What images come to mind when someone mentions yoga? Let me guess – pretzel-like postures, luxury athleisure wear, sweaty studios foggy with incense smoke and abs. Lots and lots of abs. Did I guess right? For better or worse, yoga in the West has morphed into something unrecognisable from its roots – in many ways, it’s an entirely new practice.…
Today, I’m talking about Instagram and it’s penchant for problematic hashtags. Before I begin, let me say one thing – I love Instagram. I love it as much as the next avocado swallowing and social media savvy millennial. It’s a part of my social fabric, and I use it to promote my yoga classes and blog work. Less admirably, I…
It’s 5.30am and I’m awake. Well, I’m “awake”. I hear cars drive by my bedroom window and discern vague shapes in the dark (is that a scarf or evil spirit on my desk chair?), but I’m struggling to process this information. The only thing I’m entirely conscious of is my mobile phone alarm, ringing from somewhere in the bed. It’s…
I have a confession – I’m a reluctant meditator. Despite practising yoga for many years and bending my body into dozens of pretzel-like shapes, I’ve never got the hang of just sitting still. I know what you’re thinking, “But surely sitting still is easier than core-crunching boat pose or crow?!” Nope. No way. You couldn’t be more wrong. It’s one…
80 days ago, I stopped drinking and embarked on a sober journey. It wasn’t a big deal, I didn’t lose sleep over the decision, I suppose I just got bored. Bored is the best word to describe it, actually. I got bored of banal pub chat (booze makes you spend time with people you actually hate), whole day hangovers (hello…
Recently, a lot of people have been in touch to ask for my advice about early eating disorder recovery. It’s a topic I’m painfully familiar with. Throughout my late teens and early 20’s, I battled bulimia, anorexia and orthorexia (as you can imagine, I was a barrel of laughs). This deadly trio robbed me of every joyous experience a young…
Are you nervous about teaching yoga? Keep reading… So here you are, 200 hours later, a fully-qualified yoga teacher. Take a moment to congratulate yourself because it’s no easy feat. You’ve endured hundreds of sun salutations, countless chair poses and enough warriors to make you weep. On top of that, you’ve grappled with Sanskrit, the subtle body, chakras and crystals.…
Let’s talk about writer’s block and how we can overcome it… Hey everyone. It’s been a hot minute. I wish I had a legitimate excuse for my lengthy hiatus but, honestly, my life isn’t that interesting. I haven’t been sunning myself on white sandy beaches or travelling the world. My internet connection is fine (I’m still intimately acquainted with Netflix).…
Let’s talk about how you can look after your mental health in summer… Summer’s well and truly on its way and, as the clouds part, hordes of half-naked Britons flock to the streets in search of ice cream and fruit cider. It’s the season of beer-gardens, bikinis and BBQs (although, only the bravest could pull off all three at once hello…