Joyous vertigo

Moving towards the end of year means planning next year in various ways. At work it's all about next financial year's budget, at home it's about holidays with Hubby and with a wide-flung family we're already asking what continent best suits us all for Xmas 2016! Cyclical questions that inevitably come round with the year change. Part... Continue Reading →

November 16, 2015 1

Stepping on the teacher’s toes?

I'm a bit of a fixer by nature I think. I like to restore order, inspire peace, and smooth out the difficulties others are experiencing. I like to help make things better. I guess on good days that makes me a devoted wife and daughter, useful employee, and supportive friend. On bad days it probably just... Continue Reading →

November 15, 2015 3

Bio-geometry? Is that a word?

My teacher often asks us to feel this kind of thing in āsana: "feel the connection between your heel and the crown of your head" and so on. Energetic connection that is, not pretzel shapes with your foot behind your head! I think the idea is to find some structural integrity, so that your whole being is united... Continue Reading →

November 13, 2015 2

Beginner brain and pomegranates

I'm guessing (from the wisdom of my two and a bit years!) that one of the secrets of a long-lasting yoga practice is to retain the 'beginner brain', to keep seeing things afresh, finding novelty in the familiar. Keeping it vital. It's a nice attitude to have in life too and I've been trying to... Continue Reading →

November 12, 2015 2

Being and laughing — good in any language

In the next thrilling instalment following my farewell to the Sanskrit professor and his super-fast class, I'm happy to report I've already found myself a new teacher! He teaches an adult group for just one hour a week, and it slots in perfectly right before my favourite yoga class of the week. Wow! Now Sanskrit feels like... Continue Reading →

November 10, 2015 6

He calls me Pesky

Hubby has many terms of endearment for me, which I won't share. It would embarrass us all! Recently he's started referring to me as 'Pesky'! I don't think he's falling out of love with me, I don't think I'm being particularly annoying (though I have my moments!) -- it's just short for 'pescetarian'. I increasingly... Continue Reading →

November 9, 2015 6

A daily necessity?

My teacher dropped the s-word into class this week. Sādhana. He glossed it as 'daily devotional practice' or something like that. Then he tried to qualify this, to restate it, perhaps wanting to soften the definition somehow. I don't know, I'm just guessing from how I remember it. I sometimes wonder how many people in... Continue Reading →

November 8, 2015 4

I laughed my socks off

Last night's yoga practice was reduced to some simple stretches in the lounge while Hubby and I talked and caught up on each other's days. There wasn't space in my day for more. To start with Hubby kept poking me and making me laugh. We joked about a lot! But I kept on with my stretches... Continue Reading →

November 5, 2015 5

Stop! Go! Yes? No?

My mum's had a few one-to-one classes with her yoga teacher recently. She doesn't like the group class so she's trying to get up some confidence and explore yoga a little bit more to see if it really is for her or not. She just called me to talk after the last session in the... Continue Reading →

November 2, 2015 1

Beware yoga sheep — baaa!

I intended to go to yoga class this morning. Hubby was off to the hairdresser so I had the morning to myself. Perfect for sneaking in an extra class, I thought. I don't usually practice on a Saturday. Not for me an aṣtanga thing, that's not my style -- just an acknowledgement that Saturday needs... Continue Reading →