Making room for yoga

This is how our dining table looks. On a good day! It's pretty neat and organised, right? I mean you can see we have a table underneath the spread of books and laptop! Each evening I clear a thin slice free of books at one end so we can eat. Except, that is, on evenings... Continue Reading →

September 22, 2017 6

(Yoga) Hall of mirrors

That metaphor about the teacher holding a mirror to your practice? I always dread that he'll do it literally one day, knowing my reluctance towards seeing myself practice. Ever since I heard Kathryn Budig talk about her teacher making her practise in shorts rather than leggings as a way of challenging her body issues, I fear... Continue Reading →

September 8, 2017 3

Sore throat, big leap

I've had a sore throat for weeks now. It started when I was on holiday in Canada and has persisted. The accompanying cold disappeared weeks ago, but I'm still croaky. "It's psychosomatic" one of my yogi friends told me rather brusquely. Yogis can be so annoying right?! My teacher joked (I think it was a... Continue Reading →

September 2, 2017 6

Keeping it in the family

I'm realising that when people know you're a trained yoga teacher there are two reactions: they either expect you to 'fix' anything that's ever been wrong with them and assume you live some kind of austere ascetic lifestyle, or there's mistrust and cynicism, doubting that you know anything of any value. I don't think I'm... Continue Reading →

August 3, 2017 3

Pioneering on and off the mat

The days that we spent out east in British Columbia were wonderful. It's technically a desert environment and the scenery was beautiful. It reminded me of parts of the Mediterranean: the desert sage brush looked from a distance like maquis and smelt a bit like it too. I was a bit frustrated that I... Continue Reading →

July 31, 2017 4

Change of scene

When I'm at home I love to roll my mat out in the same place each time. I know exactly where I need to be to avoid the lampshade in Urdhva Hastasana... In my local studio I have my favourite spots also, depending on which class it is, how I'm feeling... Oh yes, many attachments... Continue Reading →

July 27, 2017 6

Yoga in the heatwave… and after

We had a heatwave in England recently. I loved it! I am definitely solar powered. I come alive when the rest of the country is wilting. And practice feels different in my body. Muscles just feel nicely stretchy from the outset. I don't know that I move more deeply within any particular āsana, but from... Continue Reading →

July 3, 2017 0

Practice time

When people ask me how long I practise yoga each week, I'm usually pretty evasive, second-guessing the response I think I'll get. I usually down-play it, since most people look perturbed at the idea of daily practice. And even in the company of serious students/teachers I also hesitate to make my practice sound too heavy... Continue Reading →

June 12, 2017 1

Month by month

I'm a few months now into my routine of a monthly private session with my teacher. It sort of feels already like an indispensable yoga must-have, but it also feels like early days in something new, something that I am/we are feeling our way into. What do I want from this opportunity? Help with figuring out... Continue Reading →

May 14, 2017 1

Hotel yoga

Hubby and I are away for a few days' holiday by the sea as a birthday treat. OK, April in UK isn't exactly beach weather, but we've been enjoying some lovely sunshine, a lot of ozone, and the most wonderful sea view from our balcony. Hotels are fun as a temporary home offering all sorts... Continue Reading →