What gives?

A friend of mine asked me recently how my classes are going. I didn't know what to say -- they just are. I show up and do my best, my students show up and do their best. It's all good. I find (slightly contrary to expectations, so it must be true!!) that I really love... Continue Reading →

November 22, 2017 2

Small transformations

I heard a teacher say recently that the term ‘authentic’ is used so often it makes you think the opposite. I have that feeling about ‘transformative’ also. I kind of groan inwardly each time I come across it, or hear myself about to say it. But it does seem that way, yoga really does seem... Continue Reading →

November 6, 2017 4

Complimentary yoga

“So pretty” is not a phrase I hear often when I’m in class. My teacher is very sparse with anything that might sound like a compliment. He’s big on no judgment, no expectation: everything is simply along a spectrum of experience, where we practise non-attachment to any particular outcome. It’s strong yoga medicine: ultimately good... Continue Reading →

November 2, 2017 3

Teach, learn, teach, learn

A big, beautiful, affirming week in the yoga aspects of my life. Around the office job, I taught three times this week, which is more than usual, with a full range of activities — a mixed class of 15 or so at work, a semi-private with two pretty experienced girls, and a private with a... Continue Reading →

October 28, 2017 1

Um, OM

Now that I’m teaching yoga in a gym setting, there are all sorts of questions I ask myself about my own practice, my teaching, and about what yoga is — or what I might reasonably assume a regular office worker wants it to be in their mid-week lunch break. Interesting questions, for which I don’t... Continue Reading →

October 19, 2017 3

First and Last

One first time and one last time today — and I’m pretty happy with both. Maybe I’m getting the hang of this non-perfectionism thing. Or maybe the doubting voices in my head haven’t woken up yet! Whatever... So it was the first time teaching in my workplace gym. A lunchtime session which is now mine... Continue Reading →

October 11, 2017 2

Shift it

I’ve had some amazing moments with my students this week. A bit of Sanskrit punning after class from one, some good questions from another who is usually very self-contained (with a good line in sceptical faces!), and the one is who usually very physically cautious and always takes the lighter options was asking about how... Continue Reading →

October 8, 2017 2

Time flies

So I’ve been teaching around a year now. Time flies when you’re: having fun helping people sharing what you’re learning amazing yourself by how much you know (yes, I do this sometimes!) Time also flies when you’re: beating yourself up about about how little you know asking yourself whether you have your s**t together enough... Continue Reading →

September 26, 2017 3

What goes around, comes around

When I was a doctoral student, I heard someone's supervisor say that they were deliberately tough with their students because that's how it'd been for them when they were a postgrad themselves. It's the idea of what goes around, comes around -- but in a very negative way. Do unto others as has been done... Continue Reading →

September 16, 2017 1

Sore throat, big leap

I've had a sore throat for weeks now. It started when I was on holiday in Canada and has persisted. The accompanying cold disappeared weeks ago, but I'm still croaky. "It's psychosomatic" one of my yogi friends told me rather brusquely. Yogis can be so annoying right?! My teacher joked (I think it was a... Continue Reading →