What yoga teaches me about learning Sanskrit

I still have nightmares of learning Latin as a child. One year my teacher had me reading Caesar with him ‘for fun’ once a week. We read at speed as a bit of a warm up for the real work. One class was particularly punishing: he was impatient and pushing faster, I lost my place... Continue Reading →

October 17, 2015 1

A pearl fisher in camouflage

Spoonies are masters of disguise. I sure know that with years of diligent practice I've developed the art of camouflaging how I feel: I only go out on good days, and the bad days spent curled up at home are invisible to everyone but my nearest and dearest. I sometimes don't even offer my friends the... Continue Reading →

October 14, 2015 7

Walk slowly

You know those times of coincidence, when the universe seems to offer you every chance at receiving a message -- it's offered to you in several forms and you somehow keep turning a blind eye to it? I've had so many messages to practice patience lovingly thrown across my path this week. The messengers have come... Continue Reading →

October 11, 2015 2

And summer’s lease hath all too short a date

It's October now and although in my part of the world we've been having unseasonably sunny weather until very recently, I'm bracing myself for Autumn. It's not my favourite season. It leads inexorably to Winter, which I associate with illness, darkness, and death. Cheery huh? In the past I've spent the darker months focusing on... Continue Reading →

October 5, 2015 2

Asking for help

I think a lot of us struggle to ask for help. It's difficult to admit you can't handle something. This is definitely true for me. I like to think I have an inner superhero who can rise to anything. But if asking for help is a common difficulty (among certain personality types at least), I wonder... Continue Reading →

September 25, 2015 4

Snakes alive!

So on the news there was a story about a lost boa constrictor that escaped from its owner's bath -- perhaps down the toilet. The general public are warned not to approach! I'm listening to the news on the radio as I spend recovery time in bed, feeling ill. But despite (or because of...) how ill... Continue Reading →

September 20, 2015 5

Corporate yoga — it’s not what you think!

"What did you do to him while I was away?" My boss has just come back from holiday and was asking me about the change he could see in a team member I've just taken line-management responsibility for. He's like a different person: more engaged, volunteering information in meetings, and quick to propose solutions to the day-to-day challenges... Continue Reading →

September 14, 2015 2

The upside of power cuts

When I woke up this morning and looked at the alarm clock I smiled. As I turned on the lamp in the semi-darkness I grinned. I padded off to the shower where I positively gurgled in pleasure at the feeling of the hot water on my skin. Why so exuberantly happy? Because all these things depend... Continue Reading →

September 10, 2015 2

Losing control

It was one of those magical practices when the yoga happens and all you can do is let it. Let the breath come in and go out, let my limbs find their shape in each asana, let my body feel where to go -- bodily sensations only, no brain involved. The teacher's words resolved themselves in my movements.... Continue Reading →

September 2, 2015 3

The universe offers…

I was feeling glum on my walk in to work this morning. The weather didn't help -- the meteorological joke that is an English summer. It was low grey skies with a hint of rain. I had a definite hankering for Greece. For the climate, the landscape, the hospitality of people. For endless frappés (Greek iced coffee),... Continue Reading →