Functional Spirituality

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...

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 Spirit...

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...

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 an...

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 w...

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: Bikr...

Gift yourself 15 minutes of your day and join Ava in this healing practice cultivating the energy of gratitude. Gratitude can be a healing tool as it helps us connect back to the feelings of joy, love, openness and presence. 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"     Increa...

Enjoy our most popular guided meditation on the Functional Spirituality podcast! Allow this soothing deep sleep meditation to send a message of comfort and safety to your nervous system. Invite a deeper sense of calmness into every cell in your body as you settle your body into a deep state of relaxation. Increasing accessibility to functional healing + non-dual spiritual oneness: www.functionalsp...

In this episode, Ava shares the powerful and raw story of her second daughter Leila’s birth on May 9th of this year. While deeply beautiful and transformative, this birth story includes graphic details, so please listen with care. Ava opens up about the intensity, the magic, and the awe of bringing Leila into this world, offering an intimate glimpse into one of the most profound moments of her lif...

In this powerful and heartfelt conversation, Priya, Ava, and Anaid dive deep into the roots of our toxic culture. Together, they explore the roles that disconnection, collective trauma, and survival-driven conditioning play in shaping the way we live and relate.  Is our detachment from nature part of the problem? Could it be that our nervous systems — biologically wired for survival — are still op...

In this episode, Ava answers a listener's question: "What is Kundalini?" She takes you on a journey from the Sanskrit origins of the word to its cultural context in India and the modern science surrounding it. Ava also shares her personal experiences with Kundalini and explores why it fascinates so many people.   Relevant links and resources:  Roots of Yoga - James Mallinson & Mark Singleton ...

Welcome back to our guided meditations. In this meditation, Anaid gently invites you to return to yourself with presence and care. This is your sacred pause, a moment to simply be… and rest. With curiosity, we explore the inner landscape, allowing tension to melt and awareness to ground fully in the present moment. From this place of stillness, we journey inward to meet what lives at the core of y...

Welcome to this spacious guided meditation to relax your body and explore joy. Take a deep breath, settle into stillness, and allow a sense of peacefulness and gratitude to gently flow through you. This meditation invites you to soften, open your heart, and reconnect with the simple, radiant joy within.   If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a playlist for...

"Gratitude arises from paying attention, from being awake in the presence of everything that lives within and without and beside us." — David Whyte   Join Kate in this gentle guided meditation, where gratitude becomes a doorway to ease and presence. As you breathe in gratitude, feel it soften your mind, relax your body, and open your heart to peace. Whether you're setting an intention for the day...

Join Ava in this soothing meditation. We begin with a grounding practice, softening the tissues and melting tension away. We then gently tune into the heart space—the middle. Using a light RAIN technique, inspired by Tara Brach, this meditation guides you to recognise, allow, investigate, and nurture what is alive within you.   If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone,...

Need a quick reset? This short yet powerful guided meditation, led by Ava, will help you relax, clear your mind, and find a sense of calm in just five minutes. Perfect for a midday pause or a gentle start to your day.   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.   If you enjoy...

In this episode, Ava dives into a topic that has been percolating for a while—the philosophy of the "natural parent" and how deeply held beliefs shape not just our parenting but our entire reality. This isn't just about parenting; it's about the way we form beliefs in natural health, medicine, and beyond—and how those beliefs interact with our nervous system and sense of self. Chapter markers:   ...

In this meditation Ava gently leads us into the depths of our true nature. With simple yet profound pointers to Being—she helps you settle beyond the mind into the quiet presence of what already is. Allow yourself to soften, listen, and rest in the stillness at the core of your existence   If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a playlist for it on your Spot...

Welcome to a soothing guided meditation with Anaid. We start the meditation by connecting with our breath and body. Slowly inviting the gentle power of the smiling energy technique to dissolve resistance and bring us fully into the present moment. Allow yourself to soften, release, and embrace a state of presence.   If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or make a p...

Take a deep breath and arrive in this moment with curiosity and kindness. In this guided meditation Anaid invites you to cultivate both aliveness and relaxation through the breath, gently grounding awareness into your heart space. Explore the sensations and presence here with openness, allowing life to unfold naturally and effortlessly.    If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in...

In this meditation, we invite you to drop deeply into the center of your being, anchoring your attention in the heart space—the essence core of who you truly are. Join Ava as she gently guides you into this sacred space, where profound inner shifts and healing await. 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...

Take a moment to journey inward and explore the vast, ever-changing landscape within. This guided meditation with Kate uses breath awareness and invites curiosity and relaxation into your system, allowing tension to melt away. As you breathe, allow your attention to settle on the stillness that exists between each inhale and exhale—a quiet, sacred pause where peace resides.   If you enjoy this aud...

Welcome to this meditation guided by Ava to gently ground your energy, relax your body and deepen your connection with what your system truly needs.   This practice invites you to create space for restoration and balance, nurturing your capacity for self-awareness and renewal.   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 t...

Ready to start the new year with intention? Choosing a 'word of the year' helps bring focus and clarity to what we want to create in our lives. Struggling to pick a word? No worries, we've repurposed this guided meditation to help you! This isn’t about crossing another goal off your list, it’s about creating an intention to help guide your daily actions and cultivate the qualities you want more of...

Join Ava in this 15 minute spacious guided meditation to experience and embody the presence of your being. We start by gently moving the body and connecting to the awareness of the breath. Notice the effortless and limitless qualities of your being and connect to the embodied presence and how that feels in your own experience. If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone,...