Om Som Yoga + Ayurveda Podcast

By Aaron Petty + Paige TaylahEducation Self-Improvement

Om Som Yoga + Ayurveda Podcast episodes

August 24, 2025The Breath of Life: Understanding Vayu Tattva
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ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE: VAYU TATTVA (THE AIR ELEMENT)
This week we explore Vayu Tattva, the air element, and its role as the animating force that moves life itself. From the subtlety of breath to the invisible currents that shape our emotions and thoughts, Vayu is a reminder of how vital movement and space are to our wellbeing.

KEY CONCEPTS COVERED
The qualities (gunas) of the air element: light, mobile, dry, cool, subtle
Vayu Deva as the personification of the air element
Signs of excess and depletion of Vayu in the body and mind
The connection between breath, nervous system regulation, and prana vayus
Yoga practices to balance and embody the air element

TEXTUAL SOURCES
Insights from classical texts including the Gheranda Samhita and references to the heart chakra (Anahata) and the bija mantra YAM

PRACTICAL INTEGRATION
Discover how to integrate the air element into your daily life through breath awareness, backbending asanas, pranayama techniques like kumbhaka and bhramari, and embracing spontaneity to cultivate lightness and clarity.

SHARE & CONNECTThank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.

Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.

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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
26 min
August 17, 2025 Ignite Your Inner Fire: Exploring Agni Through Yoga & Ayurveda
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ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE: AGNI – THE FIRE ELEMENT
In this episode, we explore Agni Tattva, the third of the five great elements (Pancha Mahābhūtas) and one of the most revered forces in the Vedic tradition. Agni is not only the fire that warms, digests, and transforms—it is also the divine mouth of the gods, the spark of tapas, and the igniting force of transformation in both body and mind.

KEY CONCEPTS COVERED
Agni (अग्नि) is the Sanskrit word for fire and refers to both the physical element and its divine embodiment as Agni Deva. Agni is seen as the bridge between the human and the divine, transforming offerings into subtle fragrance and intention into sacred action.
The symbolism of Agni Deva: riding a ram, body of flame, two faces for creation and destruction
Fire as messenger between humans and gods in Vedic ritual
Ayurvedic gunas of Agni: uṣṇa (hot), tīkṣṇa (sharp), laghu (light), rūkṣa (dry), and sūkṣma (subtle)
Fire as the basis of digestion (Jatharāgni), clarity, intuition, and transformation
Tapas as the friction required for growth
Signs of excess fire: inflammation, aggression, impatience, burnout
Signs of depleted fire: sluggish digestion, low confidence, lack of clarity or motivation
How to work with fire through asana (twists), pranayama (Kapalabhati, Bhastrikā, Ujjāyī), meditation, and lifestyle habits
The power of fire ceremonies, Agnihotra, and candle-gazing as practices of purification and presence

TEXTUAL SOURCES
Gheraṇḍa Saṁhitā 5.12 – “Visualise a red triangle that blazes like fire, radiating heat and flame. This is the subtle essence of the fire element.”
Chakra reference: Maṇipūra — the “City of Jewels” associated with fire and personal power
Elemental seed sound: Ram — the bija mantra to ignite transformation and willpower

INTEGRATING IN PRACTICE
Asana: Emphasise twists and core-strengthening poses to stimulate digestion and personal power
Pranayama: Try heating practices like Kapalabhati and Bhastrikā to energise; or use Ujjāyī for slow, steady heat
Meditation: Candle gazing (Trāṭaka) or meditating on the red triangle at the navel centre

DAILY LIFE:
Prioritise warm, well-spiced meals to tend digestive fire
Maintain a daily rhythm with built-in challenge (tapas)
Reconnect with the sun’s cycles and track your local sunrise/sunset
Use fire as a teacher: observe its qualities, sit by a fire, cook with flame, and engage with transformation mindfully

SHARE & CONNECT
Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.

Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.

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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
31 min
August 10, 2025 Water as Teacher: Understanding Jala in the Yogic Tradition
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ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE: JALA – THE WATER ELEMENT IN YOGA & AYURVEDA
Water is life. It nourishes, connects, and flows within and around us. In this episode, we explore Jala Tattva (the water element) as part of our series on the five great elements (Pancha Mahabhuta).

KEY CONCEPTS COVERED
The meaning and qualities of Jala – liquid, unctuous (snigdha), cool, soft, and flowing
The personification of water as Varuna Deva, the compassionate guardian and judge of the oceans
How imbalance in water shows up – from emotional overwhelm and fluid retention to dryness and disconnection
Yogic practices to cultivate balance in water: fluid asana, cooling pranayama (like Shitali), and meditation on the crescent moon
Ayurvedic tips for hydration, from drinking living water to self-oil massage (abhyanga)

This episode is both philosophical and deeply practical, helping you weave the nourishing qualities of water into your yoga practice and daily life.

TEXTUAL SOURCES REFERENCED
Gheranda Samhita (Chapter 3: Dharanas on the elements)
Yogic association of Jala with Svadhishthana Chakra
Ayurvedic concepts of Snigdha (unctuousness) and Kapha dosha

SHARE & CONNECTThank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.
Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.
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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
30 min
August 03, 2025 Prithvi: Stability, Grounding & The Earth Element in Yoga
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ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE: PRITHVI – CULTIVATING STABILITY THROUGH THE EARTH ELEMENT
We begin a new series exploring the Pancha Mahābhūtas—the five great elements of the yogic and Ayurvedic tradition. Starting with Prithvi (Earth), Aaron and Paige unpack how this foundational element nourishes both body and mind, and why cultivating its qualities is essential for grounding, stability, and balance in our lives.

We explore the Sanskrit meaning of Prithvi and its connection to the goddess Bhūmi Devī, revered in the Vedic tradition as the great mother who sustains all life. Together, we’ll reflect on the tangible ways earth manifests within and around us—through the physical body, our emotions, and the structures of our lives.

KEY CONCEPTS WE EXPLORE
What is Prithvi? Sanskrit etymology and significance of the earth element.
Bhūmi Devī: Understanding the personification of Earth as a goddess of nourishment and abundance.
Qualities of Earth: Heavy, stable, hard, oily, and slow—how these guṇas show up in the body and mind.
Excess and Depletion: Signs of too much or too little earth in your constitution, and how this impacts your energy, mood, and routine.
Earth in Hatha Yoga: The connection between Prithvi and Mūlādhāra Chakra, including the bija mantra lam and the symbolic yellow square meditation from the Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā.

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
Yoga Practice: Standing postures like Tadasana and balancing poses to develop grounding. Forward folds and low-to-the-earth asanas to build stability.
Breathwork: Slow, extended exhales and three-part breathing to calm and anchor the nervous system.
Meditation: Visualise a golden-yellow square or chant lam at the base of the spine to embody earth’s steady energy.
Lifestyle Tips: Earthing (barefoot walking), forest bathing, and establishing daily routines for a more grounded and consistent life.

FINAL REFLECTION
The earth element invites us to slow down, stabilise, and reconnect with our own inner and outer foundations. By cultivating Prithvi, we can nourish the parts of ourselves that crave security and steadiness while honouring the abundance that Bhūmi Devī offers unconditionally.

Where in your life could you bring in more stability and support? And what small practice might help you feel more grounded today?

SHARE & CONNECT
Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.
Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.
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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
35 min
July 27, 2025Samādhi: When the Meditator Dissolves
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ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE: SAMĀDHI – THE UNION BEYOND MIND
This final episode in our exploration of Rāja Yoga turns inward—deep into the heart of the practice. Samādhi is often romanticised or misunderstood as the "goal" of yoga, yet it is simply the natural flowering of sustained concentration (Dharana) and effortless meditation (Dhyāna). It is the stillness behind the waves, the silence at the centre of sound, the one who sees.

We reflect on how Samādhi isn’t something you “achieve,” but something that reveals itself when the inner noise settles. It’s not dramatic. It’s not even “blissful” in the way the mind imagines. It is the still presence that has always been there—before the mind, after the breath.

DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY OF SAMĀDHI

In Sanskrit, Samādhi is made up of three roots:
Sam – complete, fully, together
Ā – towards, near
Dhi – to hold, to place the mind

It refers to the complete absorption of the mind into the object of meditation—so fully that there is no longer a sense of separation between the observer and the observed. The mind becomes eka-tanata, one-pointed and steady, and eventually dissolves into pure awareness.

KEY CONCEPTS COVERED
The progressive refinement from Dharana → Dhyāna → Samādhi.
Samādhi is not a goal to strive for—it’s a natural state that arises when the conditions are right.
Misconceptions about Samādhi: it's not about escape, fireworks, or mystical detachment.
How the ego tries to grasp or replicate spiritual experience.
The danger of spiritual bypassing and mistaking sensory withdrawal for liberation.
Sahaja Samādhi — the integration of stillness into everyday life.
The value of humility and returning again and again to practice.

TEXTUAL SOURCES
Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali, Chapter 1: Samādhi Pāda — especially verses 1.17–1.20, which outline Sabīja (with seed) and Nirbīja (seedless) Samādhi.

Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā (4.1–4.6) — describes Samādhi as the cessation of duality and the merging of prāṇa and apāna in the central channel.

Shiva Samhitā and Gheranda Samhitā — reference Samādhi as the ultimate aim of mudrā, bandha, and prāṇāyāma practices.

PRACTICAL INTEGRATION

Aaron and Paige reflect on their own experiences of stillness—what helped and hindered the inner quiet from arising. We explore:
How to stay grounded while encountering altered states.
The value of discipline, devotion, and deep inner listening.
Creating an inner environment of ease, trust, and openness.
The importance of rest, play, and patience in a culture obsessed with productivity.

SHARE & CONNECT:
Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.
Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.
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⁠
We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
35 min
July 20, 2025 Dhyāna: The Art of Unbroken Awareness and the Door to Samādhi
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ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE: Dhyāna – Meditation as a Stream of Awareness
Meditation is not a technique. It is a state.
In this episode, we explore Dhyāna (meditative absorption) not as a separate practice from āsana and prāṇāyāma, but as a natural evolution of consistent sādhanā. We reflect on how meditation emerges when attention becomes steady, the senses withdraw, and the breath is refined. We also clarify the difference between concentration (Dharana), meditation (Dhyāna), and absorption (Samādhi) in the traditional yogic framework.

DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY OF DHYĀNA
Dhyāna (ध्यान) comes from the root dhī – to reflect, contemplate, or hold in mind.
It is the 7th limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga.

Patañjali defines it as the uninterrupted flow of concentration on one object (YS 3.2):
“tatra pratyaya ekatānatā dhyānam”
Meditation is the continuous focus on a single object.

KEY CONCEPTS
Dhyāna is not about silencing thoughts, but about sustaining one object of meditation without distraction.
The practice begins with Dharana (placing the mind) and matures into Dhyāna (sustained presence).
It is not a doing—but a being.
The breath becomes a bridge into this quiet state.
When Dhyāna deepens, it becomes Samādhi—the state where the distinction between meditator, object, and meditation dissolves.

TEXTUAL SOURCES
Yoga Sūtra of Patañjali – Chapters 3.1–3.3 on Dharana, Dhyāna, and Samādhi as the integrated process of Samyama.

Bhagavad Gītā (Chapter 6) – describing the seat, discipline, and mindset of a meditator.

Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā (Chapter 4) – linking prāṇāyāma and mudrā to the rise of natural meditation.

INTEGRATING DHYĀNA IN PRACTICE
Cultivate a stable āsana, refine prāṇāyāma, and allow the senses to turn inward (pratyāhāra).
Sit each day—even for a few minutes—in stillness.
Use the breath, mantra, or internal light (jyotir) as a support.
Trust that meditation will reveal itself through repetition, simplicity, and sincerity.

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Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.
Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.
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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
29 min
July 13, 2025 Dharana & The Sacred Art of Concentration
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On this week's episode: DHARANA – THE ART OF INNER STILLNESS

In this episode, we explore Dharana—the sixth limb of yoga—as the art and effort of concentration. Dharana is the capacity to hold the mind on one thing. It precedes meditation (Dhyana) and is essential for entering the deeper, subtler states of yoga.

DEFINITION AND ETYMOLOGY OF DHARANA
The word Dharana comes from the Sanskrit root dhṛ, meaning “to hold,” “to bear,” or “to support.” In practice, it refers to the act of fixing the awareness upon one object, sensation, or internal space. Dharana is not yet meditation—it is the threshold, the gathering of the mind from its scattered tendencies toward a single stream of awareness.

Unlike meditation as a passive state, Dharana is active, intentional, and often challenging. We speak about the energetic importance of stillness, and how Dharana prepares us to meet the contents of the mind without being swept away by them. It’s the beginning of pratyaya-ekatānata—the continuous, unbroken flow of attention.

TEXTUAL SOURCES
In Pātañjalayogaśāstra, Yoga Sutra 3.1 defines Dharana as:
“Deśa-bandhaś cittasya dhāraṇā” – “Dharana is the binding of the mind to one place, object or idea.”

We also reference Dharana practices in the Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā, where techniques like Trataka (gazing), breath retention, and internal visualisation are offered as means to steady the mind.

These teachings suggest that Dharana is not merely a mental exercise, but a deeply embodied and energetic experience that leads into Dhyana and eventually Samadhi.

Techniques discussed include breath awareness, chakra visualisation, mantra japa, and Trataka (fixed gaze). These are not about “emptying the mind” but about refining the mind’s ability to rest in a single place—be it the breath, a candle flame, or the heart.

We also speak about how Dharana can be integrated into daily life—from brushing your teeth to walking through the bush—as a form of sacred attention.

We close with reflections on the obstacles to Dharana—like restlessness, boredom, or frustration—and how to meet them with grace, not resistance.

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Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.

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OM
22 min
July 06, 2025 Pratyāhāra: The Hidden Limb That Opens the Door to Meditation
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ON THIS WEEK'S EPISODE:
Pratyāhāra – The Gateway Between Outer & Inner Practice
In this episode, we explore Pratyāhāra, the fifth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga and the vital bridge between outer discipline and inner stillness.

Often overlooked, Pratyāhāra is the turning point—a moment when the senses are no longer scattered in the external world but drawn inward toward the source of awareness.

TEXTUAL SOURCES:
We unpack its etymology (prati = against or away, āhāra = food or intake), and the rich symbolism of withdrawing the senses not as suppression, but as conscious redirection.

This episode weaves together philosophy, scriptural sources, and personal reflection on how this practice can guide us from constant consumption toward deep inner nourishment.

WE TOUCH ON:
Pratyāhāra as the yoga of the senses
Why it’s essential before dhāraṇā (concentration) and dhyāna (meditation)
The common misunderstanding that Pratyāhāra is passive or escapist
The tortoise metaphor from the Bhagavad Gītā and other classical analogies
Daily life applications: how to consciously redirect the senses
The distinction between sensory withdrawal and suppression
Why Pratyāhāra isn’t about abandoning the world, but embracing it inwardly
How Pratyāhāra links the physical and mental limbs of yoga
Yogic texts that speak to this limb (Yoga Sūtra 2.54–2.55, Hatha Yoga Pradīpikā references)

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Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.

Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.

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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
33 min
June 29, 2025 Prāṇāyāma: The Gateway to Inner Stillness
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ON THIS WEEK’S EPISODE: PRĀṆĀYĀMA — MASTERING THE BREATH
In this episode, we explore the fourth limb of Aṣṭāṅga Yoga—Prāṇāyāma, often described as the gateway between the physical practices of āsana and the inner limbs of meditation. Aaron and Paige guide us through a rich, grounded, and traditional understanding of what it means to master the breath—not just as a technique, but as a means of refining our awareness and expanding our life force. We discuss the etymology of prāṇa (life-force) and āyāma (expansion, restraint); how prāṇāyāma links body, breath, and mind; why traditional teachings always follow āsana with prāṇāyama—not the other way around; and the difference between breath control and energy mastery.

TEXTURAL SOURCES
Haṭha Yoga Pradīpikā 2.1
atha āsane dṛḍhe yogī vaśī hita-mitāśanaḥ |
gurūpadiṣṭa-mārgeṇa prāṇāyāmān samabhyaset ||

“Established in steadiness of āsana, with mastery, moderate diet, and guided by the teacher’s path—the yogī should begin the practice of prāṇāyāma.”

Gheraṇḍa Saṃhitā 5.1 describes prāṇāyāma as one of the seven limbs of Haṭha Yoga, along with ṣaṭkarma, āsana, mudrā, pratyāhāra, dhyāna, and samādhi. The eight classical kumbhakas (retentions) are listed and broken down: Sūrya Bhedana, Ujjāyī, Śītalī, Bhastrikā, Bhrāmarī, Mūrchā, Plāvinī, and Kevalī.

We explore how to begin prāṇāyāma safely: after establishing a stable āsana practice and with guidance from a teacher. The value of simple breath awareness (śvāsapraśvāsa) as a foundation. The role of retention (kumbhaka) in shifting mental states and preparing for pratyāhāra. Tips for integrating breathwork into daily life for clarity, steadiness, and energy regulation.

Prāṇāyāma is not about force or control—it’s about intimacy with the breath, trust in your system, and a commitment to deepening presence. It is a bridge, a purifier, and a catalyst for inner stillness.

SHARE & CONNECT:

Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.

Please share this episode with someone it might support, and connect with us on social media or via our website.

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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
43 min
June 22, 2025 Ishvara Pranidhana: The Final Niyama
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On this week's episode: Īśvara Praṇidhāna (Surrender to the Divine)
We close our Yamas & Niyamas series with a deep dive into Īśvara Praṇidhāna – the practice of surrendering to the divine, whatever that may mean to you. From the rowboat analogy to Ram Dass’s wisdom, this episode invites you to step back from personal control and tune into divine flow. We discuss how this final niyama is both a culmination and a doorway—an offering of your practice, your life, and your purpose to something higher.

Key Concepts:
Īśvara = the Divine; Praṇidhāna = to surrender or devote oneself
The distinction between giving up and trusting deeply
Why yoga asks for surrender as the final step on the path
Letting go of control and learning to flow with life
Seeing everyone (and yourself) as an embodiment of the divine
Devotion through practice, mantra, prayer, and selfless service (seva)
Using your life as an offering—not for personal gain, but for collective upliftment

Textual Sources:
Yoga Sūtra 2.45: “Samādhi siddhiḥ īśvara praṇidhānāt” — “Perfection in Samādhi comes through surrender to the Divine.”
Bhagavad Gītā 2.47: “You have the right to act, but not to the fruits of your actions.”

Integration in Thought, Word, and Action:
In thought: Let go of needing to control the outcome. Trust in the natural intelligence of life.
In word: Use mantra, prayer, or language that invokes the sacred. Speak as if speaking to God.
In action: Devote yourself to your highest calling. Let your practice, your seva, and your daily life become your offering.

Reflective Takeaway:
What would it look like if every breath, every word, every step became an offering? Īśvara Praṇidhāna reminds us that our life can be a vessel for the divine—not through control, but through surrender.

Thank you for listening to the Om Som Yoga & Ayurveda Podcast.
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We operate a yoga studio in Berwick, Victoria, Australia, offering classes, workshops, and Yoga Teacher Training programs. We'd love to connect with you wherever you are on your journey.

OM
29 min