In this episode, I’m connecting with Ashleigh Sergeant, someone who I really admire for her depth, her knowledge, her authenticity, and her leadership. Ashleigh is one of those people that makes a huge impact in any situation she finds herself. Ashleigh worked for Adidas, and found herself in the role of Global Yoga Trainer; for Gaia.com, she was the Head of Yoga Content for their international media network, for Envision Festival in Costa Rica, she heads up Yoga & Movement for the entire seven-day event. Ashleigh is also the co-founder of Experience Alaya, an online global community focused on supporting others in meaningful connection. These are all things that Ashleigh has done (all bi-products of the vibrant and aligned leader that she is). But in this episode, Ashleigh will remind us that it’s not about what we achieve, it’s understanding that our power comes from knowing we are perfect, whole and complete, exactly as we are. I love Ashleigh’s heart and her honesty and I think you will to!
Photo by Melissa Robin
Show Notes:
(2:30) Ashley is quarantining at her home in Costa Rica (her and her partner built the home from a shipping container several years ago)
(3:10) Ashely discusses what this time has brought up for her - stillness contrasting a “busy” lifestyle in which she travels a lot. She’s discovered this time as an opportunity to reflect on the way she lives her life and what she wants to change or expand upon
(5:17) “The Glorification of Busy”; Ashleigh discusses the way our society puts emphasis on doing over being. We’re always attempting to acquire MORE
(7:30) Ashleigh references “The Coronation,” a recent essay of Charles Eisenstein’s in which he puts eloquent words and observation while elaborating on various thought processes, beliefs and potential outcomes regarding the current pandemic. This is a recommended read for all in this time. Ashleigh explains her openness and desire to take in varios and differing perspectives, while cultivating discernment with all the information that’s swirling around us right now
(9:28) Ashleigh talks about how as people, we seek one answer or solution as the “end-all/be-all,” hoping that by answering that one thing, everything else will make sense or come together; we’re uncomfortable with “not knowing”
(11:15) Ashleigh expands further on the complex that humans feel to attain something or seek to achieve in order to be “enough” or “whole”; Garrett references the balance between “striving & arriving”
(13:00) A personal practice and understanding that has become imperative for Ashleigh is to recognize that she must take care of her vital resources, which she refers to as “Ojas”(the subtle essence of all vital fluids, responsible for health, harmony and spiritual growth); she explains the importance of nourishing the nervous system and resting well
(14:44) Ashleigh recommends these two main practices for relaxation & cellular regeneration:
1) Contemplative Heart-Based Meditation
2) Yoga Nidra;
both practices help us to get into a state between the Theta & Delta brainwaves (Delta waves are where the mind starts to calm; Theta waves are like dreamless sleep, where cellular regeneration occurs)
(16:34) Ashleigh explains how we get to the deep understanding of our wholeness; what it feels like to go inward & release expectations of the outside world
(18:33) Rather than just one time in the morning, Ashleigh shares the idea of doing shorter awareness cultivation practices throughout the day for greater efficacy; this has made the most profound, lasting change for her
(20:13) “The connection to our wholeness is the connection to our power”
(22:22) Ashleigh tells us about her “One Week Reset Bundle”
(24:19) “Overstory” by Richard Powers - Recommended by Ashleigh, and it’s about how we ignore the natural world and its interconnectedness
(26:35) Ashleigh explains how it’s so easy for us to point fingers at everything else while avoiding the reflection of our own actions
(27:38) Ashleigh explains how during these times she has tried to sit with the question of “where do I, and how have I contributed to the degradation of our planet? What am I not willing to give up?
(29:30) Ashleigh shares the idea of the spiritual ego, and how she wonders if her work balances out the amount of carbon emissions caused by her international travel, as well as if it’s just spiritual bypassing to say that what she is doing is okay
(31:40) Garrett shares his appreciation for Ashleigh’s honesty about having to look herself in the mirror when it comes to these topics; he brings up his recent episode with Rob Greenfield, where they discussed international travel and transitional ethics
(33:30) Ashleigh shares her experience working as the Head of Content and Yoga Programing for Gaia.com, and how she got into that role
(35:40) Ashleigh had the role of Global Yoga Trainer at Adidas and she explains how it taught her how to distill essential yoga concepts into accessible bits of knowledge. This was because she went to so many countries and dealt with so many languages that made her need to learn how to make it translate clearly
(38:00) Ashleigh got into yoga at a young age with her mother’s influence because she was born with some spinal defects and pain, and learned yoga to gain freedom from her pain. She explains how it also taught her freedom from emotional pain
(38:50) “Yoga isn’t about self improvement, It’s about self acceptance” Gurmukh Kaur Khalsa
(40:10) “Yoga is not something that you can tell that someone is doing by looking at them...yoga is not a physical shape yoga is a state of awareness” - Ashleigh
(42:10) Ashleigh shares how she is becoming disenchanted with the idea of being called a “yoga teacher” and why
(42:45) Ashleigh talks about her online school/community, “Experience Alaya”- Alaya meaning “Unfolding of the Human Spirit,” which happens when we have a direct experience with a part of ourselves we didn’t know
(45:15) Ashleigh explains how the idea of helping people or changing people is something to tune into, to see if it’s coming from a place of lack or not being enough
(47:00) Garrett shares a story of his nickname “G-Link” and how he used to believe it was his purpose to help people, but realized that people can only help themselves, and therefore he is merely a link or part of their journey
(49:00) Ashleigh’s Three Truths:
1) I am whole as I am - we all are; there is nothing we need to acquire to achieve wholeness or nothing we need to get rid of
2) Life is what happens right here in front of me
3) Presence heals (awareness heals)
(51:30) Ashleigh’s Links:
Photo by Melissa Robin
Connect with Ashleigh:
Website: www.ashleighsergeant.com
Online School: www.experiencealaya.com
Instagram: @ashleighsergeant
Free Bundle: One Week Reset
