#82 - The Intersection of Yoga and Activism - Yoga in Sri Lanka with Serena Burgess

Welcome to Episode #82 of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast! My conversation with Serena Burgess, a yoga teacher from Sri Lanka, was so illuminating as we took a deep dive into the intersection of yoga and activism. I hope that this conversation made you curious about how you can use the ancient tools of yoga as relevant sources of liberation in the modern world. After all, it’s all yoga. If you’re looking to tune into a podcast episode that is all about yoga in Sri Lanka then this is the conversation for you.

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Tell me more about Serena Burgess

Serena Burgess has been teaching yoga for 18 years and has led numerous workshops, retreats, and yoga teacher trainings. She is the founder and yoga studio owner of The Om Space. She is certified in Acro Yoga, prenatal/postnatal yoga, and more! She has crafted courses and workshops about the intersection of Yoga and Activism and is passionate about her work as a doula and as an advocate for better birthing experiences for women in Sri Lanka. Some of the courses that Serena has created are the Inner Guru Training (co-founded by Eva Priyanka Wegener at Sri Yoga Shala, Personal Resilience Course, and Conscious Courage. Serena teaches weekly and leads intensive at Prana Lounge in Colombo. 

For the skimmers - What’s in the Yoga in Sri Lanka episode?

The intersection of yoga and activism
The economic crisis of Sri Lanka: The “Canary”
Philosophy of yoga: using ancient tools as relevant sources of liberation in the modern world
What yoga teachers teach in a class is a fraction of what students teach
Advocating for better birthing experiences for women in Sri Lanka
The only Doula in Sri Lanka

What to expect in the Yoga In Sri Lanka episode of the Wild Yoga Tribe Podcast

Serena Burgess came to yoga while living in the UK at the Shivanada ashram there. After receiving her certification, she moved back home to Sri Lanka where she opened her own yoga studio, The Om Space, in Colombo. While the pandemic caused the studio to shut down, Serena expressed nothing but gratitude for the shift of her energy and intention.

Burgess's practice of yoga also intersects with activism. She became involved in the Aragalya struggle, which was a people's uprising in Sri Lanka. Burgess’s involvement in activism started when she began feeling that something was not right in the world, starting with the separation of children at the borders in the US. She feels that a lot of people are living with a slight feeling that things are not quite right due to the economic crisis and other issues affecting the world. Yoga has helped her engage in the generative story and see the good things that are happening in the world.

Serena Burgess believes that these ancient tools can be utilized in our modern world to face the challenges we come across. Serena has also formulated a workshop called Conscious Courage, which is aimed at allowing people some space and time to figure out how they would like to show up in the world. Serena believes that yoga is not just about practicing asanas but can be integrated into daily life. After all, it’s all yoga!

Curious? Tune in to the whole yoga in Sri Lanka episode!

Connect with Serena Burgess 

www.omspaceserena.com

https://www.instagram.com/omspaceserena

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