Sitting and standing

"Don't teach if you're tired or not feeling well" my teacher advised us during TT. I'm sure this is overall good advice, but a little hard to put into practice in the real world. Especially for me. I'd got a good early night, definitely not feeling well. Just low-level stuff. It could be a cold... Continue Reading →

October 13, 2016 9

Waking up at sunset

Hubby's got himself a new osteopath and a new diagnosis for his back pain. It all sounds like progress to me. I like the sound of his osteo -- and not just because his description of our yoga together recently got her thumbs up!! So now he's accommodating to a new way of perceiving his body and... Continue Reading →

August 25, 2016 2

Teaching energy

Again a quick word from my TT whirlwind, to capture a moment, although I am too tired for careful words. Stay with me, my beloved readers. My mother in law brought tears to my eyes over dinner the other night. No, not in the way you might think -- it wasn't any criticism of my cooking, or... Continue Reading →

August 11, 2016 6

Getting comfortable

I really enjoyed the restorative yoga class last night. I'm getting more used to letting go, 'inviting the pose' as the teacher puts it, rather than trying to get somewhere -- or indeed fervently wishing I was somewhere else entirely! Maintaining concentration is still really hard, but I'm more conscious of physical sensations and unnecessary tensing... Continue Reading →

July 23, 2016 1

The colour of judgement

I am picking up a minor theme of class recently where the teacher reminds us to observe without judgement. Since I came to yoga āsana from mindfulness practices, this notion isn't a new one to me and I often like to think that I'm getting pretty good at it, that I'm pretty aware of the... Continue Reading →

June 27, 2016 3

More joy, less effort

A coincidence of reading a (highly controversial!) research paper about the personality type most often associated with ME/CFS and the associated habitual swinging pattern of activity levels (overdo it then need to rest, then get bored/frustrated so overdo it again...) plus advice from my teacher on handling my current emotional reactions to backbends (even out the... Continue Reading →

May 8, 2016 2

Alive today

I don't think I've ever opened my eyes in śavāsana before. I did today. I suddenly realised I was looking at the ceiling and the dimmed lights above me. A weird out of body experience where I was acutely aware of my body lying there, vulnerable and open, melting into the mat, taking up the space... Continue Reading →

April 17, 2016 0

Sleeping my way to enlightenment

Physical practice this week has been a bit of a bust. I accompanied Hubby to a Hot Power class at the weekend, because he wanted company. But the teacher came and asked me if I was OK during the class and again after the class because I spent so much time lying down! It made... Continue Reading →

April 14, 2016 5

My new normal

I feel so good most days now (recent bouts of flu aside) that I often persuade myself I'm fully well. I so want to be fully well. I'm done with having a half life. I find myself at a transition point, a no-man's land between well and unwell. Symptoms are reduced, energy is higher. My doctor has... Continue Reading →

March 16, 2016 8

Yoga + stress = practicing patience

GP appointments on the NHS are standardly 10 minutes. What can you do in 10 minutes? A lot as it turns out -- if you're experienced and have good rapport with your patient. I was back with my GP yesterday as a follow-up to my original appointment to talk about workplace stress (blogpost: does yoga... Continue Reading →