In this episode of the Finding Harmony Podcast, Harmony and Russell sit down with longtime Ashtanga practitioner and certified financial planner Kathy Reisfeld to talk about money, dharma and what it really means to be wealthy.
Kathy’s story moves from physics and finance in New York City, through the shock of 9/11, to decades of Ashtanga practice and the creation of a Mysore shala in a renovated barn in the Berkshires. Along the way she has guided clients through multiple market crashes, bear markets and bubbles, all while keeping one eye on their portfolios a...
In this episode of the Finding Harmony Podcast, Harmony and Russell sit down with longtime Ashtanga practitioner and certified financial planner Kathy Reisfeld to talk about money, dharma and what it really means to be wealthy.
Kathy’s story moves from physics and finance in New York City, through the shock of 9/11, to decades of Ashtanga practice and the creation of a Mysore shala in a renovated barn in the Berkshires. Along the way she has guided clients through multiple market crashes, bear markets and bubbles, all while keeping one eye on their portfolios and the other on what truly matters to them.
Together, Harmony, Russell and Kathy explore money as energy, the emotional baggage spiritual folks carry about finances, how to invest in a way that matches your time horizon and values, and why diversification is the financial equivalent of a well balanced yoga practice. They also ask tricky questions about capitalism, ethical investing and retirement, reframing them in terms of freedom, choice and dharma rather than fear.
If you have ever thought “I am spiritual, so I should not care about money” or felt totally frozen when it comes to investing, this conversation will help you breathe, relax and start treating your financial life as part of your practice instead of something separate from it.
What We Talk About
- Wealth as energy, not just money
- Kathy’s path from physics to finance to Ashtanga yoga
- New York, 9/11 and the first bear market she had to guide clients through
- Balancing a finance career and a serious practice
- The basics of investing for spiritual people who feel scared of money
- Ethical investing and spiritual discomfort with capitalism
- Retirement, risk and planning for contingencies rather than escape
- Money, houses and diversification
- Investing in education, travel and your own human capital
- Money as circulation and prana
- Kathy’s life now: a barn, a shala and a wealth advisory firm
Guest Bio: Kathy Reisfeld
Kathy Reisfeld is a financial advisor and dedicated Ashtanga Yoga practitioner who helps people find balance—both in their financial lives and on the mat. As co-founder of Berkshire Wealth Group, she brings over 27 years of experience guiding clients through personalized investment planning. She holds both the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® and Certified Investment Management Analyst® certifications.
Kathy discovered Ashtanga Yoga in 2001 as a complement to running while working as a financial advisor in New York City. Initially somewhat resistant to the idea of yoga, she found this moving meditation practice transformative for managing stress and anxiety. She studied with renowned teachers including Eddie Stern, Nancy Gilgoff, and Christine Hoar—whom she's known for over 22 years and who has been her main teacher for the past decade. Kathy traveled to Mysore, India in 2005 to deepen her practice. Kathy's yoga practice has been the anchor that helped her navigate the demands of motherhood and a thriving career.
In 2024, Kathy and her husband Scott began renovating their barn to house both their financial advisory office upstairs and a dedicated Ashtanga Yoga space. Whether she's helping clients reduce financial stress or maintaining her own daily practice, Kathy's approach centers on the same principle: creating strength, healing, and freedom through mindful, values-based practices.
Kathy lives in Great Barrington with Scott, their daughter Ruthie, and their menagerie of pets. When not working or practicing yoga, you'll find her hiking, biking, or sailing in the Berkshires.
Berkshire Wealth Group | berkshirewealthgroup.com
250 Maple Ave, Great Barrington, MA 01230 | 845-263-3996 | kathy@brkwealthgrp.com
Securities offered through Raymond James Financial Services, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. Investment advisory services are offered through Raymond James Financial Services Advisors, Inc. Berkshire Wealth Group is not a registered broker/dealer and is independent of Raymond James Financial Services.
Relevant Links Mentioned Ashtanga Yoga
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