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Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”, a free resource of talks, trainings and guided meditations. I use an academic approach to invite critical thinking into energetic, mystical and heart-based practices. Spirituality has a history of disempowering the individual and worshiping the guru or priest, without question. In this podcast, I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so many schools and practices ineffective - (and strange AF) - and to elevate the conversation around spirituality. I want to EMPOWER the meditator and yogi, to place the power back in our hands, to live directly from our own experience. I hope you enjoy! For Q&A questions, topic suggestions email Ava at functionalspiritualityretreat@gmail.com Visit www.functionalspirituality.com Follow us @FunctionalSpirituality or @avairani_ and our Yoga Studio at @spandaschool
Episodes
4 days ago
4 days ago
The holiday season can be a stressful time for a lot of people, where self-care practices are placed second to social engagements and commitments. It is in fact also the perfect time for rest and reflection. A sacred time for journaling, evaluation and integration of the year.
1. What would balance look like to you?
2. Is there anything I have planned that I am not looking forward to?
3. Is there a boundary that I could set or a resource that I could call on to help me with the above?
4. Is there anything else that I am dreading or worried about?
5. Is there a resource that I could call on or are there a number of resources that I would like to call on to support me?
6. What would these resources give me?
7. Is there something that I can do to support myself knowing that this is what I need?
00:00 Introduction to the topic - have a pen and a journal with you!
00:51 The holiday season can be a time of stress for a lot of people.
02:21 This is the sacred time for rest and reflection.
03:27 How to find balance between social activities and solo, self- care.
04:24 Journal prompts.
6:34 Thank you for listening, wishing you a happy, joyful and easeful holiday season!
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschoolMonday Dec 09, 2024
Monday Dec 09, 2024
The body, the breath and the earth are powerful anchors for our nervous system to rest, reset and ground. Join us in this recording of a previous Monday morning meditation.
Our free Monday online meditation will be back from January, stay tuned!
If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a playlist for it so you have access to this practice with one click.
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness.
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Functional Spirituality & Personal account:@functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Monday Dec 02, 2024
Monday Dec 02, 2024
In this episode, Ava and Anaid Anaid have a rich conversation about the important questions that come up for people (and parents) contemplating adding a child to their life.
Relevant links and resources:
Chapter markers:
00:00 Introduction to the topic
04:56 Did you decide to have kids?
11: 34 What has been the hardest part of motherhood so far?
17:57 As a professional, entrepreneur and leader, how do you balance your work, motherhood and self-care/spirituality?
24:24 How do you feel about the current state of the world and the future for your kid(s)?
32:53 Kid’s mental health and technology
40:00 Have there been moments you wish you changed your mind?
44:31 Question: Is the sacrifice of self worth having a second child ? Will having kids cause me to lose my sense of self? I am not sure if I have the capacity and energy for kids.
01:00:15 How can I afford having a kid?
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Lavandula Botanicals: @lavandula.botanicals
Monday Nov 25, 2024
Monday Nov 25, 2024
In this episode, Ava and Stephanie have a conversation about conscious activism and the environment.
Tune in and listen to them as they discuss values and the importance of spiritual practice as a form of activism.
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Monday Nov 18, 2024
Join Ava in this 23 minute lightly guided meditation with music. Take some time to slow down, unravel the body and find an inner state that offers you nourishment.
If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a playlist for it on your Spotify so you have access to this practice with one click"
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness.
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Functional Spirituality & Personal account:@functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Monday Nov 11, 2024
Today’s episode is apart of a two part series, be sure to listen to the previous episode first!
Part 1 gave us the context and philosophy around pleasure to help us expand our understanding. In this episode we will explore different tools we can use to cultivate joy and pleasure in our lives when we don’t feel good.
If you listen to the end and decide to commit to a 7 day practice, feel free to join us in the Facebook group and share your experiences.
chapter markers
00:00 Did you listen to part 1?
00:45 Why theory is a tool
04:10 Cultivating a gratitude practice
7:15 The heart-space
08:56 Smiling energy
11:50 Journal prompt: What brings you pleasure?
13:47 Final notes
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Monday Nov 04, 2024
Monday Nov 04, 2024
This repurposed episode is inspired by a question that Ava received during a recent silent retreat.
The question was something along the lines of how can we cultivate peace and happiness in the body when we are experiencing chronic pain or health issues.
This 2 part series will explore the philosophy behind pleasure and also provide you with tools to cultivate your own pleasure during periods of discomfort and unease.
chapter markers
00:00 Introduction and catch up w/ Ava
03:35 Side notes on personal preferences and toxic positivity
10:34 Cultivating happiness and feeling joy inside the body
13:24 The philosophy of pleasure
18:07 The 3 levels of pleasure
22:51 Ending notes
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Monday Oct 28, 2024
Join Anaid in this gentle, 12-minute meditation to relax and ground your senses in nature. Allow the nurturing energy of the earth and the warmth of your heartspace to expand, creating ripples of calm and connection within. Perfect for finding ease and presence, this meditation invites you to bathe in the healing embrace of heart and earth energy.
If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a playlist for it so you have access to this practice with one click.
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness.
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Monday Oct 21, 2024
Join Ava in this 15 minute grounding meditation. Slow down, connect to the body and feel the joy of the present moment. Sending breath and love to body parts and surrendering to the heart.
If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a playlist for it so you have access to this practice with one click.
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness.
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Functional Spirituality & Personal account:@functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool
Monday Oct 14, 2024
Monday Oct 14, 2024
In this final episode of our Mindwork series, Ava explains step by step how to create a self-suggestion tape.
This is one of the easiest ways we can create powerful change and integrate meditation and mind work into daily life.
Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:
www.functionalspirituality.com
Free resources:
A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.
Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.
Free workshop: Holding Safer Spaces
A free workshop that replaces the old, dogmatic, unsustainable paradigm of healing that burns out our community. Explore how to deepen your presence in both personal and professional spheres. A new, simpler and functional approach to being trauma-informed
Connect on Socials
Where you can hear from us in daily life
Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality
Studio: @spandaschool