Skillful Means Podcast
Skillful Means Podcast offers practical wisdom for everyday life. Host Jennifer O'Sullivan explores navigating life's challenges through the lenses of Buddhist mindfulness, yoga, Internal Family Systems, and positive psychology.
Each month, episodes feature grounded guidance and accessible practices for meeting whatever arises with greater ease.
Jennifer is a Certified IFS Practitioner with over 20 years of experience teaching yoga and mindfulness.
Find out more: https://www.skillfulmeanspodcast.com and https://www.sati.yoga
- Update frequency
- every 12 days
- Average duration
- 29 minutes
- Episodes
- 126
- Years Active
- 2019 - 2025
#36 Yoga Nidra for Awakening Compassion Guided Practice
In this month’s guided practice, we offer Yoga Nidra, the sleep of the yogis.
The practice of Yoga Nidra dates back thousands of years and was developed to invoke a deep meditati…
#35 Are We in a Golden Age of Trainings and Retreats?
In this episode, recorded nearly a year after the first COVD-19-related lockdowns, Jen and Sarah Jane discuss the benefits and pitfalls of the mad rush to move trainings and ret…
#34 Contemplating the Elements from the Inside Out Guided Practice
In this episode, Sarah Jane introduces and leads a mindfulness meditation on the four elements from the Satipaṭṭhāna Sutta (Foundations of Mindfulness) as taught by the Venerabl…
#33 What We’re Turning Toward
In this episode, Jen and Sarah Jane return from a winter break. Amidst ever increasing levels of upheaval in the States, they discuss their go-to practices and resources that bu…
#32 Inner Smile Guided Practice
In this Taoist meditation, Jen will help you harness the loving energy of a smile and direct it inward for profound sense of self-compassion, joy, and relaxation.
In Taoism, it's…
#31 The Only Way Out is Through Guided Practice
In this talk and guided practice, Sarah Jane describes the benefit of thinking of Buddhism’s Four Noble Truths as Four Ennobling Tasks. As tasks, the teachings become invitation…
Tuning In, Reaching Out Virtual Retreat Day 3: Loving-Kindness in the Tradition of Thich Nhat Hanh
Jen wraps up our first virtual retreat with a practice very dear to her heart.
Loving-kindness, or metta, is at the very heart of spiritual practice. By tuning into our common h…
Tuning In, Reaching Out Virtual Retreat Day 3: Yoga & Compassion
Welcome to Sunday, the third day of “Tuning In, Reaching Out.” We are maintaining our commitment to practice in part through the connections we’ve made and the energy we’ve felt…
Tuning In, Reaching Out Day 2: The Four Foundations of Mindfulness and Yin Yoga
Welcome to the second and fourth overall practice of “Tuning In, Reaching Out.” We have deeply enjoyed connecting with some of you about intentions, methods, hindrances, and ins…
Tuning In, Reaching Out Virtual Retreat Day 2: Gentle Movement to Unwind Stress and Connect with Yourself
Welcome to the second day of your virtual retreat. This morning, Jen brings you a gentle yang yoga practice in the tradition of her root teachers of Nosara Yoga Institute. This …
Tuning In, Reaching Out Virtual Retreat Day 1: Cultivating Concentration in Yin Yoga
In this second practice of the Tuning In, Reaching Out Virtual retreat, Jen will guide you through a timeless meditation called Shamatha, or calm abiding. You'll have an opport…
Tuning in, Reaching Out Virtual Retreat Day 1: Yoga & RAIN Meditation
We are pleased to kick off our virtual retreat with this Yoga & RAIN Meditation practice with Sarah Jane.
In this guided practice, Sarah Jane invites you to spend a few moments …
You're Invited to Tune In and Reach Out with us on Nov 20-22
This is just a quick reminder about the upcoming virtual retreat here on the podcast.
Join us on Nov 20-22 for twice daily practices to help you strengthen your connection both …
#30 Get To Know Your Parts IFS Guided Practice
As a companion to episode 29 on Internal Family Systems (IFS therapy), we invite you to enjoy this guided parts meditation.
Jen will help you locate and get to know one or more p…
#29 What is IFS?
In this episode, Jen and Sarah Jane finally and excitedly get around to talking about Internal Family Systems.
IFS is having a moment lately, and is being brought into yoga and …
#28 Earth & Sky Guided Practice
In this meditation drawn from Taosit practices, Sarah Jane guides you through a breath-based visualization for replenishing and balancing inner energy.
We are both individually …
#27 Meeting Uncertainty & Change
In this episode, Jen and Sarah Jane address the human predicament: We are wired to avoid unfamiliarity, uncertainty, and unpredictability in life, even while these very forces a…
#26 Cultivate Resilience in Uncertain Times with Yin Yoga for the Spleen and Stomach Guided Practice
In this guided Yin Yoga practice, Jennifer guides you through a short series of postures designed to nourish the spleen and stomach.
According to Taoist Energetic Medicine, the …
#25 Get to Know Yourself with the Body-Heart-Mind Check-In
The landscape of yoga studios is not what it once was. With some studios closed permanently and others open only temporarily or in limbo, practitioners who relied on guided clas…
#24 Equanimity for Balanced Action Guided Practice
Wrapping up our series on the Four Immeasurables, in this guided practice, Sarah Jane Shangraw unpacks the fourth “sublime state,” upeksa (equanimity). Upeksa is a state of non-…