Inversions at SOAS

Yesterday my kind and understanding boss let me leave the office a little early to get down to London to SOAS (the School of African and Oriental Studies) for the launch of their Yoga Studies Centre and their new online journal. I went mainly because there were talks being given by James Mallinson and Mark... Continue Reading →

May 9, 2018 6

It’s not on my list

"Did you do any yoga while you were away?" my teacher asked me. I gave a ambiguous response -- confused, not quite believing this was a real question. "So what exactly did you do while you were away?" this time from my boss, and I gave a slightly more considered answer, because after all he... Continue Reading →

April 6, 2018 2

The significance of small talk

I acquired the little Greek language I know in slightly random ways, mostly informally. Some of it is very simple, some of it is quite formal. Years ago I remember being at dinner and I turned to speak to my friend at the exact moment all conversation fell suddenly quiet in that way it does... Continue Reading →

April 3, 2018 3

Singing, not singing

I used to love singing as a child. As a small child that is. I used to happily hum away to myself in the back of the car, so much so that if I was quiet my parents tell me they had to turn to look to make sure I was still there! When I... Continue Reading →

March 26, 2018 2

Owls not included

I was up before dawn this morning. Not for morning practice or observance of the Brahma Muhurta! Rather, Hubby had read that the Scops Owl (a cute little thing, I must say) lives in the woodland on the hill just above us in Athens. Although these owls are hard to see, they have a distinctive... Continue Reading →

March 18, 2018 2

Change of scene

After all the drama about the weather, of course our travel plans ran very smoothly! I'm glad I didn't expend too much energy worrying about it 🙂 I've now escaped the snow and ice back home and relocated (albeit temporarily) to somewhere significantly warmer and sunnier -- Athens. First day was just for settling into... Continue Reading →

March 5, 2018 3

Snow-ga

I once heard someone say you should never take up yoga if you like a good personal drama, if you're attached to making your life more exciting than it perhaps needs to be, if you actually enjoy getting a bit high on the everyday stresses. I think you'll know what I mean. I can fall... Continue Reading →

March 2, 2018 1

Storm in an anatomical teacup

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 →

February 28, 2018 4

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 →

February 20, 2018 1

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 →