Zephyr Yoga Podcast

The Purusharthas are the four fundamental aims of human life in Hindu philosophy, guiding individuals toward a balanced and meaningful existence.Dharma – One’s purpose and moral duty, fulfilling ethical responsibilities.Artha – Material wealth and resources needed to support Dharma.Kama – The pursuit of desires, pleasure, and emotional fulfillment.Moksha – Spiritual liberation and self-realization, the ultimate goal.The term "Purushartha" combines Purusha, meaning pure consciousness, and Artha, meaning purpose or goal. Together, they signify the pursuit of purpose, prosperity, pleasure, and liberation.Ancient texts such as the Vedas, Bhagavad Gita, and Ramayana provide insights on achieving these goals. Balancing all four leads to inner fulfillment, harmony, spiritual wisdom, and unity with pure consciousness. Though Moksha is often prioritised, embracing all Purusharthas allows for a fulfilling, well-rounded life that integrates material, emotional, and spiritual well-being.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Yoga is the art of skillful action, awakened through intention and loving awareness. An intention draws us toward love, truth, and creativity, reflecting on what truly matters—what we care about, desire, and long for. Our intention is like planting a seed within us, which requires nurturing and care. In practice, we tend to our inner landscape as a gardener tends to a garden, removing negative thoughts (weeds), cultivating positive growth, and enriching our mental soil. As we nurture our intention, it grows strong, rooted in the challenges we face and the lessons we learn. By embodying virtues such as faith (Shraddha), courage (Vidya), remembrance (Smriti), absorption (Samadhi), and wisdom (Prajna), we align with our deepest truth, empowering us toward fulfillment and joy. Embrace your intention, allowing it to guide you with loving awareness, and grow into a balanced, harmonious life.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

The 9th Rasa, Calmness (Shanta), represents steadiness, peace, contentment, and serenity in the body, energy, and mind. It is the calm beneath the emotional storms of life. True peace of mind is challenging to attain, and yoga helps cultivate this stillness through practices like meditation and self-awareness. The Yoga Sutras emphasize turning inward, focusing on one thing at a time, and observing emotional obstacles. As we deepen our practice, we develop a non-judgmental awareness, leading to the quieting of the ego and a realisation of our true, peaceful nature. Calmness reflects the vast, unchanging ocean beneath the waves of emotions, offering clarity and liberation. Achieving equanimity through practice brings lasting peace and tranquility, allowing us to let go of worldly distractions and embrace self-realisation and spiritual freedom. As Suzuki Roshi states, "Gaining enlightenment is an accident. Spiritual practice simply makes us accident-prone."To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Sadness and Joy are the final pairing in our emotional practice. Sadness, or Karuna, is a natural, healthy emotion that arises when we face disappointment, loss, or attachment. It can lead to depression if not processed. We feel sadness in the body as lethargy, withdrawal, or physical discomfort. However, sadness can also open our hearts, fostering compassion, tolerance, and understanding, as seen in figures like the Dalai Lama. Recognising impermanence, sadness can lead us to deeper joy, or Hasya, which expresses itself as happiness, delight, and euphoria. Joy is vulnerable, tethered to sadness, and calls us to be present and appreciate life’s beauty. While joy can be fleeting, emotional agility allows us to navigate both emotions. A “Gratitude List” or “Annoy and Joy” list helps cultivate resilience, balancing sadness with the joy that brings fulfilment and freedom. By embracing both emotions, we open to greater love, creativity, and compassion.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Anger, represented by the Rasa of Raudra, arises when the ego feels neglected, threatened, or unfulfilled. It manifests as frustration, irritation, or rage, often clouding our judgment and affecting our well-being. Unchecked, anger can lead to resentment, health issues, and strained relationships. However, anger can also be motivating, driving us to confront injustices and create positive change, as seen in peaceful protests for civil rights.To manage anger, practice the RAIN technique: Recognize the signs of anger, Allow it safely, Investigate its cause, and Nurture yourself. Shifting from anger to wonder, or Adbhuta, can help dissolve ego attachments, expanding our perspective. By being curious and open to the emotions we experience, we can transform anger into a force for growth and compassion. Embrace your humanity, and learn to work skilfully with your emotions, using practices like breathing exercises and mindful reflection to regain balance and clarity.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

In this episode, we continue our exploration of the essential human emotions known as Rasas and how we can use yogic tools to embrace our humanity and make skilful choices that guide us toward lasting fulfilment and inner freedom. This practice invites us to engage with undesirable and uncomfortable emotions, using them as teachers to deepen our self-awareness and growth.We focus on the Rasas of Disgust and Love. Vibhatsa, or Disgust, is the feeling of dissatisfaction with oneself or others, often expressed through harsh judgment, criticism, and aversion. Disgust arises from a distorted sense of self, known as Asmita, which creates a false separation between ourselves and others. It can manifest as arrogance or self-loathing, reinforcing patterns of shame, guilt, and resistance (Dvesa), which perpetuate suffering.The antidote to Disgust is Shringara, the Rasa of Love. Love takes many forms...devotion, admiration, tenderness, compassion...and reminds us of our true nature. Through the practice of RAIN (Recognize, Allow, Investigate, Nurture), we learn to pause in moments of self-judgment and criticism, making space for healing and self-compassion. This process helps us move beyond aversion and open to the ocean of love that resides within.We ask ourselves: What disgusts us? Who do we find repulsive? What parts of ourselves do we struggle to accept? By practicing radical acceptance and loving awareness, we nurture the parts of us that feel inadequate or unworthy, fostering a deeper connection to ourselves and others.As Cozolino, an attachment psychologist, reminds us, "It is not the survival of the fittest, but the survival of the nurtured." Lean into the pause where love resides and discover the healing power of compassionate self-inquiry.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

In this episode, we explore the profound relationship between fear and courage through the lens of the ancient concept of Rasas. Fear, or Bhayanka, manifests in many ways, worry, anxiety, dread, while courage, or Virya, is the fearless heart that moves us forward with faith and trust. We'll discuss how fear arises from our attachments, our resistance to change, and our deep-seated need for safety and belonging. Using yoga philosophy and practical tools like breathwork, movement, and self-inquiry, we uncover how fear affects the mind, body, and soul. Together, we’ll explore how courage isn’t the absence of fear but the ability to face life’s uncertainties with an open heart. Whether it’s fear of the unknown, failure, or loss, this practice invites us to meet fear with loving awareness and step into our dharma with confidence. Join me on this journey of transformation...bravely, wholeheartedly, courageously.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

Rasa, meaning “nectar” or “essence,” captures the richness of life’s emotional experiences, much like the flavours of a meal. Just as the Gunas influence taste...Rajas being too intense, Tamas too dull, and Sattva offering the perfect balance...our emotions shape our human experience. As Robert Svoboda says, “Existence without juice is dry and tasteless.”Tantric tradition recognizes nine Rasas, the core emotional flavors of life: Disgust, Fear, Anger, Sadness, Love, Courage, Wonder, Joy, and Calmness. Each Rasa is born from an underlying Bhava, our true feeling state, giving depth and meaning to our experiences.In this practice, we explore these Rasas through movement, allowing emotions to surface and shift naturally. By embracing the full spectrum of our emotions with awareness and courage, we open to greater self-understanding and fulfillment. Let yourself fully taste, savour, and express the richness of your inner landscape.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.

As we reflect on the past year and look ahead, we may seek focus through resolutions or intentions that align with what matters most. This class introduces R.A.I.N, a powerful tool to help manifest your Sankalpa—your intention, vow, or heartfelt prayer—while addressing the Vikalpa, the limiting beliefs that hold you back.R – Recognize the thoughts, emotions, and sensations arising within you.A – Allow them space to be seen and felt without resistance.I – Investigate their root causes with curiosity and self-inquiry.N – Nurture yourself with compassion and non-judgment.This session marks the beginning of our exploration into Rasas (emotions) and their Bhava (feelings), offering a practical way to navigate life's complexities with clarity and purpose. Let’s embark on this journey together and cultivate a deeper connection to our true desires.To read more and to practice with Zephyr Wildman, click here. To support Zephyr Yoga Podcast, donate here.