Liberate Your Spirit with Omaya: Yoga and Freedom for Young Women

In this episode Dee welcomes Omaya, a Sri Lankan yoga teacher and philosopher. They delve into how yoga philosophy differs in the West from Sri Lanka, focusing on mind-body connection, menstrual cycle awareness, and the balance of masculine and feminine energies. This conversation highlights the importance of tuning into our bodies and creating space for introspection, both in life and in spiritual practice. Thoughts on  "successful meditation" and Omaya's future plans for opening a sanctuary  dedicated to Ayurvedic and Sri Lankan food, yoga, and workshops.Omaya's early discovery of yoga aged 18 was a quest for freedom; discussing how yoga gave her what she was looking for is inspiration for us all that understanding this ancient practice could be one of our biggest tools to inner liberation.  Summary00:00 Introduction to the Podcast00:51 Meet Amaya: A Unique Yoga Journey02:51 Amaya's Early Life and Discovering Yoga08:14 The Philosophy and Practice of Yoga13:12 Balancing Life and Yoga27:10 Empowering Sri Lankan Women32:39 Future Endeavors and ConclusionAbout Omaya and linksOmaya is a yoga teacher, facilitator and philosopher. She teaches different modalities and includes many different styles within one class. Her practice went from being strict pose / asana oriented to more intuitive. Omaya is currently making space for a project in Ahangama, a village in the south coast of Sri Lanka. The project will share the story of Sri Lanka through a small store with locally-sourced products, a cafe offering Sri Lankan food with an Ayurvedic twist and engaging workshops and discussions. Instagram link hereTitle: Sri Lanka: Modern Perspectives from an Ancient Melting PotHost: Dee Gibson — Sri Lankan-born, award winning designer based in London and founder of boutique hotel Kalukanda House in Sri Lanka. www.kalukandahouse.com | instagram @deegibson2017 & @kalukandahousePodcast Themes:Modern Sri Lankan identity and cultureArchitecture, art, and designSustainability and heritageDiaspora experiences and storytellingWhy Listen:This podcast offers deep, intelligent storytelling about Sri Lanka’s evolving identity — a blend of East and West, ancient and modern. It’s for listeners who love culture, travel, architecture, and thoughtful conversation.