At the heart of the mountain

“So, does anyone have any questions?” the teacher turned her face to look around the room, deliberately taking everyone in, no-one excluded. That’s her way. There was a silence. Perhaps the other students were as blown away as I was. We were on the last day of a week’s retreat, with 4 hours of yoga... Continue Reading →

May 24, 2025 2

Summer visit

One of my teachers visited me over the summer. It was a bit unexpected, in the middle of a very busy week, but I made time. I wanted to spend time with her. She is good for me. I can feel how my system relaxes in her presence. I down regulate. I’m sure I can... Continue Reading →

November 4, 2024 2

Month by month

In my current teaching I’m offering a monthly workshop at the gym where I teach. The manager is stretching the budget to pay for an ‘extra’ and something which is unlike anything else they offer. I love doing this. It is a privilege. Each month I relish the challenge : how will I choose a... Continue Reading →

August 10, 2024 6

Let go

I’ve been ‘let go’ from one of the places I teach. After the reduced summertime schedule of classes they decided not to continue mine. The numbers were never great so from a business perspective it totally makes sense. It’s not as though yoga studios anywhere are finding it easy right now. Closures are still happening,... Continue Reading →

September 23, 2023 4

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

Mindful teaching

I'm part way through teaching a short course on mindfulness to a small group of students. It's my first time teaching a sustained course over two months and my first time teaching mindfulness. I was not at all sure it would work, that I could do it, or what the students would bring to it... Continue Reading →

May 28, 2022 2

Asking for it

When I finished teacher training I asked the studio if I could teach for them. I didn't get a reply which I interpreted as you might expect. Fair enough. The last message I remember us getting as little trainees was that we were 'babies who knew nothing'. Not quite the graduation pep talk I was... Continue Reading →

April 15, 2022 4

Timelessness — as always

I told my teacher recently about a photo I saw of a girl in urdhva hastasana. Not a pose I've really thought about much, until recently. Now it's come up as part of a self-project of settling more deeply into my surya namaskar. I have the idea of elevating it beyond the physical exertion of... Continue Reading →

March 18, 2022 5

Idling by the river

I sat a long while by the river today. The sun came and went, the sky was stacked with puffy white clouds. Birds appeared according to their individual habits. A kingfisher flew low and long over the water. A prehistoric-looking heron stalked its lunch. Half a dozen ducks came whirling in from somewhere and landed... Continue Reading →

September 27, 2021 1

You are your own best teacher

"You are your own best teacher." How many times have my teachers told me this? I get what they mean -- but I've been taking a bit more literally lately. I just did my first ever video recordings for my students, to help those who can't make my regular class times. And of course the... Continue Reading →