What if the way you breathe could transform your health, your mindset, and even your teaching?

In this fascinating first half of our conversation with Anastasis Tzanis, former Special Forces officer turned functional medicine practitioner and author of Breathing for Yoga (co-written with Patrick McKeown) , we explore how a life of extremes led him to uncover the quiet power of breath.

Anastasis shares his journey from the physical discipline of the military to the mental intensity of finance, and how both left him searching for balance. His story is a reminder that the breath bridges every system of the body and mind, and that true transformation begins with awareness.

In this episode:

How stress, sleep, and allergies can all point to dysfunctional breathing

The difference between biomechanical and biochemical breathwork

Why every student’s breathing pattern is unique (and why one cue never fits all)

The science behind hypercapnia and carbon dioxide tolerance

How yoga and breath together reveal the mind–body connection

Whether you’re a teacher wanting to integrate more science into your classes or a curious practitioner looking to breathe better, this conversation offers both insight and inspiration.

About Anastasis

Anastasis is a nutritional therapist and breath-work instructor known for his results with patients having autoimmune, cardiovascular and hormonal challenges. He has helped countless individuals improve their health through private consultations, over 150 workshops, and lectures across 8 countries.

Maxing-out life out as a Greek Special Forces paratrooper, earning a Master’s degree at the rigorous Brandeis University, and trading derivatives in New York and London for 7 years, Anastasis experienced first hand how detrimental stress can be on one’s health. All this led to a health crisis that stopped him in his tracks and prompted a deep study of naturopathic medicine to heal himself.

Learn more about Anastasis here

About Alba Yoga Academy

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Can rubbing your jawline, wiggling your ears, or laughing out loud really change your health? According to lymphatic specialist Leah Levitan; yes. And she’s here to show you how simple, playful practices can transform how your body feels and heals.

In part two, Leah gets practical. She walks Celest through her Five Face Framework; a simple daily routine that boosts lymph drainage and supports the brain’s “glymphatic” system.

You’ll learn how to combine it with the popular Dr Perry Nickelston Big Six sequence, why dry brushing and tapping are more than just wellness trends, and how to spot the difference between helpful detox and hype.

The conversation also tackles the psychology of swelling, myths around detoxification, and why tools aren’t always necessary when your hands are your most powerful instrument. Leah explains how to listen when your body “talks back,” why laughter is lymph medicine, and how redefining self-care as weird but powerful body-based rituals can change everything.

In this episode:

The Five Face Framework for clearing brain fog and supporting glymphatics

Why hydration and minerals are essential for fluid balance

The truth about detox: what the lymph can do, and what it can’t

The role of Qigong, yoga, and gentle movement in cultivating flow

How to reframe swelling, symptoms, and body image with compassion

Whether you’re a yoga teacher, a curious mover, or someone looking to feel lighter and more energised, this episode offers tangible practices and a refreshing perspective on self-care and healing.

About Leah

With her extensive training in Myofascial Release Techniques, scar tissue work, trauma informed somatic therapy, organ manipulation, and The Vodder Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Leah has woven together a unique body of work that's designed to support individuals with chronic illnesses. Our body is an ecosystem, and she uses a global approach.

Leah created ⁠Lymph Love Club⁠ as a way to walk people home to their lymphatic systems world wide, and she is s certified lymphedema therapist, Lymph Literacy Advocate, and expert guide into the depths of the lymphatic system's terrain.

⁠Follow Leah on Instagram here.⁠

About Alba Yoga Academy

⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What if the secret to healing, energy, and resilience has been sitting quietly beneath the surface of your skin all along? Most of us have barely heard about the lymphatic system yet it could hold the key to everything from chronic swelling to brain fog to emotional wellbeing.

In this powerful conversation, Celest sits down with Leah Levitan, licensed massage therapist, lymphatic drainage specialist, and founder of the global community The Lymph Love Club. Together they explore why the lymphatic system is so often ignored in medical training and why it deserves centre stage in how we think about health.

Leah shares her journey from traditional massage into the world of fascia, fluid, and flow, and why treating the body as an interconnected ecosystem brings more ease and results than chasing symptoms. You’ll hear about emerging research on fascia and lipedema, how swelling shows up in the body (from post-surgical lymphoedema to everyday puffiness), and why yoga teachers might be supporting lymph far more than they realise.

In this episode:

We learn:

Why the lymphatic system is overlooked yet essential for healing

The difference between oedema, lymphoedema, and “invisible swelling”

How fascia, nervous system, and lymph work together as the body’s three amigos

Simple ways yoga, breath, and movement stimulate lymph flow

Debunking the myth that twists don’t “detox”and why movement matters

If you’ve ever felt heavy, swollen, or stuck in your body, or if you teach students who do this episode will completely shift how you see fluid, fascia, and flow.

About Leah

With her extensive training in Myofascial Release Techniques, scar tissue work, trauma informed somatic therapy, organ manipulation, and The Vodder Method of Manual Lymphatic Drainage, Leah has woven together a unique body of work that's designed to support individuals with chronic illnesses. Our body is an ecosystem, and she uses a global approach.

Leah created Lymph Love Club as a way to walk people home to their lymphatic systems world wide, and she is s certified lymphedema therapist, Lymph Literacy Advocate, and expert guide into the depths of the lymphatic system's terrain.

Follow Leah on Instagram here.

About Alba Yoga Academy

⁠⁠⁠Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy⁠⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What happens when we get breathwork wrong — and how can we use it wisely for health and balance?

In Part 2, Patrick and Hannah dig deeper into the nuances of breath practice, from hyperventilation methods to breath holds, and the role of carbon dioxide in nervous system regulation. Patrick explains where breathwork can heal, where it can harm, and how yoga teachers can cue breathing safely and effectively.

This half of the conversation is packed with practical takeaways, cautions, and inspiration to bring into both your teaching and everyday life.

We explore:

Why some popular hyperventilation practices may carry real risks

Breath holds: stress vs relaxation, and how to use them wisely

The role of CO₂ in blood flow, oxygen delivery, and calm

Breathing differences in women across the monthly cycle

Why breathing is the most powerful free tool for stress, sleep, and focus

About Patrick

To date, Patrick has worked with some of the top athletes in the world across a variety of sports including tennis, cycling, weight lifting, American Football, MMA and track and field. Patrick’s professional memberships include Fellow of The Royal Society of Biology, and Chairman of Buteyko Professionals International (BPI).

A TEDx speaker, Patrick’s work has touched the lives of thousands and more worldwide. His work has been published by leading publishing houses including Harper Collins (UK), William Morrow Press (USA), Red Wheel Weiser (USA), Sperling & Kupfer (Italy), Kanki Publishing Inc. (Japan). Journal publications include the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, The Journal of the American Orthodontic Society and Clinical Otolaryngology.

Patrick’s book, ⁠⁠The Oxygen Advantage⁠⁠ is an extension of this work, combining simulation of high-altitude training and specifically-formulated exercises which empower athletes to improve their sports performance safely, legally and at no cost. For the first time, athletes are afforded a reliable and accurate means to measure their progress using the Body Oxygen Level Test, enabling them to address poor breathing habits; understand in simple terms how oxygen is released to working muscles; and to practice breath hold exercises that naturally increase aerobic and anaerobic capacity.

The team at Oxygen Advantage have granted listeners to this podcast an incredible 20% off their ⁠Breathing For Yoga Instructor training Course⁠ - use code ALBA20 at checkout!

About Alba Yoga Academy

⁠⁠Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What really happens when we experience touch? How does your nervous system take something as simple as pressure on your skin and turn it into safety, movement, or even emotion?

In this solo episode, Celest takes you on a fascinating journey through the science of touch. From the receptors in your skin to the speed of nerve fibres, the mapping of the spinal cord, and the emotional processing of the insula, she unpacks how your body translates sensation into meaning.

You’ll discover:

Why sensation is essential for safety and movement

The role of different receptors in the skin (pressure, vibration, stretch and more)

How your peripheral nerves send signals at lightning or slower speeds, each with a unique purpose

Why the parasympathetic system should really be called "repair and digest"

How touch links not just to the body, but also to emotion and social connection

This episode blends anatomy, neuroscience and practical insight to remind us just how magical and adaptable our nervous system really is.

About Alba Yoga Academy

⁠⁠Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy⁠⁠

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What if healing doesn’t have to be hard?

In Part 2 of this episode of Love at First Science, Hannah and Sarah Beth dive into the next chapter of her healing: navigating complex PTSD, discovering the power of ketamine therapy, and learning to live from self-compassion—not hustle.

We explore:

The science and personal impact of ketamine therapy for trauma

How yoga, breathwork and a “bare ass minimum” mindset help regulate her nervous system

Her unique approach to sequencing trauma healing through the arc of a yoga class

The deeper meaning behind her book Trauma Alchemy

• 
  

  You’ll leave this episode with practical insights and permission to do less, feel more and trust your body again.

• 
  

  About Sarah Beth

  Sarah Beth is a global yoga teacher reaching over 1.75 million practitioners through YouTube and the SarahBethYoga APP, where she helps people live their best lives through mindful movement and self-discovery. Known for her functional approach to mobility and sustainable sequencing, Sarah Beth brings authenticity to every practice – whether she's sharing her healing journey with CPTSD and childhood trauma (as explored in her book "Trauma Alchemy") or navigating life with ulcerative colitis. Students are drawn to her genuine nature, practical teaching style, and heartfelt messages of self-compassion and non-judgment, making yoga accessible and transformative for yogis of all levels.

  
  

  ⁠Sarah Beth's YouTube⁠⁠Sarah Beth's app ⁠⁠Sarah Beth's book⁠

  
  

  About Alba Yoga Academy

  ⁠Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy⁠

  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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What happens when your childhood shapes your identity and your healing shapes your purpose?

In this deeply moving episode, global yoga teacher Sarah Beth shares how a lifelong journey with ulcerative colitis, emotional neglect, and generational trauma led her to yoga, and how that practice helped her reclaim safety, softness, and self-trust.

You’ll hear:

• How Sarah Beth discovered yoga as a teen and how her practice evolved through motherhood and trauma

• The raw truth about growing up with chronic illness and taking herself to court at age 12

• Why her journey with masculine and feminine energy is reshaping her entire life and business

• This episode is a powerful reminder that healing isn’t a straight line, and yoga isn’t just movement, it’s remembering who you are beneath the survival patterns.

  
  

  About Sarah Beth

  Sarah Beth is a global yoga teacher reaching over 1.75 million practitioners through YouTube and the SarahBethYoga APP, where she helps people live their best lives through mindful movement and self-discovery. Known for her functional approach to mobility and sustainable sequencing, Sarah Beth brings authenticity to every practice – whether she's sharing her healing journey with CPTSD and childhood trauma (as explored in her book "Trauma Alchemy") or navigating life with ulcerative colitis. Students are drawn to her genuine nature, practical teaching style, and heartfelt messages of self-compassion and non-judgment, making yoga accessible and transformative for yogis of all levels.

  
  

  Sarah Beth's YouTube
  Sarah Beth's app
  Sarah Beth's book

  
  

  About Alba Yoga Academy

  Learn more with Alba Yoga Academy

  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Learn more about our Yoga Teacher Training here.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

  ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Watch our extensive library of YouTube videos.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

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