Leading With Heart

Milk and Honey Retreat Recap

What actually happens when women are given the space to slow down, soften, and truly be seen?In this deeply personal episode, Christina shares a heartfelt recap of her recent retreat at Milk and Honey Ranch, a powerful experience filled with connection, vulnerability, healing, and growth. From creating intentional space for stillness, to moving through emotional blocks, to practicing one of the most underrated leadership skills, deep listening, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at what transformation really looks like in real time.You’ll hear stories of women letting their guards down, forming lasting friendships, and reconnecting with themselves in a way that’s often impossible in the day-to-day pace of life. In This Episode:What actually happens inside a transformational retreat experienceThe power of white space and why slowing down is so uncomfortable (and necessary)How emotional release, breathwork, and vulnerability create lasting changeWhy deep, meaningful connection is often what we’re truly cravingThe difference between active listening and deep listening, and why it matters in leadershipHow practicing presence (instead of fixing or rescuing) can transform your relationshipsReal reflections and breakthroughs from women who attended the retreatRESOURCES:2026 Lead Your Life Asheville Retreat:https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-retreat-ashevilleSIGN UP FOR THE APP:https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-appConnect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogiPodcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.comSHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode92Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Your Body Isn't The Problem - It's The Messenger

Are you getting everything done… but internally you feel fried?If you’re productive on the outside but operating in survival mode on the inside, snapping more easily, feeling scattered, exhausted, or quietly burned out, this episode is for you. Christina gets real about energy management in the middle of real life (including a week of solo parenting) and unpacks why so many high-functioning women push through their body’s warning signs until they crash.In this conversation, you’ll learn how to recognize your personal energy patterns, stop overriding your nervous system, and build simple recovery rhythms into your daily life, not just your annual vacation. This isn’t about doing less. It’s about sustaining your performance without sacrificing yourself in the process.In This Episode:The 4 Energy Zones (Performance, Survival, Burnout, and Recovery) and how to identify where you’re livingWhy military and leadership culture conditions us to override our bodiesThe difference between pushing through when it’s necessary vs. when it’s harmfulHow to recognize your personal warning signs before burnout hitsWhy recovery isn’t weakness, it’s part of the performance cycleSimple 2–5 minute “downshift rituals” you can start todayIf you’ve been operating in high-functioning survival mode for too long, this episode will help you tune back in, rebuild self-trust, and create small, sustainable rhythms that protect your energy.RESOURCES:High-Yield Self Care Guide:https://fabulous-pioneer-9504.kit.com/e83556732bSIGN UP FOR THE APP:https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-appConnect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogiPodcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.comSHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode91Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Triple Your Self-Care Return on Investment

Have you ever done all the “right” self-care things, taken the bath, bought a planner, scheduled the massage, and still felt completely exhausted?In this episode, we’re unpacking why that happens. Most women aren’t bad at self-care. We’re just investing in practices that don’t actually restore us. In a culture that praises hustle, sacrifice, and pushing through (hello, military life), it’s easy to lose touch with our own needs. Over time, we forget how to answer the question: What do I actually need right now?I introduce the concept of low-yield vs. high-yield self-care, and why high-yield practices are deeply personal, discovered through reflection and experimentation, not copied from the internet. When you learn to identify your unmet needs and choose practices that truly replenish you, everything shifts. You regain capacity. You regain energy. You regain hope.In This Episode:Why popular self-care trends often leave you feeling the sameThe difference between low-yield and high-yield self-careHow military culture and life experiences disconnect you from your needsWhy meeting your needs is not selfish, it’s essentialA simple way to evaluate your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual bucketsHow to approach self-care with curiosity instead of judgmentRESOURCES:High-Yield Self Care Guide:https://fabulous-pioneer-9504.kit.com/e83556732bSIGN UP FOR THE APP:https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-appConnect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogiPodcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.comSHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode90Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

You Don’t Have to White-Knuckle Your Way to Change

Hey friend, in today’s episode, we’re talking about something I see all the time (and yes, I do it too): white knuckling change. You know the drill, forcing new habits with pressure, discipline, rigid rules, and a whole lot of self-criticism… and then wondering why it never seems to stick.If you’re capable, driven, committed to growth, and maybe just a little Type A (hello, same), this episode is for you. We’re unpacking why trying to force yourself into change often backfires, especially when your nervous system is already stressed and overwhelmed. I share why force doesn’t feel motivating to many of us, it feels like pressure, and how that pressure actually creates resistance instead of consistency.We’ll talk about a different approach to change, one rooted in softness, nervous system regulation, and self-support instead of shame and intensity. This doesn’t mean lowering your standards or giving up on growth. It means learning how to work with yourself instead of against yourself, so change becomes sustainable and supportive rather than exhausting.If you’ve ever felt stuck in the cycle of starting over, beating yourself up, and trying again “on Monday,” this episode offers a kinder, more effective way forward.In This Episode:What it really means to “white knuckle” change, and why so many of us default to itWhy discipline and pressure can actually dysregulate your nervous systemHow force creates resistance instead of motivationWhat softness is (and what it is not) when it comes to growthThe difference between intensity and sustainabilityRESOURCES:Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)SIGN UP FOR THE APP:https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-appInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogiPodcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.comSHOW NOTES: https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/blog/episode89Connect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.

Why I’m Choosing Identity Over Goals This Year

In this episode of Leading With Heart, Christina shares a personal life update and invites you into a quieter, more reflective conversation about transition, identity, and what it means to lead yourself well in demanding seasons. After a major move, a new role, and a full family transition, she opens up about resisting the urge to rush, hustle, or “figure everything out” and instead choosing to listen inward, soften her approach, and let herself truly land where she is.This episode isn’t about big goals or dramatic overhauls. It’s about asking different questions. Christina reflects on the words that surfaced for her this year, soft and settled, and how they’re shaping the way she shows up as a leader, a parent, and a human navigating change. If you’re in a season of transition, feeling stretched, or craving a slower, more grounded way forward, this conversation offers permission to pause, reflect, and realign with who you’re becoming.In This Episode:Why “service before self” eventually becomes service at the detriment of selfMoving through leadership, work, and life with softness instead of tension and white-knucklingWhat it looks like to regulate your nervous system instead of rushing to prove yourselfParenting and leading others through change without fixing or minimizing their emotionsThe difference between setting goals and choosing an identity-based approach to growthWhy it’s never too late in the year to reflect, reset, and realignRESOURCES:Identity Statement Resource:https://fabulous-pioneer-9504.kit.com/de6f72ebb6SIGN UP FOR THE APP:https://www.christinamattisonyoga.com/lead-your-life-appConnect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themilitaryyogiPodcast Website: www.leadingwithheartpodcast.comSHOW NOTES: https://www.christConnect with me in the Strong and Resilient Woman Community on Facebook HERE (https://www.facebook.com/groups/yogaformilitarywomen), or on Instagram @themilitaryyogiMore about Christina Mattison and the Leading with Heart PodcastHey there! I'm Christina Mattison, an Air Force Officer, yoga teacher, dedicated wife, and proud mother of two. But most importantly, I'm here as a wellness and leadership coach for women in the military. I want you to know something: It doesn't have to be this way.I've walked in your combat boots, and I understand the chaos that often accompanies military life. But I'm here to share a powerful truth with you: You have the innate ability to transform your own life. I've personally experienced this transformation, and I've witnessed it in the lives of countless clients I've had the privilege to guide.Welcome to the Leading With Heart podcast your ultimate resource for discovering how to infuse joy, peace, and true success into every facet of military life.**The views and opinions expressed within this podcast episode are those of the individual, and do not necessarily represent those of the Department of Defense or its components.