Gina opens the conversation by discussing the sexual abuse she experienced at the hands of her father from the age of eleven. She speaks about burying those memories until they resurfaced after her father’s death and recognizing the ripple effects of his abuse on her lifestyle and relationships. She also reflects on mothering as a trauma survivor, how her experiences shaped her parenting, and the importance of breaking intergenerational cycles of abuse, including by caring for her father at the end of his life and discussing her trauma with her daughters. Gina then shares how practicing Buddhism and yoga have allowed her to use her body as a tool and resource for regulating her nervous system and emotions and gain a different perspective on her trauma. She also speaks about using that perspective to share skills and tools with other survivors, particularly in her work with women and children living in the slums of Uganda. Finally, the episode closes with Gina choosing her future self as the one person throughout time she would like the chance to sit down with, to thank her for inspiring her.

Life during a pandemic can bring lots of anxiety and stress. One way to deal with those issues is to practice mindfulness – and that doesn’t necessarily look like what you might expect. May and Sam talk to a meditation instructor about how and why mindfulness can help alleviate some of your pandemic-induced anxiety and anger.

Gina de la Chesnaye who is offering two free weekly sessions on Mind Oasis for anyone dealing with the effects of coronavirus and Covid-19 drops her truth about the virus, the practices that can help, her work in Nepal and her fear of women and girls starving in the slums of Kampala (and what you can do about it!), as well as her life in the ring as a kickboxer.

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