Ayurveda, the sister science to Yoga recognizes three doshas – vata, pitta and kapha and we are each made up of a combination of these 3 doshas. Now that Spring is here, we may feel an excess of the kapha dosha, which can make us feel a bit sluggish, heavy, slow, soft, cold, low mood and energy. Not surprising after the cold winter months when we feel a need to withdraw a little. Read More

Becoming a Yoga teacher is a very exciting and inspiring process. At the same time, the transition towards teaching is also challenging and resource-intensive. Before I could start my own teaching adventures, I needed to develop a toolkit of Yoga-related knowledge and skills. These included both technical and interpersonal skills, as well as a thorough understanding of alignment, anatomy, sequencing, and the history and philosophy of Yoga. Read More

There is a saying in yoga circles that new teachers appear in your life when you are ready for the lessons they have to give. This was definitely the case for Yin yoga and I. Yoga has been one of the most constant parts of my life since I started in 2003. It has seen me through university, my PhD, moving countries, emotional upheaval and, of course, becoming a yoga teacher! Read More

Blankets, bolsters, bricks — and a skeleton! These were the props Katie brought out for us in her Restorative Yoga workshop. We had a great two hours together exploring the whys and wherefores of restorative yoga. Read More

Kirtan has to be experienced to be understood — a bit like yoga! YogaVenue offered us the opportunity for this experience last weekend when Nikki Slade visited for the second year running. This wasn't my first kirtan so I had some idea what to expect but — again like yoga practice — each time is different and you can never know what it’ll be like until you are there, right in it, doing it and feeling it. Read More

Mudras are a great way to experience yoga with your hands. They also help to seal or direct and retain energy. They aren’t specific to one type of yoga, anyone can do them, and even if you are practicing a non-physical type of yoga they are great to integrate to help express oneself or add a physical aspect. Read More

In a few weeks we have the pleasure of having Nikki Slade returning to YogaVenue for a Kirtan Evening. What is Kirtan?vKirtan is the practice of chanting. Many of you may have already done this in some form in our classes when at the beginning we chant OM bringing the class together and to help quieten our minds setting our intentions for class. Its fun and no experience is necessary! Read More

If you have been practicing the Hot 26 or Hot Power for at least six months, the Hot 56 is a great class to try if you are looking to explore your yoga practice a little further. The class is a little faster paced than the Hot 26. All 26 postures are included but are only practiced once and are not held as long (hence previous experience required). Backbends, arm balances and the hip area are explored a little deeper. Read More

Next Saturday (23rd Jan), I’m running a Detox Flow Yoga workshop at YogaVenue, and I hope many of you will find the time and space in your diaries to join me. This is a slow flow class, holding poses for longer than in a traditional Vinyasa flow class, and focuses on decompression, compression and twisting, using the yoga asana practise to massage and stimulate internal organs, encouraging the body to detox. Read More

Coming to a yoga class or studio for the first time can induce performance anxiety… Will it hurt? Will I be able to get in the positions? Can I be too sweaty? In reality, there’s no need to worry. Your first class will challenge you - a yoga practice asks for focus of mind, control of the breath, balance, strength, stamina and flexibility. But no one has all of this mastered from day one; this is what keeps people coming back to practice. And as we persist we start to uncover a potential in ourselves that we didn’t know existed. Still not convinced? Here’s the reality to overcome those excuses. Read More