I am nothing on my own

I logged onto my work email this morning with a slightly heavy heart. Last day in the office before 2 weeks off means a lot of loose ends to tidy up and work to set straight. Plus this week in general feels like wading through treacle. I feel dull with no energy. And yoga class... Continue Reading →

July 29, 2016 0

For crying out loud

We touched on crying in class recently in Teacher Training. My teacher asked me to talk about my experiences -- not about my own breakdowns (of course!) but a time when I was next to someone who was crying hard during class. No quiet weeping either, but some full-on gasping, heart-wrenching sobbing. The other student teachers asked me what I... Continue Reading →

July 24, 2016 4

Brexit yoga

Yoga teaches us wise choices and less instinctual reactions. Whatever the 'union' of yoga is, my pragmatic understanding is that it's about achieving a balance of opposites to find a place of greater stability and therefore greater ease. Āsana teaches us that on a basic level in the requirement for strength with flexibility, twisting with... Continue Reading →

June 25, 2016 9

My annoying habit with yoga blocks

After class the other day my friend told me about the difficulty she had during the practice, when we were doing supine twists. You know the problem? Mats close together means everyone has to roll in neat synchronisation, otherwise there's just not enough room. My friend's neighbour seemed to have arms and legs everywhere meaning... Continue Reading →

June 20, 2016 2

Giving it up, gladly

I've been having more fun with my āsana practice the last few classes I've been to. How does this sometimes occur and other times I make a meal out of the simplest practice? Is it setting an intention to be more focussed on joy? Is it keeping the practice lighter and deliberately having fun in... Continue Reading →

June 11, 2016 1

Body of peace

My teacher came to check on me (or rather my hamstring) before class and offered some words of wisdom for my practice -- to observe, not to go deep, just to feel and explore. To this I mentally added my own intention to cultivate joy and compassion. I really appreciated his care. I felt well-looked... Continue Reading →

June 7, 2016 0

Finding the right direction

I walked home from restorative yoga class this evening feeling ... well... restored. A little restored at least. A little more at peace with the world, a little more sure of my steps within it. I was amusing myself singing along to KD's Rama Bolo as I walked along. Everything felt OK. So when I encountered... Continue Reading →

May 27, 2016 3

Terrible yoga, amazing yoga

"That was a terrible, terrible, terrible class" I told my teacher as I sat in his office afterwards trying to stop the tears running down my face, waiting for my heart to stop thumping, and slowly allowing the tremors of emotion to ease and resolve into something of a smile. He took it well, concentrating on... Continue Reading →

May 25, 2016 6

Lost for words

My teacher's just come back after some time off sick. He'd lost his voice. I asked him if he'd meditated on the ill-health and learned anything from that! I was being ironic or teasing a little: he asked me to do just this after an injury many months ago, and it was simultaneously the most... Continue Reading →

May 23, 2016 4

I can’t hear you

When we OM in class, my teacher often encourages shy types or newbies by saying when you OM no-one can hear you. Well, maybe not technically true... but I try to suspend my disbelief with things my teacher says that I don’t immediately get. What d’ya know – there’s always some wisdom in there, even if I... Continue Reading →