Stretching into space

My teacher seems to talk to me differently now that I've done TT with him. As just a regular student he was oh-so-careful not to bring any expectations to our conversations. I can appreciate why, even if sometimes it felt a little strained. So I was highly amused by his more genuine response to what... Continue Reading →

October 19, 2016 4

One month on

It's nearly a month since teacher training ended. Coincidentally (we aren't so needy that we scheduled a one-month anniversary party!) I ended up socialising recently with most of the other graduates. It was interesting hearing snippets of what everyone is up to with their yoga. Of course the emphasis was on where they were with teaching.... Continue Reading →

September 10, 2016 4

Sweet yoga at home

Hubby offered to guide me through practice the other day. He could see that I was struggling with fatigue, physical and mental, and that I was finding it difficult to find the energy or inspiration to practise on my own. I received his generous and loving offering rather ungraciously I'll admit! I'd like to say... Continue Reading →

September 2, 2016 2

Looking back and looking forward

Permit me a self-indulgent post (it is my blog after all!). I've been recalling a few silly or strange moments from TT that I wanted to remember for myself. Perhaps you'll enjoy them too: That I featured in a one of the other student teacher's dreams: we were swimming in the river so I could teach her Sanskrit (apparently swimming would... Continue Reading →

August 31, 2016 3

Graduation day!

I didn't know whether I should go for a traditional foot-kissing routine with my teacher... It would have best shown how I felt. But he's so not the guru type (fortunately 🙂 ). So instead I followed the protocol of a quick cheek press as I received my TT certificate yesterday. I always thought TT would... Continue Reading →

August 14, 2016 4

Finding the silence

When I first learned meditation it was in a community centre. We sat in the gym and tried to filter out the loud noises from the kitchen on the other side of the wall. People often laughed at the perceived impossibility, but it was actually a great way to learn focus and means now that... Continue Reading →

July 27, 2016 1

Gaining the upper hand

Some of my fellow trainee teachers have arranged to meet up today for some practice together. I'm feeling a little FOMO. Only a little -- I've never been a tribal kind of person, so I'm pretty happy walking my own path. But the path feels a little cluttered just now, as I try to negotiate a balance between teaching... Continue Reading →

July 9, 2016 4

Podcast Practice

People often recommend particular online classes or youtube videos to me -- well-meaning suggestions for my home practice. Although I know these sorts of resources are very popular I've never used them. How is it even possible to practice while watching a screen? Anyway I find the value of home practice is in having to... Continue Reading →

June 29, 2016 1

Wants and needs

I want to be in class right now, to be listening to what my teacher is sharing today, to be sweating along with my yoga crew, synchronising my breath and my movements with them in an expression of belonging and togetherness. But wants and needs aren't the same thing. And for more than one reason... Continue Reading →

May 31, 2016 2

Terrible yoga, amazing yoga

"That was a terrible, terrible, terrible class" I told my teacher as I sat in his office afterwards trying to stop the tears running down my face, waiting for my heart to stop thumping, and slowly allowing the tremors of emotion to ease and resolve into something of a smile. He took it well, concentrating on... Continue Reading →