In this episode of Wisdom of The Way, we have a beautiful, spontaneous and insightful meeting with Tommy Rosen, a renowned yoga and addiction recovery expert. We delve into the nature of addiction (which is not always what and how we think it is), and we understand it as often disconnection from self, others, and the world. Tommy shares his personal journey hitting rock bottom and his insights on finding recovery through openness, humility, and introspection - and how the yogic technology also provided him with the opportunity to re-establish the connection with himself, his life and to heal.

We discuss the importance of daily practice (Sadhana), compassion, and creating intentional communities for sustained growth. The episode also touches on the transformative power of pilgrimage and how integrating these profound experiences into daily life is crucial for continuous personal development. Tommy emphasizes the need for self-forgiveness and the courage to seek help before hitting rock bottom. This heartfelt discussion offers practical and compassionate approaches to living a fulfilling life and recovering from various forms of disconnection.

00:50 Meeting Tommy Rosen: A Serendipitous Encounter

03:25 Exploring Addiction and Recovery

10:27 Personal Journey and Rock Bottom

16:01 The Gift of Desperation and Asking for Help

24:04 Living a Full Life and Finding Fulfilment

29:46 The Importance of Compassion and Forgiveness

32:50 The Power of Self-Forgiveness

33:32 Challenges of Human Experience

34:50 Understanding and Compassion

36:15 Purpose of Yoga

41:11 The Role of Community

42:30 Pilgrimage as a Path to Recovery

50:09 Integrating Transformative Experiences

56:56 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

____________

To follow, connect and learn with Tommy:

Recovery 2.0

https://r20.com

In The Circle Podcast with Tommy Rosen

___________

For retreats, practices and more camino wisdom, sign up to our newsletter at: https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/about#subscribe

In this episode of 'Wisdom of the Way,' we meet with Tomi Kokko, a successful entrepreneur from Finland who undertook a deep inner journey of healing and self-discovery. Tomi shares his story of experiencing a complete breakdown despite his outward success, and how his time on the Camino de Santiago, supported by practices like meditation, yoga, and self-inquiry, helped him to rebuild his life. We discuss the importance of dedication to inner work, breaking old habits, and integrating newfound consciousness into everyday life. The conversation, held around a fire in freezing Finland, is a profound exploration of creating a mindful and meaningful life. Tomi, who is so relatable, open and authentic, shares with us great wisdom about how to traverse such challenging life situations.00:37 Meet Tomi Kokko: A Journey of Transformation00:58 Tomi's Crisis and Camino Experience02:28 The Inner Journey: Meditation, Yoga, and Self-Inquiry03:53 Tomi's Background and Entrepreneurial Struggles07:54 The Turning Point: Embracing the Inner Camino14:32 Practices and Dedication: The Path to Healing23:45 Returning Home: Integrating the Journey26:05 Mindful Habits and Environment-------------Follow Tomi at: www.tomikokko.com/www.instagram.com/tomikokko/For camino retreats, powerful practices and more camino wisdom, sign up to our newsletter at:www.wisdomoftheway.com/about#subscribe

Embracing the Hero's Journey and walking a Rite of Passage

Dive into this real and heartfelt conversation with Patrick Holmes, Paddy, an inspiring storyteller, dream chaser, creative and pilgrim on the Camino de Santiago. Paddy shares his journey of transformation, reflecting on themes such as grief, intention, and intuition. This journey for Paddy is really a path of deep healing and celebration, after the recent passing of his mother and the grief that he has experienced. We speak to the power of presence and the power of walking with purpose. Paddy also shares about his journey from boyhood to manhood, and we touch on his creative ventures and dreams, including his rap career, a business called Hammock Temple and his podcast Pddywagon (see links below). It's a cracker!

00:42 Meeting Paddy: A Heartfelt Conversation

03:36 Paddy's Journey and Reflections

06:56 The Hero's Journey and Integration

13:34 Teachers and Lessons on the Camino

31:55 Embracing Grief and Synchronicities

37:32 A Moment of Joyous Laughter

39:13 The Mysterious Singing Wizard

42:11 Meeting Mao: A Lesson in Presence

43:44 The Importance of Silence

53:24 The Illusion of Urgency

57:02 Chasing Dreams: From Rapper to Author

01:00:08 The Hammock Temple: A Dream Realized

01:02:43 The Journey to Manhood

-

Check out Paddy’s creations, music, podcast, poetry, offerings here:

https://www.pddywgon.com/

For retreats, practices and more camino wisdom, sign up to our newsletter at:

https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/about#subscribe

Embracing Gratefulness and Letting Go: Margaret's Camino Journey

In this episode of Wisdom of the Way, we have a lively conversation with Margaret about her transformative experience walking the Camino de Santiago. Margaret shares her deeply personal journey of recovery from a severe accident and her spontaneous decision to walk the Camino, inspired by her children. She discusses the importance of being present, letting go of unnecessary burdens, and embracing gratitude, love, and compassion. Margaret reveals how the Camino has helped her to discard physical and emotional baggage, leading to profound self-discovery and a renewed zest for life. The episode emphasizes the Camino's power to inspire openness, deep connections, and personal growth.

01:54 Margaret's Journey to the Camino

03:07 The Accident and Recovery

03:22 Preparation and Inspirations

05:28 Lessons from the Camino

06:53 Letting Go of Material and Emotional Baggage

11:25 Gratitude and Love on the Camino

17:28 Practical Tips for Staying Grateful

20:50 Reflecting on Life's Moments

23:52 Lessons from the Camino

24:47 Walking Alone and Self-Reflection

26:55 Honesty and Connection

30:02 Discarding Defense Mechanisms

31:24 Returning Home with New Insights

36:28 Defining God and Personal Growth

38:13 Advice for Future Pilgrims

-

For retreats, practices and more camino wisdom, sign up to our newsletter at:

https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/about#subscribe

This episode of 'Wisdom of the Way’ is a heart-warming and exciting conversation with adventurous couple Dan and Katie, who are walking an inspirational Camino de Santiago with their one-year-old daughter, Aurora. The ‘yarn’ (Australian word for conversation :) ) highlights the challenges and joys of adapting to this journey during the off-season and as new parents, emphasizing the importance of presence, adaptability, and maintaining a positive mindset. Dan and Katie share insights into their motivations for taking on this adventure, their experiences of synchronicities along the way, and the valuable life lessons they've learned about trust, communication, and kindness. Synchronicity, Dan & I grew up in the next town from each other in outback Australia! So of course we had to have this chat! The conversation also touches on the profound impact of parenting on their lives as well as the importance of embracing life's opportunities with a resounding 'yes.'01:54 Meet Dan, Katie, and Aurora02:13 The Adventure of Walking the Camino with a Baby02:42 Synchronicities and Connections on the Camino04:26 Inspiration Behind the Journey07:36 Parenting and Adaptability on the Camino09:43 The Joy and Challenges of Traveling with a Baby15:31 Meditation and Presence in Parenthood25:39 Stages and Reflections of the Camino Journey29:25 Family Time and the Value of Relationships32:09 The Power of Saying Yes34:57 Embracing Parenting as an Adventure36:58 Keys to a Strong Relationship39:31 Daily Gratitude and Reflection43:30 Advice for Camino with a Child47:35 Documenting the Journey-For retreats, practices and more camino wisdom, sign up to our newsletter at:https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/about#subscribe

From Music to Magic with Dan Mullins on the Camino de Santiago.

In this episode of 'Wisdom of the Way,' we meet with Dan Mullins, a well-known podcaster and musician in the Camino community. At the time of this interview his podcast ‘My Camino’ had just passed over 1 million downloads!

We drop into some of Dan's transformative experiences walking the Camino de Santiago, starting with his first encounter with the Camino in 2007 and highlighting the life-changing journey he embarked on for his 50th birthday. Dan shares insights about love, the importance of listening, and the integration of his Camino lessons into everyday life. He also talks about his deep connection with music and how it helps him connect with others and cultivate kindness and compassion. This heartfelt conversation explores themes of vulnerability, integrating our experiences, and the power of presence.

00:45 Meeting Dan

02:00 Dan's Camino Journey Begins

04:48 The Transformative Power of the Camino

06:52 Dan's Musical Journey

15:33 The Joy of Live Music

18:50 Living with Intention

21:01 A Heartfelt Conversation on the Camino

22:00 The Gift of Listening

24:35 Lessons from the Camino

28:28 The Power of Music

33:33 Integrating the Camino Experience

36:56 Bringing the Camino Home

-

For retreats, practices and more camino wisdom, sign up to our newsletter at:

https://www.wisdomoftheway.com/about#subscribe

Dan’s Podcast: My Camino

https://open.spotify.com/show/5rNICOEMt74P3CcZEi0VQv

Dan’s music

https://www.danmullinsmusic.com/

A Journey of Love and Healing on the Camino de Santiago: Lea's Story

In this episode of the Wisdom of the Way podcast, we meet Lea from Lebanon, who shares her beautiful journey of love, healing, and self-discovery on the Camino de Santiago. Through her experiences, Lea recounts the calling that brought her to the Camino, the physical and emotional challenges she faced, and the profound lessons she learned about trust, letting go, and opening her heart. A poignant moment in the episode is Lea's encounter with a man from Israel, highlighting the power of open-hearted human connection beyond national and cultural boundaries. This episode underscores the transformative power of the Camino and its lessons applicable to life, inviting all of us to embrace authenticity and love.

04:11 The Call to the Camino

07:16 Challenges and Lessons on the Camino

16:34 Trust and Letting Go

25:36 The Camino: A Journey of Connection

26:41 Life Lessons from the Camino

28:48 Healing and Transformation on the Camino

31:51 Personal Reflections and Insights

39:08 The Power of Authentic Connections

In the debut episode of 'Wisdom of the Way,' I explore the transformative wisdom of the Camino de Santiago with my teacher, Anand Mehrotra, of Sattva Yoga Academy. Recorded during a teacher training in India, this insightful conversation delves into the nature of synchronicity, the essence of pilgrimages, and the lifelong journey of spiritual growth. Anand shares profound teachings on the transformative power of pilgrimages, the importance of evolving our consciousness and awareness, and the necessity of inner practices.

Anand also offers insightful advice on facing challenges, preparing for spiritual journeys, the role of teachers and mentors, and the importance of converting belief into experiential knowledge. The episode culminates in a discussion about the deeper aspects of yoga beyond its limited Western interpretation, and how we utilise its comprehensive approach to walk our Inner Camino.

Join me, Sai, from our home on the transformative Camino de Santiago in Spain as we meet with incredible pilgrims and teachers from all over the world to share inspiring stories, insights and lived wisdom from along the way.