Past life

I took a bit of a trip down memory lane this week. In my past life I was an archaeologist and my old field director was in town for just a few hours giving a seminar in the university. Nearly 20 years ago I was an enthusiastic grad student and he was an up-and-coming lecturer,... Continue Reading →

January 23, 2018 2

Practising for life

It's not often that someone tells me repeatedly that I'm amazing, doing everything right, and they wish more people they encountered were like me! But this was the message I got yesterday -- and from a psychiatrist of all people. I was referred to him by my GP for the difficulty I've been having sleeping.... Continue Reading →

December 6, 2017 4

Calling Ganesha

A yogi friend of mine’s just been found by Ganesha. She’s been seeing him everywhere recently, she says, to the point where she bought a murti for her home. And she’s started a mantra practice multiple times a day. We chanted together recently: 108 times oṃ gaṃ gaṇapataye namaḥ. I don’t usually repeat a mantra... Continue Reading →

October 21, 2017 4

Irritations in outer-space

On my way to class this morning (some yoga multi-tasking!) I listened to the recent YogaLand podcast with Kino MacGregor. She's not someone I come across very often, which I'm sure makes me quite exceptional, given how visible she is in some channels. But I'm not a big fan of either IG or YouTube. She... Continue Reading →

August 27, 2017 2

Coming home

It's funny being back at my home studio after holidays. It's a nice 'homecoming' to be with my regular teacher again, in a familiar space, and catching up with yogi friends. But the pause, the distance, changes everything. For a while at least. I'm seeing things afresh. I'm more aware of old habits as I... Continue Reading →

August 11, 2017 3

Yoga training

I'm sitting my favourite way on the train -- facing backwards. I like to watch the landscape unfold in front of my eyes rather than seeking it out, craning forwards. It's like what one of my teachers says about receiving an asana rather than grasping for it. If there's a yoga of train journeys this... Continue Reading →

July 22, 2017 3

The luck of yoga class

A busy class means you have much less say in picking your mat neighbours. I was 50% lucky. The guy on one side was someone whose practice I marvel at and I love his internal-ness during practice. He's just solid and it helps me feel grounded and more sure of myself. Great! But 50% lucky... Continue Reading →

April 18, 2017 1

Blogging and practicing yoga — more similar than you think

My domain renewal came round today reminding me that it's been about a year since I set up my blog. In my little life this is quite a big deal! So I'm celebrating what this means to me. Blogging would be nothing but an online journal if it were not for you reading. Nothing wrong... Continue Reading →

January 6, 2016 4

What does it mean to ‘feel connected’ in yoga?

I'm working at home today. I consider this a huge privilege. It's a sign of trust from my boss and a vote of confidence from me in my team who are slogging it out in an open plan office while I'm tucked up at home. Although we're all working for the same overall ends on... Continue Reading →