We all do it — it is one of the first things we learn as a beginner yogi, but is Urdhva Hastasana really a pose, or just the route in and out of Uttanasana in sun salutes? Pose or Pathway? Having pondered this question I set about seeing what other sources said about this oft ignored version […]
The gravity-defying arm balances of an advanced yogi are truly magical )and the envy of many less experienced yogi’s). There is no getting around the fact that the flexibility and strength needed to perform pincha mayurāsana (feathered peacock) or tittibhāsana (firefly) are way beyond most of us. But that does not mean that arm balances are off
“I’ll have to take up knitting,” a sulking friend confessed to me several days ago. She just conceived, and the advice given to her was to avoid vigorous physical activity until at least the 12th week of pregnancy, after the first trimester. It sounded like a lifetime to a gym-bunny like her. To add insult
It’s not often that I compare myself to the Queen, but I did notice in her Christmas speech that she didn’t mention the words Pandemic or Covid once. In all my newsletters, posts and blogs I have made a concerted effort to avoid the elephant in the room. I wish I could say the reason
Did you know there are four major abdominal muscles? Did you know you are probably not activating them? I tell most of my clients and students to “brace their core” or “pull belly button into your spine.” I probably sound like a broken record to them, but there is a reason to my madness! Your
There’s no doubt that hands-on adjustments in yoga have changed dramatically over the years. Back when yoga was first being popularised in the West, there were anecdotes of teachers giving students a sharp rap with a a stick. To get any attention from the great masters was considered a privilege and students who had the
Abs, core or midsection — whatever you call it, it should never be forgotten! You guessed it, this week we’re looking at core strength, focusing on the many layers of your abdomen. Before we jump straight in, let’s take a quick look at what it is we’re working out. There are six core muscles going
I had spent hours agonising over the contents of my first ever class. So many decisions. Pranayama? Yes. Something short, but essential. Music? Yes. A carefully crafted playlist to enhance the yoga journey. Chanting? Yes. 1 short mantra, 3 OMs, and 3 Shantis. As soon as I was allowed to teach yoga (half-way through my
Nearly everyone these days suffers from stress or anxiety at some point in their lives. Here in the UK in 2016/17, 12.5 million working days were lost due to work-related stress, depression or anxiety according to figures published by the HSE (Health and Safety Executive). That’s a heck of a lot of days. So what
The topic of warming up is a controversial one in yoga. Let’s delve in and examine the pros and cons of yoga warm ups. Is It Always Necessary to Warm up Before Yoga? The short answer is, not necessarily: different forms of yoga require different things from the body. Iyengar or Hatha yoga, for example,
