Sorrier namaskar

"Inhale hands to prayer. Make it real" My teacher knows I'm nervous, gives me a breath to settle myself here before I 'show him' my Surya Namaskar A. I know it's not, but it feels like a test. He's standing just on the edge of my field of vision, a safe distance away, an unnerving... Continue Reading →

July 5, 2018 2

Handle with care

One of my teachers thanked me recently for wearing my hair in a beautiful braid -- doing this just for her, she said. She then used my braid to coax me into better alignment, tugging at it gently to guide me. I actually didn't mind this. She has such a light and loving touch, I... Continue Reading →

June 21, 2018 0

Once good, twice even better

So I just gave my Second Ever Yoga Workshop today. I'm feeling super-proud and a teeny bit accomplished! But I'm keeping things really modest, baby steps and all. The groups were really small, a handful of students each time, and the second workshop was essentially a repeat of the first for those missed it. Repetition... Continue Reading →

June 16, 2018 2

Holding space

Holding space. It's an expression that pops up a lot in yoga, as perhaps in more directly therapeutic work. I guess the idea is about creating a safe container for someone, to allow them to have their time and space. The teacher's role is to provide the context for the examination but not the answers.... Continue Reading →

June 14, 2018 4

Resources at my feet

Hubby practised the other day with the door open. His choice, but he clearly felt self-conscious knowing I was around. I could hear him humming his 'baby elephant' song to himself with each transition in his standing sequence. I asked him about it afterwards. "I just felt so clunky and unco-ordinated", he told me. I... Continue Reading →

June 8, 2018 2

QED

I walked in on coffee-time conversation at work this week, with colleagues discussing how they hated the fact that the gym instructors don’t actually do the class themselves. The point was that they just didn’t believe some things were possible. The teacher screams at them to do another set of reps, to go deeper, push... Continue Reading →

June 3, 2018 2

Observation

It seems to be all about observation at the moment. Trying to see (or feel) with more clarity and dispassion. Less drama, less judgment. I've been trying to prep for a private with my teacher, which is always a time for reflection and evaluation, but I'm trying hard within this work not to find myself... Continue Reading →

May 28, 2018 7

Pretzel time

Limiting beliefs are wonderful things to have! Aren't they? They keep one's expectations nicely contained, prevent you aiming so high you set up for an embarrassing fail, and just keep everything safely within reach. I'm not known as a shirker among my friends, family and work colleagues: I have the reputation for being hard working,... Continue Reading →

April 28, 2018 2

Singing, not singing

I used to love singing as a child. As a small child that is. I used to happily hum away to myself in the back of the car, so much so that if I was quiet my parents tell me they had to turn to look to make sure I was still there! When I... Continue Reading →

March 26, 2018 2

Yoga in the hood

Watching the news last night I learned that the Greek for 'mafia' is 'mafia' and drugs are 'narkotika'. Both words featured in an item about drug taking and gang violence in a nearby neighbourhood. The same neighbourhood that friends recently warned me about, as a foreigner. Also the neighbourhood where the nearest yoga studio is!... Continue Reading →