Sat–Chit–Ananda: The Joy That Was Never Missing…

The experience of bliss or pure joy is not an excitement.  And it’s not an ‘experience’ either.  It is the quiet steadiness at the core of our being which is the foundation from which life flows. And life can only flow when we get out of the way. The problem is that most of the time we aren’t even aware that we are in the way.

I’d like to invite you to stop for a moment, close your eyes and consider a time in your life when things flowed along nicely.  Intensify that memory so that the whole experience is vivid.  Bring all the senses into play…the light, the sounds, how you felt, the quality of that moment. In one or two words describe the feeling.

Now remember a time when life wasn’t flowing.  Maybe a particular situation triggered something inside of you.  Take yourself back to that time and remember how you felt, mentally, emotionally, physically. And in a few words describe that feeling. 

The very fact that you can remember all of this – the good and the bad – tells us that we store memories in our subconscious – mentally, emotionally and physically. But underneath all of those memories and the armouring that protects those raw emotions, is pure joy.

In yogic philosophy, there is a beautiful expression that captures this sense of pure joy: Sat–Chit–Ananda — often translated as existence, consciousness, bliss. It is not a poetic slogan or a spiritual mood. It is a description of our deepest nature.

Spring is a wonderful time of year to contemplate this as the light shifts, the air softens, and something quietly begins again. Even though it never really stopped.

As we gather to celebrate spring through yoga, meditation, cacao and laughter, this ancient teaching offers a surprisingly grounded framework for understanding joy — not as something we chase, but as something we uncover layer by layer until eventually it reveals itself.

Sat — Existence: The Simple Miracle of Being

Sat means being, existence, truth. That which is. Long before leaves return to the trees, life is present in the roots. Winter never destroys existence; it simply quietens expression. Spring reveals what was already there.

In practice, Sat is felt through the body. When we stand in a grounded posture, breathe steadily, and feel our feet rooted to the floor, we are affirming something very simple: I am here.

Modern wellbeing research supports this emphasis on embodiment. Slow, conscious movement and breath awareness stimulate parasympathetic regulation — shifting the nervous system from vigilance to presence. In that settling, existence feels less like effort and more like quiet support.

Spring reminds us that being is enough. Growth follows naturally.

Chit — Consciousness: The Light of Awareness

If Sat is being, Chit is knowing. It is awareness itself — the capacity to observe thoughts, sensations and emotions without being swallowed by them. In yogic terms, consciousness is primary, and thoughts arise within it like clouds moving across the sky.

The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali outlines a progression from concentration (dharana) to meditation (dhyana) to absorption (samadhi). These are not esoteric achievements but refinements of attention. As awareness stabilises, identification with those fletting thoughts and feelings loosen.

In everyday language: we stop being inside every passing thought.

The practice of meditation helps this; we sit for a 20-30 minutes everyday and this watching of thoughts, feelings and emotions without being disturbed by them spills into our everyday life. 

Imagine a flowing river – the river of life – as it flows along.  We maintain awareness on this flowing river.  And maybe some boats appear, there are reflection of clouds on the water, maybe some children throwing stones into the river.  But we don’t get distracted by this…we aren’t interested in exploring inside the boats or getting in awe of the beauty of the cloud reflections or annoyed with the children for making too much noise.  We simply watch the flow of the river.  This is the practice of meditation. 

Contemporary psychology calls this meta-awareness or mindfulness. Research consistently links it with improved emotional regulation and reduced rumination. But beyond outcomes, there is something more immediate: clarity.

March brings longer daylight. The literal increase in light becomes a metaphor. We see more clearly. We notice birdsong that winter masked. We feel subtle warmth on the skin.

Chit is this inner light. It allows us to witness change without panic and renewal without grasping.

Ananda — Bliss: The Quiet Hum Beneath Experience

The final element, Ananda, is often translated as bliss — though not in the sense of ecstatic fireworks. Ananda is deeper than excitement. It is contentment without cause. A subtle, steady warmth of being.

In the classical understanding, bliss is not manufactured. It is revealed when mental turbulence settles. If Sat is the ground and Chit the light, Ananda is the natural atmosphere when nothing is obstructing it.

Modern wellbeing research hints at this state. Positive emotions broaden perception and build psychological resilience. Practices that cultivate gratitude, connection and laughter increase endorphins and enhance social bonding. Nervous system regulation improves vagal tone and supports a felt sense of safety.

Yet none of these create joy, they reveal it.

Bringing Sat–Chit–Ananda to Life in Spring Practice

Our spring workshop on Saturday 28th March from 2pm weaves these three qualities into lived experience.

Cacao: Softening the Armour

Ceremonial cacao has long been used in ritual contexts to support heart-centred awareness. Physiologically, cacao contains theobromine, a gentle stimulant associated with vasodilation and mild mood elevation.

Symbolically, it invites softening. We do not drink cacao to become blissful. We drink it to lower defences — to listen inwardly. To feel.

Sat becomes embodied through warmth in the chest.
Chit sharpens as awareness turns toward sensation.
Ananda flickers as connection grows within the group.

Ritual itself opens the doorway to a depper meaning. When shared intentionally, it amplifies belonging — a cornerstone of wellbeing.

Laughter: Joy Without Permission

Laughter yoga research demonstrates measurable reductions in stress hormones and improvements in mood. More importantly, laughter bypasses the analytical mind. It is immediate. Physical. Disarming.

In moments of shared laughter, ego loosens its grip. The seriousness that winter sometimes accumulates begins to thaw. Ananda is accessed not through effort but through play.

Spring blossoms do not apologise for appearing. Joy need not either.

For those who are cringeing at the thought of this, my top tips for laughter are…laugh at yourself, laugh with others, and if all of that fails, laugh at me.

Movement: From Root to Expansion

Yoga movement becomes the bridge.

Grounded standing postures affirm Sat — the strength and dignity of being alive.

Slow transitions cultivate Chit — awareness of breath, weight, subtle sensation.

Expansive sequences and heart-opening shapes evoke Ananda — uplift without force.

The arc mirrors the season itself: Root. Awaken. Expand. Soften. Rest.

And in the final stillness, perhaps we notice something unexpected: when striving falls away, contentment remains.

Remembering Rather Than Becoming

Spring often encourages reinvention or rebirth — new goals, new bodies, new ambitions. Sat–Chit–Ananda offers a gentler invitation.

What if renewal is not about becoming something else? What if it is about remembering who we are?

Existence is steady beneath every season;  Awareness is luminous and constant; and Joy is quietly present when we stop chasing it. Only when we stop chasing it.

Through yoga, meditation, cacao and laughter, we are not creating bliss. We are clearing the winter debris that obscures it.

Sat reminds us that we are here, Chit that we are aware and Ananda tells us that joy hums beneath experience.

Spring does not add anything essential, it simply reminds us.

Get in touch

I hold monthly themed yoga workshops on the 4^th Saturday of each month, if you’d like to come along to The Joy of Spring Workshop  on Saturday 28th March 2026 at 2pm, click here to find out more and book.

Feel free to get in touch if you’d like to explore yoga, meditation and shamanic healing on a deeper level.

“Be still and know… thyself” is a confluence of sayings that sums up the power of meditation.

Strictly speaking, meditation is not one single thing. It’s a process. In the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, the meditative path is described as unfolding in three stages, each of which can take many years to mature. The first of these stages is dharana — the practice of learning to focus attention.

By the way, if you are curious about meditation, come along to any of my sessions to experience it. The only rule is, don’t tell me you can’t meditate because your mind is too busy.

In simple terms, this means placing awareness on an object: the breath, sensations in the body, a sacred word, or a mantra. The practice isn’t about holding concentration perfectly. It’s about noticing when the mind has wandered (which it will), and gently bringing it back again. In Buddhist traditions, this is often called mindfulness.

For many people, this is where things fall apart. They sit down, notice how busy, distracted, and scattered their mind is, and conclude: I can’t meditate. But that busyness isn’t a failure — it’s the point. Becoming aware of the mind’s habits, and repeatedly returning attention, is the practice. It’s the first real step in knowing yourself.

In the 1970s, Father Thomas Keating, a Trappist monk, co-developed a Christian contemplative practice known as centering prayer. Don’t let the word “prayer” put you off if organised religion isn’t your thing. At its heart, this is a simple, quiet meditative practice, informed in part by transcendental meditation.

In centering prayer, we sit comfortably and allow the body and mind to settle. After a short period, a word or short phrase is gently introduced internally — something meaningful, calming, or sacred to you. It might come from a religious tradition, or it might be as simple as ‘be calm‘ or ‘be relaxed‘. Yogi’s may choose ‘So Ham’.

At the beginning of the session, after settling for 15 seconds or so, the word is repeated three or four times, then released. Each time the mind becomes caught up in thoughts or distractions, the word is softly reintroduced – just once – to guide awareness back to stillness.

Settle on a word and use that same word each time. With repeated practice the word becomes imbued with energy which can sum up all of your spiritual or religious beliefs in an instant. I like to notice how the mind attempts to shop around for other words as if it’s at a spiritual shopping mall. That in itself is an insight into how the mind works.

The practice lasts around 20 to 25 minutes and is traditionally done twice a day. Over time, something subtle but powerful happens. Thoughts don’t necessarily stop, but you stop identifying with them. The mind quietens, not by force, but by familiarity.

There’s a lovely story from an early centering prayer session. A nun told Father Keating that during her practice, her mind wandered 10,000 times in 20 minutes. His response was simple: ‘How wonderful — that’s 10,000 opportunities to come back to God’.

It’s a truly spiritual practice and one that does not require any religious beliefs.

If you’d like to experience centering prayer for yourself, I’ll be sharing the practice at my yoga workshop Finding Calm in a Hectic World, on Saturday 28th February 2026 at 2pm.

You can click here to find out more, or feel free to get in touch if you’d like a chat first.

My top tip for any meditation practice is this – keep it simple and don’t build it up into anything special. It’s about sitting quietly on a regular basis, with awareness, and noticing when the awareness gets lost in thought. When that happens, come back and begin again.

This blog accompanies my workshop Setting Intentions from the Heart, and it reflects the same three pillars that underpin all of my teaching and practice: Movement, Mind, and Meaning.

The structure of the workshop is deliberately simple. We begin by settling into the space, using gentle yoga postures to open the body. From there, we move into easy, accessible breathwork, and then into meditation. The flow is from the obvious and physical to the quieter and more subtle. Throughout, the focus is on the heart space – not in a sentimental sense, but as a place of felt awareness.

The intention isn’t to decide something clever or ambitious. It’s to create the right conditions for the body and mind to soften, so that whatever really matters has a chance to surface.

Do We Set Intentions – or Do They Arise?

In modern wellness culture, intention-setting is often treated like a goal-setting exercise. Everyone gets pumped up, decide what they want, phrase it positively, focus hard, and off they go. Sounds exhausting to me!

There’s nothing wrong with clarity or commitment, but yoga asks a more awkward question:

Do we genuinely set intentions, or do they arise when the conditions are right?

If intention is a conscious act of will, then who exactly is doing the choosing? And how free is that choice, really?

This line of inquiry unsettles the idea that the thinking mind is in charge. It nudges us towards a more honest view of how life actually works.

Intention and the Illusion of Control

Here’s the uncomfortable bit. None of us chose our genes, our early environment, or the nervous system we inherited. Our habits, fears, preferences, and coping strategies were shaped long before we had any say in the matter.

From that angle, many of our “choices” are less about free will and more about momentum.

Yoga doesn’t present this as a problem to fix. It treats it as an invitation to humility. If we are not the sole authors (or pardon the pun – soul authors) of our thoughts and impulses, perhaps intention isn’t something we force into being. Perhaps it’s something we learn to listen for.

That shift alone changes the tone of practice. Control softens. Effort becomes curiosity. And intention stops being a mental command and starts to feel like a quiet alignment.

Movement: Opening the Body to Open Awareness

The first pillar, movement, is the foundation for everything else.

In yoga, physical postures aren’t really about flexibility, strength, or looking impressive in Lycra. They’re about creating conditions. Conscious movement releases unnecessary tension, steadies the nervous system, and brings awareness into the body.

As a side note – strength and flexibility are a by-product and as I always say, help us to sit quietly with no fidgeting.   Ok I admit it, I do fidget at times, I’m only human.

Modern research backs this up. Body and mind aren’t separate departments; they’re part of the same operation. When the body is tense or braced, perception narrows. When movement is freer, awareness widens.

As the body opens, we become more sensitive to sensation, breath, and subtle feedback. Intention, at this point, is no longer something we think up. It’s something we feel – an orientation rather than an order.

Mind: Bringing Heart and Intellect Back Together

The second pillar, mind, invites us to question a familiar split.

In modern culture, we tend to separate the head and the heart: logic on one side, feeling on the other. Ancient traditions didn’t see it that way. The Sanskrit word citta refers to the whole of consciousness – thoughts, emotions, memory, identity, and feeling, all rolled into one.

Yoga practice is about reuniting what we’ve pulled apart.

Through breath awareness, meditation, and gentle inquiry, the constant mental commentary begins to settle. Patanjali famously described yoga as the quieting of the movements of the mind – a mind as still as a millpond.

When that happens, the sense of being the one in control loosens. Intention stops arriving as a thought and starts arriving as coherence – when feeling, understanding, and action line up.

This is why clarity so often appears after practice, not before it. When the mind stops shouting, something deeper can be heard.

Meaning: Intention as Trust, Not Control

The third pillar, meaning, brings us to one of yoga’s most practical teachings: acting wholeheartedly while letting go of the outcome.

Traditionally this is described as surrender to something larger than the personal self. You don’t need religious beliefs for this to make sense. It can simply mean trusting life to be more intelligent than our limited perspective.

The Indian sage Ramana Maharshi put it bluntly: He knows what is best, when and how to do it. Leave everything entirely to him. Please feel free to substitute the pronouns with she, her, they or them…

This isn’t passivity. It’s engagement without micromanagement. We act honestly, we do what feels right, and we allow results – good, bad, or uncertain – to be part of the process.

Meaning, then, doesn’t come from getting what we intend. It comes from acting in alignment with what feels true.

So Who’s Really in Charge?

If so much of life is shaped by conditioning and forces beyond our control, who’s running the show?

Yoga doesn’t rush to answer. Instead, it offers a practice. Over time, attention shifts from the conditioned personality to the awareness behind it – the part that notices thoughts rather than being tangled up in them.

As that shift happens, life feels less like something to manage and more like something to participate in. Intention becomes less about doing and more about allowing.

We don’t step out of life. We step out of the way.

Reframing Intention Through the Three Pillars

Seen through this lens:

• Movement creates the physical and nervous system conditions for listening
• Mind releases its grip on control
• Meaning provides a framework of trust

Intention stops being a demand placed on life and becomes an openness to what life is already asking to express through us.

A Closing Thought

To set an intention isn’t to programme the future. It’s to become available to it.

Our task isn’t to force clarity, but to create the conditions in which clarity can arise naturally. When movement, mind, and meaning are aligned, intention reveals itself without effort.

Perhaps the most honest intention we can hold is simply this:
to stay open, to get out of the way, and to allow life to move through us with a little more ease.

Want to find out more?

If something in this blog has sparked your curiosity — or simply left you with a sense of “I’d like to experience that for myself” — you’re very welcome to get in touch.

I offer guided sessions and workshops for people who want a direct, grounded yoga experience. No prior experience is needed — just an open mind and a willingness to explore.

If you’d like to talk things through, ask questions, or book a session, drop me a message. The best way is simply to experience it.

Over the past twenty-five years or so I’ve explored a fair few wellbeing practices — yoga, meditation, energy work, tantric approaches, and plenty more besides. Some have stayed with me, some have fallen away. Shamanic journeying, though, has been one of the most quietly transformative practices I’ve come across.

This blog is based on a workshop I recently lead which was inspired by Experiencing the Shamanic Journey by Sandra Ingerman, whose work presents shamanism in a grounded, accessible way. No robes, no pretending to be someone you’re not — just a simple, ancient practice that still works remarkably well in the modern world.

Shamanism is often described as one of the oldest spiritual practices known to humanity. Archaeologists and anthropologists suggest it goes back at least 100,000 years, and what’s striking is how it appears — in different forms — across cultures worldwide. That tells us something important: this isn’t a passing trend, it’s part of the human operating system.

The word shaman comes from the Tungus people of Siberia and roughly translates as “one who sees in the dark”. Sometimes it’s interpreted simply as “healer”. Either way, it points to the ability to sit with uncertainty, mystery and the unknown — something most of us have been trained to avoid.

Which brings us neatly to the word weird.

In Old English, wyrd meant fate, destiny, or the deeper pattern of a person’s life. It wasn’t an insult — it described something powerful and unavoidable. Somewhere along the line, the word turned into something dismissive. Personally, I think we should reclaim it. If you’re ever called weird, take it as a compliment. I certainly do.

Ceremony Without the Fuss

Shamanic journeying does involve ceremony, but it’s important not to overthink it. The ceremony is the gate — not the destination.

Traditionally, the practice begins by “opening the directions”: West, North, East, South, Mother Earth and Father Sky. Some cultures also acknowledge the spirit within. This isn’t about getting it “right” — it’s about marking a shift in awareness, stepping out of everyday thinking and into something more spacious.

And just to add, that shift in awareness is traditionally supported in many cultures by the steady beat of a drum. The rhythm helps the mind settle and makes it easier to move out of everyday thinking. Some traditions also work with plant medicines such as psilocybin or ayahuasca, though that isn’t something I have personal experience of, and it isn’t part of this work.

Shamanism isn’t just a collection of techniques for getting spiritual information. At its heart, it’s a way of living — in relationship with nature, with each other, and with the parts of life that can’t be measured or controlled.

Two Lessons That Changed Everything

There are two big lessons shamanic practice has taught me.

The first is setting intention.

Before any journey — whether it’s a shamanic journey, a road trip, a new business idea or a change in how you live — you need to know why you’re going. Without intention, you don’t know when you’ve arrived, or even what direction you’re heading in.

The second lesson is accepting the unknowable.

We’re trained to analyse, categorise and explain everything. That works well — until it doesn’t. When life throws something at us that can’t be solved logically, the mind ties itself in knots. Those knots often show up as stress, anxiety or low mood.

The way through isn’t to stop thinking — that rarely works — but to stop identifying so closely with our thoughts. To become the observer rather than the commentator.

For me, the quickest way back to that place is nature. Sitting by a river, listening to the water move, it genuinely feels like tangled thoughts get rinsed out. You don’t have to understand the river. You just let it do its thing.

Yoga calls this Ishvara Pranidhana — surrendering the outcome. Christianity phrases it as “Thy will be done.” A Buddhist teacher once summed it up perfectly: “Non-mind, no problem.”

In shamanic language, we become the hollow bone — clear enough for something bigger to move through us without the ego getting in the way. And if we’re honest, most problems start when the ego insists on driving.

I won’t mention any world leaders here but all I can say is to lead, they must be followed.

Trust Your Own Experience

Shamanic journeying can feel completely bonkers — but then again, so is much of what we call “normal life”.

The focus isn’t on what anyone else is experiencing. It’s about your relationship with the power animals and spirit guides — your direct experience.

In groups, it’s tempting to compare:
“Am I doing it right?”
“They seem to be seeing more than me.”

That comparison kills the magic.

Think of it like dancing with an invisible partner. If you keep looking around the room to see how everyone else is moving, you miss the dance entirely. Stay with your own rhythm. Trust that whatever shows up is exactly what’s meant for you. Have the courage to dance like no-ones watching.

Direct Revelation (No Middlemen)

One of the strengths of shamanism is that it’s based on direct experience. There are no rulebooks carved in stone and no authority figures telling you what your experience should mean.

Spirits communicate in all sorts of ways — images, feelings, sounds, sensations, gut knowing, or sometimes just silence. Some people “see” things clearly. Others don’t see anything at all but feel deeply changed. All of it counts.

If you ever wonder, “Was that supposed to happen?” — the answer is yes.

The key is awareness and openness. Stay curious.

Don’t Forget to Laugh

One thing often overlooked in spiritual practice is humour.

Indigenous shamans laugh a lot. They understand that laughter opens the heart, and the heart is where real connection happens. Take things too seriously and everything shuts down.

So laugh — at yourself, at me, at the sheer strangeness of being human. The spirits, if we’re using that language, have a great sense of humour.

A Word for the Rational Mind

Most of us were taught to mistrust anything we can’t measure. So if your rational mind pipes up saying, “You’re making this up,” don’t argue with it.

Just smile and say, “Yes. I probably am.”

Then carry on.

That simple move frees up huge amounts of energy and allows imagination — the bridge between worlds — to do its job.

In Closing

Yoga and meditation are excellent ways to prepare the body and mind for shamanic journeying. Ceremony opens the door, intention sets the direction, and trust keeps you moving.

Most importantly, don’t confine the practice to a twenty-minute journey. Let it inform how you live, how you listen, how you walk through the world.

Become the hollow bone — and see what flows.

Want to find out more?

If something in this blog has sparked your curiosity — or simply left you with a sense of “I’d like to experience that for myself” — you’re very welcome to get in touch.

I offer guided shamanic journey sessions and workshops for people who want a direct, grounded experience rather than theories or beliefs. No prior experience is needed — just an open mind and a willingness to explore.

You can also read my blog article, where I go into more depth about the practice, what to expect, and how shamanic journeying can be integrated into everyday life in a practical, meaningful way.

If you’d like to talk things through, ask questions, or book a session, drop me a message. Sometimes the best way to understand a practice like this is simply to experience it.

Running is a lifelong passion for many, offering not just physical health benefits but also mental clarity and joy. For runners over 50, staying active is a testament to perseverance and dedication. Yet, as the years add up, so do the risks of injury. Achy knees, stiff joints, and recurring pain can make running seem like a challenge—but it doesn’t have to be. 

With the right tools and strategies, you can continue running pain-free, staying strong and active well into your golden years. Let’s explore some proven ways to keep injury at bay and enjoy the run for decades to come. 

Common Challenges for Runners Over 50

As we age, the body undergoes natural changes that can affect running performance and injury risk: 

– Reduced joint flexibility: Stiffer joints can lead to a shorter stride and increased wear and tear. 

– Decreased muscle strength: Weak muscles can put more strain on joints and connective tissues. 

– Longer recovery times: Healing from minor injuries or soreness takes longer. 

Recognizing these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them.

Building an Injury-Free Running Routine

1. Warm Up Properly

   As a younger runner, you might have skipped the warm-up without much consequence. But for older runners, a proper warm-up is essential. 

   – Start with dynamic stretches like leg swings or walking lunges to loosen up muscles and joints. 

   – Incorporate light jogging or brisk walking to get the blood flowing before you pick up the pace. 

2. Strengthen Key Muscle Groups

   Strength training is a game-changer for injury prevention, especially for runners over 50. Strong muscles act as shock absorbers, reducing strain on joints. Focus on these areas: 

   – Core: Improves balance and stability. Try planks or bird-dog exercises. 

   – Hips and glutes: These muscles support your stride. Incorporate bridges or resistance band exercises. 

   – Calves and feet: Keep these small but vital muscles strong with heel raises and foot stretches. 

3. Stay Flexible with Yoga

   Yoga is an excellent way to maintain flexibility and reduce muscle tension. Poses like downward dog and pigeon stretch key muscles used in running, while improving posture and balance. Yoga can also aid in recovery by promoting blood flow and relaxation. 

4. Listen to Your Body

   As tempting as it may be to push through discomfort, ignoring pain can lead to chronic injuries. Pay attention to early warning signs like persistent soreness or unusual stiffness, and give your body the rest it needs. 

Mindset Matters: Aging Doesn’t Mean Stopping 

Many runners fear that getting older will force them to quit. But with a proactive approach, you can stay on the road or trail for years to come. Here’s how: 

– Focus on consistency, not speed: Running regularly at a comfortable pace is more beneficial than sporadic, high-intensity efforts. 

– Adjust your goals: Instead of chasing personal bests, aim for steady progress and injury-free miles. 

– Celebrate recovery: Rest is as vital as training. Use rest days to rebuild strength and energy. 

Keep Moving Forward 

Running after 50 doesn’t have to be about limitations—it can be about freedom. By warming up properly, strengthening key muscles, and incorporating recovery practices like yoga, you can run longer, recover faster, and avoid common injuries. 

Remember, running is not just about miles—it’s about the journey, the joy, and the resilience it builds. With the right mindset and habits, you can continue enjoying your runs for decades to come. 

Ready to take your running to the next level? Discover how to stay injury-free with the Injury-Free Running Blueprint, a FREE online course designed specifically for runners over 50. Learn expert techniques to keep running pain-free and strong. 

Sign up today and start running smarter, stronger, and injury-free!

I can’t help but ponder, and this is where you’ll find my thoughts. Each week you’ll find my latest insights added to the top.

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What is yoga? Well I dunno, don’t ask me. It’s all a bit of a mystery. Most definitions start to talk about union. But union with what? The Divine, the task in hand right now? Maybe they are one and the same? But what is the Divine? How do you define the Divine?

All the great spiritual teachers and texts can only point towards this. It is beyond concept, intellect and certainly beyond words. But we continue to try and figure it out (and fight wars over it). But ultimately if it’s beyond what we can grasp with our intellect and ego, surely it’s better to acknowledge the great mystery?

So for me, that’s what yoga is…it’s about getting beyond the mind into a state of acceptance of the great mystery of life. It’s a state of ‘Let’s see’…whatever happens in life, whether good or bad, let’s see. Easier said than done.

–

In last Friday’s class we practiced a Tantric meditation called Tattwa Shuddhi. The meditation goes back 1000’s of years where the material Tattwa’s (Tattwa translates as suchness) are visualised in symbol form and certain Bija, or seed, mantra’s are chanted.

Very interesting that a couple of people have told me that it led to a slight out of body experience. I’m all for transcending the body, and the mind, but at the end of the day it’s important to come back down to Earth because this is where the real work is done.

Brian Clough summed it up for football when he said “If God had wanted us to play football in the sky, He’d have put grass up there”.

The same principle holds for yoga, at least the type of yoga I practice.

Another thing, the ego loves these experiences and will want more. The trouble is that they only occur when the ego disappears. So the trick is to have no expectations next time you practice. Easier said than done, but it will give you an insight into the subtlety of the ego.

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Thanks to all of those who fed back on why they come to yoga classes.  For a lot of people it is about improving flexibility, strength, mobility as well as calming to mind. We all need a bit of that, me thinks.  For those who mentioned spirituality, this YouTube video by Rupert Spira may be of interest. For me, he explains complicated stuff in a simple, practical way.  A couple of phrases which stick out for me:

• Silence is the highest form of prayer
  
• A realisation of the Divine by a monk: Thou art the love with which I love thee

 Worth a ponder, at the very least….

Rcently, I went on a retreat to learn a Kriya Yoga technique which combines breathwork (pranayama) with chakra purification.  It has quite a subtle yet profound effect…is that an oxymoron?  It is considered a fast-track to self-realisation (if that’s your thing) and literally enables connection with the inner light, sounds and vibrations that are present in all.  Wow, is all I can say. 

For ‘quality control’ purposes I cannot share the full sequence but I’m happy to speak to anyone interested in learning the technique directly from a Kriya Yogacharya. Click here for a link to their website if you are interested to find out more.

I have been reading some works by Paramahansa Yogananda over the last few weeks.  He wrote ‘Autobiography of a Yogi’, amongst many other books and brought Kriya Yoga over to the west in the 1900’s.  He talked about ‘maya’ or illusion in one article I read. Yoga and Buddhism say that the life we live is an illusion.  But what does that mean, really?  It feels quite real to me, especially when I stub my toe…  

Paramahansa Yogananda put it simply: the illusion is that we are separate [from each other and the divine].  And it got me thinking that as consciousness shifts, the interconnectedness of all things is becoming more and more apparent; how we think, act and behave has a massive impact on those around us and the rest of the planet. So next time you see a stranger give them a little smile, and it could well change their day for the better. And smiling at others will make your day better too 🙂 

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Well, I’ve had some very deep ponderances this week but to be honest I can’t remember any of them.  I’m sure they will resurface at some point, so for now I’ll keep quiet.  But on that point, is it possible to be truly quiet? 

Maybe the answer is to meditate on ‘Be still and know that I am God’

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This last few weeks I have been chanting the Gayatri mantra most mornings. Apart from Om, it is the most famous mantra used in Yoga.

It is a mantra to awaken awareness, leading to insight. During the repetition of this mantra ( I repeat it 27 times), the awareness is towards the third eye found at the eyebrow centre. At first, imagine or visualise a radiant source of light and let the mind merge with it. It is a powerful mantra which can be used as preparation for meditation. We’ll be chanting the mantra on Fridays before the 6pm class and your welcome to join me from 5:15pm.

Om Bhur Bhuvaha Swaha

Tat Savitur Varenyam

Bhargo Devasya Dhi Mahi

Dhiyo Yonaha Prachodayat

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Satchidananda.  Or if you like Sat – Chit – Ananda.  Translated as Existence or Being – Consciousness or Knowledge – Bliss or Joy. It could also be translated as ‘Wake Up! – Be Present! – Find That Inner Smile!’ 
This week we will meditate on Satchitananda and see what it brings. Prepare for liberation….

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The practice of surrender known as Ishvara Pranidhana.  It translates as surrendering all of our actions to a higher source.  To me it’s about doing what I can to the best that I can and then letting go of it.  The analogy is that we plant a seed in some soil, water it, place it in the sun, and eventually that seed will germinate.  We have done our part, and the rest we have to leave.  We wouldn’t go back each day and pull the seed out of the soil to check whether or not roots have developed, we trust in the process. 

It is like this in yoga practice: we come to the mat or the meditation cushion when we can and practice without expectation, and over time there is a subtle change.  When there is no expectation, the magic happens. My motto is ‘always unexpect the expected‘.

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I’ve been continuing my exploration of breathwork (the new and trendy name for pranayama).  With a beginners mind, I have revisited the yogic breath, alternate nostril breathing for balance as well as the box breath.  It’s always good to revisit old friends and see them with a fresh pair of eyes.  We’ll be looking at these in class this week to help calm the mind and become grounded.

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Those who came to the sessions last week will have experienced the power of the breathwork practices that I have been doing recently.  As I am sat here, upright on a chair with both feet connecting with the ground, I am aware of my breath.  As I breathe in, I feel the belly expand as the breath is directed beyond the navel.  Join me.  The breath fills the abdomen, then the lower rib cage, then the upper chest all the way into the relaxed shoulders and neck.  And then I breath out.  Releasing any and all physical and mental tension. For a few breaths, my eyes are closed as I revel in the present moment.  There is nothing to think about other than being aware of the present moment.  And then, after this short blissful experience, I come back, refreshed.  

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The breath connects the body and the mind.  But we are conditioned not to breathe naturally.  It’s common to breathe into the upper part of the chest as opposed to the belly.  By simply watching the breath, it helps to relax the body and the mind and release trapped energy and emotion. There are so many physical, mental and emotional benefits from something that is literally at the end of your nose.  Over the next few sessions I’ll be spending some time exploring the breath and hope that you can experience the benefits first hand.

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It’s a hectic old life and one which seems designed to keep us increasingly in our heads, nice and stressed.  So many distractions, things to do, to keep us entertained and prevent us from coming back to our selves.  The anti-dote to this, I find is a really grounding yoga practice and meditation.  As I am writing this, both of my feet are firmly planted on the ground and I am feeling the connection with the earth.  Join me if you like.  Feel into the legs, the buttocks, the lower back and upper back.  Relax the shoulders.  And the arms. Feeling into the hands.  Then soften the forehead, the face, the chest and the belly. And breathe in and out. The whole of the body is breathing in and breathing out.

Welcome to the present moment, my friends.

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I’ve been talking to people about yoga and how it’s more than the physical postures that we associate with it.  Whilst the postures, or asana, are a good entry point to yoga, for a lot of people they are put off because they think you need to be super-flexible in the first place.  Others get so into the postures that they get stuck there…metaphorically, not physically.  I should state however that I did get stuck in a posture once, and had to be helped out, but that’s another story.

Anyhow, for those who come a little earlier on a Friday know, I am a big fan of mantra.  It makes my heart sing.  And if you’ve never tried it, give it a go.  It’s time well spent.

If you aren’t into that, maybe you could explore Karma yoga, Bhakti yoga, Jnana yoga or Raja yoga.  If you don’t know what they are, worth having a Google…

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I’ve been dipping into ‘The Wisdom of Balsekar’ on the essence of enlightenment through the teachings of Advaita.  This says that all is one, the illusion is separation and it is the mind which creates this apparent separation.  We musn’t forget, however, that the mind is very helpful, but can be too helpful most of the time.  For example, reminding us of all the stresses and dangers that may surround us, even if they don’t.  

It is the mind which desires our liberation and takes us onto the path of liberation, but it must then get out of the way.  But it wants to be there to enjoy the feeling of liberation, when in fact that can only be achieved when the mind disappears.  Anyhow, no matter how important, there is no rush on the journey to awakening, because this desire to awaken itself becomes an obstacle.  What a complicated thing the mind is, always in need of something and in such a hurry, but why be in such a rush when the head is already in the tiger’s mouth?

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Most people associate yoga with very flexible people getting into contortions and tying themselves in knots.  And for a lot of people, the physical practice or ‘asana’ is the entry point and is often enough.  But the act of ‘yoga’ is much more than this. Through meditation and other practices, it becomes an act of union by recognising that which is divine within us that is separated from the Divine (with a Big D).  This apparent separation is due to the incessant chatter of the mind, both conscious and subconscious.  Over time the space between the chatter gets bigger and bigger and we get a glimpse of peace. But it requires consistent practice which is carried out simply for the joy of the practice and with no expectations.

My conclusion is to maintain a beginners mind and always unexpect the expected to see the real joy in life.

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Silence…..bliss..

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Going on a retreat is an opportunity to be quiet away from all of the normal distractions of life. At first it can be quite tricky to just ‘be’.  No mobile, no book, no trying to do anything, not even trying to meditate.  Just sitting, being open and aware of whatever comes.  Worth giving it a go and seeing what happens.

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I’ve been contemplating spiritual practice following some advice from a new friend, Kirtan Pete. The suggestion being to incorporate the following into a practice:

• A necessary in-depth analysis of the conditioning of ones own mind
• Practices for the ‘purification’ and ultimate ‘escape’ from the downward pull of this conditioned mind
• The means to experience the highest state of awareness, the remembering of your true Self.

For me this comes through the practice of sitting quietly, being with the mind and cultivating awareness of the downward pull. 

How about you? What is your downward pull?

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I’ve been practicing a meditation on the chidakasha which I will be sharing this week.   Chidakasha is a Sanskrit term that means “space of consciousness” or “inner space.” Having found this space, repeating the mantra ‘Om dum durgayei namaha’ helps to clear obstacles in the mind.

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nowt much….

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The sacred mantra OM.  We’ll be chanting this on Thursday and Friday and meditating on the vibration. 

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How on earth I managed to not get hit by an acorn when all around me they were falling from the giant oak I was walking under.  A cosmic joke, me thinks.

And finally, here is a bit of wisdom from Rumi from the 13^th century and considered as one of the greatest poets known to history:

“Here is a relationship booster that is guaranteed to work: Every time your spouse or lover says something stupid make your eyes light up as if you just heard something brilliant.”

Shamanism is a direct connection with the spirit and is used for healing.  There is evidence of shamanic practices in cultures throughout the world.  In some cultures, plant medicines such as ayahuasca are used to move between the various lower, middle and upper world realms.  In other cultures, and in my practice, repetitive drumming is used to arrive at an altered state of consciousness.

In this altered state of consciousness, the shaman, or shamanic practitioner goes on a shamanic journey for the purpose of healing. The journey can be interpreted in two ways; it can be seen as a journey into the deep subconscious of the client or it can be viewed as travelling through various otherworldly realms of non-ordinary reality.  Either way, the purpose of the journey is one of healing to help the client move towards wholeness.

Setting intentions is key

An important part of the journey begins before it even starts.  This is setting an intention which is agreed between the shamanic practitioner and client.  Setting intentions is important both for the ordinary reality we live in and non-ordinary reality, otherwise we just drift along.  And whilst it’s good to drift at times, go with the flow, it’s always good to do this mindfully.

The shamanic practitioner journeys on behalf of the client and is assisted by Power Animals and Spirit Guides.  These help the shaman in the journey towards healing.  The journey could be related to Power Loss or Soul Loss.

What is power loss?

Power loss can manifest as the inner critic which continually bombards us with our inadequacies.  It can also manifest as being the victim, seeking a rescuer to save it.  We can lose power through trauma at the hands of another, being affected by the behaviour of another or by a loved one leaving our lives, for example. 

What is soul loss?

Soul loss can be attributed to a wide range of circumstances including abuse, trauma and shock, rear, loss and grief, shame and guilt, bullying and domination by others. The soul part affected breaks off and essentially hides away out of danger.  Symptoms of soul loss can include depression, post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), lack of confidence and self-doubt, phobias and anxieties, being dominated by others and poor immunity.

Whilst power retrieval and soul retrieval is assisted by the shamanic practitioner, it is the responsibility of the client to create the conditions in their life so that the lost power or lost soul part can feel safe to return and reintegrate.

Note that the whole shamanic process is one of empowerment for the client. The triad of disempowerment is the victim, the perpetrator and the rescuer.  The shaman is there to help and not to rescue. 

How does the process work?

Shamanic healing would normally take place over three sessions, each session being no more than two weeks apart.

Each session involves an initial discussion to identify the area of the clients life which needs attention followed by a Shamanic journey for the purpose of healing.  After the journey we discuss any aspect of the journey which resonates and set some actions.

A confidential questionnaire is completed and returned prior to the first session to help the client consider which area or areas of their life are in need of attention. The client is also provided with a progress report to record their thoughts, feelings and actions following the journey.  

The sessions can be in person or by Zoom and it is recommended to do three sessions within 6 – 8 weeks.  The first session lasts for 2 hours and subsequent sessions last for 90 minutes. 

I charge £45 per hour, however, if you genuinely can’t afford it, there is no set charge – donations are at your discretion.

Contact me to start your journey back to wholeness.

Testimonials

‘I feel that I am fully ready and prepared to face a new future’

When I started my sessions with Dave, I really did not know what to expect. An open mind was essential but I wasn’t prepared for how mind-blowingly amazing the whole experience was. 

Through some very deep and emotional lower realm journeys, seeking the directions from spirit guides and animals, we journeyed into worlds that brought peace, clarity and healing.  I really feel that the experiences we went through were uniquely personal and exactly what I needed to acknowledge, progress and ultimately heal. My journey was centred around how I felt about myself, the choices I have made, the consequences of those decisions and how I have treated & viewed myself in the past 20 years. 

I know now that I can accept what has happened and how I can use the Shamanic meditations to see life in a new and positive light.  I feel that I am fully ready and prepared to face a new future with a now complete soul and an excitement about my future.

Thank you a millions times over, Dave.  Your professionalism and commitment to helping me through my journey has been truly inspiring. It really has meant everything to me. J

LT – February 2022

‘I gradually gained clarity on the decisions I needed to make’

I had a series of shamanic healing sessions with Dave in order to get some clarity on what to do in relation to some decisions I was facing. I also wanted to make sense of something that was happening that seemed a bit strange.

Dave was very approachable and put me at my ease, explaining how shamanic work might be able to help and what would be involved. We did three sessions that lasted around two hours each, with a couple of weeks in between each one.

I was fully awake during the sessions themselves and, having placed myself in Dave’s hands, found the process quite intriguing. Dave suggested I did certain things in between the sessions to continue the process, which I did. I gradually gained clarity on the decisions I needed to make and applied myself in line with those.

The result of those decisions wasn’t quite what I was anticipating but I felt reassured that I had done the right thing in taking them. Actually, I felt relieved at the outcome which might in fact open up other avenues for me.

I found working with Dave gave me a greater sense of what might be at play and the confidence to trust what might emerge.

If you are grappling with matters that don’t quite make sense, a series of sessions with Dave may put you in touch with other perspectives and leave you with a greater degree of cohesion where you will feel a little more at peace with things, whatever the outcome.

EA – March 2022

Around 80% of people suffer from lower back pain.  If you are one of these people you’ll know it is both painful and debilitating, stopping you leading a normal life at both work and play.  It is also the cause of depression and anxiety, creating a downward spiral.

The good news is that you are not stuck with it. Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs (YHLB) is a clinically proven method designed to teach people simple yoga and relaxation techniques to help them manage and cope with their low back pain.The programme has been extensively studied by the University of York in a trial funded by Arthritis Research UK (now Versus Arthritis) and the results have been widely published. Get in touch to find out more.

“It’s been life-changing.  There’s nothing I want to do now that I can’t!”

“I had thought my life would never be the same again after my back condition was diagnosed, but I cannot say how much this has helped.  I have a new lease of life and have no back pain now.”

The YHLB programme is recognised by NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence), Public Health England and the NHS. That’s why health professionals such as GPs, physiotherapists and osteopaths and are now signposting to this specific evidence-based YHLB Yoga course.

Research has also shown that it reduces absenteeism due to bad backs by 70% which makes it the ideal choice for employers and HR professionals wishing to support workplace health and wellbeing.

Get in touch if you would like to learn more about this programme and receive a free guide.

Become one of the 1000’s of people who have benefitted from this empowering programme and take back control of your life.

“At last I feel able to return to work, as I do not feel dragged down by my back pain.”

“I would never have believed the difference the yoga has made.”

“This is such a revelation.  Why isn’t everyone doing it?”

Most people think of yoga in terms of the physical practice – very flexible people getting into weird positions – but yoga is really about…mind control.  It’s important to state that this is about controlling your own mind and not other peoples.  If you want to control other peoples, become a dictator. 

If you can control the incessant thoughts, you start to get some peace and feel relaxed. And what better way to live! And yoga practice is a way to achieve this through a combination of physical practices known as ‘asana’, breathing practices known as ‘pranayama’ and meditation.

When people first try meditation they notice how busy their mind is.  Constantly thinking. Trying to solve problems and work stuff out.  So people stop and say they can’t meditate because their mind is too busy.  And they go back to activities which distract them – watching TV, drinking, eating, computer games, social media…the list goes on. 

But in the background, the constant thinking goes on; thinking about the past and worrying about the future causes depression, stress and anxiety. You can run from your thoughts, but you can’t hide!

To meditate is difficult at first and is often dismissed, but a much more accessible entry point to yoga is through yoga postures and breathing exercises.  This helps to stretch and strengthen the body and calm the mind. Click here for a 20 minute yoga practice which can be done any time of day.

And before you ask “do I need to be flexible to do yoga?” the answer is no, not at all.  You may be the least flexible person right now but over time your body will open up – guaranteed.

Our lifestyles are very busy, it’s non-stop with always something to do.  If you don’t fancy a physical practice right now, click here for a 10 minute relaxation.

There are many benefits from practicing yoga. Here are just a few:

• Feel both energised and relaxed at the same time
• Improves mood
• Get a better nights sleep
• Helps to destress and feel less anxiety
• Helps to clear the head, here’s a 10 minute guided meditation
• If you are feeling sluggish, try practicing a few sun salutations to wake up
• If you are feeling a bit hyper, try a 15 minute relaxation
• Improves flexibility and strength in the body and relaxes the mind
• Practice it after sports to stretch off, try this 10 minute yoga workout for runners, cyclists and gym bunnies

Yoga is good for back pain too.  Around 80% of people suffer from lower back pain.  If you are one of these people you’ll know it is both painful and debilitating, stopping you leading a normal life at both work and play.  It is also the cause of depression and anxiety, creating a downward spiral.

The good news is that yoga can help. Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs (YHLB) is a clinically proven method designed to teach people simple yoga and relaxation techniques to help them manage and cope with their low back pain.

Get in touch to find out more about how yoga and meditation can help if you have lower back pain, if you want to improve your flexibility or suffer from stress and want to learn how to relax.