Season 4: Episode 3 The Modern Yogini, with Dawn Lister and Shanthini Ramanan

In this episode, Dawn speaks to Shanthini Ramanan, a modern yogini named after the beautiful Bhuvaneshwari temple in Pudukottai, her Grandparents hometown.

 

We have named this episode The Modern Yogini, as our conversation unravels the tale of her life, born into a traditional Hindu family (Brahmin caste) growing up in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, Southern India, and the first of 3 children. A religious family with faith at its heart, she vividly remembers her Grandfather sitting in Padmasana (lotus pose) for 2 hours every morning performing an elaborate shiva pooja before work. Evenings he would meditate and chant mantra.

 

As she grew into adulthood, her innate spiritual temperament was at odds with her rebellious nature. Shanthini had a traditional marriage aged 20 and came to the UK. Poorly equipped to cope, she felt alone and isolated, yet it was her unshakable faith in the divine that got her through. The following years brought great suffering, including a divorce resulting in her being outcast from the local temple community which had been a huge part of her and her family's life.

 

Finding her strength in her spirituality, she leant into the power of prayer and mantra. Shanthini went on to change careers, becoming a therapist, and was involved in the development of a social enterprise company Papas Pickles. Shanthini has built a beautiful Shala in her home, a place for women to gather and be nourished with food, love and spiritual community. She shares with us her rich story. A mantra. And the lesson of what it means to be a yogini in the world today, the inner work, the kindness, the compassion and the connection to the divine.

 

Please leave us a question, comment or view. We'd love to hear how his episode lands with you. 

 

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From The Heart is a podcast from Dawn Lister, co-owner of the Dawn Lister Therapy Centre and owner of Anahata Yoga Centre, both in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, UK.

 

Conversations on From The Heart are with people who are committed to growing, healing, learning and connecting. Dawn Lister is a cranial sacral therapist, yoga and meditation teacher, wife, mother, grandmother, business owner and cult survivor.

 

This podcast series brings together inspiring people to have deep, profound and meaningful conversations about topical and relevant subjects that matter. With a focus on Spirituality, they share their stories, knowledge, experiences and insights with us through light hearted, kind and honest conversations.

 

Dawn Lister  (she/her) is a Cranial Sacral Therapist, Massage Therapist, Clinical Hypnotherapist, Hatha Yoga and Mindfulness teacher. A creator of courses and workshops as well as a retreat leader, Dawn has run retreats for 26 years and is renowned for her light touch, humour and grounded approach to spirituality. She has worked in the field of complementary therapies for 28 years.

 

Dawn is a firm believer in the power of the connection, the need we all have to feel heard and seen. She loves finding new ways to help us connect with mother earth, each other, our voice and our collective connection as a source for love and healing in the world.

 

Follow Dawn Lister on Instagram at @dawnlisterlos & visit www.dawnlister.com. Catch up on previous episodes via the Anahata Yoga Centre website at www.anahatayogacentre.com/podcast.