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

We are re-sharing this episode where Ava discusses what trauma is and what happens to our body when we experience a traumatic event.

Listen in to understand the mechanics of a healing process and the different ways of meeting traumatic material.

Relevant links:

Free resources

Join our Therapeutic Embodiment trainings waitlist

Chapter markers:

00:00 A bit about Ava and Functional Spirituality podcast

01:43 Intro to today’s topic

04:05 Understanding the mechanics of a healing practice

05:24 What is trauma?

07:40 What happens when we experience a traumatic event?

11:06 What does healing from a traumatic event mean?

15:46 The idea of catharsis

19:50 Ways of meeting traumatic material

22:56 Disclaimer

23:25 Part 1 of the Functional Spirituality Method, free resources and upcoming trainings (please note this is a repurposed episode, the training dates are from previous years)

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

www.functionalspirituality.com

Newsletter sign-up:

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

As we get ready to begin our Therapeutic Embodiment training, Ava shares about what TE is, what happens inside a session and why this heartful approach involves a new paradigm for healing complex trauma.

Therapeutic Embodiment works with the stress that builds up in our nervous system, using somatic principles and interoceptive reflection to help us reconnect, restore capacity, and heal.

If you’re curious to go deeper, listen to this episode and follow this link to find all the details and join us in the training!

Course starts: 13th July 2025.

Relevant links:

Free workshop: The trauma healing breakthrough

Chapter markers:

00:00 Introduction to the topic, what is a TE session?

01:00 Complex trauma and the new paradigm of healing

03:00 TE practice vs yin yoga

04:48 Duration of this practice and how it can be woven into other modalities

5:43 What does a TE consist of?

7:52 Our society lives on the surface

11:20 Have you listened to our latest free online workshop?

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

Today’s topic is applicable to everybody, not just mothers or parents.

We often find ourselves complaining about life and unconsciously hoping that complaining will help us get our needs met. In reality, complaining signals our bodies and the people around us stress and resistance. This is not sustainable for ourselves and our relationships.

Listen in to hear Ava share insights from her life and how reframing things positively has supported her recently.

The intention of this episode is to inspire you to cultivate optimism in a healthy way. We recommend you to listen back to this podcast in a month or two to track and observe your progress.

Chapter markers:

00:00 Introduction to the topic and update from Ava

02:20 How the silent retreats have supported Ava during an important transition in her life

4:09 What is positively benefiting Ava and her relationships?

5:52 How does complaining affect our body and relationships?

8:45 An example where we can reframe our reality in a positive way and still being truthful to ourselves

14:00 Complaining as a strategy to try to get your needs met

15:48 Ava’s super power

17:00 Thank you for listening, if you have any topic ideas for this podcast please let us know by sending us an email: functionalspiritualityretreat@gmail.com

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.

In this episode, Ava explores a question that’s been landing in her inbox more and more: Why are so many people turning to Christianity?

After hearing from at least five people in the last month alone, Ava takes a deeper look—sharing her own reflections, insights from recent conversations with those embracing Christianity, and stories from people who’ve stepped away from it.

She also unpacks why this topic can feel so charged and triggering, even in spiritual communities, and what this growing interest might reveal about our cultural and personal landscapes.

Relevant links:

Four stages of spiritual seeking

Free resources page

Chapter markers:

00:00 Introduction to the topic and disclaimer

02:43 Ava’s experience with religion

06:08 What are some of the things that feel 'disturbing’ for us when we talk about religion

11:00 Why Christianity?

16:14 Why are people turning towards it?

19:00 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

In this episode, Ava shares a personal glimpse into her journey and how the 3-Part Method of Functional Spirituality was born. What makes this approach so unique and effective? Tune in to discover the foundations that set Functional Spirituality apart.

Relevant links:

The new paradigm of healing

Free resources page

Chapter markers:

00:00 Introduction to the topic

02:00 Ava’s story: Bikram yoga, Agama and Hridaya schools.

10:45 The origin story of the 3 part method.

14:20 The three intentions that we may have in our spiritual practice.

20:00 The difference between Awakening and Deconditioning tools.

23:30 The importance of intention.

26:08 Conclusion

28:18 Thank you for listening, if you have any questions and comments please let us know.

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