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

Measuring yoga

Covid-19 cases and deaths in UK remains high (higher than anyone cares to notice or talk about) but strangely life is returning to something vaguely akin to the 'old normal' for many as formal restrictions have been largely lifted. I've been going to in person yoga class again regularly for a while now. The studio... Continue Reading →

October 9, 2021 3

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 →

September 22, 2021 1

Picking up

I taught my first in person, indoor class this week after.... what is it now? 18 months or so? I've lost track. In England we've had multiple lockdowns, so many government u-turns and obfuscating changes of regulations... Throughout that time I maintained a zoom community of students. Bar a couple of necessary pauses I've brought... Continue Reading →

September 17, 2021 7

Open for business

In England our lockdown rules change again on Monday as part of the easing of restrictions. We will be allowed to socialise indoors and hospitality venues can offer indoor service. Hugging will be also officially permitted, with some advice on frequency and contact time 🙂 It’s actually coincidental that I’m visiting my parents this week,... Continue Reading →

May 15, 2021 4

Being vocal

One of my close friends called. Her mum’s dying in hospital in US. She hasn’t been able to travel to visit her because of Covid restrictions. When I answered her call, she told me “I just wanted to hear your voice”. So we chatted a bit about nothing much, there being nothing really we could... Continue Reading →

May 9, 2021 2

Love from the inside out

Until relatively recently I used to watch myself practise and not recognise myself. Who was that strong girl who moved through vinyasas with grace and ease? Where was the girl with dark rings of exhaustion under her eyes, the unwashed hair (simply too much effort), and the cautious movements that anticipated pain and weakness in... Continue Reading →

April 1, 2021 3

Au revoir yogi

A year on almost and I still can’t decide how I feel about teaching yoga on zoom. I’m guessing I’m not alone in that. You know how it is — some days it feels great and the connection with students feels real and useful, other days it feels full of frustrations and communication fails and... Continue Reading →

March 23, 2021 0

Feeding the wolf

They say the wolf that grows bigger and thrives is the one you choose to feed. Lately I’ve been taking care what I ‘feed’. Or to put it another way I’ve been taking care how much I listen to the inner critical voices (the wolf inside of me), lessening the amount of fuel I give... Continue Reading →