Yin Yoga & Cacao: The Power of Softness – Interview with Lottie De Bruijn

201: In today’s episode, I’m sitting down with Lottie De Bruijn — a woman who embodies a rare and beautiful combination: grounded strength and clarity, paired with warmth, softness, and a deeply nurturing presence.
Her Yin Yoga classes and cacao ceremonies are truly authentic. She genuinely lives what she teaches — with integrity, simplicity, and heart.
Lottie has been part of my retreats here in Portugal, and from the very first moment we met, I felt a connection.
In this conversation, we explore the power of yin — and why our modern world so desperately needs it.
This is a warm, heart-opening, cozy dialogue about softness, ritual, and the gentle medicine of cacao.
Maybe grab a cup of cacao… and listen from the heart.

In this episode, we talk about:

• Lottie’s personal journey into Yin Yoga and ceremonial cacao

• The correlation of being and actress and teaching yoga

• The difference between yin and yang

• Where yang energy dominates our modern lives

• Why yin can feel uncomfortable — and why that discomfort matters

• How Yin Yoga affects the nervous system differently than performance-based practices

• What happens when societies undervalue receptivity, rest, and slowness

• The origins of ceremonial cacao and its indigenous roots

• The idea of plant spirit and how cacao works as “heart medicine”

• Why cacao and yin practices complement each other so beautifully

• How to cultivate yin qualities in our everyday lifestyle

Journal Reflections for you

• Where in your life are you pushing instead of softening?

• What feels uncomfortable about stillness — and why?

• What would it mean to truly receive instead of constantly doing?

Books on Yin Yoga :

• Bernie Clark – The Complete Guide to Yin Yoga

• Sarah Powers – Insight Yoga

• Paul Grilley – Yin Yoga

Practice with Lottie

If you’re in Portugal (Aljezur area), you can practice with Lottie in person.
She also co-facilitates retreats — including one at the end of October.

Contact:
📧 Lottiedebruijn@yahoo.com
Lotties Retreat Page: instagram.com/retreatportugal2026?igsh=dnNjeWk… (instagram.com/retreat_portugal_2026?igsh=dnNje…)

Soul Vision Ritual – Workshop with Wanda Badwal
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Love,

Wanda