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.
In this Podcast Zephyr analyses the roots of anger and resentment showing us that often, our attachment to reinforcing aversion, creates that anger and in effect creates a suffering for ourselves. Its a tricky little cycle that is hard to break-free from and usually causes that not-so-calm, not-so-cool and not-so-collected self to show up when things get a bit heated.
Zeph shows us that by meditating and giving a moment of pause, we give our anger a moment to be heard. By pausing and focusing on the anger that may dwell inside, you can explore where that anger comes from and why it created the reaction it did.
Zephyr shares a personal story as an example and offers a practice that will allow you to tap into anger and question it, acknowledge it and release it.
Use this meditation anytime you recognise a bit of heat or downright fury towards someone or something. Take the time to acknowledge it, explore it, give it a moment and you might just be surprised your reaction the next time you are faced with it.
Ready for a transformative Mantra? Need some Inspiration? Some focus? Some healing? Need something Powerful to take with you on your journey today? How about a bit of Mantra in your life.
Locked Mantras and unlocked Mantras, who knew the search for enlightenment could be so elusive? In reality, Mantras are simply chants that give us Yogis focus and intention during our practice. As I like to say, it is a good way to pepper ones practice with a bit of meaning and intention, thus giving some conscious intention to your physical practice, muscles, breath and all. If one can “think good thoughts” whilst engaged in a physical activity, it might just create “good” energy to your whole being.
A connection to the physical realm, the subtle realm and the higher consciousness of realms (earth, aether and cosmos) with a focus on harnessing the Prana and experiencing Moksha; That is what the Gayatri Mantra promotes. To be fair, all of this should be your motivation and intention during your morning coffee, however, some of us need a bit of a template or a cheat sheet. That is what Mantra really is. They are words in the language of Sanskrit but beautiful sounds and utterances to those that don’t speak it. Mantra is a way of channeling your thoughts and intentions whilst you stoke the fire through movement (all the while, preparing for a meditative state).
This Preamble is a great reminder of why we need to bring a bit of intention to our practice. Use it along with the practice that follows (coming soon) or even as just a way of setting an intention and creating a space and environment for your own practice.
Join me Saturday 7th July at Trew Fields this year along side my friend Vicky Fox and many others to offer support and inspiration to those who’s lives have been affected by Cancer. Trew Fields is a festival for positive social & environmental change. Welcoming and inclusive for all ages, circumstances and experiences. Whether you’re curiously dipping your toes in the holistic health world or are a seasoned explorer, we’ll welcome you with open arms & open hearts.
Listen to our in-depth conversation about life’s ups and downs, recorded at my home in London. It is all about how I have used Yoga, Alanon and my community to bravely face difficulty with awareness, acceptance and skilful choices to continue to live, love and thrive! Bonus laughs revealed at the end from Boise, the French Bull Dog!
I have been deeply moved already by the amazing feedback and comments left from our conversation. I really do hope that my story does service to inspire and encourage more to face one’s suffering, knowing you aren’t alone. If I can do it, you can too. It just takes the courage to share your vulnerability, seek support from appropriate people and practice showing up everyday honouring yourself.
I feel grateful and privilege to be interviewed alongside some amazing human beings like Dawn French, Stephen Fry, Matt Haig, Paloma Faith, Alexandra Shulman, Tom Daly & Dustin Lance Black. Celebrate Fearne’s podcasts to cultivate support by exploring times of hardship and discover how we can all find our happy place.
To book or find more information on my upcoming Workshop on Yoga to Help with Addiction and Recovery available to students and yoga teachers at Triyoga in Ealing, go to this link. Starting April 22nd!
And to explore Fearne’s Happiness Project episode we did together, go to this link.
The treatment of addiction, depression, anxiety and other mental disorders is increasingly relying on alternative methods of therapy as more about the root causes of such disorders are understood. Treatment centres and Psychologists are increasingly taking a page from the mindfulness movement to holistically treat patients that suffer mental trauma and the afflictions that are symptomatic of a life out of balance. Movement and breathing techniques have been proven to be effective to aid in recovery for all sorts of mental disorders and Yoga has risen to the forefront as alternative therapy in a science that up until recently focused solely on a cognitive approach to therapy. But, as the barometer for assessment and treatment of overall mental health changes, is yoga as a therapy really all that alternative?
The definition of Yoga has roots firmly grounded in a focus on self-understanding. The more we understand ourselves, our habits and our suffering the more we have choices to align ourselves with the true path and the state of balanced flow. The equilibrium and harmony of a balanced life takes in to account the spiritual, the mental and the physical. Yoga, at it’s fundamental core is an exercise in developing a strong and balanced state for all three. Yoga puts the same amount of emphasis on, and gives an equal importance to, the emotional health as it does physical health.
This course taps into the Yogic roots of holistic health and focuses on the skill in action yoga creates, helping to bring self-knowledge and the ability to identify and enact constant beneficial corrections as we follow our path. The course is designed for Advanced Yoga Students and Teachers and will introduce an adaptation of the 12 steps of Recovery to develop skills that will aid students to identify suffering in our lives and how to move past them. We will use Vinyasa and Kriya yoga, as well as Meditation and Yoga Nidra to create bespoke therapies for the sufferings of our clients, our students and most importantly, ourselves.
Over the course, Zephyr will discuss the basic neuroscience, behavioural patterns and simple techniques to support strategies in enhancing emotional well being in a yoga practice. Zephyr will lecture on yogic theories and begin to map out the foundation in bespoking a client’s therapy to a client’s condition. Emphasis will be on seeing a holistic picture of a client by using the yogic sciences and techniques as resources to address imbalances. Application of these yogic resources will be through practice of Vinyasa flow and Kriya yoga.
The course will draw from the the yogic principles of:
Gunas
Doshas
Koshas
Prana Vayus
Swara
Chakras & Granthis
Rasa of Emotions
Kriya Yoga
Mudras
Mantras
Pranayama
Vinyasa
Yoga Nidra
Turning the focus now inward and working on the 12 Steps ourselves, Zephyr will illustrate personally how this method works in creating positive routines and habits to help those suffering. Drawing from the wisdom of the Four Noble Truths, The Eight Limbs of Yoga and the philosophy behind Kriya Yoga, Zephyr will help students identify their own sufferings and how those may create routines and habits that can influence the paths we follow and the imbalances that arise.
I have known Lucy Edge for many years now as we orbit around the same yoga circles in the UK. With a genuinely warm and affable nature she has always been one of those people one feels safe opening up to. She is known for eliciting insightful discussions and interviews that uncover interesting perspectives from people within our community. Recently we had an honest discussion about loss and love, addiction and recovery and how Yoga and the Twelve Step Fellowship are some tools to create lasting happiness through practice. I hope you find it helpful and that it inspires you to keep growing, seeking and thriving in life!
Lucy has kindly offered a 20% Discount to her shop using the code ZEPHYR20 till the end of January! Click here for Yogaclicks
Lucy Edge is a yoga advocate, a champion of yogi makers and creators, and the founder of yogaclicks.store. She is also the author of three yoga-themed books including the bestselling travel memoir Yoga School Dropout and her first novel Down Dog Billionaire.
For further support & ways to practice
On average, for 1 addict it affects 10 people. Their is AA, NA, DA, OA, ABA, SLA & Alanon too. We heal together, as a community with a common denominator in which we courageously face our stuff with a great amount of compassion and empathy. Go to http://www.al-anonuk.org.uk/to find out more about Ala-teen and Alanon. We are an anonymous group, however not secret. I am consciously breaking my anonymity to make london aware these groups are here to support if needed.
I will be teaching a 4 part workshop the 22nd, 29th April, 6th, 13th May at Triyoga Teaching Yoga to help with Addiction and Recovery Workshop with Zephyr Wildman click here to read my blog “I am an addict.”
The Secret Yoga Club has welcomed me to add my Yoga Philosophy and Psychology training to one of their retreats in Northern Italy this summer. The retreat, in the lavender scented hills of Tuscany, will include creative workshops, sound baths, intuitive movement and mindful walks with other teachers. The idea is to create a reflective and renewing retreat for those who want to experience a deeper state of self-discovery.
Photo by Birgit Tabbarah
Below are the details from the Secret Yoga Club:
Villa Lena is one of SYC’s favourites venues, there’s nowhere as peaceful and inspiring. Think Stealing Beauty: a yoga platform overlooking beautiful rolling Tuscan Hills, magical secret gardens, a mysterious deserted village, captivating views, figs, mist, olive groves, sky, sun and time out of life.
As usual, we’ll be be offering something unique and inspiring – working with the Villa Lena artists in residence to offer a thoughtful programme of creative explorations to compliment the daily yoga practises.
We decided to do something a little different this year and create a yoga offering for those who already have an established practise and are interested in developing their understanding of the yoga tradition, how this vast and ancient knowledge evolved and how we can use it to enhance our experience of ourselves and enrich our daily life.
This is very much what we love about Zephyr’s classes, how each class is themed with a carefully considered introduction to frame sessions, as she weaves yogic wisdom easily between asana and pranayama. It’s a real treat to dive so deep, playing with these intricate psychological maps that can reveal neurological pathways, expand the mind and the energy body and guide us into a brighter and more fluid way of being.
FREE YOGA CLASS with Ourmala and Movement for Modern Life Emily Brett, Yoga teacher and Ourmala CEO invites Zephyr Wildman, ambassador for Ourmala, to offer a beautiful yoga sequence in support of our charity. For more Movement for Modern Life videos, subscribe with our exclusive OURMALA30 code and receive 30% off forever and a free 14 day trial. Click here for more information.
A grounding, centring mindfully paced vinyasa flow. Bring an open mind to this beautiful flow which uses pranayama and the mantra SO-HUM is weaved throughout the class. Learn how to unify the body, mind and breath, and use your breath with the mantra to organise the mind, whilst the body is led through a mindfully paced flow class. Perfect for starting your morning in a mindful way whilst energising the body. With thanks to Emily, Founder of OurMala for joining Zephyr in class.
Ourmala sharing socially conscious yoga practices. Our mission is to help refugee and asylum-seeking women find strength, hope and a space to breathe through yoga.
To practice with Zephyr and support Ourmala click here
