Practising sauca (cleanliness) with the hairdresser

I tend to get a bit esoteric when I address the yamas and niyamas. It's part of my tendency to over-think and intellectualise that often means I skip over the obvious and jump to the obscure if I possibly can. The (ni)yamas I think about the most are the ones my brain doesn't understand. I've temporarily... Continue Reading →

May 30, 2015 1

babycrowyoga hits the newsstands!

I am super-excited to have a small piece in omyoga magazine this month! Brace yourself, regular readers -- it's about my hamstring! It's a bit of a whimsical piece written in the style of a love letter, but there's an underlying serious message about how we treat our bodies (or how our ego perceives our... Continue Reading →

May 28, 2015 10

Time out with Patanjali

Happy monthi-versary to me -- it's now just over a month since I started back attending yoga classes after a few months off with injury. I just realised this and can hardly believe it's been so little time. A real case of time flying. It made me think that I should pause, take stock of the... Continue Reading →

May 20, 2015 4

Barefoot shoes and yoga feet

I'm getting more and more obsessed with my feet. It's that time of year here in UK where I've just about transitioned from my trusty Uggs to wearing something less warm and cosy for getting to and from yoga class. I've rediscovered my very light and cool (they are more mesh than anything else) barefoot running shoes.... Continue Reading →

May 17, 2015 3

Vinyasa in the real world

In my early classes I was as graceful as a hippo: I didn't feel graceful and I'm sure I didn't look it. One of the first things my first yoga teacher explained to me in my very first class was what vinyasa meant -- placing in a special way, deliberately, thoughtfully, with intent. And as with... Continue Reading →

May 14, 2015 3

“God be in my understanding” — a yogi’s perspective

Just because I can't define it or describe it doesn't mean it doesn't exist. I'm talking about spirituality and yoga. Or rather spirituality and my yoga. It's something I feel very uncomfortable about as a lifelong atheist. And yet my yoga practice was never a purely physical practice; it sprang from my meditation. But increasingly I... Continue Reading →

May 9, 2015 0

I put the garbage out last night

I put the garbage out last night. No big deal, right? Well, it was for me. I realise that I haven't put the garbage out for months! Not (I hasten to say) because I live in filth -- I've relied on Hubby and neighbours to take up my slack. But I've consciously avoided this task since I hurt my hamstring. Let's be... Continue Reading →

May 8, 2015 3

Practicing honesty

I see a lot of dishonesty going on in yoga. I don't mean this as a big name and shame piece. So not cool, and certainly not my place. I simply mean the petty dishonesties we all entertain in asana, in yoga (in life too, perhaps, but that's a way bigger topic). In last night's... Continue Reading →

May 6, 2015 4

Where I become a yoga school drop-out

Question 1: How do we make decisions? Some decisions are committed to consciously, perhaps we weigh up the pros and cons, ask a friend, define our goals or our priorities. Other decisions we make less consciously, often unconsciously even. We might go with gut instinct, or follow our habit. Most of the time it's probably... Continue Reading →

May 4, 2015 7

My legs are amazing!

I'm standing up a lot at the moment. In my life I could easily spend 80% of my time sitting or lying down I reckon. But when you look out for opportunities to stand more -- and become less self-conscious about standing when others are sitting -- there are some easy changes to make. I was initially... Continue Reading →