I asked, they told

I sent out a little survey to my workplace yogis recently, asking them for feedback on my teaching and anything more they'd like me to offer -- suggesting possibilities of some longer classes, one to ones, or workshops on particular themes.... I got an overwhelming response. About three quarters were 'yes' or 'maybe' for wanting... Continue Reading →

February 21, 2018 2

Safe space

I remember early days of yoga class when I felt really intimidated simply by being in the room and I would sit anxiously waiting for class to start, fidgeting mindlessly and half-considering doing a runner to the pub while there was still time to get out. (Nowadays I admit I still often feel this anxiety... Continue Reading →

February 7, 2018 5

Trust up and down the line

A yoga friend recently told me that whenever she had a ‘good practice’ in class she always made sure to tell the teacher what a great class it was; if she didn’t have this experience she simply said a brief thank you as she left. Wow, really? I observed that, while I take care to... Continue Reading →

February 1, 2018 3

Rock and roll

I finished my lunchtime class today with my usual closing words and a namaste. There was total silence and stillness through the room. No-one moved. There wasn’t the usual instant stampede when half the room leap up and rush out, due at their afternoon meetings I assume — or desperately hungry after lunchtime yoga class!... Continue Reading →

January 24, 2018 1

Getting serious

I was talking with an experienced teacher recently about to how to keep yoga class (vinyasa specifically) safe. His pointers were really interesting. I was expecting loads of alignment stuff and the need to draw boundaries between being a yoga teacher and being a doctor/physio. But this wasn't it. Sure, he talked some about the... Continue Reading →

January 17, 2018 3

New year, old me

So inexorably the year has turned. On social media I see others partying, recovering, and setting intentions for the next 12 months. I've managed the first two of these to some degree, but I don't feel at all ready to look forward yet. There still seems so much unresolved from the previous year. So many... Continue Reading →

January 3, 2018 7

A little bit Christmassy

This week my yoga boss offered me a bag of Santa hats in case I wanted to give them out during the last class of the year... ...I didn't! But I did offer my class a festive treat my own way -- I taught them to chant lokah samastah sukhino bhavantu, with some of my... Continue Reading →

December 23, 2017 3

Crowdpleaser

My teacher wonders if he's wasting my time in the monthly private we have. I wonder if he is trying to tell me I'm wasting his time... I'm slow to move, low in confidence, lacking the perspective to sift through my confusions. Perhaps I'm missing the point in yoga? I feel mired in all the... Continue Reading →

December 16, 2017 4

Practising for life

It's not often that someone tells me repeatedly that I'm amazing, doing everything right, and they wish more people they encountered were like me! But this was the message I got yesterday -- and from a psychiatrist of all people. I was referred to him by my GP for the difficulty I've been having sleeping.... Continue Reading →

December 6, 2017 4

Not quite half a decade

Last month my local yoga studio sent me a sweet email acknowledging our anniversary! Apparently I've been going to class there for four years now. This is only a little less than the total length of time I've been practising. One of the teachers then messaged me with the breakdown of my 'stats' -- how... Continue Reading →