Taking Hubby to yoga class

I think Hubby's yoga is awesome. He has some pretty uncomfortable physical conditions to work with, and he does so with such equanimity and acceptance that I sometimes slip into thinking that he's totally happy with the way his practice is. Really I know that's not true, but he deals with his limitations so consistently.... Continue Reading →

August 7, 2015 1

Metronomes and breathing in yoga asana

My teacher often says that yoga is just about breathing and that asanas are just an extension of this. It’s one of those things I hear, but my brain can’t quite compute. Intellectually I think I get it, but experientially not so much. I mean I know that pranayama is one of the eight limbs... Continue Reading →

July 12, 2015 8

Letting go of expectations in yoga asana

It started when the yoga teacher said she was 'managing expectations' when she told students who hadn't pre-booked the class that they were unlikely to get a place in class. For my part, I came to class full of expectations. And I didn’t manage them all that well. I expected my hamstring to be tricky to... Continue Reading →

June 1, 2015 0

Time out with Patanjali

Happy monthi-versary to me -- it's now just over a month since I started back attending yoga classes after a few months off with injury. I just realised this and can hardly believe it's been so little time. A real case of time flying. It made me think that I should pause, take stock of the... Continue Reading →

May 20, 2015 4

Where I part company from my physio – hopefully for some time!

I didn’t sleep much last night. My mind was running round and round in circles (like a dog chasing it's tail -- you got it!). It wasn’t bad. I mean I wasn’t churning anxieties over or replaying conversations with what-ifs or thinking up belated clever ripostes. I was just too excited plain and simple. I... Continue Reading →

April 8, 2015 4

Me, Jung, and Patanjali on personalities

In my working life I was once unfortunate enough to have been given a personality test, the Myers Briggs test. It used to be quite fashionable I think. I came out as INTJ which is apparently a pretty rare personality type (nothing in it about smugness -- but I feel weirdly proud to be such... Continue Reading →

April 1, 2015 1

The yoga of airports? Not so much!

I'm writing this stuck at the airport trying to get home after my conference. The weather is bad so I'm delayed. But at least we seem to have a flight time. And if it sticks to that new schedule I will not quite be home before the end of today, but not too far off... Continue Reading →

March 31, 2015 3

In and out of the comfort zone

It's often said that Patanjali has little to offer on asana practice. Even so, I reckon that sthira sukham asanam (YS 2.46 "asana should be stable and comfortable") is one of the better known sutras. But I confess Patanjali's advice here has always just seemed something that might possibly apply to other people, but definitely not to me.... Continue Reading →

March 23, 2015 4

Silence is the language of God

“Silence is the language of God. All else is poor translation.” Rumi A while ago I wrote a first little something about the ineffable quality of the divine wondering what I might do with the notion of union with the divine in my own yoga practice. This is uncomfortable territory for me: I was brought up in a god-less... Continue Reading →

March 15, 2015 5

The state of the union

Eternal God (for whom who ever dare Seek new expressions, do the circle square, And thrust into strait corners of poor wit Thee, who art cornerless and infinite), I would but bless thy name, not name thee now; And thy gifts are as infinite as thou Upon the Translation of the Psalms by Sir Philip... Continue Reading →