When a rest is as good as a change

I was telling Hubby about recent experiences of sitting practice and the feelings of frustration that arise, turning recent attempts into something of a patient sitting out, a waiting for this to pass, to resolve itself in time. I feel OK with that, for me it's no big deal in the grander scheme; I've been... Continue Reading →

November 17, 2016 2

Not (yet)

I got an unsought for lesson in acceptance today. Part of it involved letting go my dislike of city rain. Countryside rain is good: think dramatic cloud-driven skies, damp earthy scents, animal footprints filling up with water on a muddy path... I could go on; I love that. So evocative. City rain on the other hand is all impatient pedestrians seemingly intent... Continue Reading →

November 16, 2016 0

Taking refuge in yoga

Despite the title, this isn't a blog about yoga and politics -- though there's a lot of that about these days. Maybe too much. And incidentally as I write I have half an ear on J. Brown's latest podcast which begins with a reflection that yoga teachers shouldn't feel the need to comment on politics... Continue Reading →

November 15, 2016 2

Longing and belonging

We started in Paścimottānāsana. A strange sensation, never an opening pose surely? Brain started to question this, frustrations threatened. How could I be expected to take this shape without any warmup or hip work... But I'm here because I trust the teacher, that he has an idea he's exploring and offering, and who I am... Continue Reading →

November 11, 2016 5

The new morning habit

I met with a fellow new graduate this week. We caught up on life and work, and of course yoga. We both admitted feeling a bit disconnected with our practice recently. "At least you've been doing it, though" was her comment to me. For reasons of life changes and injury she's not been practising at home... Continue Reading →

November 9, 2016 0

Zen and the art of mother maintenance

My parents stayed for the weekend. I enjoyed treating them a bit and relaxing with those who know me in a special way. Conversations were mainly light and we had some good laughs, the generation gap not being stretched to breaking point. Sign of yogic flexibility off the mat perhaps!? Yesterday afternoon as my dad dozed... Continue Reading →

November 6, 2016 4

Yoga poses in sync

I just realised that what I spell as 'synch' most of the rest of the world writes as 'sync'. Hubby things I'm being pretentious in my spelling, but honestly this is how I hear the word. "In Greek it would be spelt with a chi not a kappa," I plaintively assert! He knows this is true,... Continue Reading →

November 3, 2016 10

Finding my feet

The two colleague-friends I've been teaching a little recently have insisted on paying me now and we've firmed up the arrangement to every week, rather than as and when. Their various summer holidays and business trips are over and now they're ready to settle in. So all of a sudden I have a weekly commitment with... Continue Reading →

October 31, 2016 2

Continuing with Iyengar?

So I've completed my baby Iyengar course now (6 introductory sessions at the Iyengar Institute in London). I was sad to miss the final class with the usual teacher since I was (ahem) teaching a class myself. So I hauled myself down one evening after work to catch a session with another teacher. It was interesting to... Continue Reading →

October 29, 2016 10

All in season

The season is changing. Autumn is at the pretty stage: golden leaves that crunch pleasingly underfoot and there are still blue skies to enjoy and days warm enough to encourage me to walk more slowly, to saunter and enjoy the sunshine. The horse chestnuts are looking a little bit drab because they drop early, but... Continue Reading →