First and Last

One first time and one last time today — and I’m pretty happy with both. Maybe I’m getting the hang of this non-perfectionism thing. Or maybe the doubting voices in my head haven’t woken up yet! Whatever... So it was the first time teaching in my workplace gym. A lunchtime session which is now mine... Continue Reading →

October 11, 2017 2

Shift it

I’ve had some amazing moments with my students this week. A bit of Sanskrit punning after class from one, some good questions from another who is usually very self-contained (with a good line in sceptical faces!), and the one is who usually very physically cautious and always takes the lighter options was asking about how... Continue Reading →

October 8, 2017 2

Upside down sharing

At the weekend I crept away to work on a teaching sequence while Hubby was calling home. He finished more quickly than I expected and popped his head round the door to ask if he could bring his breakfast in and watch me. Why not! It turned into a really lovely shared experience that just... Continue Reading →

October 3, 2017 2

What goes around, comes around

When I was a doctoral student, I heard someone's supervisor say that they were deliberately tough with their students because that's how it'd been for them when they were a postgrad themselves. It's the idea of what goes around, comes around -- but in a very negative way. Do unto others as has been done... Continue Reading →

September 16, 2017 1

Flow of words

In my teaching this week I was thrown off what I'd prepared by a comment at the start of class which kicked off some ideas in my mind and the moment I opened my mouth I found I was extemporising from her comment instead of doggedly sticking to my prepared plan. The physical sequence was... Continue Reading →

July 21, 2017 5

Enough already!

"Enough already!" It depends how you say it. It's either a slightly tetchy way of telling someone to stop doing something or it's a kind acknowledgement of the sufficiency in all things. I'm flip-flopping back and forth at the moment with both ways of talking to myself. I am having serious 'enough' issues, feeling never... Continue Reading →

April 28, 2017 2

Clowning around

Hubby came in and interrupted my practice this morning. He's usually really careful not to do this, but it turned out he thought everything had gone quiet and assumed I'd finished. He planned to tiptoe in to give me a bit of a head/shoulder massage in Śavāsana. Sweet thought! He hasn't realised that my āsana practice is... Continue Reading →

April 16, 2017 4

The secret formula

I saw one of my teachers recently whom I haven't seen in a while and perhaps only a few times since TT. We had a great chat after the class he gave. He asked whether I was teaching and because he's one of those quiet steady types with eyes that see right into you, I found... Continue Reading →

March 24, 2017 3

Ways of seeing

I saw an old friend in London this weekend (in between a yoga class and the final day of the Paul Nash exhibition at the Tate -- what a great day!). We had lots of wonderful conversation. One thing that struck me was her comments about her ageing body. She's just about to turn 40 and is... Continue Reading →

March 8, 2017 0

Optimistic hopping

Spring is in the air -- I've even opened the window during home practice today. I'm feeling a bit uplifted. I had a wonderful one to one with my teacher this week and it's perked me up as always and inspired me. I had optimistically hoped to be handstanding like a pro after some dedicated attention, but... Continue Reading →