PODCAST · education
Functional Spirituality
by Ava Irani
Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”. I invite you to integrate critical thinking into your heart, mystical and faith-based practices. I use an academic approach to investigate the roots of yoga and spirituality. I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so many schools and practices ineffective - and strange AF. Spirituality has a history of disempowering the individual, worshiping the guru or priest, without question. In this podcast, I aim to elevate the conversation around spirituality. I want to EMPOWER the meditator and yogi, and debunk the idea that the ‘ancient gurus’ had it all right. This places the power back in our hands, to live directly from our own experience. I hope you enjoy this collection of guided meditations, retreat talks and conversations.
Episodes
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The Motherhood Dilemma: Part 2
In part two of this series, Ava moves from naming the problem to offering practical tools. She breaks down the two roles woven into motherhood — the biological mother and the stay-at-home parent — and explains why both feel so unnatural in our modern, individualistic culture, tracing this back to...
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The Motherhood Dilemma
Ava kicks off a two-part series on parenthood and motherhood, drawing on the Functional Spirituality framework to argue that the modern parenting struggle is an environmental failure, not a personal one. Our nervous systems and culture are imbalanced toward Yang (survival, speed, individualism)...
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Ava Irani and Kylie Falconer Personal catch up in Broome
Sometimes the most meaningful conversations are the ones that aren't planned. In this special episode, Ava is joined by her close friend, entrepreneur, and KX Pilates studio owner Kylie Falconer for an unscripted conversation recorded during a Functional Spirituality retreat in Broome. Together,...
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Actually Manifesting Money
What does it actually mean to "tune into the frequency of abundance"? In this episode, Ava unpacks one of the most repeated phrases in manifesting culture and grounds it in nervous system science and practical strategy. Drawing on 15+ years of personal practice, she breaks down the two real…
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Guided meditation: Gratitude for healing
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…
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Guided meditation: Embracing gratitude with ease
"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...
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Facilitator Tips for the Community
In this episode, Ava Irani shares practical reflections for facilitators within the Functional Spirituality community on how to hold space in a grounded, clear, and non-over-responsible way. The focus is on supporting others without over-identifying as the “teacher” or taking ownership of...
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Do You Think I'm Successful?
In this episode, Ava Irani explores the idea of success through a functional spirituality lens, questioning cultural definitions of achievement, status, and worth. She reframes success as something fluid and subjective, shaped by nervous system state, alignment, and personal values rather than...
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My Social Media Relationship Status: It's Complicated
In this episode, Ava Irani unpacks the complex and often unconscious relationship many of us have with social media. While it’s easy to default to “I hate social media,” she challenges this narrative, inviting us to look deeper at how we engage with these platforms and the power we actually have...
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Personal Healing & Trauma-Informed Meditation with Ryan Hassan
In this episode, Ava Arani is joined by Ryan Hassan from The Centre for Healing for a grounded conversation on what happens when a core wound becomes active and how it can be met with compassion rather than self judgment. Ava shares a recent retreat experience in India where she noticed a...
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Guided Meditation: Loving Presence Through the Body
Relax and let Ava softly guide you into a felt sense of love, safety, and ease within your body. Through slow, steady breaths, you are invited to soften, open the heart, and reconnect with the body as a place of warmth and belonging. This is a nourishing self love meditation with music that...
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Interview with Ava by Emma Campbell
In this conversational episode, Emma and Ava explore what it really means to “drop in” before any meaningful work, practice, or conversation. They unpack how embodiment shifts us from surface-level survival mode into deeper presence, clarity, and connection. Ava shares the moment she knew silent...
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Guided Meditation: A Spacious Pause for Joy
In this guided meditation, Ava invites you to slow down, feel into the body, and let effort soften. As the nervous system unwinds, space opens for a grounded sense of joy, appreciation and connection to emerge on its own. If you enjoy this audio you can save the link somewhere in your phone, or...
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How IFS changed my life
Many people think healing means fixing themselves, but real change often begins when a “protector” part finally feels met. In this episode, Ava shares a personal IFS (Internal Family Systems) breakthrough from a retreat in India: instead of feeling guilt about time away from family, an old…
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Guided Meditation: Revealing the Stillness Within
This is a gentle guided meditation to support grounding, softening, and inner clarity. Through a slow body scan, breath, and loving inner attention, Ava guides you to empty accumulated tension and reconnect with your inner space. This practice supports nervous system regulation and integration,...
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Guided Meditation: Softening Resistance to Meet the Moment
Take some time today to replenish yourself. Amidst the chaos on the surface of the planet, in our thoughts, emotions, and body, we often meet life with subtle resistance. Beneath this effort, there is a deep stillness that remains untouched. This guided meditation invites you to soften inner...
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Guided Meditation: Hridaya Meditation & Awakening
This guided awakening meditation draws on Hridaya meditation and the self enquiry teachings of Ramana Maharshi. Through gentle heart based attention and simple enquiry, awareness is invited to turn back toward its source, allowing thoughts and identities to soften naturally. This is an embodied,...
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Is there a huge problem with Vinyasa?
So many people step into a yoga class expecting an ancient practice, yet most modern vinyasa is actually a recent aesthetic invention. In this episode, Ava unpacks the toxic patterns shaping the modern yoga industry, why students often hand their authority over without realising it, and what a…
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The Pyramid No One Wants to Admit Exists in Coaching
Have you ever felt something is “off” in the coaching or wellness industry? In this episode, Ava unpacks the invisible pyramid shaping these spaces and why so many of us feel uneasy inside them. We explore skill bypassing, surface culture, cognitive dissonance and what real integrity looks like…
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Privilege vs. Advantage
In this episode, Ava explores the term privilege: how it’s been shaped, stretched, and sometimes misunderstood in today’s world. With honesty and depth, she opens a compassionate conversation about how we can move toward greater understanding, healing, and collective repair. A philosophical...
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Loosing a loved one - how to cope with death and loss
In this episode, Ava explores a listener’s question: “How do I deal with the terrifying fear of a loved one dying?” Moments of birth and death often stir deep reflections about our own mortality. This conversation offers insight and comfort for anyone who is grieving a loss or living in fear of...
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Guided meditation: Coming home to yourself
Life constantly asks us to show up, give, and move forward. But to truly meet the world with fullness, we also need moments to return to ourselves. Without that inward pause, our energy scatters and we lose touch with balance, joy, and wellbeing. This meditation is an invitation to slow down…
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I'm not good enough
In this episode, Ava opens up about some “real-life material” she’s currently moving through: a deep sadness rooted in an unmet childhood need. She shares her process honestly, in the hope that it may resonate with you and spark reflection on your own journey. We’d love to hear how this…
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What is an AWAKE teacher?
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...
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Guided meditation for putting your child to sleep
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,...
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Intention vs control
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...
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How to heal from a traumatic event
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...
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What exactly does a Therapeutic Embodiment session look like?
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...
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How I'm being a good mum
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...
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Why are so many people turning Christian?
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...
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The Functional Spirituality 3 part method
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...
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Guided meditation: Gratitude for healing
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…
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Guided meditation: Deep sleep
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...
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My (2nd) intense birth story!
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…
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What is the root cause of our toxic culture? With Priya, Ava and Anaid
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...
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Q: What is Kundalini?
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…
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Guided meditation: Taking a sacred pause
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...
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Guided meditation: Embodying relaxation and joy
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...
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Guided meditation: Embracing gratitude with ease
"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...
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Guided meditation: Light RAIN technique
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...
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Guided meditation: 5-minute relax and clear
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…
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The Natural Parent Fallacy
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…
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Guided meditation: Essence of Being
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...
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Guided meditation: Smiling energy technique
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...
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Guided meditation: Grounding in presence and curiosity
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...
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Guided meditation: Using the heart space for healing
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…
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Guided meditation: Awareness of the breath
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...
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Guided meditation: Creating a regenerative state
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…
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Guided meditation: Anchoring a word for 2025
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...
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Guided meditation: Return to presence
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…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”. I invite you to integrate critical thinking into your heart, mystical and faith-based practices. I use an academic approach to investigate the roots of yoga and spirituality. I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so many schools and practices ineffective - and strange AF. Spirituality has a history of disempowering the individual, worshiping the guru or priest, without question. In this podcast, I aim to elevate the conversation around spirituality. I want to EMPOWER the meditator and yogi, and debunk the idea that the ‘ancient gurus’ had it all right. This places the power back in our hands, to live directly from our own experience. I hope you enjoy this collection of guided meditations, retreat talks and conversations.
HOSTED BY
Ava Irani
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Functional Spirituality have?
Functional Spirituality currently has 343 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Functional Spirituality about?
Hi, my name is Ava and I’m delighted to offer you “Functional Spirituality”. I invite you to integrate critical thinking into your heart, mystical and faith-based practices. I use an academic approach to investigate the roots of yoga and spirituality. I aim to reduce the dogma that has rendered so...
How often does Functional Spirituality release new episodes?
Functional Spirituality publishes regularly with 343 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Functional Spirituality?
You can listen to Functional Spirituality on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Functional Spirituality?
Functional Spirituality is created and hosted by Ava Irani.
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