It seems to be a story of farewells at the moment. A succession of changes, none of which feel like a change for better, only a termination of something I valued or a relationship I cared for. One of my team at work, one of my own hires so particularly dear to my heart, recently... Continue Reading →
Days worth celebrating
The days are busy. Sometimes it feels like crazy busy. But actually they're joyfully busy. It was my birthday last week and that's always a time for me to pause and take notice of how things are and the people I have in my life. It all feels very precious right now with much to... Continue Reading →
What’s it worth?
I was listening to a couple of really established international-circuit teachers talking recently on a podcast about how when they started out they offered their teaching for free, then asked for a minimal contribution from students, until they were ultimately kind of pressured into asking a proper fee. It sounds very noble. But I get... Continue Reading →
Snow-ga
I once heard someone say you should never take up yoga if you like a good personal drama, if you're attached to making your life more exciting than it perhaps needs to be, if you actually enjoy getting a bit high on the everyday stresses. I think you'll know what I mean. I can fall... Continue Reading →
Weird wonderful Wednesday
Wednesdays are weird days for me. It's the one day of the week when I work a half day in the office and then the afternoon is mine. Or Yoga's! 🙂 It's the time when I usually teach, and I also have time to work on some yoga-related writing assignments and maybe a bit of... Continue Reading →
Stretching into space
My teacher seems to talk to me differently now that I've done TT with him. As just a regular student he was oh-so-careful not to bring any expectations to our conversations. I can appreciate why, even if sometimes it felt a little strained. So I was highly amused by his more genuine response to what... Continue Reading →
New nest
I've just moved into a new office at work. Still sharing -- and in a slightly cosier-sized room than previously, but the environment overall is much more babycrow-friendly, so this is very OK. For a start I've swapped a slightly uninspiring rooftop view for a beautiful tree view. And if you look closely you'll see there's even... Continue Reading →
Yoga + stress = practicing patience
GP appointments on the NHS are standardly 10 minutes. What can you do in 10 minutes? A lot as it turns out -- if you're experienced and have good rapport with your patient. I was back with my GP yesterday as a follow-up to my original appointment to talk about workplace stress (blogpost: does yoga... Continue Reading →
Does yoga help with stress?
"How come you're stressed? You do so much yoga". I've just been signed off work for a week for stress and my friend clearly found this slightly paradoxical, even a little amusing which is the prerogative of old friends! I don't think she was being massively critical, but like a lot of us (yogis and... Continue Reading →
Smiles and kindnesses
Today has been a series of small kindnesses by those in my life and those passing fleetingly across it. Outside the yoga studio I heard a really exuberant "Good morning!" and belatedly realised it was directed at me. So this friendly stranger and I stood for a peaceful moment our faces turned up towards the spring... Continue Reading →