Why We Meditate

On the increasingly rare day that I don’t put aside time for meditation I feel the difference, which really points out to me the value of taking the time to sit and drop into a quieter space where I can feel far more grounded and intimate with whatever meets me. I do emphasise the ‘whatever’ meets me. Meditation is not about self-control but about self-exploration. Read More

It's Pitta Time!

Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga recognizes three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha - and we are each made up of a combination of these doshas. Along with our constitutions having a dosha focus, so too do the seasons, and in summer it's pitta time! (You can read out the kapha dosha here). Read More

Walking a Hot and Humid Path: 60 Day Hot Yoga Challenge

I first tried Yoga 5 summers ago, but it wasn’t until the fall of 2014 that I began a regular practice. The story of how that happened and what made the Yoga ‘stick’ the second time around is a pretty long-winded one, so I’ll spare you the details. The really important and perhaps somewhat paradoxical lesson I've learned that I hope to share with you is this: Yoga allows you to undo. Read More

Five reasons to practise Hot Yoga this summer!

It looks like the sun has finally arrived and it is hot hot hot! You may think its time to ease off your Hot Yoga practice, but actually it’s a great time to deepen your practice or to restart. The heat in our Hot Yoga classes remains the same so if you are worried that you are entering into a furnace you won’t be. Our heating system carefully monitors and controls the temperature so that the temperature never goes above what it should be. Here are 5 reasons why you should practise Hot Yoga this Summer. Read More

Why Do We Practise Asana?

A strong focus on asana (the physical poses) defines most western Yoga, and it is an increasingly popular practice — probably because it makes us feel good! But what’s really going on and how do we explain it in Yoga terms? After all, there’s more to Yoga than asana. Why do we choose to spend time on our sticky mats in class rather than practicing other forms of Yoga like Bhakti Yoga, chanting or some type of meditation? Read More

A walk on the Yin side

While fewer props are used in yin, (see yin child’s below) they can still be very important in helping students experience a pose more comfortably and safely. They allow students to hold an appropriate edge without overstretching (e.g. placing a rolled up blanket under the knees to protect tight hamstrings in a forward fold.) Props can also be used to help relax other parts of the body not directly involved, in particular supporting the head and neck so they are not dangling and adding additional strain to the shoulder girdle. Read More

A mini Yoga challenge (for when life gets in the way)

In my last post, I said that next time I’d be looking at wide-legged forward bend. I’m still trying - mentally, not physically - to disentangle my hip joints from my sacro-iliac, so this topic’s going to take a little longer than I thought. Watch this space for updates. Read More

Gender and Age - No Barrier for Yoga

My first experiences of Yoga: late eighties Scotland, and mid nineties central England. They took place weekly (during term time) in dusty rather cold church halls with metal and plastic chairs stacked up in the corner. Grave attempts were made, using straps and belts, to mold my body into patterns it did its best to refuse. I was usually, awkwardly, the only man: A fish out of water. My flexibility barely increased, and whatever enthusiasm I had soon petered out. Read More

The Hungry Yogi - Baking Adventures

In addition to yoga, my weekend ritual includes baking something sweet. I always find baking to be an adventure and love getting my hands into a mixing bowl. When baking, I never know for certain how things will turn out. Even if followed exactly, the same recipe will turn out slightly differently on each occasion. Read More

Diary of a Yogi: You Do You

As well as practicing and thinking about Yoga, I spend a lot of time on the Internet. (That, and some bad physical habits, is the legacy of 10 years with an IT company). “You do you” is a phrase I see a lot in responses to people who are fretting in some way about Yoga. Maybe it’s their first class, and they’re worried everyone is going to be looking at them. “You do you”. Read More

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