I am used to getting funny reactions from every physio I consult. They can't equate the regularity of my yoga practice with what they see in my body. "Is that all you can do?" one of them once asked me, and another actually laughed at loud at the lack of depth I achieved in whatever... Continue Reading →
Photo shoot
In real life I have an IG account and a FB page for my yoga stuff. They existed long before my teaching qualifications: I'm not into self-publicity, I'm not drumming up business or collecting followers, I just like to share thoughts as a way of helping me be a little more present in my own... Continue Reading →
I asked, they told
I sent out a little survey to my workplace yogis recently, asking them for feedback on my teaching and anything more they'd like me to offer -- suggesting possibilities of some longer classes, one to ones, or workshops on particular themes.... I got an overwhelming response. About three quarters were 'yes' or 'maybe' for wanting... Continue Reading →
Out beyond the castle defences
We had dinner with neighbours just recently. They're only a door away but even so our interactions have been quite limited. An Englishman's home is his castle after all. A party at ours a couple of years ago is still the longest time we've ever spent together; it's just quick hellos in the street as... Continue Reading →
Walk with me
I recently saw the film Walk With Me, about the Zen Buddhist monk Thich Nhat Hanh. At first there was something slightly surreal about tucking into my chocolate ice cream, and Hubby with a glass of vino, settling back comfortably to be a voyeur on the simple Zen life. But life is a paradox, so I... Continue Reading →
Practice time
Time was when I'd wear a watch to every class so that I could keep an eye on the time. I wanted to pace myself so that I'd have enough energy to take me through the full sequence. I needed to reassure myself that I could get to the end OK. And aside from lacking... Continue Reading →
Safe space
I remember early days of yoga class when I felt really intimidated simply by being in the room and I would sit anxiously waiting for class to start, fidgeting mindlessly and half-considering doing a runner to the pub while there was still time to get out. (Nowadays I admit I still often feel this anxiety... Continue Reading →
Trust up and down the line
A yoga friend recently told me that whenever she had a ‘good practice’ in class she always made sure to tell the teacher what a great class it was; if she didn’t have this experience she simply said a brief thank you as she left. Wow, really? I observed that, while I take care to... Continue Reading →