Zephyr Yoga Podcast

Karmamala is connected to the body and how the ego identifies itself as “I am what I do”, my behaviour, my actions. This is the investment in the doership of life. This Mala is the stain over the lens of perceiving that we are the limitation to our actions as our self-worth tied to what you do and what we are not doing. This distorted view point gives rise to an inability to trust, connect and surrender as we are locked in a Karmic cycle of behaviour that is coloured by the other two Malas. As long as the other two Malas are actively distorted, stained and contaminated with feeling unworthy or not enough and the thoughts keep one separated, biased, prejudiced, you will see yourself as limited. This leads to actions that entangle our egotism to destructive ignorance, attachment and aversion to continue at any cost, we call this bondage to Karmic repercussions.

Attachment is primarily the limited belief that we need something outside ourselves to be fulfilled. A partner, a family, a car, more material things, money, fame, success, approval, power…that Yoga Pose will fill that void and show our worth.

Aversion is like the same just in reverse, it is what we resist, how we avoid what we don’t want or like, what we want to push away or eliminate as we see them as bad, painful or may lead to feel suffering. 

When we are driven by our own ignorance, stuck in this cycle of attachment and aversion we act out in ways that have a stained intention to ourselves and other. The more we are invested in our attachments and aversions the more extreme the actions. As they say what we resist, persists or the definition of insanity, is doing the same thing, expecting different results. 

Action in sanskrit is Karma. Karma carries the notion that the fruit of your actions, comes back to you, you can’t escape the consequence of your actions. There is a cause and effect. Every action has a reaction, every choice has a consequence. The cause behind your current situation is your past Karma. Your’e a sum total of all your choices and actions. That your current life is a continuation of the past. So if you don’t like where you are, start by looking at what motivates your actions, the other Malas. 

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

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Malas are stains and impurities over our hearts, minds and bodies that limit our lives to being defined by our feelings, thoughts and actions. 

Anavamala is the stain over our heart that keeps us defined by “I am my feelings” 

Mayiyamala – Connected to the Mind. “I know”, thoughts, mind. Like the saying “I think, therefore I am” however who are you when you’re not thinking? Do you exist? This stain or impurity over the mind distorts the perception of difference oneself and other, oneself and the Divine, oneself and Pure Consciousness. It is said to be knowledge that is impure or distorted through a stain of thoughts that lead to prejudice as there is a perception of separateness or inability to see unity. This encourages thought that draw us into compare and despair, perception of abandonment, being disconnected and alone as an individual being amongst others and source. 

There is a lot of being conditioned to think by our families, culture and religion. Humans are programmed to be tribal to survive. This gives rise to racism, sexism, classism, ageism and other ways we perceive difference and feel threatened by it. 

There is an analogy of a continent with many mountains, most of these mountains are under water, however a few pop out and above the water, the peaks are perceived as islands. If you never looked below the surface of the water you would never think they would be connected. Mayiyamala is a bit like this. We think everyone is different, unrelated or independent of each other. We point the finger and judge others, feeling envy, jealousy and anger. However, as the saying goes when you point a finger, there are always three fingers pointing back at you. This ability to take ones own inventory, to self-reflect and see themselves in other’s shoes, that we are no better or different under the circumstances. The saying that we are Spiritual Beings having a Human experience and that we are Human Beings having a Spiritual experience. Our practice is to analyse our thoughts, beliefs and judgements. Am I my thoughts? What am I? How do I define myself? Label myself? How is my investment in my own island keeping me separate from others? Do I think my island is better or less than the others that are around me? Can I see fundamentally all individual islands are the same, as you look at what everything is built on and underneath we all are interconnected. Who are you when you are not trying to be somebody? 

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malas are stains and impurities over our hearts, minds and bodies that limit our lives to being defined by our feelings, thoughts and actions. 

Anavamala is the stain over our heart that keeps us defined by “I am my feelings” 

Mayiyamala – Connected to the Mind. “I know”, thoughts, mind. Like the saying “I think, therefore I am” however who are you when you’re not thinking? Do you exist? This stain or impurity over the mind distorts the perception of difference oneself and other, oneself and the Divine, oneself and Pure Consciousness. It is said to be knowledge that is impure or distorted through a stain of thoughts that lead to prejudice as there is a perception of separateness or inability to see unity. This encourages thought that draw us into compare and despair, perception of abandonment, being disconnected and alone as an individual being amongst others and source. 

There is a lot of being conditioned to think by our families, culture and religion. Humans are programmed to be tribal to survive. This gives rise to racism, sexism, classism, ageism and other ways we perceive difference and feel threatened by it. 

There is an analogy of a continent with many mountains, most of these mountains are under water, however a few pop out and above the water, the peaks are perceived as islands. If you never looked below the surface of the water you would never think they would be connected. Mayiyamala is a bit like this. We think everyone is different, unrelated or independent of each other. We point the finger and judge others, feeling envy, jealousy and anger. However, as the saying goes when you point a finger, there are always three fingers pointing back at you. This ability to take ones own inventory, to self-reflect and see themselves in other’s shoes, that we are no better or different under the circumstances. The saying that we are Spiritual Beings having a Human experience and that we are Human Beings having a Spiritual experience. Our practice is to analyse our thoughts, beliefs and judgements. Am I my thoughts? What am I? How do I define myself? Label myself? How is my investment in my own island keeping me separate from others? Do I think my island is better or less than the others that are around me? Can I see fundamentally all individual islands are the same, as you look at what everything is built on and underneath we all are interconnected. Who are you when you are not trying to be somebody? 

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malas are stains or impurities on the lens of our perception of our heart, mind and body. They are a form of ignorance that ties us to our limited-self, insinuating that to overcome them, we become un-limited. This was described by Abinavagupta, 950-1016 CE Mystic, Poet, Philosopher wrote the Tantraloka about Kashmir Shivaism.

Anavamala – Connected to the Heart, the ego identifies by relating to “I Feel”

Mayiyamala – Connected to the Mind, the dog identifies by relating to “I Know”

Karmamala – Connected to the Body, the ego identifies by relating to “I Do”

Anavamala is an expression of our moods, emotional attributes that ties us to the limited self of “I am my feelings.” Linked to feeling of being unworthy, undeserving, improper, not enough, shameful, small, source of feeling incomplete, insecure, sad and lonely. Anavamala is the primary cause of suffering, ignorance at the level of the heart where we are in bondage to a limited belief of who we feel we are.

Ana means small or tiny in Sanskrit, insignificant and certainly not as big or expansive as the Divine. It is the source of unworthiness and feeling that our lives are meaningless, that something is missing, we lack connection beyond our limited view point and through the lens of Anavamala we feel there is something deeply wrong with us. There is a separateness of us and other, of us and source or Divine or Grace or God…whatever you call it…LOVE. 

However, in us all when we get quiet enough and turn inwards, there is a deep felt pull of feeling there is something missing from viewing life through this lens, that this state of perceived feeling doesn’t feel right. There is an intuition that you feel there is more to life, more to you, more to your relationships, more than the stain of “I am my feelings.”

When we practice, we connect to something vast, something beyond what we were culturally conditioned to value. There comes a time where your soul is done with the phase of contracting and reducing yourself to “I am my feelings” and begins to turn inward towards your own expansion beyond your fleeting feelings. We have an awakening, a clearing to see more into the reality of all things. This is a Saktipata, which is said to be a descent of Power or Grace that wakes us up from our bondage of limiting ourselves to our feelings, thoughts and actions. A sudden awakening occurs and is said to be experience either as bathing in the light of compassionate love as waves of bliss surging in the body or of an energy shooting up to the spine and exploding in the head as unsurpassed joy.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Malas are stains or impurities on the lens of our perception of our heart, mind and body. They are a form of ignorance that ties us to our limited-self, insinuating that to overcome them, we become un-limited.

Anavamala – Connected to the Heart, the ego identifies by relating to “I Feel”

Mayiyamala – Connected to the Mind, the dog identifies by relating to “I Know”

Karmamala – Connected to the Body, the ego identifies by relating to “I Do”

Anavamala is an expression of our moods, emotional attributes that ties us to the limited self of “I am my feelings.” Linked to feeling of being unworthy, undeserving, improper, not enough, shameful, small, source of feeling incomplete, insecure, sad and lonely. Anavamala is the primary cause of suffering, ignorance at the level of the heart where we are in bondage to a limited belief of who we feel we are.

Ana means small or tiny in Sanskrit, insignificant and certainly not as big or expansive as the Divine. It is the source of unworthiness and feeling that our lives are meaningless, that something is missing, we lack connection beyond our limited view point and through the lens of Anavamala we feel there is something deeply wrong with us. There is a separateness of us and other, of us and source or Divine or Grace or God…whatever you call it…LOVE. 

However, in us all when we get quiet enough and turn inwards, there is a deep felt pull of feeling there is something missing from viewing life through this lens, that this state of perceived feeling doesn’t feel right. There is an intuition that you feel there is more to life, more to you, more to your relationships, more than the stain of “I am my feelings.”

When we practice, we connect to something vast, something beyond what we were culturally conditioned to value. There comes a time where your soul is done with the phase of contracting and reducing yourself to “I am my feelings” and begins to turn inward towards your own expansion beyond your fleeting feelings. We have an awakening, a clearing to see more into the reality of all things. This is a Saktipata, which is said to be a descent of Power or Grace that wakes us up from our bondage of limiting ourselves to our feelings, thoughts and actions. A sudden awakening occurs and is said to be experience either as bathing in the light of compassionate love as waves of bliss surging in the body or of an energy shooting up to the spine and exploding in the head as unsurpassed joy.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We will be practicing in our meditation – Bhuta Shuddhi. The Vedas clearly define Bhuta Shuddhi as an ancient tantric practice.

Bhuta Shuddhi, means “purification or refining the physical and energetic elements.” Bhuta referring to the ‘Pancha Bhutas’ or maha tatwas the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. Shuddhi means to cleanse. 

This practice is a fundamental process in the yogic culture which connects the physical, energetic and mental embodiment by using imagery, hand mudras, light, sound and your senses. Yogis understood the laws of Nature to attain greater health, power, knowledge, wisdom and sustained contentment in themselves by using practices effectively to heal, inspire and transform – cultivating equanimity in the Body, Energy & Mind connection.

The idea is that we use our inner senses to connect to the physical elements within us, awaken to the energetic centres we call Chakras and create a clear pathway for Kundalini (Serpent Snake Shiva Lingham) to arises from its dormant state at the base up to Ajña chakra where we connect to the individual consciousness of ourselves and all thoughts vanish, the mind is left behind and we merge into the Universal Consciousness. 

We direct that to merger into our Hearts the abode of our True Nature. What remains is only the awareness of pure consciousness.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

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Bhuta Shuddhi is the most essential ancient tantric practice. Bhuta Shuddhi means “purification or refining the physical and energetic elements.” 

Bhuta referring to the ‘Pancha Bhutas’ or maha tatwas the five elements of earth, water, fire, air and space. 

Shuddhi means to cleanse. 

This practice is a fundamental process in the yogic culture which connects the physical, energetic and mental embodiment. The idea is that we connect to the physical elements within us, awaken to the energetic centres we call Chakras and create a clear pathway for kundalini to arises from its dormant state at the base up the central channel where all connects to the Source of all and then abides in the Heart reposing in Pure Consciousness. 

Yogis understood the laws of nature to attain greater; health, power, knowledge, wisdom and to sustain a joyful embodiment. Knowledge and mastery of the 5 Elements is a prerequisite for more advanced practices in Yoga, Tantra, Yoga Therapy and the sister science of Ayurveda. This practice of Bhuta Shuddhi serves to effectively maintain, utilise, balance, stabilise and purify all these elements. This is done by cultivating Prana – Life Force, the Vital Energy. 

Prana is made up of :

• Ojas – Earth & Water – Kapha Dosha 
• Prana – Wind & Space – Vatta Dosha
• Tejas – Fire & Water – Pitta Dosha

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

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This meditation practice will use a variety of different Pranayama techniques to connect with the wind element and utilise the delivery of Prana, (life force to heal, inspire and transform our physical, energetic and mental forms) to find your way back home at your true centre, your heart. 

The element of Wind is Vayu in Sanskrit. The movement of Wind that carries the sacred symbolism of communication, breath and life across that planet and within us. Our life force, Prana, uses the breath as a vehicle, as we breath in and out. Preforming Pranayama in meditation practice is managing Prana, the vital life force that animates all levels of being. Where your attention goes, Prana will follow. Focusing the mind to cultivate a clear path for Prana to flow to guide the mind back home within it’s body becomes the goal of meditation. Prana enables the body to move, heal, regenerate as well as enables the mind to think. Prana is said to be the intelligence that coordinates our senses, help digest information and release that which doesn’t serve us any longer. 

We inhale oxygen and then exhale carbon dioxide, this is call respiration. Yogis experienced this as the Prana Vayus, direction of winds that move life force within the body.

• Pran Vayu – receiving Prana
• Samana Vayu – digesting, absorbing & assimilating that Prana
• Vyana Vayu – distributing & circulating that Prana
• Apana Vayu – eliminating the byproduct, waste 
• Udana Vayu – the positive effects of the other Vayus, uplifts, inspires & ascends in the form of epiphanies, awakening and enlightenment

Open these channels of communication so your Life Force, Prana, can deliver essential information to maintain the homeostasis of the Physical, Energetic and Mental Bodies. Your meditation Asana is a great tool to improve the quality of your breath and effectively move Prana, tapping into the Vayus enhancing and directing the flow of winds throughout your embodied practice. As a result, you should feel invigorated, energised yet access to an expanded inner awareness that opens you to your higher state of consciousness, specifically within your own centre…your heart. 

The abode of the wind element is said to be in the, Anahata Chakra, the heart centre. This is where it is said that the winds carry our curiosity, wonderment, our joy to experience life as well as love, delight, kindness, tenderness, compassion, gratitude, contentment and empathy. When the winds are like a Rajasic tornado or a storm, we feel jealousy, possessiveness, obsessive, co-dependency, very critical, judgemental, resentful and a lack of empathy. When the winds are stagnant we feel that lifeless, motionless Tamasic energy of sadness, loneliness, grief, hurt, sorrow. This is one reason why the movement of breath is so important to the practice of Yoga. To manage the flow of Prana, opening the channels of Winds to carry your heart-mind into a place where you feel safe, loved, belonged and connected to source that leads you to your own awakening at your centre.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

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Fire is one of the most powerful of the elements. When we tap into its energy, we bring alive transformation within ourselves. 

Fire has always been used in most rituals especially in Yoga traditions. Some of the oldest Deities worshiped were Agni, the God of Fire. Indra, the God of Storms. And Soma, the God of the Moon. As time passed these Gods fell in to the shadows as others became more popular. However, the basic fire, water and nourishment as a blessing is always there. In rituals they would offer seeds, flowers, gee and incense to feed the fire. In this practice we will begin to offer our inner fire 3 things that bring us joy, to symbolically feed the fire and direct the heat, to what our heart desires. Your personal intention for this practice. What does your heart burn for? Greater health, wealth, purpose, contentment, resolve, love, connection?

Agni evolved to be associated with the action of transformation. When our inner flames are stoked, fire provides energy for the body in loads of ways:

• Digestive Fire, helping transform food into energy
• Vital Fire, helping transform energy to fuel actions, motivate us 
• Intelligence Fire, power of cognition 
• Mental Fire, helping drive ideas into action 
• Compassion Fire, helping warm to ourselves and our actions with empathy, tenderness and kindness

Law of Nature of Fire is Heat in the form of your temperature, metabolism, phyical-digestive-mental power as well as your creative energy. This gives us our drive, determination, confidence, charisma, hunger, courage and energy to direct us to fulfil our purpose. We feel this at our solar plexus, solar – sun, or called Manipura Chakra. We know when our fire is balanced, that Sattvic affect expresses itself through inner strength, vital fuel, the energy to motivate us to a more purposeful, disciplined and spontaneous life. 

Hasta Mudra – Agni Mudra

Bija – RAM

The sense organ is Sight, to See, to have Visions. What do you see in your future? What visions of your future do you want to create? 

Let’s build and direct this Fire to give this practice more meaning and purpose as you connect to what brings you JOY and what your heart burns for.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

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Last week the theme was on the Earth Element. With it, we transversed the inner landscape of our bodies, it’s structural integrity in the bones, muscles, tissues and organs. The result was a body left feeling stronger, more stable and calmer as a result of practice. This week we will layer our experience working with the laws of Nature and focus on the Water Element – Jal. 

It is a fact that our bodies are 70% water and that the Earth’s surface is covered by 71% water. Water is what sustains all life, it is the principle of cohesion and is the gateway to the flow of movement. We experience this water element within ourselves as our fluids – saliva, digestive fluids, blood, lymph/synovial/sexual fluids, our sweat and our tears. We need the right flow of these fluids, working with the Earth quality of our body, to function optimally. On a more cognitive and even spiritual level the water element also expresses itself within the dynamics of our thoughts, emotions and outward expression of what is being experienced.

The abode of the Water Element is within the second Chakra; Svadhistana, where we connect to desire, pleasure, gratification, sensuality and sexuality. This is where emotions flow to express ourselves. This womb is where we water the seeds of our intention and desires, so that they grow healthy, deep roots into the earth and are nourished by the right amount of water to grow with help from the light above. 

Our practice invites us to honour what is present. 

• Do you feel like a block of Ice, with that Tamasic holding, damming up or numbing out feeling- Those old coping survival skills that may not be of service to you any longer as you recognise this isn’t sustainable as it freezes your ability to feel love, pleasure and worldly joys. 
• Or do you feel too Rajasic – out of control, like a white water rapid river raging, unmanageable and turbulent?

Our practice becomes a cathartic method to unthaw, calm the waters and find a healthier flow to manage the twists and turns to life. Life is always demanding us to adapt, water always finds a way if we let it. Like water, we need to practice adapting to what we are moving towards and around, to have the mental-emotional clarity to flow with ease. How we can stay buoyant and allow the support to carry us, letting go and trusting in the creative rhythm of the movement that is guiding us through our lives.

Hasta Mudra – Jala Mudra – Thumb to little finger. Is said to be the seal of mental-emotional clarity. Fire and Water bond to create the flow of intuitive communication and openness. The dynamic movement of the nourishing Prana that circulates and distributes throughout the bodies to optimise our physical, subtle and mental health.

To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. 

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