Clocks Backbend

Dear Yogis,

Clocks go back this weekend in the UK. Enjoy the coming descent into the darkness of winter, our major celebration in the depths of the winter with lights, food and presents, and our climb back up into the Spring light accompanied by snowdrops, crocuses and daffodils...  It’s a metaphor! Even in the darkest times there can be family, friends, support and celebration. And the lighter, warmer days are coming. Once the sun is on our faces again, we forget how cold the winter was!

Home Studio

My lucky little home studio had the pleasure of full classes this week and wonderful yogis who bring their best to the class. Out of the blue yesterday a film crew and presenter from SAT-7 TV turned up in need of a backdrop for their filming! (It’s a Christian TV network for the Middle East and North Africa.) This is the first time my little studio has been used like this. (I must do some advertising around Ealing studios!) SAT-7 needed to film a piece about posture in early pregnancy. Apparently the programme will be aired in Iran in five months’ time! 

Come to class! Don’t delay in booking your place. Now that the evenings are darker, the classes seem to be in big demand. The regulars have booked and a few spots remain. Shoes Off And Game On!

Yoga in the News

What’s going on? The Radio 4 Today Programme is talking about yoga... The Times and The Guardian too. It’s all about establishing National Occupational Standards for Yoga. It involves money, politics, history and control. It’s pretty hilarious. (If you want to listen to the Radio 4 piece, wind forward to 8.49. I have to admit, it’s a bit like listening to paint dry.) 

In Our Yoga Community

Raakhee has sent up a business and life coaching agency called Backbone Thinking. She believes that many of us trudge along without knowing our true purpose and what really motivates us. That was me! I definitely know people who need help to balance the demands of work, the need to earn and the absolute necessity of saving their health and well-being. (You know who you are!) Raakhee is offering a free half hour consultation so if you are interested please visit www.backbonethinking.co.uk or call her on 07834374089

Training

Well, I’ve mentioned David Sye and his Tequila Yoga a few times!  I did his workshop at the Yoga Show and after laughing and grinning with every tooth the whole way through, I decided on following his teacher training programme, if he will have me. He interviews all applicants. If you’re interested in joining me, let me know. 

Light Bulb Moments

Dear Yogis,

This morning I taught a class of 32 people in a studio that is used to taking 20-or-so. I’m always struck on a Friday morning by the sheer positivity of the class and the levels of effort. It starts my weekend in a way I am very attached to! I was struck this week when a couple of yogis said that they hadn’t realised how they had been getting a posture ‘wrong’... ‘all this time!’. Please don’t be harsh on yourselves. Teachers have many different ways and styles of teaching so inevitably some postures will come along under certain tuition which work. A slightly different instruction won't suit you. We’re all developing and refining. There are lots of light bulb moments on the way.

Home Studio

Plenty of spaces next week. The regulars have booked their spots and there’s room for more. I had a joyous week this week of welcoming a lot of newcomers to my little studio. I also had the pleasure of being a student in the class of Nina who was practicing her final teacher training assessment routine. I absolutely loved being a student for a whole hour in a small studio with an up-and-coming teacher. I attended her assessment (Friday 21st) with two other Home Studio Yogis and I couldn’t have been more proud. Of course, she passed!

OM Yoga Show

The Yoga Show starts today. It lasts three days. I’ll be there from Friday afternoon for David Sye’s workshop and, if there’s one thing to tempt you, it’s David Sye. Over the weekend I’ll be taking part in ‘Yogangster’ by Benjamin Sears and Goldie, Mythical Soulful Vinyasa with Tanja Mickwitz and Sweet Funk and Flow with Kathy Ran. Marcus Veda, too, if there are tickets left – he’s the one for the Rocket yogis.

Come and see what it’s like.

Yoga in the News

I thought this was funny... a matt for $1,000! And, if you’re interested in actual yoga, here’s an article about yoga in prisons.

Everyday Magic

Dear Yogis,

I was born at 6.40 in the morning of October 10th... but, in truth, we get the chance to be reborn every waking day. We can make resolutions and, if we fail, we get another chance tomorrow – very yogic. Time is a loving parent: always forgives, always moves forward, never looks back, and gives endless new chances whatever our faults. Birthdays are a time to remember that. I felt like magic all the way through Monday and tried to hold on to that sense of feeling special and feeling like the present day is ‘my day’. I recommend this approach! There’s a wonderful positivity you get – like a new love affair.

Home Studio

Plenty of spaces next week. The 6.00 class on a Monday doesn’t seem to have many takers so I have taken it off the timetable for now. I’ll put it back if there is demand. On the other hand, I have had the pleasure of welcoming many new yogis to my studio all motivated with different reasons, from different professions and looking to achieve different things. I’m excited by every new yogi that comes along. (I was very upset to hear that a celebrated yoga teacher from one of the big studios said teaching beginners is boring. Believe me, there is not ever a time that teaching yoga is boring. Not ever.) 

OM Yoga Show

The Yoga Show starts next Friday. It’s such fun. Even if you go for just one day to nose around, there are so many ‘free open classes’ and you can try-out styles and teachers you wouldn’t ordinarily come across. You can buy new gear and turn up to class in yoga fashion! It’s cool and un-cool at the same time!

Yoga Podcast

Here’s my favourite yoga broadcaster Lucas Rockwood talking about how to develop a home practice. Hilariously, he says that on some days you’ll have to call in late to work to get your practice in. Hmmmm! Danny Paradise says that yoga will make you unemployable! Hmmmm!

In Other News

The public ballot entry system for the 2017 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey 100 is now open. I have my place.

Happiness is Right at your Heels - Bertolt Brecht

Dear Yogis,

I absolutely love the interest you take in yoga, especially in the email responses I get to this Friday Yoga Email. Last week I was asked about Downward Facing Dog and how to get the heels touching the floor. Great question! I made a little film in my Home Studio about it. (It’s on YouTube and here on this website on the a Yoga Practice page). Let me know if there is a posture that you want me to unpick.

Home Studio

It was a bit of a wash-out this week as I had to cancel the classes on Monday and Tuesday. As a result, I’ve added a class tonight at 7.30 in case any of you want to catch up. If you haven’t been before, come and unwind to finish your week and recharge to start your weekend.

Teacher Training

“If you want to know a thing, read that.

If you want to understand a thing, study that. 

And if you want to master a thing, teach that.” 

- Yogi Bhajan

My teacher, Valentina Candiani, is offering her autumn teacher training course beginning Friday 14th October. It lasts for 9 long weekends meaning that the first class of the weekend is on Friday evenings. Details on her website. I have seen various students I teach go through teacher training and I still think Valentina offers the best and most supportive course.

I’ve just had my sixth anniversary of starting to train to be a personal trainer with the YMCA. I absolutely loved every second but fate picked me up, shook me down and swapped me over to yoga teacher training. As a result, I have spent my 40s happier than I ever was or could be in the world of office work.

Yoga in the News

The Londonist is apparently on a mission to explore London’s alternative yoga scene and here is their latest article. It’s hilarious!  It includes ‘Loaded Yoga’, ‘HIIT Yoga’, ‘Disco Yoga’, and ‘Hip Hop yoga’.

Yoga West

Tomorrow at 8.30-9.45 I’ll be teaching at our very own yoga-studio-in-the-west. It’s an Ashtanga yoga class. The address is: 33-34 Westpoint, Warple Way, London W3 0RG. Here’s a map. It’s a very nice space to practice in with floor-to-ceiling windows and endless energy in the room. You can also bring a friend for free if you have bought a class pass.

Omtober Yoga Show

Dear Yogis,

Time to say ‘goodbye’ to September with its summer weather, Harvest Moon, Kapsali retreat and yoga holidays, Ealing Half Marathon, general gorgeousness, and ‘hello’ to October, its ‘Black Moon, dark mornings, Autumn colours, Indian summer and... the yoga show. This is my birthday month and I love it! (And, by the way, if you’re interested in the possible effects of moon cycles on the body, mind and yoga practice, here’s a nice article posted on the Triyoga website.)

Yoga Show and Workshops

This is the month of The OM Yoga Show at Alexandra Palace, 21st-23rd October. I have already booked workshop tickets for: David Sye’s ‘YogaBeats Infamous Chocolate Tequila Rave’ on Friday; ‘Yogangster’ by Benjamin Sears and Goldie on Saturday; Mythical Soulful Vinyasa with Tanja Mickwitz on Sunday and, also on Sunday, Sweet Funk and Flow with Kathy Ran. There are so many free, half-hour workshops to do; you don’t have to pay for the big names or speciality sessions. Let me know if you plan to go and what workshops you plan to take.

Home Studio

According to the revered teacher Sri Pattabhi Jois: ‘”Yoga should be neither be practiced in the open air, in a place that is unclean or malodorous, in a basement, nor on a roof. Instead, the place of its practice should be spotlessly clean and level, have windows, and be suitable for smearing with cow dung”.

Bite the bullet and come to my home studio! There are plenty of places available next week. I have everything you may need for your practice... apart from cow dung, I’m afraid.