Zephyr Yoga Podcast

Yogis understand and utilise the laws of Nature to attain greater health, power, knowledge, wisdom and sustained contentment in themselves. They use practices effectively to heal, inspire and transform – cultivating equanimity in the Body-Mind connection.

We will layer this meditation for the mind, energy and body to inhabit the qualities and characteristics opening us to balance the Earth within us.

Earth (Prithvi) – Solid material within us, our form, structure, the physical integrity that our bones, muscles and tissues create. That you feel your body stabile, steady and grounded. A calmness to your form as you feel safe and trusting. 

• The abode of the Earth element is said to reside in the Muladhara Chakra.
• Hasta Mudra – Prithvi Mudra – Thumb to the tip of the ring finger. 
• Bija Mantra for the Earth Element is LAM . 
• Sense organ associated with the Earth is Smell.

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

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Tonglen Practice is a warrior practice for those who are seeking peace, tenderness and kindness within this world. 

• Tong – giving or sending. 
• Len – receiving or taking. 

It is also known as exchanging self with other. It is the aspirational precept to the path of the Bodhicitta, the seeker towards a mind that is awakened, enlightened by compassion, empathy and kindness towards all sentient beings. 

The practice involves breathwork which, at its most basic follows this pattern-

• Inhale others pain and suffering 
• then offer them, on the exhale, peace and loving-kindness. 
• Inhale their physical discomfort and mental anguish 
• Exhale for them to be free from it. 

This practice reduces attachments that keep us stuck in our own cycle of pain, suffering and limited beliefs of existence. It reduces the separateness of us and others and gets us out of our own ego-centric focus on what we lack or what limits us. By giving, by sending and by energetically helping through a generous heart-felt thought, we develop and expand our capacity for kindness. 

This practice of Tonglen clears the lens of our perception and we begin to see that all deserve to be held by the wholeness of a loving presence.

For this practice I offer a timely focus which you can use at home. Please use an image of the refugees and asylum seekers from the photographer Muhammed Muheisen and support his ongoing mission to document those who are victims of war and who have fled their homes for safety. 

Thank you for your interest in this practice. I also would ask you to consider your support for Fierce Calm who are providing free yoga classes, directly or in partnership with non-profit organisations, in shelters and community spaces, for marginalised and vulnerable groups such as refugees, survivors of domestic violence, survivors of violence and conflict, and people facing systemic bias due to sexual orientation, income, age, racial or cultural identity. They also provide YTT scholarships for marginalised and/or minoritised ethnicity students in training delivered by teachers reflecting these identities. Ourmala provides scholarships to train refugees and marginalised students, trauma informed teaching skills. They lead the delivery of the OURMALA studio, community and online beneficiary yoga programme for refugees and asylum seekers in the UK. Facilitating classes with the objective to open the healing potential of yoga accessible to all, while supporting the most vulnerable in society within a diverse, welcoming environment of safety, inclusivity, dignity and empowerment. Social justice is at the heart of Fierce Calm’s yoga and they strive to remove all barriers to access so that all may lead happy, fulfilling and dignified lives. Click here TO DONATE TO FIERCE CALM

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

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According to the Yoga Sutras there are two types of students, Adhikara – focused diligent students of Yoga. One are born to be enlightened like Buddha, Krishna, Jesus, Moses, Muhammad. Then there are the rest of us who continue to practice working on karma and refining our skills. Both however hold five attributes, virtues or essential ingredients.

It is said that the Adhikara or student that follows a systematic practice rooted in faith, courageous confidence, mindfulness to ignite the Pranic energy and willpower required to maintain a steady focus of mind, knowledge and wisdom. As the last session laid out the path toward the goal of practice (Abhyasa) is to attain physical (KayaNirodha), energetic (Prana Nirodha) and mental stillness (Citta VrittiNirodha) describing the student skill at refining mental focus (Viveka), detaching from sensory observation (Vairagya)

Yoga sutra 1.20 – 5 essential ingredients to be the Adhikara – the competent Yogi

Shraddha – Faith. Trusted belief that the Universe has your back no matter what. Shrad literally means, that which gives you space and holds you in place. Dha provides nourishment for you to grow. It opens you to a larger perspective, if you think about it, the more space and self-nurturance you have to fill that space, the more support you have to grow and expand in life. It also fills the space so you see there is nothing missing in your life, it is as it needs to be for you to evolve. Connecting to a trusting conviction in this presence, wholehearted respect in your relationship to the faith you align to.

Virya – Courage, Strength, Energy, Effort, Willpower, Stamina to persevere through life’s obstacles. That whatever you put your mind to, you will be able to achieve through your endurance, inner strength and conviction to bravely face whatever you face.

Smirti – That which is remembered, To strengthen your memory to remember how to practice, the said techniques, retentive power of vital information in order to move more effectively forward in life, the power to collect and recall vital information, especially when you are upset or facing hard times that you can ultimately remember what you are, what matters to you most and your life’s greater purpose.

Samadhi – Absorption, Becoming completely aware of what you are paying attention to, spending time in conscious repose, resting in the grounded-ness of being, all-consuming focus, ability to be absorbed in one’s goal. It is the ability to have physical, energetic, mental and spiritual absorption in any given moment. 

Prajna – Illumination of Consciousness, Light of intelligence, Buddhi is the intuitive guide or teacher, Prajna is the light of intelligence that shines through that guide. Guided by the inner light of the heart-mind, that innate wisdom, letting the light of the soul reflect in it without distortion. There is clear understanding, crystal-clear intellect, which reveals the knowledge within you as you.

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

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The focused diligent practice of Yoga is call Abhyasa and within that, we are practicing Vairagya, which is letting go of sensory perception and observation. It becomes a detachment to what is observed or seen arising as a result of practice. 

The goal of practicing Yoga is to reach a state of Nirodha. Nirodha is to stop, restrain, still, the removal and the cessation of.

• Kaya Nirodha – Physical Stillness
• Prana Nirodha – Energetic Stillness
• Citta Vritti Nirodha – Mental Stillness

What happens when stillness is achieved? The self rests within itself. The “I-ness” of you recognised itself. Samadhi is a separation from Prakriti and wakens to it as Purusha.

What happens when stillness isn’t achieved? Well, the witness miss-identifies with the thoughts, emotions, images, sensations and other mind-stuff. Prakriti. 

Patanjali has two solutions:

1. Kriya Yoga – Tapas, SvaDhyaya, Isvara Pranidhana or 
2. Ashtanga Yoga – Yamas, Niyamas, Asana, Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana, Dhyana, Samadhi

Kriya Yoga is said to be for those who are not seeking the highest Samadhi. Ashtanga Yoga is said to be for those seeking full liberation from the suffering of existence. Either way, the purpose is to practice and minimise the Kleshas – Mental Emotional Afflictions which are said to be at the root of why we suffer and why we are subjected to ongoing Karmic action or reaction.

• Avidya – Ignorance
• Asmita – Egotism
• Raga – Raga
• Dvesa – Aversion, resistance 
• Abinivesha – Fear of loss, change and death

Our job is to develop our Viveka, discernment to recognise our own ignorance of the wandering mind (Avidya). How we misidentify with being more than, less than, or stuck in a limited unhealthy ego self (Asmita). To wake up to craving, yearning and chasing something more pleasurable (Raga). Or to what we are avoiding or resisting (Dvesa). And ultimately what we are truly afraid of (Abinivesha).

This week we will focus on Nirodha to observe the unnecessary movements we take with the physical, energetic and mental bodies. Looking into why we fidget, move, tremble, itch, and notice our wandering mind. To look with a clear lens to what is asking for us to wake up to.

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

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The last few week of practices focusing on the Elements and the Doshas has brought us to take a closer look at our vital energy called Prana. Like a candle in a pot, we can draw on the Gheranda Samhita for a deeper understanding of how we practice. Using the object as a representation of our embodiment, the vessel is our body that holds the flame, wax and light.

• Prana – Flame
• Tejas – Light emanating 
• Ojas – resource that fuels the flame

Prana is linked to Vata Dosha as it is the life force that stimulates and moves the other two Doshas. Ojas is linked to Kapha Dosha as it fuels the life force with its nutrient rich wax through our diet, rest and care. Tejas is linked to Pitta Dosha which shows our radiance, our energetic expression, our charisma.

In the Gheranda Samhita it states the 5 Stages of Prana.

1. Activation
2. Churn
3. Consolidate
4. Ignite
5. Direct

Inspired by a Buddhist teaching on the embodiment of our life force, they see issues with the human condition as four vessels that we are consistently working on like potters; Closed Vessel, Dirty Vessel, Tilted Vessel, Leaky Vessel. We become the Yogi potter as we practice to mend, re-shape, clean out and repair as we put ourselves in the kiln of our Yoga practice. The desired heat in practice is Tapas, the heat for positive change. As we understand ourselves more, Svadhyaya, which vessel we identify with and bespoke our practice to promote healing, to inspire ourselves and transform. So our practice is one to first activate, then churn the Prana around unblocking and dissolving obstructions. With a stronger body and control of the Bandhas, we can consolidate the Prana, then ignite the Prana to burn brighter and direct it to either higher states of consciousness or our duties and responsibilities in our day as a result of practice.

Closed/Upside Down Vessel

• Unable to hold content or receive.
• Closed mind and heart. 
• Can’t communicate. 
• Not open to hearing or looking at source of problem.
• Ignorant of themselves and how they affect others.

Dirty Vessel

• Disturbed by physical, emotional and energetic toxicity.
• Symbolic of prior conditioning of past experiences – Samskaras – which interferes with one’s ability to see, think and act clearly.
• Whatever is put into vessel it gets contaminated. 

Tilted Vessel

• Can’t fill to capacity. 
• Distorted or tilted view of themselves and others.
• Blame themselves or others for current situation.
• Decreased ability to take in the teaching that might help them. 

Leaky Vessel

• Let’s valuable content escape. 
• They can hear the teachings, understand their importance, but get distracted not being able to hold attention to move in a positive way.
• Choices dissipates the energy and is wasted on unhelpful thoughts, speech, behaviour and actions.
• TV, Social Media, News, Emails, etc contribute to this leakage.

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

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This Kapha balancing practice will be shaped around the pose Natarajasana; Lord of the Dance pose. We will be doing this pose in different gravitational planes to connect to the playful dance in the practice and to stimulate Kapha, bringing it to focus on the joy this practice can bring.

Ayurveda is based on understanding 3 things

1. Your Prakruti which is the nature of an individuals personal constitution Make-Up
2. Your Vikruti which is the nature of your imbalance
3. Your bespoked Medicine in the form of Yoga, Pranayama, Mediations, foods, herbs, vitimans and other life style choices to bring you into harmony, optimising your health and well-being

This session we will focus on Kapha Dosha which is a combination of matter and form dominated by the element of water and earth. Kapha provides stability and sustains the body tissues and nurtures the resource of fuel for our Prana, life energy, called Ojas.

Reflecting on the previous sessions, Vata – Nervous System, and Pitta– Digestive abilities, Kapha is the cohesion that binds and holds things together in the body, the mucus and oil that lubricates joints and tissues. It has the greatest quality of structural integrity in the physical body and serves to protect us. The typical body type of a Kapha is the heaviest of the Dosha types, robust, well-proportioned, strongest and sturdy in build, they are more dense, carry more muscle mass, body fat and are bigger in bones. They usually find it easier to gain weight than lose it. Kapha Dosha types loves rest, sleep and lounging about. Kapha natured people are said to inherently move slowly, tend to be lethargic, which influences their pulse to be slower than the other doshas. Do to this, it is said that they tend to have the longest lifespan because of their slow metabolism and because of their restful state they have a stronger immune system and endurance in the body.

Kapha physical traits usually include bigger facial features, wide eyes, big hands, smooth, firm, radiant and oily skin. They tend to have a deeper calming soothing voice, thick nails and hair, and long eye lashes. The character type of Kapha is one of being devotional, trustworthy, supportive, loving, caring, nurturing, very compassionate, empathetic and patient. They are self-reflective, emotionally calm, grounded and thoughtful. This is in us all and serves to keep us in harmony internally with ourselves and unite us with others. They are very forgiving. When they are with others they are fully present, they prefer creating depth in relationships which drive them to feel belonging.

Kapha natured people have the endurance to retain what is received through deliberate effort, but are slow learners. They view work as being of service and find great meaning in their life fulfilling that purpose. They are consistent in loyal and reliable in action, once committed they do it faithfully overtime. They view a life that is worth living is one that is filled with love and enjoy the little things of life with all senses. They are easily pleased by the little joys of life and love things that are tried and tested. They don’t like change.

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Pitta Dosha is the combination of light and intelligence which functions through the element of fire and water giving illumination to our Prana, it is called Tejas.

Pitta is paired with our physical, mental and energetic ability to digest things. 

Body Type of a typical Pitta is athletically built, freckles, reddish moist skin, over flowing with energy and willing to put effort in as they have greater physical, mental and emotional force. They are never cold as their inner furnace is brimming with heat and fiery by nature. Pitta sweats easily and tends to be smelly (not necessarily in a bad way!).

Characteristics personality-wise of Pitta is one of being A-Type people, born leaders, self-confident, courageous, their aim is to win. They are orderly, intelligent, they have a great capacity to digest information, amazing memory, consistently disciplined, decisive and they can quickly discern from right and wrong as their moral compass is well tuned.

Bio-mechanically and Psychologically, Pitta has an active metabolism, filled with vitality, positive energy and a passionate focus and concentration, to the point of being tunnel visioned. Foods that are great to balance pitta are, in general, sweet, bitter, and astringent in taste as well as foods with warming energies, spicy, sour, pungent, and salty. They are drawn to cold drinks.

Pitta Doshas have a general intolerance towards hot weather and get sun burns easily. As Pitta is a combination of Fire and Water, so Aggravated Pitta shows itself as inflammation issues in the body like arthritis, skin rashes, acnes, headaches, acidity in the body like heartburn, diarrhoea, over heating BURN UP and then BURN OUT.

Psychologically Pitta Doshas have strong determination, will and being powerfully motivated to achieve their duties and responsibilities they would be labeled in the western world as “driven”. They love group sports, being competitive and if there is an award they are in and they are very judgemental and critical of themselves and others. The ugly side of Pitta is one of anger, irritability, lack of patience, intolerance, hot temper, jealousy, and a controlling nature.

The general Pitta types fall into three Yogic categories-

• Rajasic Pitta – aim is to achieve at any cost regardless of the method or means, they can be reckless, vain and arrogant abuse their positions in power to get what they want
• Tamasic Pitta – they are said to be violent, paranoid, harbouring hatred, distain and resentment and will be hostile to get what they want regardless if they break the law, said to be criminals and psychopathic leaders.
• Sattvic Pitta – people are intelligent, disciplined and perceptive, natural leaders with great vision to promote growth and development, sun-like people who shine bright, guiding others to get things done and accomplish tasks

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

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Ayurveda is based on understanding 3 things

1. Your Prakruti which is the nature of an individuals personal constitution Make-Up
2. Your Vikruti which is the nature of your imbalance
3. Your bespoked Medicine in the form of Yoga, Pranayama, Mediations, foods, herbs, vitimans and other life style choices to bring you into harmony, optimising your health and well-being

This is ideally pointing us to the middle path of being Sattvic in Nature, however imbalance happens, we categorise it as either going too much into Rajasic or Tamasic territory. Over the next three sessions we will look at the Doshas individually, relating to the Dosha when it is in harmony or out of balance. 

VATA DOSHA is said to be connected directly to the nervous system and what motivates the other Doshas to move. Vata is the expression of life energy, Prana, which works through the element of Wind and Space which is the active energy in nature, stimulating all things in motion. 

Vata has a typical type of body that is said to be the weakest build, delicate bone structure, thin, lean, light and small in frame, they don’t carry much weight, hyper-mobile, cold, skin tends to be thin, transparent dry and rough and have fine hair, 

Character Traits of Vata are; being lively, fun, kind-hearted, easily enthused, high in energy, always on the go. You see them running around on their tip toes, limbs expressing their hyper-active and erratic energy. Mentally they are exceptionally creative, love chatting and they are always brimming with ideas, very imaginative. They have the greatest capacity for change and adaptation to life as they are very agile and responsive. They are quick to learn as well as quick to forget as they tend to be multitaskers and get easily distracted by something new.

The exercise that Vata natured people tend to be drawn to, are solitary sports likerunning, cycling, swimming, walking, dancing and even Yoga but prefer doing them by themselves as this is time for them to get lost in their head while moving.

The best diet for a balanced Vata is to eat warm, earthing foods, likes soups, cooked foods which are soft, sweet, sour and salty. 

As Vata is a combination Wind and Space aggravated Vata shows up in the body in a few ways where one gets DRIED UP & SPUN OUT. The first way is dehydration in the joints, tissues and dry, rough skin. They have poor circulation, cold hands and feet and highly sensitive to the cold. So stiffness and cracking of the joints that is present. 

They are on the go so much where they have irregular appetites and eating patterns. This imbalance in the wind element tends to make digestion sensitive to bloating, discomfort and constipation. They should avoid raw, dry, bitter and cold foods. If a woman, they have irregular periods. When they get ill it usually goes to the lungs.

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

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Over the next few sessions we will be exploring how to create balance within ourselves by studying how we can harmonise our Doshas. This is pointing us to the sister science of Yoga called Ayurveda.

• Ayur- Life, Longevity 
• Veda- Knowledge, Wisdom and Spiritual Science 

The link between Yoga & Ayurveda is Prana.

• The components of this vital energy are Prana – vital force,
• Ojas – vital essence of nourishment,
• Tejas – vital light.

David Frawley states in his book Yoga & Ayurveda “Yoga is the intelligence of Prana, seeking greater evolutionary transformation. Ayurveda is the healing power of Prana, seeking to consolidate the life systems it has already developed.”

Your consciousness has a purpose to this embodiment. It is said to be Dharma – your purpose, your path, your mission that you are meant to carry out to serve yourself and others. As a Yogi, you are trying to find ways to fulfil that. Sva Dharma – is living in harmony with your own dharmic constitutional type and the personalised practices that keep you on your dharmic path to fulfilment. So being Adharmic – is living that brings pain, disease, discomfort and disharmony. 

Yoga shows us how to realise the “Self”. Through practice you understand the nature of mind and cultivate Self-Knowledge to lead you to liberation (This explained in the Series 7 Stages of Yoga). Ayurveda shows us how to live in such a way that our physical and mental actions don’t deviate from what is realised as our true nature or Self. What is dharmic for one might not be for another. So it is important that we bespoke our diet, herbs, asana, PY, meditation and other practices to support a harmonious life. 

The combination of Yoga and Ayurveda directs one’s practice, awareness and life to the realisation of what lies beyond this mundane experience as well as how to live in this world with skill. Yoga is the best therapeutic tool in Ayurveda for keeping the Doshas balanced. Asana, Pranayama and Mediation with Dharana (focused concentration) treats various ailments, structural problems, mental, emotional and energy conditions and disorders.

Doshas are physical constitutions and functions that tell us how the organs and body work from a Yogic perspective of Prana. Bespoking practices according to individual types, or, 3 Doshas – Vata, Pitta and Kapha Dosha. We are all three, just one is usually dominate and one usually goes out of balance easily.

In this session we will do an overview of all three Doshas. Each Karma will be focusing on the positive qualities of each Dosha and how we can bespoke our practice to become familiar with them in ourselves.

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

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Space in Sanskrit is Akasha, the intergalactic medium that is said to be the container of all elements. It is the original element, likened to the Mother of all elements that everything came from and everything will return back to. It suspends as matter goes through transformation, it holds that physical and energetic magnetism that creates the order and disorder. Space is the basis and essence of all things in the material world as if it is cradling all contents of the Universe like invisible hands on the macro to the micro, physical to the subtle, space is a part of it.

We can see it as the space between solar systems, planets, atmosphere and earth, within the room, within the body, space between the breath, the space in the mind between thoughts, sounds and sensations. The space between.

Yogis practice to open that sacred space, to just be. To abide in iIlluminated emptiness, yet fill it with presence and become one with this space, to experience an awakening to that which is eternal and pervading through all physical and subtle substances. To be awakened as a part of the fabric which hold all together.

The abode of the Space element is at Vishuddha Chakra; at the throat. This is where we have the space for clear communication, creative resonance, expression, empowerment through language and sound. Too little space, there is a Rajasic experience of excessive speaking, stutter, shouting, too much noise even in our own thoughts. The extreme opposite is said to be too much space, that there is a Tamasicexperience of not being able to bring thoughts, words or actions together to have an effective impact, there tends to be poor rhythm of speech, fear of speaking, there is said to be lies that we tell ourselves and others to fill the space.

This element opens us to think about how we share space, how we build bridges of communication through space to connect and how we hold space for ourselves and others. As well as how we abide in space, that stillness.

The goal of practicing Yoga according to the Yoga Sutras is to attain Nirodha, stillness.

Kaya Nirodha – Physical Stillness, 

Prana Nirodha – Energetic Stillness, 

Citta Vrtti Nirodha – Mental Stillness

Hatha Yogis figured out that if you create a lot of activity, you gain access to stillness. That you create physical, energetic and mental effort and can abide in effortlessness on those levels. In practice we actively stretch this space and fill it with consciousness, light and awareness of awaking to the fullness of presence that is supporting us and carrying us.

Akasha Mudra – Middle Finger

Sense organ Listening, Hearing, Sound/Silence

Bija Mantra – HAM

Recognition Sutras states that “Each of us is a perfect movement in consciousness’s endless dance of self-exploration, self-realisation and self-love” That we are astronauts exploring the inner space, discovering the inner terrane (not terrain!) and finding our true self as a result. It is found as we

• Rest in the space between your breaths,
• Pause in the space between your thoughts,
• Bask in space in the light of your inner awareness.

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

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