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What if the anxiety, overwhelm, and patterns people struggle to break aren’t random, but the result of a nervous system that has been conditioned over time?

In this powerful episode of Manders Mindset, Amanda Russo sits down with Rachel Lundberg, owner of Thrive Yoga and Wellness and co-founder of Yoga Oak. With over two decades of experience in yoga and nervous system work, Rachel shares her deeply personal journey through anxiety, identity shifts, and ultimately discovering the science of brain retraining and alignment.

Together, Amanda and Rachel explore how the nervous system, subconscious patterns, and repeated thoughts shape everyday experiences, and why lasting transformation requires more than surface level change. From leaving a lifelong religion to healing chronic anxiety, this conversation sheds light on what it truly means to live in alignment and how small, intentional shifts can begin to change everything.

💡 In this episode, listeners will discover:

🧠 How nervous system dysregulation can contribute to anxiety, panic, and chronic overwhelm
🔁 The role of neuroplasticity in rewiring thoughts, behaviors, and emotional responses
⚡ Why repeated thoughts and focus can reinforce patterns that no longer serve
🧩 The FAR method and how focus, associations, and repetition shape reality
🧘‍♀️ What alignment-based yoga is and why it goes beyond physical movement
🌱 How internal alignment can influence relationships, choices, and everyday life
🫁 The ABC method for creating pause and making more conscious decisions

⏰ Timeline Summary:

[03:10] Rachel shares the qualities that define her at the core: wisdom, compassion, and freedom
[07:20] The decision to leave Mormonism and navigate the impact it had on family relationships
[12:45] Anxiety, panic attacks, and the moment the nervous system reached its limit
[18:30] The search for healing through counseling, medication, and alternative approaches
[24:10] Discovering brain retraining and understanding the science of neuroplasticity
[29:40] Breaking down the FAR method: focus, associations, and repetition
[35:20] What alignment-based yoga really means and how it supports all bodies
[40:10] The ABC method for creating space, breathing, and making aligned choices

To Connect with Amanda:

Schedule a 1:1 Virtual Breathwork Session HERE

📸 Instagram: @thebreathinggoddess

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