Handle with care

One of my teachers thanked me recently for wearing my hair in a beautiful braid -- doing this just for her, she said. She then used my braid to coax me into better alignment, tugging at it gently to guide me. I actually didn't mind this. She has such a light and loving touch, I... Continue Reading →

June 21, 2018 0

Beautiful practice

My Rolfing session today ended as it began with me walking around the room. At the beginning of a session it's all about body observation, her watching my way of locomotion, how my body negotiates gravity and travels through space. Specifically in my case, how I don't use my toes when I walk, they are... Continue Reading →

June 18, 2018 0

Once good, twice even better

So I just gave my Second Ever Yoga Workshop today. I'm feeling super-proud and a teeny bit accomplished! But I'm keeping things really modest, baby steps and all. The groups were really small, a handful of students each time, and the second workshop was essentially a repeat of the first for those missed it. Repetition... Continue Reading →

June 16, 2018 2

Holding space

Holding space. It's an expression that pops up a lot in yoga, as perhaps in more directly therapeutic work. I guess the idea is about creating a safe container for someone, to allow them to have their time and space. The teacher's role is to provide the context for the examination but not the answers.... Continue Reading →

June 14, 2018 4

Resources at my feet

Hubby practised the other day with the door open. His choice, but he clearly felt self-conscious knowing I was around. I could hear him humming his 'baby elephant' song to himself with each transition in his standing sequence. I asked him about it afterwards. "I just felt so clunky and unco-ordinated", he told me. I... Continue Reading →

June 8, 2018 2

How far

Another work farewell this week. Not a close colleague but the one fellow-sufferer {grimace -- I hate that expression, but it'll do for now!} I've ever talked to about ME. We're both well on the path of recovery. She's now confident enough in her ability to handle herself that she's changing job, she recently moved... Continue Reading →

June 5, 2018 2

QED

I walked in on coffee-time conversation at work this week, with colleagues discussing how they hated the fact that the gym instructors don’t actually do the class themselves. The point was that they just didn’t believe some things were possible. The teacher screams at them to do another set of reps, to go deeper, push... Continue Reading →

June 3, 2018 2

The long goodbye

It seems to be a story of farewells at the moment. A succession of changes, none of which feel like a change for better, only a termination of something I valued or a relationship I cared for. One of my team at work, one of my own hires so particularly dear to my heart, recently... Continue Reading →

May 29, 2018 4

Observation

It seems to be all about observation at the moment. Trying to see (or feel) with more clarity and dispassion. Less drama, less judgment. I've been trying to prep for a private with my teacher, which is always a time for reflection and evaluation, but I'm trying hard within this work not to find myself... Continue Reading →

May 28, 2018 7

Updating my preferences (nothing about GDPR!)

"The greatest obstacle to the practice is one’s own prejudices based on one’s own preferences" हानमेषां क्लेशवदुक्तम् ॥२८॥ hānam-eṣāṁ kleśavad-uktam ॥ PYS 4.28 I'm contemplating this sutra a lot recently; it’s the backdrop to my practice. It’s intrigued me since my teacher first introduced me to it. What are these preferences? In the physical body?... Continue Reading →