Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”.
I invite you to integrate critical thinking into your heart, mystical and faith-based practices. I use an academic approach to investigate the roots of yoga and spirituality. I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so many schools and practices ineffective - and strange AF.
Spirituality has a history of disempowering the individual, worshiping the guru or priest, without question. In this podcast, I aim to elevate the conversation around spirituality.
I want to EMPOWER the meditator and yogi, and debunk the idea that the ‘ancient gurus’ had it all right. This places the power back in our hands, to live directly from our own experience. I hope you enjoy this collection of guided meditations, retreat talks and conversations.
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Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”.
I invite you to integrate critical thinking into your heart, mystical and faith-based practices. I use an academic approach to investigate the roots of yoga and spirituality. I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so many schools and practices ineffective - and strange AF.
Spirituality has a history of disempowering the individual, worshiping the guru or priest, without question. In this podcast, I aim to elevate the conversation around spirituality.
I want to EMPOWER the meditator and yogi, and debunk the idea that the ‘ancient gurus’ had it all right. This places the power back in our hands, to live directly from our own experience. I hope you enjoy this collection of guided meditations, retreat talks and conversations.
So many people step into a yoga class expecting an ancient practice, yet most modern vinyasa is actually a recent aesthetic invention.
In this episode, Ava unpacks the toxic patterns shaping the modern yoga industry, why students often hand their authority over without realising it, and what a body led, trauma-informed practice looks and feels like in comparison.
If you love yoga, teach yoga, or care about spiritual integrity, this conversation offers clarity, context and a deeper understanding of what you are truly practicing.
Listen in and share how this information lands for you. Whether you agree or disagree, we welcome your reflections.
Relevant links:
Podcast episode: 4 stages of spiritual seeking
Functional Flow Yoga Teacher Training
Chapter markers:
00:00 Introduction to the topic01:43 Setting the context for this conversation07:00 Why Ava is positioned to speak on these topics12:10 What modern vinyasa actually is and the goals behind it15:44 The core issues within this style of practice20:45 A body led, trauma-informed approach compared with the medicalised yoga model26:16 The origins of Hatha Yoga and a summary of key points30:50 Invitation to share your thoughts
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Functional Spirituality
Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”.
I invite you to integrate critical thinking into your heart, mystical and faith-based practices. I use an academic approach to investigate the roots of yoga and spirituality. I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so many schools and practices ineffective - and strange AF.
Spirituality has a history of disempowering the individual, worshiping the guru or priest, without question. In this podcast, I aim to elevate the conversation around spirituality.
I want to EMPOWER the meditator and yogi, and debunk the idea that the ‘ancient gurus’ had it all right. This places the power back in our hands, to live directly from our own experience. I hope you enjoy this collection of guided meditations, retreat talks and conversations.
