Spiritual Still Life with Tony Lupinacci
An interview with our Spiritual Therapist
Welcome to Spiritual Still Life.
In this new series, we’re interviewing teachers, friends, and leaders from the worlds of health, wellness, and spirituality to dive deep into the tangible side of their personal practices. Think of it as our version of “what’s in your bag,” but instead of lipgloss and Tylenol, we’re exploring the sacred tokens, tools, and objects that help keep them spiritually fit.
For those of you who have been reading this substack and are dying to know who our Spiritual Therapist is, we are ready to finally reveal the man behind the curtain, Tony Lupinacci.
Tony is a world-class yoga and meditation teacher. He leads retreats and trainings around the world but he is based in Portugal. Tony is the creator of Satsanga Sādhanā, a transformative 45-minute seated practice that harmoniously blends meditation, mantra, prānāyāma, and kriyā techniques. This music-driven experience synthesizes various lineages into a seamless journey of self-discovery, framed by the power of Sankalpā, or intention. By aligning breath with rhythm, Tony’s approach invites his students to explore themselves in profound and immersive ways.
We experienced the magic and depth of Tony’s teachings during our 300 hour yoga teacher training with The Sacred Fig in Portugal.
It’s an honor to provide this behind-the-scenes look at Tony’s personal practices.
What does a day in the life of Tony look like? What are you doing to maintain your spiritual, mental and physical health?
I usually wake up between 6:30 and 7:00 AM. I stumble to my meditation room, which is currently next to my bedroom at the apartment we’ve rented in Lisbon. I light 7 white pillar candles followed by a stick of classic Satya Nag Champa Agarbatti incense. I love this scent for its fortitude and nostalgia, also I can find it almost anywhere in the world. Although, my absolute favorite incense scent is Shoyeido Premium Shun-you Beckoning Spring Agarwood Japanese Incense. It’s a wow! It's spicy, creamy and rich at the same time.
After everything is lit, I ring a bell that I got in Kyoto. This acts as a formal signifier of the shift in energy. To me ritualizing my space, and integrating devotion, is the cornerstone of my practice. It takes the monotony out and infuses the experience with spirit. I then chant the Patanjali Yogasana Invocation and begin my Vedic meditation. This is followed by jappa mantra recitation and krīya practice.
I then head out to the balcony to journal and get some sunlight. I’ll often also do yoga sūtra recitation, I’m currently in the process of learning to chant samadhi pada, the first chapter of the yoga sutra.
I usually start taking zoom calls with my 1:1 students or working on some admin for upcoming trainings and retreats.
In the evening, I meet up with friends, take a hot yoga class or cook dinner with my husband Anton.
What do you do for work? How does it fulfill you?
I lead retreats and trainings around the world as well as mentor students. I speak to my mentees on a 40 day basis about what’s happening in their lives, I then give them a spiritual prescriptive practice that aims to support them with whatever they’re working on.
My work is an anchor for me, a North Star. It gives me direction, literally and figuratively. It often takes me to wherever I am in the world but it also drives me emotionally. I see my work as both a part of me and completely beyond me. I take what I do seriously and consider being able to facilitate and empower people toward truth an incredible gift and privilege. I also know that because of what I do, I’m required to be accountable and to live a life of clarity and integrity. I certainly don’t have it all figured out but I know that helping others also helps me.
In your work, you set everyone up with the foundation to create their own personal altar. What is a personal altar to you? What are the elements that are essential to it?
A personal altar must be personalized. My altar and yours wouldn’t and shouldn’t be the same because there are different motivating factors in each of our lives that propel us toward the same truth. At Cocoon Portugal (our yoga retreat center) my permanent set up is a family lineage altar with images of my mom who’s no longer on this planet, as well as my grandparents and my spiritual teacher Amma (the hugging saint). Here in Lisbon, I have the Hindu god of preservation, Lord Vishnu. His essence helps me to maintain, sustain and release any expectations or desired outcome. I try to keep fresh flowers on my altar as an act of self love, white sage for clarity, Florida water for protection and as many candles as possible. Candles are everything!
You travel a lot, how do you stay grounded and in your practice when on the move?
I do my practice as I travel! Meditating on a plane or train is a great use of time. I use solfeggio frequencies in my headphones to help me ground and draw inward, I bring my mala with me for a silent jappa practice and often pack an essential oil.
In addition, whenever I get to a new hotel or airbnb I unpack my travel altar — usually incense, a candle and a small deity (statue). I set this up just as I’d arrange my toiletries or unpack my clothes. This way when I wake up in the morning it’s ready for me and I can begin my practice as normal. It’s important to also choose a location to meditate the night before and set up a pillow or a seat so that I don't have to fiddle around with logistics in the morning.
Do you have any wellness products that you swear by?
I love all the oils from Enfleurage in NYC! Particularly their vetiver and a blend that they call Serene Spirit.
I’m also obsessed with the Santa Maria Novella pot pourri. It’s stunning.
I get all of my malas from my friend Rebecca Causey. She’s an astrologer that makes stone malas with a special stone depending on what’s happening in my astrological chart.
What has impacted your life the most?
My mom’s suicide. It was both the most horrific experience and the most valuable. It acted as a catalyst and without question has been the driving force in my quest for truth. I believe that the most “terrible” experiences in life can also be the most valuable. This is where wisdom is born.
If you feel called to study with Tony, you can sign up for his upcoming training, The Invisible Body: Practices for Truth. The first session is on Saturday, November 23rd, you know we will be there.
LOVE this new series, and always love Tony 💛 I miss my teacher