Addiction doesn’t usually crash into your life all at once. It slips in as a shortcut to confidence, comfort, and connection, then quietly starts making your choices for you. Dennis Milling knows that progression firsthand, and he’s blunt about what alcohol took from him, what denial sounded like in real time, and why trying to “drink responsibly” became a losing game he kept replaying.

Dennis walks me through the pivotal moments that finally forced clarity: the relapse after a long sober stretch, the way alcohol showed up in his marriage, and the phone call that made him realize something had permanently changed. From there, we get into what long-term sobriety actually requires, including a simple rule that protects everything else: no first drink. We also talk about codependency, fear, and the hard emotional work of rebuilding self-respect after years of numbing out.

The most hopeful part of Dennis’s recovery story is what he built in place of alcohol. He learned to fly a plane, then found a daily anchor in yoga, breathwork, and mindfulness. We dig into why yoga can be a powerful tool for addiction recovery, how linking movement to breath creates a moving meditation, and how practices like Kundalini yoga and Tai Chi can help you feel connected to your body again. Dennis also shares how gratitude, a practical definition of faith, and self-forgiveness turned recovery into something bigger than abstinence.

If you’ve been questioning your relationship with alcohol, dealing with relapse, or searching for tools beyond willpower, this conversation is for you. Subscribe to My Best Life, share this with someone who needs it, and leave a review to help more people find stories like Dennis’s. What’s one change you could make today that your future self would thank you for?

https://www.doyou.com/a-story-of-yoga-transformation-and-addiction/

https://www.facebook.com/dennis.milling

A physician walks away from the exam room because she can’t ignore what she keeps seeing: symptoms rarely tell the whole story, and healing often starts where prescriptions end. I’m joined by Dr. Neda Amani, a University of Toronto–trained medical doctor who shifts from traditional family medicine into a broader path of integrative medicine, leadership work, and spiritual connectedness. We talk candidly about what modern healthcare does well and where it struggles, especially when time pressure turns people into problems to “manage” instead of humans to understand.

Dr. Amani shares how the teachings of Avicenna, the Persian polymath behind The Canon of Medicine, help her think in whole systems: prevention, lifestyle, psychoemotional health, and the balance of body, mind, and spirit. We get specific about what that looks like on the ground, including the origin story of her Real You program, built around nutrition, exercise prescription, and root-cause change rather than chasing one symptom after another.

Then we move into high-stress worlds: police wellness, executive health, government leadership, and the hidden cost of striving. Dr. Amani explains how leaders can create more impact by doing less, lowering stress, and facing the subconscious resistance that keeps them locked in overwork. She also offers a simple three-part prayer she once wrote on a prescription pad as a daily non-medical habit for health, purpose, and service.

If you care about holistic healing, preventive care, mind-body medicine, and healthier leadership, you’ll find a lot to take into your own life. Subscribe, share this with a friend, and leave a review so more people can find the show.

Two voices show up when we get quiet: the one that tightens with fear, and the one that speaks with compassion. We open with a real moment on the yoga mat, then dive into a grounded conversation with Devinder Kaur, a Kundalini yogi and the owner of Pranashanti Yoga Centre in Ottawa, Canada, about what kundalini actually is and what it is not.

We unpack the classic “dormant energy at the base of the spine” idea, why some kundalini awakening stories sound extreme, and why most people experience energy shifts in simpler ways like warmth, calm, and clearer focus. I also share a deeply somatic experience brought on by plant medicine that felt like energy surging through my spine, and how it pushed me toward better habits, meditation, and a serious commitment to living my best life.

From there we get practical: what kundalini yoga practice looks like day to day, why mantra and sound vibration can change mood, and how Breath Of Fire works as a cleansing, energizing breathwork tool with real carryover into the nervous system and daily stress. We also address the Yogi Bhajan controversy honestly, including how Devinder teaches with discernment and how she thinks about origins, power dynamics, and integrity. Finally, we talk about the business of yoga, yogic values like ahimsa and satya, and what “success” starts to mean after years of practice.

If you want a clear, human take on kundalini yoga, mantra, meditation, and building a daily practice that holds up on hard days, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a reset, and leave a review with your biggest takeaway.

https://pranashanti.com/

In this absorbing conversation, I speak with Devdas Sahaja of Sahaja Collective, an engaging and insightful yogi with over two decades of experience. We explore Devdas's early journey into yoga, influential figures in yoga history, particularly Paramahansa Yogananda, and the evolution of yoga in the West. The discussion delves into the depth of yoga practice, the energetic aspects often overlooked, and Devdas's transformative experiences in India, including meeting his teacher. The conversation highlights the importance of understanding yoga beyond its physical practice and emphasizes the interconnectedness of all beings. Devdas and I also explore the themes of pranayama and the journey of self-discovery. We discuss the cultural dynamics of teaching yoga in India, the essence of service in teaching, and the differences between modern breathwork and traditional pranayama practices. The dialogue emphasizes the importance of sincerity in spiritual pursuits and the balance between learning and unlearning on the path to enlightenment.

https://sahajacollective.org/