Oxana Weber - Yoga & Ayurveda

On intentional teaching...

Sun, 14 Sep 2025 07:25:59 -0700

When I was just 16 years old, I was given a prediction that I would be guiding people on their path of yoga and self-development. I was told that this was my destiny and my higher calling. At the time, I didn’t want to know.

I was studying to become a pianist at a prestigious Russian conservatoire, surrounded by bohemian friends and a somewhat hedonistic lifestyle of parties and everything that entails. Immediately, I knew that becoming a yoga teacher would require my full commitment — and I was not ready for that.

Still, I began reading yogic and Buddhist philosophy, and it blew my mind. It was also during this time that I started having expansive, psychic experiences that I am only now beginning to fully understand. Regardless of what was unfolding, I turned my back on it and continued to lead what looked like a very “normal” life. I desperately tried to fit in, to align with everyone else. I would make myself small just to make others feel better about themselves.

Like everyone around me, I worked hard to climb the career ladder — earn more money, get a better job, a mortgage, cars, designer clothes, etc., etc. And like everyone around me, I became stressed and miserable. I see now that it was mostly that — stress and dissatisfaction — that united us.

Fast forward many years: I became an overachiever, and I exhausted myself to the point of complete physical and mental breakdown. Looking back now, I see it as the best thing that ever happened to me. It forced me to stop. It gave me no other choice but to step onto the path I was meant to follow — to practice and to share my knowledge and understanding of yoga, and everything it entails.

It took many more years to get to where I am now: becoming freer every day, letting go into my limitless self, and teaching others to do the same.

This is why my yoga classes are not really “classes” at all. They are a way through which I communicate my intention: for everyone to...Read More

How to Practise Gratitude Daily: 7 Conscious Tools That Actually Work

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 04:49:48 -0700

If you’re reading this, you probably already know that we manifest things all the time—constantly, 24/7. Most people don’t realise it’s happening. Some are vaguely aware. A few manifest consciously—meaning they’re aware of what and how they think most of the time. Yes, it really is that simple, with a few added layers.

For many years, maybe since I can consciously remember, I’ve been searching for ways to transcend perceived limitations and elevate my consciousness and life. Manifestation has been a part of my journey since I was a teenager. Back then, I was deeply unhappy and would spend hours in the library to escape what felt like a cruel and unfair life: a family I didn’t feel I belonged to, a country I felt detached from. I was different from everyone and everything around me.

That feeling of disconnection was a huge factor shaping where I am today. It also led me to study philosophy, psychology, and later theosophy and yoga—first as esoteric sciences, then as lived experience. It took me a while to cultivate gratitude for the life and circumstances I was born into, especially in my early years. But now, more than ever, I see why I chose this path and how every challenge and painful experience has propelled me further.

Today, I express gratitude daily—sometimes several times a day—for every small thing that comes my way, good or bad.

Why? Because gratitude is an energetic tool to shift negativity and raise our vibrational frequency quickly. Everything is energy—thoughts, emotions, feelings—whether you’re aware of them or not.

Yogic practices like pranayama (breath control), meditation, mudras, and bandhas give us tools to consciously raise our frequency, bringing bliss, happiness, and oneness. Kriya yoga is a technique dedicated entirely to this, which is why...Read More

Hiking the Himalayas

Sat, 24 May 2025 09:08:41 -0700

Climbing the Himalayas has been a dream of mine for years—maybe even since childhood. So when I was planning my travels in India, the only place I knew I had to visit was Rishikesh—not for yoga, but for the mountains. Everything else was negotiable.

But life loves a plot twist. Of all the places I visited in India, Rishikesh turned out to be the one I liked the least. I found it overwhelmingly commercial—soulless, even—despite the endless list of yoga schools, ashrams, and cafes. A friend of mine called it the “McDonald’s of Yoga,” and I couldn’t agree more. It’s the fast food of the yoga world.

Add to that a stubborn chest infection, getting tangled in someone else’s drama, and the suffocating heat, and that pretty much sums up how I felt for most of my time there.

But the moment I started feeling better, I booked a hiking trip to the Himalayas. No hesitation. The four days I spent hiking were hands down the happiest I felt during my entire three-week stay in Rishikesh.

That’s despite the extreme car sickness on the way up—seven hours of winding mountain roads. If you ever plan to go, travel on an empty stomach. The return trip was a lot easier.

I’m not used to mountain hikes, so the 14km and 10km treks—especially the latter, which took us up to 4,000m—were intense. I questioned everything: Would I give up? Could I even do it? And most of all—why did I want this so badly in the first place?

I got my answer at the top of Chandrashila peak, on our second hike. We started at 3:30 AM to catch the sunrise. Standing there—so close to the sun, so far from all the noise—looking out over the snow-capped peaks and clouds below, I felt a deep sense of awe, peace, and exhilaration.

And it became crystal clear: I will do this again, no matter how hard it is.

For the first time, I understood why the mountains are considered the abode of Shiva—the embodiment of pure consciousness and divine love. The stillness and the...Read More

6 Months of Freedom: Lessons from My Nomadic Experiment

Wed, 14 May 2025 06:40:15 -0700

Today marks exactly 6 months since I left the UK for my new life adventure — an experiment in alternative lifestyle, blending nomadic themes and a new type of entrepreneurship: location independent and mentally unbound.

This is not just about switching locations or working from exotic cafes. This is an experiment in finding ways of transcending internal limitations to reach external goals. All whilst enjoying the journey and growing along the way.

Whilst it has been exciting and fun (and yes, some days it still feels like a dream), adapting to this new lifestyle presented many challenges as well.

Here are 6 lessons I have learned about this lifestyle so far:

1. Letting go of the “known” is anxiety-inducing

You need to accept this if you want to create big changes in your life. There is no way around it — the unknown will trigger discomfort. Fear, anxiety, doubt... they come up in waves.

But here's the thing: allowing these emotions to “just be” is more productive than trying to numb them. They will pass with time on their own accord — they always do.

Instead of fighting the fear, tune in to your body. Notice where these emotions manifest as physical sensations — tight chest, clenched jaw, shallow breath, butterflies in your belly. Then do something with that. Practice deep abdominal breathing to melt away tension, or try shaking — yes, literally shaking your arms, legs, hips — like animals do after stress. It's a nervous system reset that works better than pretending you’re fine.

2. Travel light!

I took way too much luggage when I left. You really don’t need half the things you think you will.

The truth is, it's easy — and often cheaper — to buy what you...Read More

All About Kriya Yoga

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 10:58:11 -0700

The Path of Inner Transformation

Yesterday I was talking to a friend of mine about Kriya Yoga, but I found it hard to explain exactly what it does. Actually, when we enter the world of dedicated yoga sadhana, or consistent practice, no amount of verbal explanation will ever do justice to the actual experience. This is simply because we begin to experience states of consciousness that are impossible to describe unless we experience them for ourselves.

However, I know that a lot of people are interested to know what it is and why one would want to do it. I certainly was determined to learn this yoga technique for almost 5 years - I was going to start 2 years ago but the pandemic put a stop to it. So, last year, I put all my other plans on the back burner so that I can dedicate time and effort to this course. I was not disappointed.

So let me tell you a bit about the Kriya Yoga...

What Is Kriya Yoga?

Kriya Yoga is a spiritual practice that is often associated with Kundalini Yoga. It is a powerful and transformative technique that aims to awaken the dormant spiritual energy known as Kundalini, which is located at the base of the spine.

The origins of Kriya Yoga can be traced back to ancient India, but it gained prominence in...Read More

HOT Hot Chocolate

Thu, 16 Mar 2023 03:34:56 -0700

If you're a fan of hot chocolate, you're going to love this recipe! Not only is it delicious, but it's also incredibly easy to make. Plus, with the added nutmeg, it's a comforting treat that's perfect for any time you want to enjoy a warm beverage.

I just love experimenting with various hot drinks, like chai, coffee, chicory, and hot chocolate. I have discovered that incorporating different spices not only enhances the flavor but also influences the drink's energetic properties. This particular recipe incorporates nutmeg, a spice that is not commonly utilized in many recipes, making it an excellent opportunity to incorporate it!

Nutmeg offers several benefits to both the mind and body. It possesses anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, helps to lower cholesterol levels in the blood, and serves as an effective anti-aging agent by enhancing memory and concentration. Nutmeg can also be utilized as a natural pain reliever for headaches, muscle aches, and joint pain. In Ayurveda, nutmeg is frequently utilized to treat various ailments such as insomnia, anxiety, digestive problems, and pain. Personally, I'm obsessed with the stuff and I add a sprinkle to my hot drink every day. You can even try adding some to hot milk before bed for a better night's sleep. Nutmeg is so incredible that I plan to create a dedicated blog post about it very soon. For now, let's dive into this delectable hot chocolate recipe and discover more about this wonderful spice.

HOT Hot Chocolate Recipe

Makes 1 cup

Ayurvedic Weight Loss

Mon, 06 Mar 2023 09:21:14 -0800

One of the most important principles in Ayurveda is that like qualities attract like qualities. This principle applies to seasonal diets, meaning that during a specific time of year, we are naturally drawn to foods that possess the same qualities as the dosha (bio-energy) of that season.

Ayurvedically, winter is a Kapha season, and kapha represents the Earth principle. Like the earth, kapha is heavy, soft, slimy, sweet, oily, stable, and cool in its qualities. Hence, it's no surprise that we are intuitively drawn to foods that contain these characteristics during winter, such as soups, stews, root vegetables, and carbohydrates. However, consuming too many carbohydrates, which are typically found in comfort foods that we crave during winter, can lead to weight gain.

Now, carbohydrates are necessary for energy and proper nutrition, but choosing complex carbohydrates like brown rice, vegetables, whole grains, and beans can make us feel fuller for longer and help maintain energy compared to simple carbohydrates like refined sugar, white bread, cakes, biscuits, and soda. Additionally, we tend to move less in winter - it's cold, wet, and often windy, at least here in the UK, and our natural tendency is to stay warm and cosy at home. This, of course, contributes to weight gain.

Whilst it will be amazing to make sure that we always eat the right diet, unfortunately, it isn't always the case. Many of us are prone to emotional eating/over-eating, and making the right choices at times of emotional distress can be hard. In addition, we are intuitively attracted to foods that resemble similar qualities to our...Read More

Ayurvedic Fasting - the why's and how's

Fri, 27 Jan 2023 06:43:21 -0800

Are you looking for a way to improve your physical and mental health? Look no further than Ayurvedic fasting! Ayurvedic fasting involves taking a break from certain foods and drinks for a specific period of time to give your body a chance to cleanse itself of toxins and rejuvenate the digestive system. It is targeted to maximize nutrient absorption and promote a mindful relationship with food.
Ayurvedic fasting promotes a healthy equilibrium between the mind and body and helps restore the bodily systems to their ultimate potential. Personally, I fast regularly and can testify to the beneficial effects of fasting as well as intermittent fasting, which is also promoted in Ayurveda. As someone who had previously suffered with fibromyalgia, fasting, along with other Ayurvedic and yogic methods of self-care, has been invaluable in my recovery and symptom management.
How it's done?
During a fast, you'll focus on eating fruits, vegetables, and herbal teas or you adopt a mono-diet by restricting your food intake to only one type of food. During an Ayurvedic fast, Kitchari, a meal consisting of split mung dal and rice is often used, as well as mung bean soup. The duration of the fast depends on each individual's needs and capabilities, ranging from a fast that lasts only for one day, to a full 6 or 8-week Ayurvedic reset diet. Fasting types may also depend on each person's dominant dosha (body type). In fact, what I love about the Ayurvedic approach to fasting is that it is individualized. It recognizes our unique needs based on our constitution and takes into account seasons as well as locality and other...Read More

Autumn Wellbeing Ayur-Yoga Retreat

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 04:08:03 -0700

I am back in Cardiff after hosting a weekend Ayur-Yoga Retreat in Carmarthenshire, South Wales mid October. The retreat was my first collaboration with the wonderful and talented chef Joki Mihovilcevic-Darcy of Little Green Vegan Catering. Together, we've hosted 12 beautiful women who came from many different parts of the country!
The retreat offered an opportunity to rest, relax and reset whilst learning about Ayurveda and trying out delicious food prepared in accordance with this amazing science that embraces nature, inside and outside of us. In addition, guests got to use a wood-fired sauna, jacuzzi and plunge pool to drop even further into the space of wellbeing and self-care.
We kicked-off the first evening with herbal teas and delicious gluten-free almond cookies lovingly prepared by Joki, whilst sharing our experiences of the day and getting to know each other. A gentle Vata pacifying yoga, breathing and meditation practice followed to help us ground after a long trip to the retreat location and drop into the space of becoming present. This was followed by a delicious dinner and further settling before gathering at the yoga studio once again for a Sharing Circle and a Kirtan - a heart opening mantra practice....Read More

4 Incredible Benefits of Outdoor Yoga Practice

Fri, 05 Aug 2022 09:10:56 -0700

We live in a fast-paced, busy world - fast cars, tight schedules, constant external stimulation - from smartphones to social media and information overload. Although from the outside it may appear that we are becoming more efficient, on the inside we are getting more and more disconnected from ourselves and the nature around us. We often miss the present moment where real life, as we know it, takes place. Instead, we spend the majority of our time inside our minds - planning, analyzing, reflecting, stressing. But what if you were to make space in your busy schedule to dedicate to the present moment? Movement, breath, sensory perceptions, connection to nature, and yourself, as an integral part of everything you experience around in that one moment? Can this single action create a change in the way you feel, think and perceive the world, both externally and internally?

Well, the scientific research seems to confirm that practicing yoga outside yields tremendous benefits on all levels of our being and I want to encourage you to try, at least once this summer, to practice yoga with your bare feet in the grass or in the sand.
So, without further ado, let's delve into the benefits of outdoor practice!

IT HELPS EXPERIENCE UNION WITH NATURE

The meaning of the word yoga is union. To me, this is the union between our ego and the higher self but on a more dualistic level, this can be a union between our external and the internal worlds, the understanding that the functioning of the body is the direct result of the perceptions and interpretations of the mind and the level of...Read More