Behind the words

I've been writing some thank yous this past week. Offering a few words to my TT teachers. Better late than never maybe, since TT was some weeks ago. But honestly I can't begin to capture what they offered and the new avenues they variously opened up for me. I certainly can't express the gratitude I have for their efforts... Continue Reading →

September 18, 2016 0

Elephants, god, and sex: lost in translation

I've been learning Sanskrit for a few slow months now. Progress is not as fast as I'd like. But then when is it? But actually I high-fived my rather staid class-mate yesterday -- we'd read a page together reasonably fluently during that lesson. OK, it's really simple stuff: stories my teacher has written with really basic grammatical constructions (strictly... Continue Reading →

January 20, 2016 5

Blogging and practicing yoga — more similar than you think

My domain renewal came round today reminding me that it's been about a year since I set up my blog. In my little life this is quite a big deal! So I'm celebrating what this means to me. Blogging would be nothing but an online journal if it were not for you reading. Nothing wrong... Continue Reading →

January 6, 2016 4

When stepping onto the mat is hard

You know those days when practicing is the last thing you feel like doing? And in your heart you know that you'll feel better if you do, but your inner gremlin is trying to sabotage you? I'm sure it's not just me, right!? Yesterday was one of those days. Hubby and I have both got a... Continue Reading →

January 3, 2016 6

Singing from the heart

I passed the Salvation Army band on my way back from yoga class. I love hearing them play. It's about the one obviously religious charity I happily give to. I find their music very heartwarming -- redolent of reassuringly old-fashioned values somehow. Maybe it's the uniforms! Today they were fronted by two young girls singing.... Continue Reading →

December 20, 2015 2

Gratitude in the dark

Gratitude has become one of those fashionable things. We're all at it. My Facebook feed is full of people listing stuff they're grateful for. I guess it's great that they're practicing this and taking the time to think. Except that cynically I'm not sure it isn't all a bit superficial. Most of the things people express... Continue Reading →

December 18, 2015 6

Discomfort in my yoga practice — and not how you might think

I've been reading recently about Conan Doyle (he of Sherlock Holmes fame) and his interest in Spiritualism (ectoplasm, fairies, and psychic phenomena). In the later part of his life Conan Doyle explored Spiritualism as a way of trying to resolve his religious upbringing and Jesuit education with his scientific training as a doctor: "Victorian science would... Continue Reading →

December 14, 2015 1

The Upward Spiral

There was a bit of reporting earlier in the year on the inter web (like this article) summarising some recent research by Alex Korb which -- as I understand it (I've not actually read it) -- he published in book form as The Upward Spiral. The book is marketed as the neuroscience of depression, but the popular reportage was entitled... Continue Reading →

October 8, 2015 4

Compassion for the skeletons in the closet

Compassion is a topic I keep coming across in blogs at the moment (picking up the idea of serendipity from my own blog recently!). Yogis often talk about cultivating compassion towards others, but receiving compassion is also an art that's worth practicing. I read a great post recently about handling compassion, how to confront one's vulnerability and... Continue Reading →

August 24, 2015 6

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 →