Lotus pose. The holy grail of ãsana. In so many Instagram pictures and usually showcased on the mat next to you during class. But will you get there one day? Maybe, maybe not… I Have a Dream Think back to when you started yoga. Which poses did you really want to be able to do? What […]
On June 21, Indian yogis made international headlines when 54,101 of them practiced together on Mysuru’s Race Course to celebrate International Yoga Day for the third time. Whilst it didn’t quite make a world record, it has put Mysuru on the yoga map for more yogis than ever before. Where is Mysuru? Mysuru, otherwise known
Training to become a yoga teacher is intense — like all of life’s most worthwhile endeavours — and it helps to be prepared. We can all list the obvious, practical equipment we need: a mat, a block (or a brick, or both as the case may be) and breathable, comfortable clothing, but what about the
Our scapula, or shoulder blade, glides around on the chest wall allowing the complex movements that we use in our asana. It plays a vital role in keeping the scapula firmly fixed on the chest wall. Here is how to activate, strengthen and make the most of this important muscle in your classes. The When and
I wish I had a pound for every time I have told my students to ‘listen to your body’ – it’s just one of those things yoga teachers say, isn’t it? It slips off the tongue so easily, but what does it really mean? Listen through Ahimsa Listening to your body starts with ahimsa –
There are many myths about healthy eating. Marketing, trends, and misinterpreted research often generate confusion and contradictions. Here’s the truth behind seven food myths: “Gluten free products are good for you” Coeliac disease is an autoimmune diseases caused by intolerance to gluten. Only 1% of the population in the UK has coeliac disease. Still, going
It’s your regular weekly vinyasa class, packed with students and suddenly, that former student who was pregnant walks in. She’s had her baby! Great and now…..what do you do? What are your post-natal techniques? How do you adjust for this new mom? Here’s some clues – This is generally what’s happening for that Mum: She’s spent
One step forward two steps back Home Practice My home practice has been developing well these past few weeks, however, a few highlights stood out: The first was practising our exam sequence to the beat of a metronome on YouTube (to help with counting the number of breaths for each asana). I started with Pranayama
This year hasn’t been easy, but for some, it’s provided some mental space to think about what’s really important. Family, yes. Friends, yes (but perhaps not all of them). Yoga, yes. Yoga has been a bedrock for so many people during this strange and uncertain time. Some of you may have found yourselves furloughed with
I hated backbends when I began practising yoga. They were soo hard and seemed unachievable for my stiff middle-aged body. But now I can’t get enough! I love the feeling of length in the front of the body; my hips opening into extension and my chest broadening and lifting. Sometimes I truly feel like I
