Living on the surface of language and concepts doesn’t truly serve us. To grow spiritually, we need to dive deeper — avoiding assumptions and quick conclusions. In this episode, Ava unpacks the confusion around what it really means to be an “awake teacher” and explores a functional approach to spirituality that invites thoughtful reflection.

Tune in to deepen your understanding and shift how you relate to spirituality.

Chapter markers:

00:30 Introduction 01:24 What is an awake teacher? 03:51 Why I avoid the term awake 07:06 My problem with these terms 09:31 The problem is not the explanations 10:09 The rationalisation of inappropriate behaviour 12:03 Can’t I just loosen up? 13:12 Healthy scepticism 14:38 Why are people doing this 15:42 Is it wrong to praise teachers? 18:09 Conclusion

Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:

www.functionalspirituality.com

Free resources:

Newsletter sign-up:

A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.

Community meditation:

Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.

Free training - 3 part method of Functional Spirituality:

Learn the clear, practical framework for deep healing, emotional regulation, and spiritual integration.

Connect on Socials

Where you can hear from us in daily life

Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality

Studio: @spandaschool

Lavandula Botanicals: @lavandula.botanicals

Ease into the evening with this gentle 10-minute bedtime meditation. Ava guides you into a calm, relaxed state so you can co-regulate and attune with your child as they settle to sleep. This simple, heartfelt practice invites connection, presence, and safety — a beautiful way to end the day, together. Play this recording to create a regulating, heart-opening and healing routine to support your child to go to sleep. Maybe they will continue the practice of meditation before bed into adulthood.

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:

Newsletter sign-up:

A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.

Community meditation:

Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.

Free training - 3 part method of Functional Spirituality:

Learn the clear, practical framework for deep healing, emotional regulation, and spiritual integration.

Connect on Socials

Where you can hear from us in daily life

Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality

Studio: @spandaschool

Lavandula Botanicals: @lavandula.botanicals

What’s the real difference between moving through life with intention… and gripping on with control?

In this episode, we explore how intention keeps us aligned and connected to our heart, while control often comes from unconscious pressure and fixation.

When we’re out of touch with our true intention, motivation naturally fades — but when we’re in alignment, motivation flows effortlessly.

Tune in to discover how to recognise the energy of control vs. intention, reconnect with your heart, and move forward with more ease and clarity.

Chapter markers

00:15 Introduction

00:35 What’s the difference between intention and control

01:10 Intention

03:28 Control

07:00 Awareness

09:00 Expressions of control

10:00 Functional modalities

11:35 Meditation example

14:41 Conclusion

Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness:

www.functionalspirituality.com

Free resources:

Newsletter sign-up:

A monthly update for me on new offers and the energy of the month.

Community meditation:

Join the Functional Spirituality Group and enjoy a free resource for meditators and yogis to connect to and enjoy a like-minded community.

Free training - 3 part method of Functional Spirituality:

Learn the clear, practical framework for deep healing, emotional regulation, and spiritual integration.

Connect on Socials

Where you can hear from us in daily life

Personal account & Functional Spirituality: @functionalspirituality

Studio: @spandaschool

Lavandula Botanicals: @lavandula.botanicals