May was (supposed to be) the month of pranayama

A good few weeks back kiwiyogirunner and I came up with a crackpot notion of tackling our mutual aversion of pranayama by facing it down and bringing it into our practice more during the month of May. I think she might have had a fever when she agreed to this. Her May didn't start so well... Continue Reading →

June 19, 2015 3

The mad dream that is a yoga intensive

Real email exchange at work today: Me: Would you please let me know soonest if it's ok to book off the above dates as annual leave? Manager: Sure. Me: Thank you! I’ve logged it in the holiday tracker now. So I’m now committed to 28 hours of yoga in 3 days… Manager: Wow. Have you told... Continue Reading →

June 15, 2015 3

Finding energy in class

I've been thinking a bit recently about teachers and classes, wondering what makes a good class experience and what the role of a teacher is in that. I'm coming at this from a couple of angles, so brace yourself for more posts as I work through some thoughts over the coming months -- and do... Continue Reading →

May 27, 2015 3

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

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

Happy Birthday!

Happy birthday me! I'm 40 today. I thought I'd get the number out of the way up front. If I say it quickly enough, maybe we won't any of us notice it... My day started beautifully across town in my home yoga studio. My first two-hour class in a long while. Perhaps even the first of... Continue Reading →

April 19, 2015 3

Last night’s music and yoga

Yesterday evening I was way too excited and jittery feeling. I was not at all in the right headspace for yoga class. Music helped to calm my mind a little. I listened to something intense and sobering on my walk to the studio: Pergolesi's Stabat Mater. Too beautiful. Such passion (in our current sense of... Continue Reading →

April 15, 2015 4

May wildflowers come up on my yoga mat

I was really looking forward to going back to class again today. Hamstring feeling pretty OK after its recent debut back at my home studio. And heaven knows I felt in need of all that yoga could offer me after my day yesterday: travelling to a conference, all day standing up in suit and heels,... Continue Reading →

April 12, 2015 3

Back to class

My alarm went off at 5.45 today -- not a mistake! I was up early to walk across town (no cycling allowed yet) to my yoga studio for MY FIRST CLASS IN 3 MONTHS! Excuse the shouty capitals, but I was just a little bit excited by this (as regular readers will have noticed!). And the... Continue Reading →

April 10, 2015 4

Where I part company from my physio – hopefully for some time!

I didn’t sleep much last night. My mind was running round and round in circles (like a dog chasing it's tail -- you got it!). It wasn’t bad. I mean I wasn’t churning anxieties over or replaying conversations with what-ifs or thinking up belated clever ripostes. I was just too excited plain and simple. I... Continue Reading →