Ep #175: Breaking the Perfection Pattern with Ethan Brown

What if stress, overwhelm, and the pressure to “push through” are signals—not signs of weakness, but invitations to slow down?In this powerful episode, Ethan Brown shares his personal experience with burnout and anxiety, including the moment that made him step away from teaching yoga and return to healing.Ethan talks candidly about the illusion of perfection, especially for yoga teachers, and the fear of being seen as “not spiritual enough” when experiencing mental health struggles. He opens up about seeking help, the role of therapy, and how honoring his nervous system became the most spiritual act of all.This conversation unpacks the dangers of spiritual bypassing, the power of nervous system awareness, and how rest and boundaries are critical for long-term resilience. It’s a raw and affirming listen for anyone who’s ever felt the pressure to perform, to always be okay, or to be someone they’re not.Episode Chapters:00:00:00 Introduction00:02:45 Ethan's burnout journey00:09:20 Anxiety and identity00:14:58 Breaking the pattern of perfection00:20:16 The moment he paused teaching00:26:50 Nervous system & embodiment00:33:22 Yoga teachers and shame00:39:45 Rest as resistance00:46:30 The return to authenticity00:52:05 Tools for coming home00:58:30 Closing reflections—-------—-------—-📌 Mentions Ethan Brown’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ethpraylove/Ethan’s Substack: https://substack.com/@ethprayreflections?utm_campaign=profile&utm_medium=profile-pageMichael Henri’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michaelyoga.pt/ Going Pro Yoga’s Instagram: https://www.instagram/com/goingproyoga/—-------—-------—-Tags: yoga and mental health, burnout recovery, nervous system healing, spiritual bypassing, anxiety and embodiment, yoga teacher journey, authenticity, emotional regulation, rest and resilience, trauma-informed yoga