Braveheart Yoga

Dear Yogis,

I often reflect on what great yogis you are. You’ve turned up to class with injuries, physical conditions, sheer tiredness, heartbreak, panic attacks, and other challenges of life – perhaps even miscarriage and bereavement. You all amaze me with your bravery and effort. I’m so humbled by your courage; your will to turn up and get through a class with a belief and trust that something good will come out of this - something physically and emotionally beneficial. You’re great! I learn a lot about yoga from you.

Greek Yoga Retreat

A couple of you are still thinking about coming. That’s OK. Last year, one of our number decided to join us one week before departure. If you do, you won’t regret it. If you’ve collected air miles, that makes the flights more affordable. We have more space in the day to relax this year (starting earlier in the morning) and some wonderful optional extras. You already know that a week of yoga will improve your practice exponentially. What about a Zen Shiatsu massage to go with that, located right by us in Kapsali Bay? Or a diving session with Kythera Dive, or ‘cave swimming’ with Spiros and his glass-bottomed boat, both also located in Kapsali? There’s walking and canyoning too. It’s my favourite place in the world... it might become yours.

Home Studio

Next week, Monday is a Bank Holiday and I’ll be running two classes – 6.00pm and 7.30pm. It’s September next week so the Thursday class is back at 8.00 for Ashtangis. As I write this, there is space on all four days – only the 6.00 Monday class is full.

Local Yoga Studio

I’ll be teaching an Ashtanga class at Yoga West tomorrow (Saturday) at 8.30 – 9.45. Yoga West is our very own west London Yoga Studio just off Acton Vale. I believe the classes are £15 (Their website is down at the moment).

Yoga in the news

Hormone yoga therapy could cure menopause's hot flushes and mood swings. According to The Standard, ‘London studios such as Triyoga and Ten Health & Fitness are offering classes and workshops specifically designed to harmonise our hormonal systems as an alternative or supplement to medication.

Hey ho!

Have a wonderful bank holiday / carnival weekend.

You Are Perfect

Dear Yogis,

Last weekend I attended workshops with Kino MacGregor. She’s a super star of the yoga world. I often play her CD of yoga chants in class when I teach. She’s funny and lovely to learn from, and here’s how the first workshop started: ‘Each person is born perfect. The purpose of the practice is to recognise that true spirit, not to accumulate postures – a sort of materialism when it comes to poses. Your worth doesn't depend on achieving a posture. If you operate from a sense of wholeness, the outcome is already whole. If you operate from the perspective of accumulating postures then you will never have enough to be whole.’  

Greek Yoga Retreat

Come with us! Take the last spot!

Here’s a recommendation from last year: "It was fabulous to go on a proper yoga retreat, I've been disappointed in the past and it put me off going for a while!! Both Tania & Lisa, the yoga teachers, were phenomenal, really knowledgeable, passionate, encouraging and awe-inspiring!! Covered lots of different types and aspects of yoga, I could go on and on……..a testament is that most of the class of 2015 are booking for next year, including me!!”

Home Studio

There are still places on Monday’s two classes next week. One is from 6.00-7.00 and the usual one is from 7.30-8.30. On September 1st I’ll reintroduce the Thursday class.

Event

Next Thursday evening, 18.00, in Whitehall Gardens there is a yoga event to raise money for St Martin’s in the Field homeless charity, The Connection. All you need to do is take your mat and enjoy yoga in the Autumn evening. The teachers, Dora and Lisa say it’s: ‘a 60 minutes DONATION-BASED Yoga Class that welcomes all ages & all levels’ and ‘There is absolutely no stress about being new to Yoga’. bit.ly/2bFApuL

Hit & Run Physio

Oh the pain! I think it’s easier to be hit by a car and it’s certainly quicker! However, the elbow and the expertise are hugely appreciated and I’m looking forward to being pain-free with the physio’s help. My homework includes bridge pose with glutes engaged. Many yoga teachers instruct that bridge and wheel should be practiced without engaging the glutes – which I never really understood. The physio is very, very clear that glutes need every opportunity to strengthen, especially for a commuter cyclist like me as “cyclists don’t use glutes”! Here’s a very detailed article on the subject of glutes-or-no-glutes in backbends, in case you’re interested.

Off-Piste Yoga Paradise

Dear Yogis,

Last weekend’s workshops I attended with Danny Paradise were so much fun that I urge you to book yourself a place if you ever get the opportunity. We started in the traditional ashtanga way and soon went off-piste (suddenly we're in ‘Bird of Paradise’!). He said: “Yoga practise is play; it isn’t dogma” and he handed out more and more yoga poses like giving sweets to children. We were greedy and excited to try more. He emphasised: ‘Yoga is designed to create independence and freedom. There is no guru. There is no intermediary. These techniques are designed for you to create mastery in your own life’. He was fun and deep at the same time, as it should be.

Home Studio

Next week the classes in my home studio are all full with waiting lists so I have added an extra class on Monday at 18.00-19.00. You can book as usual through the website. If it suits you, I’ll keep that class at that time.

Greek Yoga Retreat

A month from now, on September 12th, we will be practicing for the first time in the open, under a Greek sky, in Kythera. Our guest teacher last year told us that Kapsali Bay, shaped like an ‘Om’, has healing properties. I believe him! Lisa and I have agreed on a timetable and I will be sending that out to those who are coming and to you if you are interested. One more place has become available so you can take this opportunity to treat yourself to a week of yoga in the warmth and friendliness of Kapsali Bay. If you are planning to take a holiday on your own this is perfect for you. Most of our group are solo travellers.

Yoga Podcast

As usual, I find Lucas Rockwood a really easy, informative and entertaining listen. This week he talks about how to appeal to men and get them to practice yoga. Does gender dictate fitness preferences? What are the differences between how men and women keep fit? His guest talks about strength training that yoga can’t provide - that nothing in yoga mimics the pull-up or rowing motion with resistance. He says yoga should be only one component of your fitness routine. www.yogabody.com/episode-215-guys-yoga/

Next week

After my hit & run last year, the solicitors have agreed to provide physiotherapy which starts next week. The therapist promises to be tough! That probably means he’ll use the dreaded elbow in my painful points... and I think next week’s Friday Email will be comic.

Cat on a Mat

Dear wonderful Yogis
I often get asked about yoga mats. The majority of you cope manfully on slippy gym mats! Here are the ones I use in my home studio:

Calyana caught my attention at The Yoga Show last year. I was in a workshop and was incredibly impressed with the thickness, grip, and how delightful it felt. £50 but they probably will be cheaper at the Yoga Show.

Atmananda is the expensive one. I was given the first one by the NY yoga teacher/mat designer. It has hand and feet outlines, a line for the 45-degree angle of the foot in warrior poses and it comes in three sizes. It's heavy, though, but I think it's nice if you want to inspire your home practice. £75

Lululemon’s ‘Un Mat’ was given to me in a really beautiful and unexpected act if generosity and it subsequently inspired lots of yogis in my classes to get one. It's thin and designed to go on top of the gym mat. It has a grippy side and a smooth side. It's very light. I think everyone who bought one loved it. If you do a free class at a Lululemon shop, you get to try out their mats. £42

Home Studio

You can try the mats here in my home studio. Book a class! Have a go! Classes this month are on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. As I write this, Monday and Tuesday (the yin-like classes) are full. At the moment I’m not teaching on Thursday evenings in my Home Studio while so many of you are on holiday. This means you can have a private class at that time or get me into your workplace and have a go at a corporate class with your colleagues. 

This week was slightly blighted by cancellations. Please understand that I can’t fill a spot with only an hour’s notice of a cancellation – much less 10 minutes notice or simple no-shows  I can’t use my waiting list which is a shame.  

Greek Yoga Retreat

Our Yoga Adventure is in just over a month from now. Now is the time to pay in full if you haven’t already! I have updated this website to give more details including a description of the level of difficulty and a new review of last year.