Nearly Enlightened

We want to hear from you! Send us a text message. The calendar may have flipped, but our bodies and our nervous systems often need more time to catch up. In this episode, Giana is joined by Dee Doyno for a real, grounded conversation about this in-between moment: a liminal season meant for rest, reflection, and quiet seed-planting before any big goals take root. From that steady place, we dive into the deeper layers of what’s been surfacing in the yoga world—particularly conversations around fair wages, studio cleanliness, and the true cost of holding space. We explore why so many January resolutions fall apart, and how the lunar new year and spring equinox offer a more natural, body-aligned reset than the pressure to “start over” on January 1st. Together, we lift the veil on yoga studio economics: national brands profiting off the backs of their yoga teachers, beautiful spaces that still underpay instructors, and the often invisible labor teachers carry: planning, travel, emotional regulation, continuing education, and energetic care just to name a few. Fair pay and clean studios aren’t luxuries; they’re the foundation for sustainability, integrity, and real community. We also highlight models that are working—studios offering solid base pay with transparent incentives—proving that people-centered business can thrive. Boundaries take center stage as Giana shares a recent classroom experience that sparked sacred rage—not as something to suppress, but as wise information when integrity is crossed. We talk about the myth that yoga teachers must be endlessly calm, the toll of overgiving, navigating “energy vampires,” and why consent, non-touch classes, and post-class regulation matter more than ever. To ground the conversation, we share practical tools to support your practice and nervous system: ✨ A free Get Meditating Guide for anyone who feels overwhelmed, intimidated, or unsure where to begin with meditation 👉 https://nearlyenlightened.com/ne-home#section-J3tusgFFGq 🌿 The Meditate to Elevate Guided Meditation Portal—on-demand practices for real life, messy days included 👉 https://nearlyenlightened.com/meditate2elevate 🔥 A 30-Day Deepen Your Practice Challenge, rooted in the eight limbs of yoga (not just poses), designed to help you build consistency, self-trust, and embodied awareness 👉 https://link.fgfunnels.com/widget/form/QSI9v3Dr8UpbrSxc2I4GIf you’re ready to shed old skin, stop overgiving to overtakers, and rebuild your relationship with practice in a way that actually supports your life, this episode offers a grounded path forward. Join us in the conversation—what boundary are you drawing this season?  If this episode resonates, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs a kinder, more honest start to their year. Your support helps Nearly Enlightened continue to grow as a space for r Nearly Enlightened Podcast Your high-vibe toolbox to connect with your body, mind, and spirit. Empowering you to uncover your Inner Wisdom. Subscribe & Listen on your favorite platform. Explore More: Meditate to Elevate | Blog | Free Guide Let's grow together: @nearlyenlightened | Nearly Enlightened