Telling stories. Telling stories. RE-telling stories I was formally trained to study the past. I used to be an archaeologist. My academic training taught me that there's usually more than one interpretation of the evidence and if you follow the more radical post-modern theories the past is unknowable and all interpretations become equally valid... Death... Continue Reading →
Moments of disbelief
My class laughed when I said I was going to miss them while I'm away for a few weeks. They often laugh incredulously at the things I say. They don't believe that I will actually miss them, just as they don't believe that teaching times are my favourite times of the working week, that I... Continue Reading →
Behind the words
I've been writing some thank yous this past week. Offering a few words to my TT teachers. Better late than never maybe, since TT was some weeks ago. But honestly I can't begin to capture what they offered and the new avenues they variously opened up for me. I certainly can't express the gratitude I have for their efforts... Continue Reading →
Teaching truths
My boss has been super-supportive since I finally fessed up to him that I'd completed yoga teacher training this summer. I'm on a bit of a satya (truth) jag at the moment. My habit is to keep my counsel, cards close to the chest, cautious testing of the waters. Now I'm trying to trust a... Continue Reading →
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 →
Sitting with authenticity
I'm just back from a professional development course on authenticity. I loved that the course ended with the choice of staying on for networking and conversation -- or for the self-confessed introverts to leave and 'find a dark corner' in which to reflect. So clearly I've done the latter. I'm tucked up at home at... Continue Reading →
Beware yoga sheep — baaa!
I intended to go to yoga class this morning. Hubby was off to the hairdresser so I had the morning to myself. Perfect for sneaking in an extra class, I thought. I don't usually practice on a Saturday. Not for me an aṣtanga thing, that's not my style -- just an acknowledgement that Saturday needs... Continue Reading →
Walk slowly
You know those times of coincidence, when the universe seems to offer you every chance at receiving a message -- it's offered to you in several forms and you somehow keep turning a blind eye to it? I've had so many messages to practice patience lovingly thrown across my path this week. The messengers have come... Continue Reading →
Compassion for the skeletons in the closet
Compassion is a topic I keep coming across in blogs at the moment (picking up the idea of serendipity from my own blog recently!). Yogis often talk about cultivating compassion towards others, but receiving compassion is also an art that's worth practicing. I read a great post recently about handling compassion, how to confront one's vulnerability and... Continue Reading →
Being upfront or staying at the back — where is my place in class?
A friend was recently telling me about a novel she read where the protagonist's inner self appeared as a character, a literary device to explore how hard we are on ourselves and dramatise the effect our self-criticism has by making it visible to the character in the book. We agreed that we often say things to... Continue Reading →