Zephyr Yoga Inspiration

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

To help me create more content and practices online or to just say ‘Thank You’ please consider donating a small offering to Zephyr’s Alms Bowl. You can make an offering for as much or as little as you like. Please click here.

photo by Fiona Saunders Our compassion begins with the capacity to hold your own pain and suffering with a vast open loving awareness within your own heart. This practice is to rest our attention into the centre of our vulnerability with a tender appreciation for the tools of self-care when pain and suffering are present. Learning new techniques to teach ourselves about our own humanity. This path is raw, intimate and honest. Everything is Spirit, however what is between you and feeling free, peaceful and serene becomes the Teacher. We are Spiritual beings having a human experience, as well as we are Human Beings having a Spiritual experience. This experience is our ability to touch Faith trusting yourself to discover the deepest truth you can entrust in. A vast loving awareness big enough to hold all suffering. See your pain and suffering through the lens of this timeless expression of Grace within you, around you, as you. Enjoy the meditation.

This Yoga Nidra is from Kamini Desai, PHD Yoga Nidra; The Art of Transformational Sleep When to practice: Whenever you can. In the morning as soon as you get up, either put headphones on if you share the room with someone or move to a room where you can practice undisturbed. You can practice in the late afternoon around when your blood sugar drops as a little battery re-charge. Yoga Nidra will help restore your energy and focus the mind for remaining activities during the day. You can also practice in the evening before bed. This will help release the activity in the body, the mind and the emotional body from the days experiences. Yoga Nidra can provide a deeper and more restful sleep resulting in a rejuvenating slumber that will help you feel more awake the following day. How to practice: Ideally make a flat bed on the floor with an extra cushion under the body and head as the weight after time will be demanding for the body. I would suggest if you have a wool blanket or sheepskin which will help distribute and regulate temperature. Try not to use your bed, as you associate your bed to sleep. Elevate the head a bit, however keep the face parallel to the floor. When the head is propped up where the face is perpendicular to the floor, it is very stimulating for the nervous system and mind. You can place a bolster under the knees and or both knees and feet. Use a blanket to to keep warm. Palms facing up with nothing touching them. If you use an eye pillow, place it more on the brow rather than the eyeballs as the weight over time can be uncomfortable. If you have low blood pressure, feel dizzy or keep falling asleep and snoring I would suggest elevating the upper body with pillows or props of your choice. Falling asleep: If you fall asleep, respect the response to the Yoga nidra and support your exhaustion, immune and nervous system and allow yourself to go ahead and sleep. If you want to start to try to stay awake, try setting an intention before practice in which you state aloud "I resolve to remain awake". If you find yourself chronically falling asleep, I suggest bending your elbow to a 90 degree angle beside the body. If you fall asleep the hand will fall and you will usually awake. Propping yourself up, sitting against a wall or chair may help. However, rest assured that if you do fall asleep there is a deep psyche that listens. Your body listens. You will receive what you need and the words offered will have a deep impact. It just takes practice to dive deep into the depths of consciousness and be awake in effortless rest. For more in-depth understanding and exploration of Yoga Nidra seek out Kamini Desai, PHD book Yoga Nidra; The Art of Transformational Sleep in paper back or audible. Her book is an excellent resource. This Yoga Nidra recorded is her script written named The Integrative Amrit Method of Yoga Nidra for Health and Healing.

How can we create more stability and open up space to tenderly hold what is yours to feel and experience.

This session is to help reinforce and embody your intention set in the new year to fulfil your desires; dharma, artha, kama & moksha. Rumi poetically states "Every heart receives what it Prays for." What do you need from your practice to restore you to a state of serenity, sanity and peace? Self-forgiveness, compassion, strength, creativity, abundance, acceptance, love, joy, connection, trust... try to dive deep into your deepest hearts desire and form your intention of practice. To find success in fulfilling your intention I would suggest this equation: I(d) + I(e) > R Intention of your desire PLUS the intensity of energy, must be equal to or greater than your resistance. Your resistance is the karma of old patterns that keep you stuck in old behaviour of relating to yourself and life. To make lasting change, keep reinforcing your intention and embodying it as you move forward on and off your mat.

This session is to help reinforce and embody your intention set in the new year to fulfil your desires; dharma, artha, kama & moksha. Rumi poetically states "Every heart receives what it Prays for." What do you need from your practice to restore you to a state of serenity, sanity and peace? Self-forgiveness, compassion, strength, creativity, abundance, acceptance, love, joy, connection, trust... try to dive deep into your deepest hearts desire and form your intention of practice. To find success in fulfilling your intention I would suggest this equation: I(d) + I(e) > R Intention of your desire PLUS the intensity of energy, must be equal to or greater than your resistance. Your resistance is the karma of old patterns that keep you stuck in old behaviour of relating to yourself and life. To make lasting change, keep reinforcing your intention and embodying it as you move forward on and off your mat.

Yoga & Meditation is not about transcending or bypassing this human experience, however practicing to embody it, in a more spirited loving way. Using a simple Pranayama practice to focus the mind and physical sensation in waking in your body to the loving companion of the present moment.

This practice is to establish a connection to a strong physical foundation with our 'Yogi' Feet, so we are able to take the deep dive into the more subtle layers (Koshas) of our journey into our 'inner being'. Using mantra "SO HUM" to stabilise the mind as we channel our Prana creating clarity and spaciousness in all layers (Koshas) of our experience. Excerpt from Doug Keller's Yoga Therapeutic Wisdomwww.doyoga.com

This practice is to establish a connection to a strong physical foundation with our 'Yogi' Feet, so we are able to take the deep dive into the more subtle layers (Koshas) of our journey into our 'inner being'. Using mantra "SO HUM" to stabilise the mind as we channel our Prana creating clarity and spaciousness in all layers (Koshas) of our experience. Excerpt from Doug Keller's Yoga Therapeutic Wisdomwww.doyoga.com

Take a deep dive with US Yogis in this episode with Mia, Kate and I sharing our experience teaching, practicing and uncovering in our own lives the Kleshas/mental emotional afflictions! Enjoy and let us know what topic you would like to hear us talk about next! Find out more about and where Mia & Kate teach: Mia Togo https://miatogo.com Kate Litwinko https://www.katelitwinkoyoga.com

Evolving from the work we did with the 5 Prana Shaktis in the previous podcast, this preamble & practice focuses on Back Bends, alternative vinyasa and applying the deeper philosophical insight the teachings offer. Jonni Pollard has been an inspiration to me and I share in my preamble (forgot to give a shoutout) his reduction of the teachings to this brilliant statement from his book The Golden Sequence: "Life is sacred. Love is your Nature. Wisdom is your Power. Fulfilment is your purpose". This book is a recommended read to inspire a recommitment to the practices for anyone. 5 Principle powers of creation expressed through the experience of our being.  Iccha Shakti: the unlimited power of will, determination and drive to fuel us and to become the unstoppable force in fulfilling our intention, purpose and experiences in our lives. Jnana Shakti: the boundless power to know from our intuitive wisdom of discernment from real and unreal, truth and untruth, virtue and non-virtuous.Kriya Shakti: the ability to choose wise actions, that are aligned with your intentions and purpose, guiding you skilfully to fulfillment. Cit Shakti: the power of an illuminated mind, clear, undistracted, undistorted. To fully awaken to the light of knowledge resting within and expand in that light. Ananda Shakti: the known experience of being whole, complete, at one with all. Filled and embraced in Pure Conscious Awareness that is always present. Bliss, serenity, peace.

https://youtu.be/yDUXKFpJE6g It's that time of year which we all spend a moment of pause to reflect on the year ended, lived and the year we have yet to live. With this new year many of us celebrate by placing intention of our hopes, desires and healings as aspiration for the path ahead. Mia, Kate and myself dove into this topic and had a frank discussion about our experience, what we teach and the support we offer to our students guiding them to find their own method of placing intention. We hope this serves you in finding an anchor that can bring stability when you need it, as well as some ideas to guide you as you move forward in the flow of life in 2020. May peace, love and connection (the force) 'be with you' celebrating a faith-filled, fearless and awakened life! Most of all, thank you for taking the time and listening to US Yoginis! Zephyr Wildman, Mia Togo and Kate Litwinko

Our unique human ability to self-reflect is one thing that sets us apart from all other sentient beings. The continual evolution of our consciousness to be awakened (for those seeking it) to that which is behind life itself is a wonder for us as humans philosophically, spiritually and cognitively. Gives a new sense to the expression; “may wonders never cease”. This New Year’s workshop will call upon our past experiences to inform our present, honouring those who supported us along the way. We will enter practices that promote that evolution by “burning” that which impedes us from growing forward in our lives. We will draw on the teachings of: – tantra that increase our capacity to acquire energy to positively affect all aspects of our lives. – asana to strengthen our vessel. – pranayama to build our vital force.– yoga nidra to heal and nurture.– meditation to open us to the boundless reservoir towards inspiring our potential for awakening.  We will call upon the 3-fold process of kriya yoga as the blueprint to promoting purification, self-reflection and establishing a relationship to ishvara/the divinity of your understanding. This New Year we will plant seeds of purpose and reduce the seeds of suffering thus actualising the light of knowledge within you, as you, working for you and with you to wake you up to its presence in everything.  “There is a light, that lights the whole world. It radiates absolute truth, boundless will, skill in action and is the source of all knowledge” 5 Creative Shaktis within all of us.

Kate Litwinko, Zephyr Wildman, Mia Togo I am so delighted to introduce you to my US/American friends living in London; Mia Togo and Kate Litwinko. I have been looking, for a long time, for some local yogis to share life, teaching and everything in between with...and finally…like all good things that come to those who wait… they appear!  We've been getting together once a week lately and sharing so much that I had a crazy idea to start recording our morning breakfast chats and share them with my Yoga community. Mostly because we laugh so much but also because some of the topics are so relatable to many of my students I work with, I thought a Podcast was a good format to share with you. This is our first go at it, so a few bumps and digressions to be expected, however I feel our open, frank and individual experienced wisdom lends itself to inspire some reflection and contemplation to those fellow seekers.  In this episode, we start with a little background on how we met and our desire to find and nurture a community. I think the contrast of where we came from to where we are today is relatable to a lot of Yogis out there who have found fulfilment through Yoga philosophy and practice. The three of us have seen a lot in our combined 45+ years of teaching and our observations of the evolution of Yoga practice, teaching/teachers and trends are on full display. We DO NOT pull our punches so expect a bit of controversial topics but more so, stories and discussions about how we all have been touched by the vulnerability of being a teacher and how we have coped when life feels overwhelming. I hope you enjoy this format of exploring Yoga. We certainly enjoy putting it together. Stay tuned for more episodes as we dive deep into more discussion and topics. Most of all, thank you for taking the time and listening to US Yoginis! Zephyr Wildman, Mia Togo and Kate Litwinko https://youtu.be/BrrTQrfm7D0 Find out more about and where Mia & Kate teach: Mia Togo https://miatogo.com Kate Litwinko https://www.katelitwinkoyoga.com

5 Principle powers of creation expressed through the experience of our being.  Iccha Shakti: the unlimited power of will, determination and drive to fuel us and to become the unstoppable force in fulfilling our intention, purpose and experiences in our lives. Jnana Shakti: the boundless power to know from our intuitive wisdom of discernment from real and unreal, truth and untruth, virtue and non-virtuous.Kriya Shakti: the ability to choose wise actions, that are aligned with your intentions and purpose, guiding you skilfully to fulfillment. Cit Shakti: the power of an illuminated mind, clear, undistracted, undistorted. To fully awaken to the light of knowledge resting within and expand in that light. Ananda Shakti: the known experience of being whole, complete, at one with all. Filled and embraced in Pure Conscious Awareness that is always present. Bliss, serenity, peace.  Using the mantra introduced to me by one of my teachers, Rod Stryker.“There is a light, that lights the whole world.It radiates the truth.Boundless will.Skill in action.And is the source of all knowledge.” The use of this mantra and the focus of the preamble and practice is for you to feel that light within, to use the light to fuel, heal and inspire you as you reconnect with more meaning in your practice, relationships and life. May you be moved by the true nature of the JOY of being alive!

5 Principle powers of creation expressed through the experience of our being.  Iccha Shakti: the unlimited power of will, determination and drive to fuel us and to become the unstoppable force in fulfilling our intention, purpose and experiences in our lives. Jnana Shakti: the boundless power to know from our intuitive wisdom of discernment from real and unreal, truth and untruth, virtue and non-virtuous.Kriya Shakti: the ability to choose wise actions, that are aligned with your intentions and purpose, guiding you skilfully to fulfillment. Cit Shakti: the power of an illuminated mind, clear, undistracted, undistorted. To fully awaken to the light of knowledge resting within and expand in that light. Ananda Shakti: the known experience of being whole, complete, at one with all. Filled and embraced in Pure Conscious Awareness that is always present. Bliss, serenity, peace.  Using the mantra introduced to me by one of my teachers, Rod Stryker.“There is a light, that lights the whole world.It radiates the truth.Boundless will.Skill in action.And is the source of all knowledge.” The use of this mantra and the focus of the preamble and practice is for you to feel that light within, to use the light to fuel, heal and inspire you as you reconnect with more meaning in your practice, relationships and life. May you be moved by the true nature of the JOY of being alive!

5 Principle powers of creation expressed through the experience of our being.  Iccha Shakti: the unlimited power of will, determination and drive to fuel us and to become the unstoppable force in fulfilling our intention, purpose and experiences in our lives. Jnana Shakti: the boundless power to know from our intuitive wisdom of discernment from real and unreal, truth and untruth, virtue and non-virtuous.Kriya Shakti: the ability to choose wise actions, that are aligned with your intentions and purpose, guiding you skilfully to fulfillment. Cit Shakti: the power of an illuminated mind, clear, undistracted, undistorted. To fully awaken to the light of knowledge resting within and expand in that light. Ananda Shakti: the known experience of being whole, complete, at one with all. Filled and embraced in Pure Conscious Awareness that is always present. Bliss, serenity, peace.  Using the mantra introduced to me by one of my teachers, Rod Stryker.“There is a light, that lights the whole world.It radiates the truth.Boundless will.Skill in action.And is the source of all knowledge.” The use of this mantra and the focus of the preamble and practice is for you to feel that light within, to use the light to fuel, heal and inspire you as you reconnect with more meaning in your practice, relationships and life. May you be moved by the true nature of the JOY of being alive!

Buddha Smiles as we practice the instructions from the Yoga Sutras  This practice merges the instruction from Yoga Sutra 1:33 and the Buddhist Practice that both point to a Loving Kind way of being and acting.  Looking to sutra 2:46 Stirum and Sukham and the Buddhist slogan “Strong back, soft front” Then directing your attention to 2:47 Loosening your effort while meditating on something specific becoming more effortless. Recall the work we did on Sutra 1:34-1:38 and the five areas of focus. Now by adding a “Buddha Nature Smile” we sweeten the practice with loving-kindness, compassion and wise understanding.  As a result of practicing in this way we understand Patanjali’s Sutra 2:48. The goal is to discover the pair of opposites cease to exist and no longer have an impact. We experience the fading of separation and are aware of a new bathing into oneness, wholeness and completeness of Love. 

Buddha Smiles as we practice the instructions from the Yoga Sutras  This practice merges the instruction from Yoga Sutra 1:33 and the Buddhist Practice that both point to a Loving Kind way of being and acting.  Looking to sutra 2:46 Stirum and Sukham and the Buddhist slogan “Strong back, soft front” Then directing your attention to 2:47 Loosening your effort while meditating on something specific becoming more effortless. Recall the work we did on Sutra 1:34-1:38 and the five areas of focus. Now by adding a “Buddha Nature Smile” we sweeten the practice with loving-kindness, compassion and wise understanding.  As a result of practicing in this way we understand Patanjali’s Sutra 2:48. The goal is to discover the pair of opposites cease to exist and no longer have an impact. We experience the fading of separation and are aware of a new bathing into oneness, wholeness and completeness of Love. 

Yoga Sutra 1.20 (my mistake, in the Podcast I said 1.2, it’s One point Twenty sorry for the confusion) Patanjali states 5 essential ingredients to a spiritual practice; Shraddha - Faith/Trust, Virya - Courage/Will-Power, Smriti - Memory, Samadhi - Absorption, Prajna - Illuminated Mind/Discernment.  This practice will guide you to create insight to what these concepts mean to you, how you can refine your relationship with them and be inspired to take these qualities of character off your mat and into your daily life. 

Yoga Sutra 1.20 (my mistake, in the Podcast I said 1.2, it’s One point Twenty sorry for the confusion) Patanjali states 5 essential ingredients to a spiritual practice; Shraddha - Faith/Trust, Virya - Courage/Will-Power, Smriti - Memory, Samadhi - Absorption, Prajna - Illuminated Mind/Discernment.  This practice will guide you to create insight to what these concepts mean to you, how you can refine your relationship with them and be inspired to take these qualities of character off your mat and into your daily life. 

Archer Warrior Sequence reflecting on the Yoga Sutras This practice draws from the Yoga Sutras & the Bhagavad Gita to heal, transform and inspire our lives.  First we cultivate Non Judgemental Awareness, Friendliness, Happiness and Compassion stated in Yoga Sutra 1:33. Then we will redirect our attention to the 5 suggested areas of focus from sutra 1:34-1:38;Breath Awareness, Sensation, Inner Illuminosity, Contemplate a Stable Mind, Open to the Stream of Consciousness refining our mind to become more anchored in the moment. Then we will look at our habits (conscious or unconscious) by understanding our three types of karma and how to wakefully remain awake making wise choices to satisfy our deepest heart’s longing. 

Archer Warrior Sequence reflecting on the Yoga Sutras This practice draws from the Yoga Sutras & the Bhagavad Gita to heal, transform and inspire our lives.  First we cultivate Non Judgemental Awareness, Friendliness, Happiness and Compassion stated in Yoga Sutra 1:33. Then we will redirect our attention to the 5 suggested areas of focus from sutra 1:34-1:38;Breath Awareness, Sensation, Inner Illuminosity, Contemplate a Stable Mind, Open to the Stream of Consciousness refining our mind to become more anchored in the moment. Then we will look at our habits (conscious or unconscious) by understanding our three types of karma and how to wakefully remain awake making wise choices to satisfy our deepest heart’s longing. 

Archer Warrior Sequence reflecting on the Yoga Sutras This practice draws from the Yoga Sutras & the Bhagavad Gita to heal, transform and inspire our lives.  First we cultivate Non Judgemental Awareness, Friendliness, Happiness and Compassion stated in Yoga Sutra 1:33. Then we will redirect our attention to the 5 suggested areas of focus from sutra 1:34-1:38;Breath Awareness, Sensation, Inner Illuminosity, Contemplate a Stable Mind, Open to the Stream of Consciousness refining our mind to become more anchored in the moment. Then we will look at our habits (conscious or unconscious) by understanding our three types of karma and how to wakefully remain awake making wise choices to satisfy our deepest heart’s longing. 

A bit of anatomy and physiology this week. This practice will offer you a deeper experience of the biomechanics of the shoulder girdle moving in a vinyasa practice. As well as a physical approach, Zephyr will invite you to go deeper in unraveling Vishnu Granthi, the physical/psycho/emotional holding we carry around our upper body using asana, pranayama, chanting of OM & SO HUM in practice. 

A bit of anatomy and physiology this week. This practice will offer you a deeper experience of the biomechanics of the shoulder girdle moving in a vinyasa practice. As well as a physical approach, Zephyr will invite you to go deeper in unraveling Vishnu Granthi, the physical/psycho/emotional holding we carry around our upper body using asana, pranayama, chanting of OM & SO HUM in practice.

This traditional buddhist practice acknowledges and celebrates that we as Yogis are the holders of suffering and the quest for healing, freedom and peace can be a liberating one. This is a provocative practice. We will be breathing in someone else’s pain and suffering at the same time we will be working on our own issues. This shared suffering is something magical as once you find your rhythm, you will find the strength to be of service to those more vulnerable, those that are ill and/or trapped in a cycle of suffering. This practice opens us to generosity of spirit, connection to our humanity and love that we can share knowing we all have a basic goodness, a desire to be happy and not to suffer. 

This traditional buddhist practice acknowledges and celebrates that we as Yogis are the holders of suffering and the quest for healing, freedom and peace can be a liberating one. This is a provocative practice. We will be breathing in someone else’s pain and suffering at the same time we will be working on our own issues. This shared suffering is something magical as once you find your rhythm, you will find the strength to be of service to those more vulnerable, those that are ill and/or trapped in a cycle of suffering. This practice opens us to generosity of spirit, connection to our humanity and love that we can share knowing we all have a basic goodness, a desire to be happy and not to suffer. 

Exploring your Kleshas (Mental Emotional Afflictions) Zephyr talks about how Yoga can bring up emotions that we can learn from. Using Tapas to create mental heat of concentration during our practice, Zephyr encourages you to acknowledge your reactions to the heat within your practice and use that awareness and conscious observation to learn more about who you are. Are these emotions helping or hindering?

In this Practice Zephyr helps you identify the mental afflictions that cause our suffering as we pass through this life. Zephyr challenges you to confront your own suffering and observe your reaction(s) to it. This is a practice that creates heat (Tapas) and helps you to become aware of the mental heat of concentration. Be guided by your own wisdom to experience "Yoga" and move beyond these afflictions.

Yoga and meditation are not methods of anaesthetising your experience in life, rather yoga and meditation techniques are tools of managing those experiences. The anger, the anxiety and grief of the life experience are all real just as the joy, curiosity and happiness are real. However. they are also passing waves that do not define who you are. This practice explores who you are behind these emotions and focuses on discovering the essence of you.

Yoga and meditation are not methods of anaesthetising your experience in life, rather yoga and meditation techniques are tools of managing those experiences. The anger, the anxiety and grief of the life experience are all real just as the joy, curiosity and happiness are real. However. they are also passing waves that do not define who you are. This practice explores who you are behind these emotions and focuses on discovering the essence of you.

Yoga and meditation are not methods of anaesthetising your experience in life, rather yoga and meditation techniques are tools of managing those experiences. The anger, the anxiety and grief of the life experience are all real just as the joy, curiosity and happiness are real. However. they are also passing waves that do not define who you are. This practice explores who you are behind these emotions and focuses on discovering the essence of you.

The final meditation to conclude our workshop will help nurture the message of our practice to follow the illumination of your heart, your inner- teacher. This message will resonate and carry on with you through darkness or periods of instability. Come back to this meditation anytime you need to connect with your inner-teacher and to experience the strength, wisdom and compassion that is you.

A bit of 'awakened sleep' will offer a chance to rest and take in all the benefits of the physical practice (Part 2). The 61 point practice will have us working with our resentment and learning how to manage the opposite feelings and emotions that arise. The final stage to the practice is a forgiveness intention opening us to isvara pranidhana and letting go of that resentment that holds us in negative attachment. As we surrender and trust, grace arises leading us towards peace, contentment and serenity. 

‘What asana is for the body, pranayama is for the mind’ to achieve the ‘state’ of yoga we practice yoga directing our attention to the shaping of the breath while refining the relationship between the body and mind. This practice will focus on breath retention, suspension and progression in order to purify and create clarity in our ability to occupy our embodiment while enduring negative thoughts and emotions that may come up. Calm and ease brought into existence during dis-ease can be an incredible life hack. Come back to this practice anytime the world is feeling a bit overwhelming and centre yourself within the wisdom of your inner-teacher.  This practice will apply Kriya Yoga (Tapas, Sva dhyaya and isvara pranidhana) as we move, connecting to the strong feelings, thoughts and reactions that may have come up during the work focused on addressing our resentment. 

It's a new year and everyone is feeling a bit of motivation for manifesting a new start. Zephyr's message in this podcast is a focus on encouraging us all to look at our past and recognise our experience and how it has become helpful or has hindered our evolution and our ability to move forward. A meditation to set the tone for a four-part lecture and practice that will welcome you into a new year of self reflection and purification. The brief meditation at the start of this podcast is a great way to prepare yourself to plant seeds of purpose and help reduce seeds of suffering that have been planted through your own experiences throughout your life. The clarity to our path forward is often blurred by experience and our reactions to life are just that, reactions. Use this meditation anytime you want to comeback to these themes and practices of self-reflection and moving through life with purpose. Whenever you find yourself reacting rather than responding to life's obstacles, come back to this practice and work on continuing to build skills that help you see life more clearly and navigate through it. Zephyr has shared the slides from this lecture with you below, so when you have time you can follow along with her.

Creating a bit of heat in our practice this week requires a balance that can be brought with a smile. Sounds simple enough, but being present in the moment often requires that we find a bit of dis-comfort and at the same time find, define and nurture our intention for our practice. In this Slow-Flow session Zephyr will remind you how being on the mat can be a practice in "being here now" which is a lesson we can all take graciously and use off the mat in our everyday lives. Engaging with those around us, our family, friends or our colleagues and our children is not always the easiest to maintain a meaningful presence. This practice will help with life's discomforts and give you the tools to be more present and allow you to give and receive a more meaningful and present interaction with life and those you engage with (including yourself!). A focused breath, a gentle downward gaze and a slight Buddha smile is all it takes.

As a Yogi, we are all working to to find stillness. It is in fact the definition of Yoga (contrary to the popular belief of many of my contortionist colleagues). The whole reason the modern day Yogi movement is such a popular and well populated movement is because when we get the message, when we (sometimes just for a fleeting second) lose ourselves and enter the presence of the moment it tends to feel really, really good and we look for it again. When we find the presence, we can navigate the rest of our day and take the lessons from that experience with us.  The hard part, however, is getting to the presence. In this podcast Zephyr lets us all in on a little secret to help bring a bit more presence to our practice. She describes how skillful movement whilst being present is not rushed and is certainly not anticipating the next pose. 108 Sun Salutations can bring discipline, but rarely does it bring presence. It takes a Buddha smile and an intention on letting go of what you stepped on to the mat with. Only then can you step off the mat with a clearer presence and be ready to face the day "here and now".