Press play if you’re craving something honest, hopeful, and healing. TL;DR – What we talked about: * Why burnout isn’t just about “doing too much” * The moment I knew something had to change * How I rebuilt my life after rock bottom * Why nervous system care is deeper than bubble baths and long weekends * The joy practices that still carry me now Welcome to the Healing is Living series “This isn’t just about healing. It’s about living it. Together.” That’s how Janki opened our live—with intention, honesty, and warmth. This conversation kicked off her Healing is Living series, and I was so honoured to join from Yorkshire, England while she tuned in from India. We started with gratitude and presence. No rush, no script, just two women meeting at the intersection of burnout, recovery, and joy. My real healing didn't start with yoga I’ve been a yoga teacher for over a decade. You’d think that’s where it started, right? With savasana and vinyasa and feeling great? Not exactly. “The truth is, I burned out. Over and over. Even while doing what I loved.” Before COVID, I was running my own brick-and-mortar yoga studio in my hometown of York, teaching 15 classes a week. That’s a lot of yoga. My body was suffering—hip issues, fatigue—but I was pushing through because this was ‘what I wanted’. Classic hustle energy dressed up as wellness. When the pandemic hit, I had to make a huge decision: either keep the studio and pay rent for a very uncertain next year, or let it go. I chose the unknown. Then life really unraveled for me. Not long afterwards, I left a toxic eight-year relationship. I paused my work. I jumped into another toxic dynamic. It was chaotic and painful. But it also became the starting point for something real. “I decided I wasn’t going to pretend I was okay anymore. I was going to actually heal.” From survival to nervous system wisdom What helped wasn’t extra-long baths, adding more to my to-do list, or starting an ice-bath habit. Here’s what became the foundation for the most profound body-mind healing I’ve ever personally gone through: * Talking therapy (introducing my f*****g wonderful therapist, Ashley) * Understanding my nervous system * Discovering and practicing nervous system regulation (not just relaxation) * Letting myself feel again—imperfectly, messily, and gently I relearned what it meant to be a woman in my own body.To trust my choices.To soften. Yoga was always part of it, but it wasn’t enough on its own. I needed more than movement—I needed permission to be human again. Want more honest takes on healing and joy? The myth of work-life balance “It’s a toxic myth. Another productivity trap dressed up as self-care.” We’re told if we just try harder, we’ll find the balance. But that mindset keeps us striving, over-scheduling, biohacking… instead of noticing our real-life needs. Trying to ‘perfect’ your routine just becomes another way to abandon yourself. Instead, I started embracing: * imperfection, * tiny moments of stillness, * and a little bit of chaos. Balance isn’t a destination. It’s something you build from within—gently and every damn day. The lie of “when things calm down…” We talked about how so many of us say: “I’ll rest when this project ends.”“I’ll slow down when the kids are older.”“I’ll take care of myself once work settles.” But that day never comes. “We don’t calm down when life calms down. We calm down when we choose to. And that starts now—in the in-between moments.” Like when you’re waiting for a bus. Or brushing your teeth. Or eating lunch slowly instead of rushing. These are the places where nervous system restoration begins. What blocks us from joy? We asked: if joy is our natural state, why is it so hard to feel? The answer: dysregulation. When we’re constantly multitasking, rushing, pushing, self-criticising… we override the very signals that lead to joy. Joy doesn’t disappear, it just gets drowned out. “Joy isn’t always fireworks. It’s often quiet—found in how your body softens when it’s safe.” The blocks? Overwork. Phones. Perfectionism. The urge to always be productive. When we rewire our nervous system, joy becomes easier to access — not because life is perfect, but because we’re present enough to feel it. I didn’t share this to tell you I have it all figured out.I shared it because I really don’t, and I know you might be here, too. You don’t need to quit everything.You don’t need a week in the woods.You just need to begin. Somewhere. Maybe that starts with this replay.Maybe it starts with Joy Unplugged. However it starts, just give yourself the time and space to begin. This is where the magic happens. Want more? If this conversation sparked something in you, here’s where to go next: Subscribe for free to get nervous system joy, mindset shifts, and honest chats like this every week. Or become a paid subscriber to unlock my entire library of movement, mindset, and mindfulness tools, personalised support, and the entire Joyful archive (learn more here). What resonated? Tell me in the comments: * Which part of this conversation hit home? * Have you ever hit burnout? * What does joy feel like for you lately? Let’s talk. I’d love to hear your story. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit chloemarkham.substack.com/subscribe
