Feel the joy!

I remember a picture I loved, that really inspired me. I told my teacher about it when I was studying backbends with him. It was a beautiful image of a girl doing urdhva hastasana. An outdoor setting, she had loose hair pulling free in the breeze, there was glowing sunshine and her posture was one... Continue Reading →

April 2, 2025 0

A Narrative of Ease

I was messaging a teacher recently about her upcoming classes and workshops as I tried to decide which to attend: should I make a weekend of it, involving intercity travel, and overnight accommodation for a two day teachers course which would be very worthy and useful? Or should I just pop to London for a... Continue Reading →

October 5, 2023 0

The smell of anonymity

In that way of coincidences several people have talked to me recently about the phenomenon of ASMR, the phenomenon of noises evoking particular responses individuals. I think this can get weird quite quickly, but at a simple level it's a familiar idea that certain sounds or smells can take us to another time or place,... Continue Reading →

February 1, 2020 5

All too human

Recently I spent the day in London with an old friend from way, way back. I was interested to go to the All Too Human exhibition at the Tate. It seemed to me a rather eclectic collection of paintings (plus a few photos) from various artists which "celebrates the painters in Britain who strove to... Continue Reading →

August 23, 2018 1

Inversions at SOAS

Yesterday my kind and understanding boss let me leave the office a little early to get down to London to SOAS (the School of African and Oriental Studies) for the launch of their Yoga Studies Centre and their new online journal. I went mainly because there were talks being given by James Mallinson and Mark... Continue Reading →

May 9, 2018 6

Ineffable

I'm reeling. Not just wobbly from physical fatigue as muscles I didn't know I had assert themselves with increasing soreness. I'm also reeling mentally from so many new ideas and possibilities... I'm just back from a weekend of workshops which involved some of the most physically intense asana and pranayama practice I've ever attempted, some... Continue Reading →

January 29, 2018 2

Seeing me

A man on the tube platform asked if I was ok and lightly touched my arm in reassurance as he let me be and continued on his way. At the mainline station the vendor gave me my hot chocolate for free. I clearly look a bit of a mess. But I don't mind so much... Continue Reading →

January 14, 2018 3

And music sets me free

Some time ago now my teacher -- who doesn't demo much in class -- came and took side angle alongside me, exaggerating his breathing so it was audible to me; I matched my breath to his and all of a sudden he'd exhaled the front hand right down onto the ground, although mine usually mine stays in a... Continue Reading →

March 14, 2017 2

Country mouse yogini

I committed the ultimate London yoga studio faux pas -- I spoke to people in the changing room!! I had had a great class. ...Well apart from two name calls from the teacher during class which I found slightly embarrassing -- being asked to translate Sanskrit after the opening chanting (of course not a chant I... Continue Reading →

March 10, 2017 4

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 →