Inner Paths

Kristina Mah, PhD
Inner Paths

Dr. Kristina Mah, former karate world champion and martial artist, creative artist, transdisciplinary researcher, and writer, is joined by Dr. Evgenii Timofeev, spiritual practitioner, teacher of internal arts, and interdisciplinary movement artist, and leading experts to explore the interdisciplinary paths of self-cultivation from Eastern wisdom to modern understanding. Conversations on expanding your practice, personal growth, self-leadership, and self-discovery through change and challenges. Build a reliable connection to inner strength and power and emancipate ourselves from our imaginary selves to reveal and work with the beauty of the Real. Drawing from Eastern philosophy, martial arts, movement, psychology, and lived experience, we help you discover practical wisdom for your own journey.

Episodes

  1. The Lost Art of Rest: From Proving to Being

    11 FEB

    The Lost Art of Rest: From Proving to Being

    In this episode, Kristina and Evgenii explore the profound nature of rest and its essential role in spiritual practice. From understanding the historical impact of artificial light on our sleep patterns to examining how societal productivity demands colonise our downtime, they unpack why true rest has become increasingly elusive in modern life. Through personal narratives, including Kristina's journey in competitive karate, they reveal how external validation and the compulsion to prove ourselves can trap us in cycles of perpetual activity. The conversation delves into Buddhist concepts like Mara to illuminate how deceptive mental patterns keep us from finding genuine repose, while exploring the subtle ways both overvaluation and undervaluation of self prevent us from accessing authentic rest. Learn how fear underlies our resistance to rest and discover practical approaches to developing true agency in our relationship with relaxation. The discussion culminates in a powerful understanding of rest as complete cessation - a state of full absorption in embodied presence. This episode is one of two on rest and it's vital role in cultivation. Stay tuned for next week's episode where we will take a deeper dive into the energetics of rest. Key insights include: - The framework of rest as spiritual practice and why it matters - How the colonisation of rest impacts our wellbeing - Understanding and working with the "voice of the Other" - The role of fear in inhibiting authentic rest - Practical approaches to cultivating agency around rest - Rest as complete absorption in embodied presence We referred to this article in our podcast by Evgenii: "Energetics of Rest": https://www.jagariya.com/energetics-of-rest #rest #mindfulness #spiritualpractice #wellbeing #embodiment #meditation #consciousness #mentalhealth #selfawareness #spirituality #buddhism #personaldevelopment #presence #awareness #innerpeace #mindfulrest #restorativepractices #spiritualjourney #embodiedawareness #mindfulmovement #spiritualwisdom #authenticrest

    42 min
  2. Qi: Uncovering, Cultivating, and Harmonising with Life’s Energy

    2 FEB

    Qi: Uncovering, Cultivating, and Harmonising with Life’s Energy

    In this episode, Dr Kristina and Dr Evgenii explore the essence of Qi—not as something we acquire, but as something we uncover and harmonise with. Evgenii lays the foundation by introducing Wuji as the root of authentic Qigong practice, explaining how yin and yang arise from stillness. We discuss the stages of cultivation—finding, building, consolidating, and mobilising Qi. We revisit the emphasis on cultivating external practice to open the body before engaging in energetic arts. Delving beyond common misconceptions, we discover how Qi isn't simply absorbed from our environment, but rather cultivated through dedicated practice and harmonious alignment. The conversation takes us through the fascinating progression from Wuji (the foundation of stillness) to the advanced practices of inner alchemy, with Kristina sharing her personal insights on the distinctions between traditional meditation and Qi cultivation. Evgenii shares insights into the Dantien, its presence in early childhood, and the process of returning to a state of simplicity and contentment. The conversation deepens as we touch on inner alchemy, the importance of opening energetic channels, and the pressurisation of Qi to facilitate flow. We also examine how Qi serves as the missing piece in many contemplative traditions and how Qigong offers a path toward ease, self-sufficiency, and deep inner joy. Join us as we unravel the layers of Qi and its transformative power in daily life. #QiGong #InnerAlchemy #Wuji #YinYang #QiCultivation #EnergeticArts #Dantien #Embodiment #Meditation #SelfMastery #Stillness #FlowState #MartialArtsWisdom #HolisticHealing #MindBodyConnection #ConsciousLiving #AncientWisdom #SelfSufficiency #DeepInnerJoy #PersonalTransformation

    52 min
  3. The Warrior's Path: Where Discipline Meets Divinity

    26 JAN

    The Warrior's Path: Where Discipline Meets Divinity

    In this episode, Kristina and Evgenii unravel what it truly means to be a martial artist beyond the stereotypes and assumptions. From managing inner rage to accessing divine states through practice, they explore how martial arts training develops unshakeable composure, panoramic awareness, and the capacity to touch something greater than ourselves. Learn how simple acts like folding uniforms and standing in stillness become gateways to profound transformation, and discover why competition serves as a laboratory for bringing training principles to life. Our conversation reveals martial arts as a powerful vehicle for spiritual cultivation, where physical discipline opens doorways to expanded consciousness and the mysterious force of Qi energy becomes tangible reality. Key insights include: - How martial arts training develops emotional stability and inner strength - The relationship between physical discipline and spiritual cultivation - Why mindful attention to detail shapes character and consciousness - Practical approaches to working with Qi energy in training #martialarts #spirituality #warriorspath #qienergy #spiritualwarrior #mindfulness #innerwisdom #martialwisdom #combatsports #meditation #personaldevelopment #warrior #discipline #selfmastery #enlightenment #consciousness #martialtradition #embodiedpractice #innerpower #mindfulmovement #spiritualpractice #dojo #martialdiscipline

    49 min
  4. Roads of Power and Building Internal Gateways: Where Energy Flows, Power Goes

    12 JAN

    Roads of Power and Building Internal Gateways: Where Energy Flows, Power Goes

    In this illuminating conversation, Kristina and Evgenii explore a key concept of internal martial arts, where masters discovered that true power flows not from muscular force but through subtle internal pathways. They unpack the ancient practice of "sinew changing"—a systematic approach to transformation that refines the body and mind on ever-more subtle levels from skin to marrow—and reveal why standing still might be more powerful than movement. Learn why traditional practitioners spent hours in standing postures to build their "roads of power" and discover how releasing tension, rather than building it, could be the key to deeper development. Our discussion challenges common assumptions about training, exploring how these physical practices naturally lead to mental clarity and emotional balance. Key insights include: - How physical tension patterns connect to mental habits - Why thoughts and imagination are considered "external" in spiritual practice - The role of energy (Qi) as a bridge between internal and external experience - Practical approaches to releasing both physical and mental "gripping" This episode is essential listening for martial artists, meditators, and anyone interested in understanding how ancient wisdom about internal cultivation could transform their approach to practice and daily life. #InternalArts #MartialWisdom #RoadsOfPower #QiCultivation #EnergyTraining #MindBodyPractice #StandingMeditation #PowerOfRelease #MartialsArts #InnerDevelopment #SinewChanging #TaoistPractice #MartialCultivation #InnerPower #EmbodiedPractice #ChineseMartialArts #GongFu #MindBodySpirit #InternalForce #TraditionalTraining

    1h 4m
  5. The Surrender Paradox: Flow, Trance, and Moving Beyond Mind

    5 JAN

    The Surrender Paradox: Flow, Trance, and Moving Beyond Mind

    When do breakthroughs happen in movement? Often when we stop trying to force them. Kristina and Evgenii dive into the paradox of flow: how letting go of conscious planning often leads to more masterful navigation of complex situations. They unpack some deeper dimensions of flow through the lens of Parkour and karate. Starting with Parkour's origins as "l'art du déplacement", they explore how this practice of transforming urban obstacles into opportunities mirrors the broader alchemy of flow states in movement. The conversation weaves through personal stories of competitions, training, and breakthroughs, illuminating how practitioners learn to step back from analytical thinking and trust in bodily intelligence. Through vivid examples from both parkour karate and trance, they demonstrate how this surrender of the conscious, thikning, analytical mind allows practitioners to respond to challenges, obstacles or seemingly fixed patterns with grace and precision or an unbinding that gives way to allowing the body and mind to become aware of "something else", another way of being within ourselves that we may not have been acquainted with before. Discover the surprising connections between urban movement arts, martial disciplines, and traditional trance practices. This episode offers rich insights about what happens when we learn to get out of our own way. Topics include: - The origins of parkour as l'art du déplacement - Triggering flow states through movement - The relationship between flow, trance, and consciousness - Using practice to unravel fixed patterns - The role of intention versus control - Practical insights for accessing deeper states of awareness #FlowState #Parkour #MartialArts #MovementCulture #TrancePractice #MovementAlchemy #ConsciousMovement #UrbanMovement #EmbodiedLearning #BodyIntelligence #MovementCulture #ParkourLife #MovementAlchemy #Karate #MovementCulture #FlowArts #MovementMedicine #MindBodySpirit #MovementPractice #ConsciousMovement #TraceursLife #KarateLife #FlowStateTraining #MovementIntelligence #TrainingFlow

    1h 3m
  6. Meaningful Integration: How to Connect Fields Without Compromising Depth

    29/12/2024

    Meaningful Integration: How to Connect Fields Without Compromising Depth

    Evgenii and Kristina share their ongoing exploration of interdisciplinary practice. In this conversation, they discuss their early steps, challenges, and the continuing process of weaving connections between fields while maintaining depth and care in their work. They explore: Personal experiences and learning moments Ways to stay grounded in each discipline Finding balance between breadth and depth Building mindful connections across fields For anyone who wants insight from honest reflections and practical considerations on the nonlinear progression of developing an interdisciplinary approach to their practice. #interdisciplinary #expertise #learning #methodology #research #innovation #martialarts #motivation #selfimprovement #selfcultivation #spiritualjourney #leadership #selfleadership #jagariya #podcast

    55 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Dr. Kristina Mah, former karate world champion and martial artist, creative artist, transdisciplinary researcher, and writer, is joined by Dr. Evgenii Timofeev, spiritual practitioner, teacher of internal arts, and interdisciplinary movement artist, and leading experts to explore the interdisciplinary paths of self-cultivation from Eastern wisdom to modern understanding. Conversations on expanding your practice, personal growth, self-leadership, and self-discovery through change and challenges. Build a reliable connection to inner strength and power and emancipate ourselves from our imaginary selves to reveal and work with the beauty of the Real. Drawing from Eastern philosophy, martial arts, movement, psychology, and lived experience, we help you discover practical wisdom for your own journey.

Information

  • Creator
    Kristina Mah, PhD
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    6
  • Copyright
    © Inner Paths
  • Show Website
    Inner Paths

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