In this blog, I share my top tips for staying motivated with your yoga asana practice in winter. I’m a reasonably lazy yoga practitioner – I don’t wake up at 4.30am and start my day with sun salutations, I’m not striving for second series and my practices vary dramatically in length (who actually has time for full primary, six days…
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.…
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…
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.…
It’s time to debunk some popular yoga myths. It’s 5.30am on Saturday (a sentence said by no sane person ever) and I’m standing in Nero waiting to order coffee. I’m awake because it’s time for another yoga teacher training weekend; in a few hours, I’ll be grappling with Sanskrit and jumping up and down on my mat lamenting the day I…
Today, I’m asking can negative emotions benefit our yoga practice? “Today the sun is shining and I am grateful for this beautiful day #sunshine #yoga #goodvibes”. “There’s so much attention given to negative news that sometimes we let that negativity overshadow all of the love in the world #positivevibes #love #yoga”. “Open your heart and see love everywhere. The world is beautiful…
Are you thinking about trying Bikram or another form of hot yoga? If so, prepare with the tips and honest advice in this blog. I’m dubious of any style of yoga where students pass out in class. Call me a traditionalist, but I fail to see how fainting brings us closer to enlightenment. However, I also suffer from extreme FOMO…
Raise your hand if you have ever been personally victimised by the #YogaEveryDamnDay. I know I have. #YogaEveryDamnDay is the modern-day mantra for the serious yogi and there are hundreds of articles out there telling you how to achieve it; get up earlier, redecorate your yoga space so it’s more white girl basic zen, pray for motivation, generally be a better person… the list…