The Art of Stillness with Arianna Pienaar

Arianna Pienaar

🎙️ The Art of Stillness is a podcast for high-achieving, multi-passionate women who are ready to stop striving and start listening. Hosted by Arianna, this space is devoted to the sacred pause—the moment between the doing, where clarity rises and alignment returns. Each episode explores what it means to live, lead, and create from your unique energetic rhythm. This is not about slowing down to do less. It’s about tuning in to do what’s meant for you. ✨ Come home to your rhythm. ✨ Reconnect with your energy. ✨ Let stillness lead.

  1. 07/15/2025

    episode 81: 🔍 Why You React Before You Think: Emotional Hijacks, Explained

    This one’s a little more sciencey than I usually go, but I’ve done that on purpose. Because if you’re anything like the women I work with, you don’t just want tools…You want to understand how and why things actually work. You want to know what’s really going on when you’re spiralling, shutting down, over-apologising, or trying to force calm but feeling anything but. So in this conversation, I’m walking you through the inner mechanics of emotional regulation, and the real reason why all your mindset work, breathwork, and journaling sometimes still don’t cut it. We’re talking: The role of the amygdala (your brain’s built-in alarm system)The prefrontal cortex (your inner CEO that goes offline when you’re overwhelmed)Why emotional hijacks aren’t personal flaws, they’re survival responsesHow neuroplasticity means you can retrain your emotional patternsAnd how grounding practices like breathwork, movement, and rest don’t just “feel good”; they literally help your brain come back onlineI created this to help you feel less like you’re “too sensitive” or “not trying hard enough”… and more like a woman whose brilliant nervous system is just asking for the right kind of support. This isn’t about doing more. (Hear me on this one!) It’s about understanding the invisible mechanics behind why you feel what you feel, and learning how to work with your biology, not against it. When you know how to respond to your body’s signals instead of suppressing them, everything changes. Because emotional regulation isn't just about staying calm, it’s about creating the safety your brain needs to choose presence, power, and peace. Chapters 00:00 Understanding Emotional Hijacks 02:36 The Brain's Emotional Circuitry 05:28 The Role of the Amygdala in Emotional Responses 08:19 Navigating Emotional Reactions 11:03 The Importance of Context in Emotional Regulation 13:50 Neuroplasticity and Emotional Resilience

    20 min
  2. 06/04/2025

    Episode 80: How to Become more Discerning | Discernment

    🖤 In this episode, Arianna explores the concept of discernment, particularly for high performers who often struggle with knowing when to push and when to rest. She emphasises the importance of self-awareness and nervous system regulation as foundational elements for making aligned decisions. Through practical insights and personal anecdotes, Arianna guides listeners on how to cultivate discernment in their daily lives, embrace discomfort as a source of data, and develop a deeper relationship with themselves to enhance their decision-making processes. 📌 Takeaways Discernment is the ability to make aligned decisions amidst pressure. Nervous system regulation is crucial for effective discernment. Self-awareness is the foundation of emotional intelligence. Discomfort should be viewed as data, not failure. High performers often struggle with knowing when to rest. Practising discernment on small decisions builds the muscle for larger ones. Creating stillness practices helps in recognising inner cues. Trusting oneself is essential for high-integrity leadership. Decisions made from presence feel grounded and clear. Self-awareness allows for better management of energy and emotions. 🖤  to find out more about LEAD FROM STILLNESS: https://www.ariannapienaar.com/coaching to apply for 1:1 coaching: https://www.ariannapienaar.com/apply-for-leadership-coaching Soul School: https://www.ariannapienaar.com/soul-school 🖤 Chapters 00:00 Understanding Capacity and Discernment 08:27 The Importance of Nervous System Regulation 16:36 Self-Awareness and Emotional Intelligence 20:49 The Challenge of High Performance 24:09 Refining Your Discernment Practice 29:49 Discomfort as Data 34:38 Making Decisions from Presence vs. Pressure 39:25 Building the Muscle of Discernment Ready to Dive Deeper? 🌟 [Work with Arianna] arianna.com.au/coaching Stay Connected: 📸 [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ariannapienaar/) 🔗 [VisitWebsite](arianna.com.au) 📘 [Like on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ariannapienaar/) Support: If you found this video helpful, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to my channel for more transformative content! ➛ YouTube Video URL:  https://youtu.be/nXup_oyEZjE Video hashtags: #discernment #highperformance #selfawareness  Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new wellness practice. Thank you for being here!  Let's embark on this journey to find peace and plenty together. 🌱✨

    42 min
  3. 05/19/2025

    Episode 79: Practices for Recovery (Simple)

    🌟🌟🌟🖤 In this conversation, Arianna discusses the importance of intentionality in personal practices such as breath work, meditation, and movement. She emphasizes the need to regulate the nervous system through specific techniques and how to anchor the mind during meditation. Additionally, she highlights the significance of physical movement and yoga in maintaining body awareness and managing mental distractions. Finally, she introduces the Stillness Method, a structured 30-day program designed to help individuals cultivate these practices effectively. 📌 Takeaways 00:00 Intentional Living: The Key to Success 01:50 Regulating Your Nervous System 04:37 Anchoring Your Mind 07:15 The Importance of Physical Activity 09:42 Overcoming Mental Barriers 12:10 The Stillness Method: A 30-Day Journey 🖤 Stillness PLAYLIST LINK: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIS1OC2OeNNfmxiEWcsBOsisItTjDfpxC&si=wCEwZtE3QkZbzLV3 🖤 Join the Stillness Method here: https://www.ariannapienaar.com/stillness 🖤 Yoga Nidra Practices: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIS1OC2OeNNe0Qtbf5-aZl1ySt7WZzaYl&si=dSgPWoP7X2qTx95W 🌟 Breathwork Practices: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIS1OC2OeNNcdNsibOnPglJHdiMcqRey4&si=W7wLoBzQ8_A46pQ2 🌟 Meditation Practices: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLIS1OC2OeNNc6utF5fjsrVjOsoKpP8J-E&si=acmqOYpL5hBnv-Ki 🌟 [Work with Arianna] arianna.com.au Stay Connected: 📸 [Follow on Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/ariannapienaar/) 🔗 [VisitWebsite](arianna.com.au) 📘 [Like on Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/ariannapienaar/) Recommended Videos: 1. HOW TO DO BELLY BREATHING EXERCISES https://youtu.be/bebgc3OcLcI?si=itEsFnK31n8YPxy4 2. YOGA FOR SLEEP https://youtu.be/rMxPZSGkyQY?si=rJACCviHvvdv6J583. BODY SCAN MEDITATION https://youtu.be/iMJEi1S5mTY?si=VrLdu5o4cg6JKpaG Support: If you found this video helpful, please give it a thumbs up, share it with your friends, and subscribe to my channel for more transformative content! ➛ YouTube Video URL: https://youtu.be/OU512ZVsTaI Video hashtags: #breathing #breathwork #meditation #nervoussystem Disclaimer: The information provided in this video is for educational purposes only and should not be considered medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new wellness practice. Thank you for being here! Let's embark on this journey to find peace and plenty together. 🌱✨

    14 min

About

🎙️ The Art of Stillness is a podcast for high-achieving, multi-passionate women who are ready to stop striving and start listening. Hosted by Arianna, this space is devoted to the sacred pause—the moment between the doing, where clarity rises and alignment returns. Each episode explores what it means to live, lead, and create from your unique energetic rhythm. This is not about slowing down to do less. It’s about tuning in to do what’s meant for you. ✨ Come home to your rhythm. ✨ Reconnect with your energy. ✨ Let stillness lead.