We shared a post from Alex Light about Kim Kardashian dropping 16 pounds to fit into her Met Gala dress just by eating tomatoes. Wait, what?This is what we spoke aboutYou can do what you want with your body, but know that what you say (especially if you’re Kim Kardashian) has power behind it. It’s not something to throw out lightly, even if the tomato comment was taken out of context.We talked more about the issues with before and afters during this episode, 319: Psychologist perspective of before and after photos with Miriam Emad.Going on a crazy starvation diet a week before a special event is common BUT there’s nothing normal or healthy about it. What we look like, especially our weight, is the least important factor about us.  We agree that Marilyn’s dress should not be altered. It’s an amazing piece of history. Don

It's so easy to get 100% consumed and caught up in other people's drama. Some people choose to step out of it while others choose to be amongst it and feed off it. In this episode, we chat about this and how to step out of it. This is what we spoke aboutSometimes we can be emotional, but this is not really the drama we are chatting about. It's necessary to live our truth and feel our feelings. And have friends we can be open with and depend on.It's important that we check in, is the drama taking over our lives. Also, we go on a crazy tangent onto the obsession with TV and reality TV. Realise what's truly important. Get your feet on the ground.Decide whether or not you want to be part of the drama. Does the drama serve you or not?Create your own boundaries and have the awareness of whether you're the person bringing the drama or not.Be mindful of the people you hang out with and what you allow. Try to change the pattern of the catch-up or the communication.Really, the way to step out of the drama is

In this episode, we chat about ways how you can feel less shit. Something you can do that will change your situation, shift your mood and change how you feel. This episode was inspired by this popular blog post. This is what we spoke aboutJournaling. Getting the stuff out of your head and on paper. Surround yourself with people you love and who unconditionally love you back. Practising gratitude makes a difference. What you focus on grows.Bring creativity into life. You don't need to create something that is beautiful. You can paint for the sake of painting and doodle just for fun.Move your body! This is the ultimate tool to get you out of your head and feel instantly better. Try out our FREE Feel Amazing Pilates Class.Get your sexy butt in nature. Walk outside, sit on the beach, lay on the grass, go barefoot, get grounded. Human touch, hugs and cuddles release oxytocin and serotonin. Go hug someone for 20 seconds and release those love hormones. Put on your favourite tune and have a

We should call this podcast episode, does Pilates make your bum smaller and other stupid stuff we should all stop Googling. Let’s get this straight, right here and now, your bum is amazing. Just as it is.Small butts, bigger bums, round booty, flat booty. All great bums!No matter what your butt actually looks like, your butt muscles help you do many things!They help you walk, sit, push, and pick stuff up. Strong gluteus medius and gluteus maximus, or what we like to refer as your booty, also help you stand with better posture. Meaning, less back pain and potential back injuries.Ahh, yes there are so many amazing reasons to work your booty, whether it be strength training in the gym with a personal trainer, or Pilates at home with our MerryBody Yoga and Pilates App.We chatted about this topic on our podcast, this is what we spoke about. Beauty ideals are forever changing! Right now, it’s all about that big round booty on a shelf, but let’s throwback to the 1990s when the beauty ideal was flat bum and

In this episode, we chat about this month’s theme inside the MerryBody Studio which is MINDSET. And really, this is the theme of each and every one of our podcast episodes in some way or another.In this episode, we’ll take you through some of our major mindset shifts and how we go about them.Stuff we talked about…Our journey from having government jobs that we hated to shifting our mindsets and creating the life that we have right now.Mindset is how we choose to see things. How we perceive our lives.Everything starts from a thought. Our actions, which come from our thoughts, create our future.It’s okay to not be okay. You don’t have to be positive about your situation if there’s really no silver lining and you’re going through hardship. First step is awareness.Self-acceptance and gratitude, for us, have been the most life-changing mindset changes.What you read, what you consume, what you listen to and what you put in front of you make an impact on your life.Surrender is the ultimate mindset too

Sometimes, we focus on the end result without realizing that the journey was actually the magic. It was actually the prize.Stuff we talked about...We live in a goal-orientated world, and anything less than 'the best' is not good enough."Follow your bliss." — Joseph Campbell. In today's age, the obsession with that end goal can be the destroyer of the journey.It's very easy to let your desires take over, stress you out and make you feel that you're not doing enough.It all comes back to acceptance and presence.Find gratitude in the harder moments of your journey.When your goals are creating unhappiness, distress and suffering, then it's time to check in with yourself and remember the important things. Listen to 302: This one mindset shift will help you work towards your goalsThe journey is full of ebbs and flows, dark and light, and your job is to navigate it to the best of your ability. We would love to hear from you. If you have any A-HA moments, questions, comments or feedback about this episode, s

We’re excited to dive into the topic of languishing. It was a topic inspired by one of our community members, Steph.Stuff we talked about…The difference between a flourishing mindset and a languishing mindset from a psychologist’s perspective. Listen to Episode 231: Create a flourishing mindset with psychologist Ellen JacksonAt the beginning of COVID lockdown when we were forced to slow down, it was kind of a good thing because we were given permission to do nothing and simply take a rest. Many of us got into this routine of inactivity and used the time to refill up our energy.Overcoming the feeling of languishing involves refinding a purpose to remotivate yourself and then move forward. If you’re feeling stuck, take any step to get you out of the situation you’re in right now. Self-awareness is the key to quickly move out of your languishing feeling. If you can recognize this feeling, you have taken your first step.Get the right kind of help and talk about your struggles with someone you can t

We received a message from someone talking about how triggering Facebook photo memories are. Can you relate? Maybe you see the picture and you see how young and ‘good’ you looked, you think ‘WOW, I looked so good, and I actually thought I was fat’ or something like that. Then you feel sad and disappointed. Then regret. And down you go into that self-criticism loophole.This is because we live in a world of Diet Culture that also (generally) celebrates youth and shuns age. Yay… urghhh not.The good thing is that we are aware of it!For us personally, because we’ve spent the last 5 years working on self-acceptance, we’re no longer triggered by these photos.In this episode, we chat about why we may feel triggered and how we can move through the feelings.Stuff we talked about…Self-acceptance is the most important thing. Accepting ourselves as we are right here right now is easier said than done.Your weight does not equal health. There’s so much more to health than losing weight.How did we overcome the compariso

Welcome to Episode 320 of the Get Merry podcast and our first official episode for 2022! It took us a little while to get back into it but here we are!Every month inside MerryBody, we have a collective theme, and it’s something that we’ve been doing since the beginning.Sometimes, because life happens, we can find ourselves going through the motions without adding anything new or learning something different. Having this theme allows us to reflect, to discover something new about ourselves and other people.So, on our 36th month (Happy Birthday, MerryBody!), our theme is COURAGE.So, what is courage and how we can cultivate more of it into our lives?Stuff we talked about…Courage is not a lack of fear and anxiety nor a super mega confidence. It’s, instead, stepping forward regardless of how you’re feeling. It’s taking a step forward, even in the face of adversity, in the face of fear and uncertainty.When we’re going through hard times, knowing that getting through it will build that resilience muscle. You know it

We are back for 2022! YAY! We recorded this late in 2021 and we're so excited for this episode because the amazing Miriam Emad, clinical psychologist, is back on the show! During the episode, she offers insight on the before and after photo trend and how it can be unhealthy for all of us.We've spoken on the podcast and across our social media about how we don't market MerryBody (our Yoga and Pilates App and membership) with before and after photos. And recently, we shared a post about it that got quite a lot of attention. So we asked for Miriam's opinions about this.Stuff we talked about...Comparison is a part of the human being. Jealousy and envy are a very primal part of how we exist in the world. Jealousy is the emotion that tells us there is something to protect which involves noticing our surroundings, sometimes comparing. Envy is the emotion that tells us to strive to attain something.In a way, it's healthy to have some form of comparison, especially if it's objective. For example, hitting a target of f