More joy, less effort

A coincidence of reading a (highly controversial!) research paper about the personality type most often associated with ME/CFS and the associated habitual swinging pattern of activity levels (overdo it then need to rest, then get bored/frustrated so overdo it again...) plus advice from my teacher on handling my current emotional reactions to backbends (even out the... Continue Reading →

May 8, 2016 2

In the driving seat

I learned to drive in a manual car, and I remember when the synchronisation of changing gear, steering, and keeping track of what's going on around the car seemed like an impossible challenge. Did I have to become an octopus -- and one with eyes in the back of its head -- in order to do this?... Continue Reading →

May 7, 2016 7

Feedback along the way

In Sanskrit class I'm noticing less feedback from my teacher. He used to be quick to correct mistakes or offer help. Now he gives me longer to figure it out myself, and he no longer offers any encouraging noises while I'm puzzling through the words in a sentence out loud. I'm to assume that silence is good.... Continue Reading →

May 6, 2016 3

Chacun à son goût

"Best class ever!" A yogi friend enjoyed a recent class so much she has been in touch with the teacher meantime to urge him to run every class like that. I agreed. "It was magic. Everything about my practice felt magic. That is surely Yoga" Only of course it turned out we were talking about different classes! For her... Continue Reading →

May 3, 2016 2

Where do I want to be

Do you have a favourite place in class? Mine changes all the time. Back, front, middle, near the radiator, near the door, next to the really good person, next to the most friendly person... Last night I did back to back classes -- a small challenge to myself or a little exploration of myself. How... Continue Reading →

April 27, 2016 1

Sunday is not the day of rest

Before Yoga found me and took a hold of me Sundays meant this: a lazy lie-in, followed by a cooked breakfast (with lots of bacon!), an afternoon nap, and then a slightly miserable evening involving alcohol in an abortive attempt to avoid thoughts of work the following morning. OK, so this is a slight exaggeration or simplification,... Continue Reading →

April 24, 2016 7

Another year rolls round

What's another birthday between blogging friends? As always it's a time to reflect a little on another year past. But I'm choosing this year mostly to be in the now, rather than in the might-have-been past. Life feels good overall and I'm immensely grateful for that. So by way of a celebration of life, I... Continue Reading →

April 20, 2016 6

Alive today

I don't think I've ever opened my eyes in śavāsana before. I did today. I suddenly realised I was looking at the ceiling and the dimmed lights above me. A weird out of body experience where I was acutely aware of my body lying there, vulnerable and open, melting into the mat, taking up the space... Continue Reading →

April 17, 2016 0

Sore in patches

When I got home after my extended arm-balancing playtime in class the other night I was scrutinised by Hubby. "Did you do a lot of crow today?" he asked me. How can he tell? Do I have a particular post-Bakasana look? No, it turned out he'd caught sight of bruises on my arms! And a friction burn... Continue Reading →

April 8, 2016 0

Joy and Sorrow

The yogini to one side of me was having a tough time last night. Sobbing through class, tearing my heartstrings until I could almost not bear the proximity of her pain. It was in such stark contrast to my own feelings of exuberance and light curiosity that carried me through such physical exploration I would have thought impossible. How to... Continue Reading →