Darshana in the Arctic Circle

I think my handstand coach must have some advanced degree in psychology, he reads me so well. His latest drill for me is what we came to call ‘enjoying the view’. A kick up to the wall, time here simply feeling the wonder of my body upside-down, knowing my alignment is good and my body... Continue Reading →

July 18, 2023 1

Managing better

In my earlier yoga days I was a more prolific blogger than now. All the experiences were so vivid and so new, I struggled to make sense of them. Writing as a process of reflection seemed to help. Also the little blog community that included me in their circle was a wonderful support with a... Continue Reading →

July 1, 2023 2

Dying a little

I think a little about dying these days. I’m sure I’m not the only one. I think about my own death, how I would prepare if I knew it was imminent; I even dare to think about the deaths of my loved ones, wondering how I might ready myself for the inescapable pain I will... Continue Reading →

May 29, 2020 2

Ineffable

I'm reeling. Not just wobbly from physical fatigue as muscles I didn't know I had assert themselves with increasing soreness. I'm also reeling mentally from so many new ideas and possibilities... I'm just back from a weekend of workshops which involved some of the most physically intense asana and pranayama practice I've ever attempted, some... Continue Reading →

January 29, 2018 2

Dying for some rest

I've been thinking a little about Śavāsana recently, doing a tiny writing assignment for my teachers. In the nice way of coincidences this weekend I also fell into talking with Hubby about introducing a more restorative aspect into his practice. As he's becoming more free of chronic pain I see him getting onto a bit... Continue Reading →

November 26, 2017 1

Enough already!

"Enough already!" It depends how you say it. It's either a slightly tetchy way of telling someone to stop doing something or it's a kind acknowledgement of the sufficiency in all things. I'm flip-flopping back and forth at the moment with both ways of talking to myself. I am having serious 'enough' issues, feeling never... Continue Reading →

April 28, 2017 2

Corpsing in class

At the beginning of teacher training we were asked what our favourite and least favourite yoga pose was. As my least favourite I settled on Tāḍāsana. Though it was a close call between that and Śavāsana. No-one else seemed to get the difficulty I had here; these are simple poses right? Huh, well not so... Continue Reading →

July 15, 2016 2

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

Now I’m a pro (just kidding!)

So now that I've spent a whole two hours teaching my friend yoga during these past two weeks, I'm practically a professional! Oh yeah! 🙂 Seriously, this teaching thing is hard, and mixing it with a friendship brings its own challenges. As well as making some parts of it much easier, I guess. So here's a... Continue Reading →

April 28, 2016 0

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 →