Contented locusts at home

Class vs home? Today my continued cold made the decision for me. Trekking across town was several steps too far for me today -- especially in the rain! So home won out -- and happily. I had a fascinating practice. Lots of deep listening to my body in a way I don't/can't usually in class.... Continue Reading →

January 10, 2016 3

Facing the cobra — together

So finally (I wrote about this nearly a month ago!) Hubby and I looked together at his Bhujangāsana at his request. A big vote of confidence from him, given that all backbends scare him a lot, even tiny baby cobra ones. It turns out he was confused by his teacher's cue to imagine that there's... Continue Reading →

December 19, 2015 3

Sprezzatura yoga

Sprezzatura is a beautiful-sounding word coined in the sixteenth century to define the ideals of courtly behaviour in Renaissance Italy. It originally meant "a certain nonchalance, so as to conceal all art and make whatever one does or says appear to be without effort and almost without any thought about it". I think my yoga teacher displays... Continue Reading →

November 24, 2015 3

Trust me! Trust me?

Hubby asked me the other day if I'd help him work on his Cobra (Bhujaṅgāsana). We've yet to do this, but even the request has blown me away. He has a couple nerve issues at the moment and triggers pain really easily. For this reason I'm always wary of helping him with his practice and... Continue Reading →

November 22, 2015 2

It’s not about me, it’s all about him

I got home from work yesterday and Hubby decided he'd like me to lead him through a yoga practice at home. No prep time, let's just do it! All things considered I think it went rather well! I've never tried to teach a vinyasa practice before (I've barely tried to teach anything before!) but I... Continue Reading →

September 8, 2015 1

Cleaning, sharing, and still smiling

Up early. Time for cleaning: hot shower, hot water and lemon to drink, floor to sweep. My friend comes over for yoga. Can I guide her in practice? I somehow do, though the words come out wrong and I don't know how to read another's body. Am I teaching or are we just practicing together? I... Continue Reading →

August 31, 2015 2

What am I really hearing?

I recently read the expression 'a teacher's teacher' and I've been wondering what this means. And who it's meant to appeal to. Teachers presumably. So that they feel they're somewhere on the yoga teacher hierarchy (even non-judgemental yogis presumably have a sense of hierarchy) and are getting some superior level of teaching? I can only... Continue Reading →

August 13, 2015 1

Respect for my mum’s yoga teacher

Yoga teachers are amazing people. I've practised consistently with less than a handful of teachers in the almost two years that I've been practising. OK two years is not a long time, but I am ultra-picky about who I would put my trust in and offer my respect to. And I do have experience of teaching... Continue Reading →

June 29, 2015 2

Sharing my practice: yoga with a friend

Two mats are better than one! A good friend of mine is becoming increasingly interested in yoga -- probably because it features in almost every conversation we have despite my best intentions not to inflict yoga on all those around me. She should stop asking me what I'm doing at the weekend/evening/lunchtime... It always involves something yoga-related. She's... Continue Reading →