Begin again

Back when I met with my teacher regularly, I used to enjoy telling him what I was working on in my practice, what was interesting me, what I perceived as the challenge to address, how it evolved over the months until it turned into something different. The sharing of it was a key part of... Continue Reading →

January 18, 2025 1

Groovy chanting

In my online Veda class recently we fell into a group discussion about the challenges of sending our chant recordings to the teacher, the vulnerability of being obviously sh*t at something and doing it anyway, the importance of feedback for correction as well as encouragement, the joy of being seen (or heard) especially in these... Continue Reading →

March 12, 2024 3

Bad weather

There’s no such thing as bad weather, as the saying goes -- provided you have the right clothing. I’m thinking of this now very literally as the weather in my little corner of the world has got quite suddenly much colder. Out comes my winter-weight parka with the ridiculously furry hood, my favourite mittens --... Continue Reading →

December 1, 2023 2

Dabbling

I'm dabbling a little in Vedic chanting right now. I'm not fully committed, just dabbling. Like a duck or a duckling, just very unlike a baby crow 🙂 I am drawn to the simplicity of this form, just as my mother was in a previous life drawn to plainchant. These limited tones carry an infinity... Continue Reading →

March 24, 2023 1

30 day yoga challenge

One of the studios where I teach has just run a 30 day challenge. I found it really hard. Not because I participated myself but because I kept getting drawn into conversations I didn't want to have about it with the students. The judgmental part of my brain just wanted to laugh out loud at... Continue Reading →

February 23, 2023 0

Vacanam Madhuram

When I take yoga class at home I use earbuds, so only I can hear what’s going on. Hubby got fed up with having to endure an hour at at time of a yoga teacher’s instructions. He’s not keen on yoga teachers — despite living with one! 🙂 I can see why it might be... Continue Reading →

July 4, 2020 1

Siva and the mind-readers

My husband does this hand gesture: palms pressing together then opened out, like the pages of a book. He uses it to signal to me I don't need to tell him anything more: he knows exactly what I'm thinking. Darn, he's usually right. He knows me so well. Although I love him and happily share... Continue Reading →

November 21, 2019 1

Knotty thoughts

I tied my first mala recently. I was feeling fragile. I didn't want to move, but I also didn't want to sit silently with my thoughts. What could I do to soothe myself? Somehow making a mala seemed like a good answer. Yoga practice is weird that way. Unexpected answers to questions I never used... Continue Reading →

October 13, 2019 2

Rupture and continuity

One of my best friends nearly died recently. A ruptured appendix, a bungled diagnosis and delayed surgery. I've been visiting her in hospital, feeling helpless in the face of drips, oxygen, and the indignity of surgical gowns. She was weak and confused. I'm not sure she remembered if I'd been with her or not; she... Continue Reading →

May 16, 2019 0

Thoughts and blessings

What does it mean to hold someone in your thoughts? I wrote a condolence card to a friend recently, a Christian friend, and I offered some words like this. I couldn't say I was praying for her in her distress and grief since that's not part of my practice but I am holding her in... Continue Reading →