You're probably breathing wrong and it's impacting your energy, focus and even your mood. It might not be something you think about often, but poor breathing habits can lead to stress, fatigue and tension. The good news? With a few simple shifts, you can unlock more vitality, calm, and clarity... just by breathing better.

Also, if you love this episode you should sign up to our free Breath and Meditation Masterclass! Hop on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025 to get the invite!

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Taking four deep breaths in and out through your nose has the power to shift you from the sympathetic nervous system into the parasympathetic nervous system.
• The most amazing tool and the most underused tool to better balanced health is our breath.
• Take a breath, meditate, do a pranayama, or do whatever breathing exercise you like.
• Pranayama is the fourth limb of the eight limbs of yoga. Listen to Episode 329: The 8 limbs of Yoga explained or read our blog post How To Do Yoga? | The 8 Limbs of Yoga Explained.
• Pranayama can be translated as life force control. It is the life force within the breath and linked to how much vitality you feel.
• "We don't eat all the time. We don't drink all the time, but we do breathe all the time. So your breath is the most important and vital means of allowing prana into and out of the body. " — Andrew Mournehis, our philosophy teacher inside the MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training
• BKS Iyengar states in his book Light on Pranayama, " Pranayama, the yogic art of breathing, leads to a control of the emotions, which in turn brings stability, concentration, and mental poise."
• Nasal breathing has so many benefits!
• Lengthening the breath is one way to get you feeling calm and less stressed.

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend or a family member who wants to learn how to breathe better. Get in touch, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

It's time for you to finally let go of perfection! But not in every aspect of your life... just some. We recommend it anyway, yes, progress beats perfection every single time! Because perfection can often lead to paralysis, procrastination and burnout.

Also! You are invited to a Free Masterclass we're hosting on the 20th of March. It's all about your breath and meditation. You will experience a live guided meditation and breathwork to release stress and make you feel amazing. They'll be practices that you can implement into your life whenever you need them. They're very easy to remember and easy to do, with a great positive impact. To get the invitation, simply hot on the waitlist for our Yoga Teacher Training 2025.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• In this age of Instagram filters, Botox, we need this message more than ever!
• Perfectionism can be paralysing. We've been there! But releasing that pressure lets you live life with a lens of acceptance and presence.
• Our Yoga Teacher Training has been a transformative journey for us. That steered us away from perfectionism.
• Embrace progress over perfection. Done is better than perfect!
• When you release perfection, you allow yourself to feel more joy because there's less pressure.
• Focus on doing your best rather than comparing to others.
• Show up, try your best... letting go of perfection does not mean you can be careless. Well you can do what you want, but carelessness is our pet peeve.

Remember you are amazing just as you are right here and right now. If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We're excited to be back in our recording chairs, or as in Emma's case, the floor! After a brief hiatus, we're hitting play on a series of new episodes. In this episode, we chat about the impact of everyday actions on life's direction. How the days make up the weeks, the weeks make up the months, the months make up the years... and the years make up the life.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Consistent small steps lead to dreams becoming reality.
• Connect to your heart. Yoga, meditation, or going out in nature helps you reconnect to yourself.
• With screen time and distractions all around, it's important to create a dedicated space and time to tune into your true desires and create actions that align with your heart.
• Big goals, dreams and ideas, without action stay ideas and dreams.
• Failure is part of the journey. It's not about never failing, but always learning and allowing the failure to lead you to the next thing.

Are you working on any passion-filled or bliss-filled pursuits? If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us at our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Do you find yourself rushing from one errand to the next? Rushing from when you wake up to when you fall in a heap on the couch? Want to stop rushing? Tune in to this Get Merry episode!

Carla describes it as being a chicken, where she gets Denny to sleep and runs around the house ticking off the to-do list. Sounds familiar?

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Constant rushing pushes your nervous system into overdrive. When you're rushing, you're putting your body and your mind into a stress response.
• Awareness and shifting up your routine can create more happiness and more ease.
• When you're rushing, do you even get things done faster?
• Yoga, Pilates and meditation are not only for your body, but they're also a workout for your mind and presence.
• Being organised also helps. Write down stuff on a list, on a whiteboard or on a notebook.
• If you can spare 5 minutes of your busy day to practice your presence through meditation and doing breathwork exercises help you become more present. Guided meditations inside our MerryBody app are perfect for you.

Do you find yourself rushing? If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In today's episode, Carla takes us through her 37-hour birth story. Although she aimed for a 'calm birth' there was nothing calm about baby Denny's arrival! Although we have an amazing happy ending we better put a trigger warning on here. As Carla says... it was wild!

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• At 38 weeks, Carla had an acupuncture session, 1 of the 2 'induction sessions'. In the end she only needed one! Contractions began soon after.
• Carla's intense lower back pain indicated posterior pregnancy. This was the worst pain she has ever felt in her entire life. There was nothing calm about this birth.
• Carla got the epidural and Talia, one of the midwives, internally turned the baby anterior so Carla could finally push him out.
• She experienced the "ring of fire" moment where the head was coming out and the epidural did not mask the stretching pain.
• When baby Denny went out and started crying, it was the most amazing sound in the world.
• Flexibility in birth plans is important and breathwork is very helpful.
• Nothing can prepare you for what it feels like and for what you experience in the first couple of post-birth months.
• Cherish each fleeting moment and be present, especially in parenthood.

If you want to share part of your story with us or if you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We are super excited to be back recording this episode after Carla had a baby (9 weeks ago). Keep an eye out for the birth story in the next episode, she wasn't quite ready to share it yet. In this episode, we have a quick chat about baby stuff (like how loud babies fart) and also about doing hard things, because things can be hard, but hard isn't always bad, right?

Also, Emma's microphone did not have the best connection... for some reason, something to do with my internet and zoom. Anyway, it's not too bad, so still press play!

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Carla had a baby! YAY!
• Exercise is not always easy, but the reward is worth it.
• Sometimes it's not the action that's hard, but it's starting action. Finding the motivation is hard.
• When you have zero motivation, the best thing to do is take action. PUSH THROUGH the resistance. 
• The book "The Tea Rose" makes us appreciate the luxury of modern living compared to the manual labour of the past.
• Running a business with a baby is really hard, preparation and having good systems in place are important (haha).
• Have a routine, but be flexible.
• We are against dieting. But, we're not against eating healthily.
• The hardest thing is to change your mindset.
• We also share the unexpected challenges of new motherhood, from feeding and burping to celebrating milestones like baby Denny's first smiles and giggles.

If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Check out all the Get Merry Podcast episodes on iTunes and Overcast and Stitcher for Androids. Plus we are on Spotify over HERE! If you loved this episode, if you love this podcast, we would appreciate you leaving us a review on whatever podcast app you're listening to.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we chat about people-pleasing and the idea that not everyone is going to like you. How do you deal with this and have the courage to be disliked?

You can learn more about our 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• People-pleasing and forever seeking people's approval, limit opportunities and can stop you from stepping towards goals and dreams.
• It's okay if some people don't love you, like you, align with you or get you. 
• When everyone approves of you and likes you. But do you approve of yourself?
• Go inwards for a moment and choose you. Get your own approval.
• Apple's iconic marketing strategy did not try to please everyone but targeted the misfits and creatives.
• Our Yoga Teacher Training's underlying mission is to teach you to teach yoga, but with self-acceptance at the forefront.
• We love how our MerryBody members and Yoga Teacher trainees are passing on lessons of self-acceptance.
• Being you is your greatest super power! 

If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part of our Yoga Teacher Series, we chat ideas and opportunities you can take to kickstart your Yoga teaching journey.

You can learn more about our 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Find a local Facebook group where yoga teachers hang out and find class cover opportunities, which can lead to permanent positions.
• If there is a studio that you love, put yourself out there. Network and build a relationship with the studio owner.
• Get your foot in the door and offer classes at a community rate or even free of charge for people to get to know your teaching style.
• Join local council initiatives and explore funding opportunities to teach yoga.
• Tap into other industries or events for wellness opportunities and offer your service.
• Build your social media presence to share your values and mission, and for potential clients to research and connect with you.
• Teach private classes and find an opportunity to collaborate and network with other professionals that are aligned with what you're doing.
• Search for yoga teaching positions offered in hotels, resorts, hospitals, other treatment facilities, or in events like festivals.
• Expanding your network is the key to finding more yoga teaching opportunities.
• Teach yoga online for schools, industries, and other work industries.
• Run your own retreats or host small groups or 1 on 1.

If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode is part of our Yoga Teacher Series, we reflect on our conversations with our trainees from the 2024 cohort of MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training and the unexpected lessons that came from it.

You can learn more about our 2025 MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here. As we mentioned in this episode, you can find our Yama and Niyama series over HERE.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Yoga Teacher Training extends much further than learning how to teach yoga and improving your physical Asana practice.
• Setting and accomplishing a goal during the training builds self-belief.
• A lot of self-reflection is invited as Yoga Teacher Training allows the opportunity to reflect on who you are and how you want to live your life.
• Because of the increase of focused practice of meditation, Pranayama and Asana during the training, enhanced self-awareness comes with it.
• Self-acceptance becomes a profound practice as you dive deeper into yoga's philosophy.
• Everything you learn on the mat or in the Yoga Teacher Training ripples out and touches every aspect of your life.
• Self-compassion and self-forgiveness are also unexpected lessons that you will take away from the MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training.
• Despite being an online program, the community bonds that we make are strong and lasting, creating meaningful connections.
• Emotional resilience and dealing with change also come from the training, as well as letting go of expectations and surrendering.
• Learn more about Yamas and Niyamas HERE.

If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We received a lovely compliment: "I love the way you do business." This episode is inspired by those kind words.

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• Staying true to your moral compass is important.
• If you're only focused on building a business and nothing else in your life, then every other important part of your life gets forgotten about.
• Business pivots.
• Following our bliss is the big overarching theme in our business journey.
• Keeping a lean team allows for deep connections and meaningful support to our community.
• In this digital age where faster is better and less personable, for us, personal connections matter. From 1-on-1 check-ins with our Yoga Teacher Trainees to sending physical tokens of appreciation, building and nurturing genuine relationships has been our cornerstone.
• Get your head around finances and accounting for profit and loss.
• Foundations and processes are important for business longevity.
• Say yes to the things that you really want to say yes to. Say no to things you really want to say no to. 
• If you have strong foundations and the right people leading the team, survival and thriving is all possible in an economic downturn.

If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Time to go behind the scenes of what it's like to be a Yoga Teacher, we talk about the things you need to do to overcome the fear of Teaching Yoga.

We go far deeper into these subjects inside our 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training. You can learn more about our MerryBody Yoga Teacher Training program over here. If this series sparks your interest we'd encourage you to follow that spark... you never know where it may lead you!

This is what we spoke about during the episode

• The nervousness and anxiety associated with teaching a Yoga class is natural. 
• You're never going to feel ready. You just have to jump in.
• Writing your sequence of what you're going to teach helps you prepare and be confident for a class or presentation.
• Using the "treasure map" approach or breaking down your poses help you overcome the anxiety of memorising your sequence. If you miss something, it's okay!
• Before walking into a class, get yourself grounded and calm, take a deep breath and switch your mindset to "teacher" mode.
• Be prepared for surprises such as when someone is running late or the music stops playing.
• Keep it simple and focus on repetition in sequences. Breath cues also help with the flow.
• The more you practise teaching, the more you progress.

If you loved this episode or have more questions about this, we would love to hear from you, send us an email to [email protected] or [email protected] or message us on our Facebook and Instagram accounts @themerrymakersisters.

Always merrymaking,

Emma + Carla

P.s if you ever need further help or guidance please contact Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Asking for help is pure courage.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.