201: In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Lottie De Bruijn — a woman who embodies a rare and beautiful combination: grounded strength and clarity, paired with warmth, softness, and a deeply nurturing presence. Her Yin Yoga classes and cacao ceremonies are truly authentic. She genuinely lives what she teaches — with integrity, simplicity, and heart. Lottie has been part of my retreats here in Portugal, and from the very first moment we met, I felt a connection. In this conversation, we explore the power of yin — and why our modern world so desperately needs it. This is a warm, heart-opening, cozy dialogue about softness, ritual, and the gentle medicine of cacao. Maybe grab a cup of cacao… and listen from the heart.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Lottie’s personal journey into Yin Yoga and ceremonial cacao
• The correlation of being and actress and teaching yoga
• The difference between yin and yang
• Where yang energy dominates our modern lives
• Why yin can feel uncomfortable — and why that discomfort matters
• How Yin Yoga affects the nervous system differently than performance-based practices
• What happens when societies undervalue receptivity, rest, and slowness
• The origins of ceremonial cacao and its indigenous roots
• The idea of plant spirit and how cacao works as “heart medicine”
• Why cacao and yin practices complement each other so beautifully
• How to cultivate yin qualities in our everyday lifestyle

Journal Reflections for you

• Where in your life are you pushing instead of softening?
• What feels uncomfortable about stillness — and why?
• What would it mean to truly receive instead of constantly doing?

Books on Yin Yoga :

• Bernie Clark – The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga
• Sarah Powers – Insight Yoga
• Paul Grilley – Yin Yoga

Practice with Lottie

If you’re in Portugal (Aljezur area), you can practice with Lottie in person. She also co-facilitates retreats — including one at the end of October.

Contact: 📧 Lottiedebruijn@yahoo.com Lotties Retreat Page: https://www.instagram.com/retreatportugal2026?igsh=dnNjeWk1YmplbnU1&utm_source=qr

Soul Vision Ritual – Workshop with Wanda Badwal Join the Vision Workshop here: https://wandabadwalyoga.com/programs/collection-9prh2us3t3e

Sign up for the Wanda Badwal Yoga Membership & App: https://wandabadwal.com/membership

Order Wanda’s new book Soulful Mama – Yoga & Spirituality for a Fulfilled Pregnancy now:

• Amazon: https://amzn.eu/d/foKbQyC
• Hugendubel: https://www.hugendubel.de/de/buchkartoniert/wandabadwal-soulful_mama-50358630-produkt-details.html
• Thalia: https://www.thalia.de/shop/home/artikeldetails/A1074967326

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Love,

Wanda