In this episode of The Healing Catalyst, Dr. Avanti Kumar-Singh welcomes back her good friend and recurring guest, Tara Stiles, founder of Strala Yoga, for a timely and powerful conversation about the health benefits of living softly.
Tara shares wisdom from her upcoming book Living Softly, and explores how the cultural obsession with hustle and constant productivity is not only misguided—but harmful to our health and well-being. Instead, she offers another way: a practice of softness that creates real strength, resilience, and presence.
Together, Tara and Avanti dive into what it means to soften—physically, emotionally, and mentally—and how simple “softness breaks” throughout the day can help us access flow state, regulate the nervous system, and create more meaningful connections in every area of life.
They also explore how, in a world that feels increasingly difficult and disconnected, Living Softly helps us reconnect—not just to ourselves, but to each other. This way of being allows us to show up with compassion, empathy, and presence—qualities that are urgently needed as we navigate the uncertainty and division in our world. It’s a reminder that healing is never just individual—it’s collective. And the more we soften, the more we can support ourselves and each other.
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- (07:32) How “Living Softly” can have an expansive impact, mentally, emotionally, and physically
- (12:55) Why hustle culture harms our health and what the science says about its long-term risks
- (23:28) How flow state improves productivity, focus, and emotional well-being—and how softness helps us get there
- (32:18) What “Living Softly” really means—and how it’s different from simply relaxing or doing less
- (33:22) Tips for handling negativity and toxic behaviors and how to employ the practice of softness in our relationships
- (37:51) The ripple effect of nervous system regulation and how softening helps us connect more deeply with others
- (41:55) Practical ways to integrate softness into your daily life—including Tara’s “softness breaks” that you can try today
This episode is your guide to redefining strength through softness—and learning how small, conscious shifts in how you move, breathe, and show up can lead to better health, deeper connection, and more grounded power.
In a world that feels increasingly hard and divided, Living Softly reminds us that healing isn’t just personal—it’s relational. The more we soften, the more we can connect—with ourselves, with others, and with the communities we’re part of. This practice helps us create calm within, so we can become a calming force in the world around us.
(correction: the World Health Organization (WHO) study discussed in this episode was published in 2021; not 2019)
About Tara Stiles:
Tara Stiles is the co-founder of Strala Yoga, best-selling author, and well-being expert. Tara has revolutionized yoga for millions, transforming a practice so often seen as dogmatic, and guru-based, into an everyday movement that supports ease and well-being.
Strala Yoga is practiced in more than 100 countries, thousands of Guides lead Strala classes around the globe every day, and Tara shares yoga with thousands of people on the Strala Yoga app. She has been profiled by The New York Times, Times of India, The Times (UK), and featured in most major national and international magazines.
Connect with Tara Stiles:
- Instagram: @tarastiles
- Website:
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