Ciara's Podcast

This is the introductory episode to A Truly Holistic Approach to living with a kidney tranplant. This 6 part series is niche in that it speaks to an audience that has the experience of kidney transplantation.In this opener, Ciara shares her personal and professional experience as both patient and health practitioner. With her kidneys failing at a very young age of 14, with a diagnosis at 4 years old. Be kind to yourself in listening. Notice anything that feels difficult, is the body's way of communicating an inner need.The arc of the series is touched upon, given the body needs to rebalance and recalibrate with a kidney transplant, given too the kidneys do so much in our bodies, from regulating haemoglobin, to healthy bone mineralisation and understanding certain medications can impact skin health.Feel free to reach out via the Wholly Aligned website: https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs an

In this second episode of the 6 part series, we explore the skin - this semi-permeable interface between inner and outer worlds. Skin is nourished from the inside. Often dysbiosis (imbalance in the gut microbiota) can present on the skin. There is also usually an emotional root to skin issues, given the skin forms with the nervous system in embryology. In kidney transplantation, there may be various medications such as steroids (prednisolone mostly) and the calcineurin inhibitors (tacrolimus and cyclosporin) that require someone living with a kidney transplant to take care of skin health. This includes what we put on topically as well as the nutrients we put inside. We dive into this and more in episode 2. Any questions, feel free to contact me via the Wholly Aligned website:https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

We continue in our series, to bones. What weight bearing movements do we invite to keep the bones healthy. Do we understand that certain dietary intake of sugary sodas strip bones of calcium as the body excretes more calcium via the urine in an effort to deal with the sugars, weakening the bones.  This series seeks to ask you to tap into your own inner healer. So it's not intended as a list of instructions. It's a lighthouse or fireside to gather around and remember what tends your unique bodymind system towards greater feelings of harmony and feeling centred. Our bones are the inner foundation and living tissues. Much of our immune health and general robustness and vitality comes from the bones - given our blood cells are made in the bone marrow. Everything is interdependent and inter-related. In kidney transplantation we look to protecting and preserving bone health. Learn more in this episode. Who are we at our very bony marrow...Feel free to reach our with questions/thoughts via the Wholly Align

From skin and bones, we travel into the active tissues - the muscles. Muscles are all about motility. Movement. To build muscle tone, we need to create some stress to these tissues. Stronger muscles wraps more tightly to the bones, in turn making the bones stronger - what a gesture of symbiosis. Just as we climb trees, the tree becomes stronger. Kidney function is closely tied to electrolyte balance. The key minerals such as magnesium, support healthy muscle and nerves. Muscle is also surrounded and perfused by fascia - the connective tissues. They move together. When we become too stagnated or inert, the muscles and fascia can atrophy. This then can impact mood. Everything is connected. An epsom salts bath to restore magnesium, or a swim in the sea, or a good stew, can all be ways to keep healthy levels of magnesium. We talk also more symbolically and metaphorically to conjure up our own inspiration to move in ways that feel good. Introducing various somato-sensory terms such as interoception and propriocept

The Heart - the Hrid (sanskrit), the Kokoro (Japanese). What's the word for Heart in your native tongue?Yes we need to tend to our cardiovascular health when living with a kidney transplant. To keep circulatory capacity flowing. To nourish the rich vascular capillary beds by good breathing. We also need to tend to the spirit, the inner world of our heart's longing. This deeper feeling of living more truly from the spiritual heart. In this episode we talk a little of coherence and coherent breathing as a simple yet profound way to nourish the heart - what are we breathing life into?With shared story and tales woven in, to keep your heart open and engaged.Any questions or anything you wish to share from your experience with this series, feel free to do so via the Wholly Aligned website:https://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

The culminating episode, the integrating finale to this series. We touch upon healing as an integrated approach. That our wholeness does not require perfection. We take it day by day and trust the process as much as we are able. Healing happens in a spiral. There is no single story around healing after a kidney transplant. Medical rupture can carry great intensity, sorrow, confrontation and upset - in our own lives, and in the lives of others. The holistic path asks us to feel what needs to be felt, express it in ways that promote and encourage healing, that is nuanced and unique and contextual to your own circumstances. You're stronger than you know. Step across a new threshold and let me know what you find.With love and appreciation.CiaraxDo reach out as you wish via the Wholly Aligned website. Remember too, you can avail of the free intro course to coherent breathing there. The simple things are the incredible thingshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Say Hi and what you found interesting!Find your Voice In

Send us a textIn this episode, Ciara shares her interest in the Sabian Symbols. Coming through via astrologist Marc Edmund Jones and psychic medium, Elsie Wheeler, in 1925, in San Diego in a parked car, all in one day. The two of them collaborated to bring through from Ancient Mesopotamia, these symbols, each corresponding to the degrees on the zodiacal wheel. 360 in total, with 30 degrees being assigned to each of the 12 signs. These bring insight and inspiration and depth into understanding ourselves and how the deeper realms can open us up to new and curious pearls. Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

Send us a textEmbodied movement over the years has infused into the world of yoga. In this episode, Ciara introduces terms such as interoception and proprioception, with useful anecdotes and invitations for the listener to reflect on the stories held in their bodies and how we can continue to remember our agency, sovereignty and autonomy. Bit by bit, remembering too, to be gentle in the process.Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

An introduction or indeed, a river of meandering into the slow lane of yin. Weaving in stories and contemplation on how yin, as a balancing energy, can help you in the currents and mysteries of your life. discover more about yin as a spirt and energy, an equipoise to the excess of yang we tend towards in modern life.With some reference to yoga and yin yoga, mainly though, an invitation to sip at the slower cup of replenishment and let this almost be a meditative journey.Ideas for listening:Listen when in the bathListen when on a walk in the fresh air and able to amble slowly, without rushListen when laying down after a long day at work, to switch into a softer and calmer mode.With love,CiaraCiara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com/Find your Voice Intro and outro; Written and performed by Ciara Roberts - songs and strings

How to support your bone health:The new series for 2024 zooms in on a particular part of the body. Bones are many parts of the body! And a wonderful living tissue to appreciate how to take care of, in your unique context.  In this episode, Ciara shares some ideas to encourage better bone health, from nutrition, to the importance of movement and an overview of key bone cells and their function.For more ideas, event and musings around yoga, nutrition and sacred living, hop into the Wholly Aligned Newsletter here: https://bit.ly/energiseyourself and receive 5 tips to energise yourself. Love,CiaraCiara Jean RobertsWriter, Yoga Teacher, Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Creative SparkWholistic Health LighthouseWhollyAligned - Ciara Jean RobertsTwitter:@WhollyAlignedTedxSpeaker: https://www.ted.com/talks/ciara_jean_roberts_unlocking_you_inner_physician

A lovely soothing shorter journey into your own wise heart. Great for when you need a gentle reset in times of emotional turmoil. Also a useful soother to listen to before falling asleep.Ciara Jean RobertsYoga Teacher. Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Author, Creative Sparkhttps://www.whollyaligned.comTwitter @WhollyAlignedCheck out my Tedx Talk: Unlocking your Inner Physician: https://youtu.be/y0lmkEkNIuk

Ciara Roberts brings you a series of guided meditations.  You can listen seated, laying down, on a train, in a plane, under a tree...make it work for you.Beginning with Arriving and Centring.The energies of Arrive. The energies of Centre.Arriving and centring into the contours of our physical form. Centring into the essence of the deepest inner truths we hold.Arriving and Centring is a practise Ciara experienced with long time yin yoga teacher, Sarah Lo. A useful way to expand our feelings of body. How we experience sitting, in physical form, within an entire cosmology - which can seem so very peculiar or abstract when we have not had direct experience of this sense of connection. This enduring vastness.It resides within each one of us. Without exception.We arrive into the landscape of body.We centre into the inner beingness - perhaps we could call this grounding in our Buddha self. Or tapping into the well of sustenance within. Our inner power. It whispers and willows much further than the constraints of bod

In this episode, Ciara shares 3 key learning outcomes for coherent breathing, expanding more on the intricacies of the nervous system and reflective invitations to allow you to explore your current inner state:1. Breathing through the nose2. Breathing into the belly3. An even rate and rhythmIt's all about balance. With a guided 15 minutes at the end to help regulate, sense and feel.For the 20 minutes guided coherent breath episode, listen here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/246643/3199480

In the ongoing season of the Recalibrate/Recalibrating your nervous system,  season of the Wholly Aligned podcast, Ciara welcomes Dr Ela Manga.Ela is an integrated medical doctor, practising in South Africa. Trained originally as a GP in conventional medicine, a few years into her GP work, she swiftly discovered that patients kept coming back with the same issues.  Her work then broadened out into energy management and conscious living.  Very much including the power of breath. She is also the founder of Breathwork Africa.  A key passion for her, is training practitioners to shine this work more out into the world.She shares the Zulu word (also present in many other African languages across the southern part) Of Ubuntu. Hear her speak more of this as a way if life, a sacred way of being in the podcast.To discover more about wonderful Ela and er work in the world, her website is: https://www.drelamanga.com including links and detail of her upcoming virtual breath work sessions. Her book, which this episode tit

In the second episode of 'Recalibrating the nervous system' series, Ciara expands a bit more on the Autonomic Nervous Systems and its 3 key branches of sympathetic nervous system, para-sympathetic nervous system and the enteric nervous system. Making it relatable to your daily life. So not laden with jargon - infused with real life story and reminders to be kind and compassionate in your explorations! It's deep work...Touching upon the activating and pacifying components of the breath and how that ties in with the nervous system. Linking it in with the 3 key functions of the brain: learning, regulation and selection.Such a vast and fascinating arena to explore. Most importantly you are the adventurer of your own inner journeys.  Ciara Jean RobertsYoga Teacher. Writer,  Naturopathic Nutritional Therapist, Creative.https://www.whollyaligned.comTwitter @WhollyAlignedTedx Talk: Unlocking your Inner Physician: https://youtu.be/y0lmkEkNIukSign up to my practical and inspiring mailing list here and re

In episode 4 of Integrating a holistic approach to kidneys, Ciara speaks with Mike Stephens. Kidney transplant and vascular access surgeon. Part of the leadership team in Cardiff,  Wales. I first spoke with Mike, about 3 years ago, when a burgeoning interest in the wellbeing of medics working in a dysfunctional system became a passion I wanted to understand more about. Mike was open in the challenges he felt. Which was very refreshing for me to hear. Now here we are in October 2021, Mike speaks with experience and humility. A calm perfuses through his sharings throughout.A wonderful treasure of a conversation covering vulnerability, to pressured schedules, to being part of a team. So many gems in this. A valuable dialogue especially for those working in surgery or indeed considering it.Enjoy.Ciara Jean Robertshttps://www.whollyaligned.com 

Episode 3 in the series 'Integrating a holistic approach to kidneys'.Ciara talks to one of her closest friends Vivien, who has a working transplant for over 25 years now. Ciara and Vivien met in the St Helier dialysis unit when they were both young students at different universities. And over 25 years later, they remain firm friends. Through the rollercoasters of their own unique journey with their kidney transplants, their friendship has been a solid through line  of soulful solace,  honest conversation, adventures, true kinship to rely on through highs and lows. What a gift to have these gems in our lives.A truly beautiful conversation where the pulse of deep friendship shines through.What does it ignite in you? Ciara Jean RobertsFounder of Wholly Aligned. Author, speaker, holistic kidney expert, yoga teacher and naturopathic nutritionisthttps://www.whollyaligned.com

Episode 2 of Integrating a Holistic Approach to Kidneys features another brilliant human.Dr Sharlene Greenwood is a Consultant Physiotherapist at King’s College Hospital, an Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer at King’s College London, and a NIHR post-doctoral research fellow. She co-chairs the UK Kidney Research Consortium, and Kidney Quality Improvement Partnership (KQuIP), and is the President of the UK Kidney Association. Sharlene is an advanced clinical practitioner with 15 years of experience as a specialist renal physiotherapist. She leads one of the only commissioned renal exercise services in the UK, which includes renal rehabilitation, weight management, and specialist kidney transplant exercise clinics. Sharlene has a keen interest in holistic management and has recently developed Kidney Beam www.beamfeelgood.com  in partnership with Kidney Research UK and a medtech company Beam.  Ciara chats to Sharlene about her passion for Kidney Beam,  what it means to play to her strengths and the vision she has

In the bright start of a brand new series,' Integrating a holistic approach to kidneys', Ciara chats to her good friend Anoushica.Including the very turbulent rollercoaster with her kidney transplant following a serious fungal infection that left her in hospital for over 3 months this year. Including days in intensive care.We cover the ache of her brother wanting to give her a kidney, her feelings of responsibility as the older sibling to him. Her eventual recognition that he was a grown man, wanting her to be alive and well. So that was the gift back to him. Reciprocity. We talk of the healing power of receptivity. As women especially, our willingness to receive. And how our healing journey happens in a. spiral. There is a divine timing - the courage too to cultivate self awareness. Always ongoing and evolving.And end with visioning a dream for the future. Get uplifted and join us in this intimate chat.A beautiful and honest conversation. Enjoy!The Harmony Hour video from November 2017:  https://yo

In our fourth episode, Marley and Ciara talk about memories of Zambia. The change in dynamic, as now the memories include her daughters. The previous 3 episodes, were before children, or when both daughters were still very young.Zambia is a beautiful country in southern Africa. Hear more in this episode of a family moving abroad. Very fortunate to live an expatriate life, with a big house, yet also with the deeper experiences of growing together as a family. The sending away of both daughters to boarding school. The loss of their own elders, as they began to pass beyond the veil.Come join us in these containing sacred conversations.To find out more about Ciara:https://www.whollyaligned.com