October Yoga Show in London

Dear Yogis,

The October ‘Yoga Show’ guide is out! Here it is; have a look. http://bit.ly/2afTFzc I definitely think we should ALL sign up for ‘YogaBeats Infamous Chocolate Tequila Rave’ with David Sye and have some outlandish fun. It’s on Friday 21st October and it’s £15. It’s too much fun to miss. (Be warned... we have to hug each other!) I had a quick glance at the guide and here are some teachers I’d be interested in taking a class with: Celest Pereira who is wonderfully positive; Tara Stiles who is a bit of an international star and yoga businesswoman; Cat Alip-Douglas who is a legend in the Jivamukti Yoga world; Dj Goldie who is... Dj Goldie; and Marcus Veda whose classes at Triyoga and The Light Centre I love. You can also have an ‘introduction to the world of Aerial Yoga’... and plenty more.

Greek Yoga Retreat

A couple of you have expressed an interest in taking up the place that has become available on this year’s retreat in beautiful Kapsali, Kythera. For those of you who want to know a bit more about the timetable, a brief summary is that the morning class will be an ashtanga/vinyasa class with me; we have a guest teacher who will take us through the whole of the ‘Primary Series’ (hold onto your hat for that!) and Lisa is planning her afternoon workshops on The Spine (backbending), Arm Balances, Transitions and Yoga Philosophy. 

The retreat is from Sunday 11th September to the following Saturday, 17th. The cost is £650 - flights and daily meals are not included but accommodation, transfers and incredible yoga classes and workshops are. For more details, get in touch and/or check out my website: www.goodtimesyoga.co.uk/greek-yoga-retreat

Gym and Home Classes

The Friday morning class at Eden Fitness will remain at 9.30am. There has been an attempt at changing the time and a bit of confusion. It’s over. Nothing changes.  My new class on Wednesday at 2.30 is a lovely slice of Friday Morning Yoga in the middle of the week. It has about half the turn-out of the Friday class which gives it a different flavour. 

In my Home Studio, the Monday and Tuesday classes are always in demand. By Wednesday the weariness of the week seems to have kicked in. For the time being I won’t be holding Thursday classes as so many of you are on holiday. I’ll bring it back as soon as the demand is back. This means you can have a private class at that time or get me in to your workplace and have a go at a corporate class with your colleagues.

Free Yoga

There is free yoga in the park this summer courtesy of Yoga West, our very own west London yoga studio. bit.ly/28RXg3C . Tomorrow, Saturday 23rd July from 2-3:15, is with Toni Ferguson. The classes are held at Chiswick Back Common, just opposite Hack and Veldt on Turnham Green Terrace. Keep an eye out for the Yoga West banner and colourful yogis.

Core Blimey 2

Dear Yogis,

I get asked about core strength a whole lot. Here is a great programme on the subject from Lucas Rockwood. I have talked about him before. I like his style and his information and I hope to get over to Barcelona to practice with him sometime. In this programme about integrated core strength he and Dr. Sarah Ellis Duvall, a physiotherapist, talk about all the lovely things to do with core: diastasis recti for men and women, forward head posture, ribs jutting out/spinal extension, thigh joint pain, pelvic floor issues, 90-minute Mula Bandha, head alignment, the way the body should ‘stack’... Don’t get overwhelmed; it’s really a nice overview, that’s all, that will give some clues. Lucas gives is a link to more core information from his guest and the programme ends with questions people send to him. It’s a lovely programme. http://bit.ly/29lSUyo

Home Studio

This week I won’t be holding a Thursday class but I’ll resume the following week if there is demand. The other three days tend to get booked pretty quickly.  As I write this, Monday already has four people. I was incredibly proud of one of our yogis this week who told us all about practicing yoga to aid recovery after suffering crushed vertebrae. The bravery of some of the people I teach is magnificent.

Gym Yoga

To members of Eden Fitness in Ealing; the Friday morning class has reverted to 9.30. No change after all. My new class on Wednesday at 2.30 is looking forward to seeing you there too!

Free Yoga

There is free yoga in the park this summer courtesy of Yoga West, our very own west London yoga studio. bit.ly/28RXg3C . 

Not Free But Fun    

Triyoga is holding yoga classes on the roof of Selfridges in its ‘alfresco summer series’. ‘Classes are for all levels and include a nourishing breakfast of avocado on toast and fresh fruit juice to enjoy afterwards.’ This happens every Tuesday till 30th August 2016 at 10.00 - 11.00am. It costs£20 pre-booked online or £25 on the door. http://bit.ly/29mixjS

Core Blimey!

Dear Yogis,

I had an interesting experience at the weekend in the Second Series workshop with Chris Croft in Exeter. I was pretty unwell and had bad stomach pains. This meant little connection to my core. I’ve heard it said that yoga without Mula Bandha (pelvic floor lift) and Uddiyana Bandha (abdominal engagement) is faking yoga. Boy, that’s pretty harsh and I wouldn’t live by that saying! However, it really struck me when I couldn’t get into headstand. I had absolutely no connection to my core and no ability at all to get into a posture that I’ve been doing for many, many years. It was very humbling and very instructive. Teachers are always talking of the importance of core engagement but when it is taken away, a different perspective appears and greater understanding of postures.

Home Studio

You’ve been sending me some really wonderful feedback about classes with me or about yoga in general. I’ve been really inspired. I wonder if you would give me permission to post these comments on the website or if you could write them there yourself. Yesterday, my favourite rugby player left a restorative yoga class here in my Home Studio saying he felt ‘like a god’! That’s pretty spectacular for a number of reasons. He suffers panic attacks and has had ‘three horrendous days’ of attack-suffering, staggering to class every day, twice on Wednesday, to try to get through it. I’m amazed and humbled and uplifted by his example.

International Yoga Day

It continues! My dear friend and fellow Greek yoga retreat teacher Lisa Lischak is one of the teachers in Sunday’s ‘Yoga Celebration Day at Stockbridge Town Hall from 10am-6.30pm. There will be lots of different yoga styles on offer including Thai yoga massage. bit.ly/1Yr5ouW

How to Please Your Yoga Teacher

This is a survey I conducted for International Yoga Day. I asked yogis from my classes past and present to help me compile a Top Ten list of How to Please your Yoga Teacher. Here's what they said:

The list so far:

1.    Identify your right and left correctly! If your teacher instructs the class to lead with the right foot, try your best to lead with the right foot Failing that, get a GPS-equipped mat.

2.    Enjoy the class. Teachers respond to grins or laughs... or groans. Enjoy plank! If you don't, pretend or you'll have to do more.

3.    Bring a friend, partner or family member. Teachers love it when you put your faith in their class and bring someone special.

4.    Teachers like it when you use yoga props. If you are struggling, it's not cool to have the teacher run around the class getting blocks and belts for you.

5.    Get your game on! Do your best. Concentrate. Meditate. Play your A game. They love good effort. 

6.    A shower before class pleases everyone, not just the teacher. Freshly laundered gear is a good idea. Smelly feet are never a good idea.

7.    Checking your mobile phone during the class is not yoga. Don’t answer a call. Don’t rush out of the studio saying ‘I’m in my yoga class’!

8.    Falling asleep in Savasana and snoring loudly is quite funny. It's OK though. 

9.    Don’t say “I’m not flexible enough for yoga”. The teacher will roll their eyes.

10. Your teacher thinks you’re amazing. You should too. (That one is from me!)

Secret History of Yoga

Dear Yogis,

The new on Wednesday after class got off to a wonderful start. Eleven yogis for a 2.30 class is absolutely amazing and I know it will build. When I started the Friday class it had a regular 11-14 people. It is double that now. Just a note about the Friday class... Management need to know if you would be happy to move the class forward to 9.15, or earlier. It’s your class so please let your voice be heard.

International Yoga Day

I had a great IYD on Tuesday. I taught  a new class with new yogis and some complete beginners. I’m told that the class inspired a couple of converts. It just couldn’t be better. One guy said he didn’t realise yoga was such hard work! Would more guys turn up if they knew it was a chance to show off the biceps? 

I wonder if you managed to catch this programme on Radio 4: The Secret History of Yoga http://bbc.in/1YsapDx . The programme discusses the roots of modern yoga with Dr Mark Singleton who wrote one of my favourite books: Yoga Body. It’s a lovely half-hour listen

Workshops

This weekend I’ll be at a workshop in Exeter huffing and puffing my way through an Ashtanga Second Series Intensive. I’m aching at the thought. There are places left if you want to hot-foot to Exeter: bit.ly/28VXabE . Whereas the first series is called the Yoga Chikitsa, meaning yoga therapy because of the cleansing and toning, the second is ‘Nadi Shodana’ which is nerve cleansing. Hmmm... on the agenda is ‘putting the leg behind the head'. I think major surgery might be involved!

Free Yoga

There is free yoga in the park this summer courtesy of Yoga West, our own west London yoga studio. The first one is tomorrow, 25th June, 2-3:15 pm with Christian Coelho. He’s an absolutely wonderful teacher. 

Greek Retreat

Thank you to those who have either paid up in full or have made your next instalment. I can’t wait to get out there and teach in the warmth of the Greek sun. There are still people who are interested in coming and, of course, you are very welcome. Pop me a line and let me know if you have any questions.

Home Studio

By the time I write my Friday email, places are already booked for next week. If you haven’t tried a small, tailored class, come and have a go. It’s a great environment for complete beginners or advanced Ashtangis. Drop me a line if you have any questions about what evening might suit you. 

NEW CLASS

Dear Yogis,

I have a new gym yoga class starting today! It’s at Eden Fitness in Eaing where the demand has been high for more yoga. The new class will be at 2.30 every Wednesday. It’s a trial run for three months and it’s at an odd time... but we can make it work. I’m a big fan of Eden Fitness and it’s the only gym I teach in regularly. The Friday morning class was my first regular class after qualifying as a yoga teacher. It has been an absolute joy to teach there and see the numbers double in size.

International Yoga Day

It’s on the 21st which is next Tuesday. This weekend there will be a lot of free events, the biggest of which is at Alexander Palace. David Sye will be taking a 30 minute session and he’s worth checking out – he’s such fun, though he won’t have the tequila for this session! Here is the day’s showguide: bit.ly/1V0v3Vt

Father’s Day

Our newest Ealing gym, Tribeca in The Mall, invites you to bring a father for free this Sunday. This applies to all classes but there is a Total Beginner Yoga class at 12.45 for just 45 minutes. Email hello@tribecastudios.co.uk with the name, number and email address of the dad. There are two days left of Triyoga’s offer to bring a dad. Details here: bit.ly/1P9LRrr

Workshops

This Sunday I’ll be doing an inversions workshop at Yoga West with Christian Coelho. It’s £22.50 for two hours from 14:00-16:00. Come with me – especially if you’ve never experienced a workshop before. bit.ly/1q3WvHD

Greek Retreat

Many of you have either paid up in full or have made installments. We have only a couple of months left so please make sure the payment doesn’t come as a shock at the end of August. There are still people who are interested in coming and, of course, you are very welcome. Pop me a line and let me know if you have any questions.

Home Studio

Plenty of loveliness in my Home Studio this week including a private session which was mostly about core work! Wow! After that I fed some of those postures into all of my classes. Every week in every class you inspire me.

Yoga in the Holy Month of Ramadan

Dear Yogis,

It’s the holy month of Ramadan so very best wishes to those who are observing. Happy Ramadan! I have some yogis who decide to give up yoga for the duration and some who stay with the practice and find it very helpful. If you do decide to come to class, please let me know if you’re fasting. You won’t need a power/ashtanga/vinyasa/ full-on practice. You’ll need a more restorative and introspective practice - possibly in the evening. A yogi that I teach privately twice a week wanted me to say that he finds yoga very helpful during Ramadan; it helps with focus and mindfulness... as well as digestion. Also, you may feel the postures, especially the twists, in a different way. Call me if you have any questions. If you're interested in special classes for you and you're friends who are observing, give me a call or email.

For the rest of us, we are supposed to practice in the morning on an empty stomach! Perhaps you can use this month to give it a go. For some, there is a better meditative quality this way. Yoga, after all, helps us create a sense of peace and quiet; we relax the mind and allow our best selves to come to the fore. Try your yoga practice when the system isn’t using precious energy on digesting.

Free Yoga

Triyoga suggests that you ‘Bring a Dad for Free to celebrate father’s day from June 13th to 19th.  The definition of ‘a dad’ is ‘your own dad, husband, granddad, a friend - simply anyone who is a dad’. 

Greek Retreat

There are still places. We have more capacity than last year because, just for us, my friend and owner of the amphitheatre is building another yoga deck. The capacity was 12 last year which was our group plus the Kytherans who joined us. We easily and naturally get to know people from the island by sharing our practice. Kapsali is so small that the friendliness level is higher than that of any other yoga retreat! (My ego tells me so!) 

Home Studio

I spotted Traffic Wardens being trained up by Ealing Council this week. So far, those of you who come for the 7.30 classes on Monday and Tuesday evening haven't been caught... I propose we actually start the class at 7.35 so that no one takes a minutes' risk! 

Survey

Thank you for your responses to my very light-hearted survey for a Top Ten list of How to Please your Yoga Teacher for International Yoga Day. Thank you to the yogis who contributed: ‘Don’t fall asleep in Savasana and snore loudly‘(actually, that hardly ever happens!) and ‘Don’t say “I’m not flexible enough for yoga”’ (that happens all the time!). And thank you to the yogi who said that ‘yoga is like a breath of fresh air running through the body’. Not a survey response but what a nice thing! Send suggestions that are fun and entertaining, intelligible to non yogis, short... and broadcastable!

Finding your inner calm

Dear Yogis,

This week I met a homeless man whose mother taught him Hatha Yoga as a child. He had an aura of calm. He was soft-spoken. He sat on the pavement with a hat for money and a Frederick Forsyth book - he said it’s easy to read. He said in his soft voice that he was frustrated to see people going to work and he wasn’t. If I ever hit hard times, I wonder if I’ll retain any calm at all. I put in a call to The Connection at St Martin’s to see if I can organise yoga sessions for the homeless there. By coincidence I found this article in the Huffington Post:  Yoga: How We Serve Those in Homeless Shelters. 

Free Yoga

Triyoga suggests that you ‘Bring a Dad for Free' to celebrate father’s day from June 13th to 19th.  The definition of ‘a dad’ is ‘your own dad, husband, granddad, a friend - simply anyone who is a dad’. Not bad, eh! 

Workshops

My guru, Valentina, is hosting an Alignment and Adjustment workshop this weekend at Coco Club in Hammersmith tomorrow, Saturday, at 2.00-5.00pm for £25. It’s suitable for teachers and students. You can book here.

When I do workshops I always look for the biggest names in the world of yoga. This is because I made a huge mistake and spent a lot of money (£thousands!) on a terrible course a few years ago. Since then, I want to know the lineage of teachers I spend significant time with. If you’re interested in the original teachers in the West, you can hardly do better than Doug Swenson who is visiting these shores this Autumn. He has been practising yoga since 1969. He hails from very conservative south Texas and in the early days neighbours called the police when he and his brother were spotted practicing yoga.

A wonderful teacher friend of mine is hosting Doug at her studio in Cambridge for a weekend from Friday 30th September to Sunday 2nd October. His ‘poetic flow’, wholistic style may appeal to you, especially if you practice Tai Chi. Doug teaches a balance between both hard and soft styles of yoga practice. The cost of the weekend is £150. More information here.

Home Studio

More loveliness in my Home Studio this week. People come with their back pain, sciatica, reservations about being new to yoga, fears of not being flexible enough, fears of going upside-down... but they come anyway! I admire you all so much. Next week is pretty booked up but there are still spaces left on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, not Monday!

Survey

Thank you for your responses to my very light-hearted survey for a Top Ten list of How to Please your Yoga Teacher! I’m compiling it for International Yoga Day. Thank you to the yogi who said: ‘Make sure your teacher is watching when you do a clever posture (in this case, headstand with piked legs at a 90 degree angle). And thank you to the yogi who contributed: ‘Identify your right and left correctly! Failing that, get a GPS equipped mat.’ Send suggestions if you have a contribution that is fun and entertaining, intelligible to non yogis, short... and broadcastable!

Yoga on a battlefield

Dear Yogis,

We’re heading into June and hurtling towards the second ever International Yoga Day which falls on June 21st. The event, only in its second year, stirs interest that wouldn’t otherwise be stirred. Because of it, I’m getting booked to teach yoga in workplaces that see the event as a good ‘hook’ to get employees thinking about health and wellness. I’m so pleased this is happening more and more at work. An employer is really out of date if not providing wellness perks for employees.

Meanwhile, in the home of yoga...

India is planning elaborate, worldwide yoga demonstrations to celebrate International Yoga Day. Last year India’s main mass yoga event made it into the Guinness Book of Records. This year, according to the Hindustan Times: ‘The defence ministry will also organise yoga demonstrations and the home ministry has instructed all central armed police forces to hold mass yoga training sessions’. Yoga instruction by armed police! Now that’s... and interesting meditation aide.  

Workshops

This weekend (Saturday 28th) I’m be attending a four-hour class on the Bhagavad Gita at Triyoga Soho. If you’re thinking of doing teacher training, this is a set text so consider coming with me. It’s a wonderful read. Events take place on a battlefield with a warrior who doesn’t want to fight and kill and cause suffering... he wants to be a brother, cousin, nephew, student and friend. God tells him not to be ridiculous, that he’s on a battlefield and not at a dinner party! (Kind of!). I read this in my last ‘proper’ office job when I was going through probation after probation, shifting goalposts and incredible lies. I was like the warrior who doesn’t want to fight. Instead, I wanted to be recognised as a great worker and colleague. I didn’t act in a way appropriate to my situation. If you’re on a battlefield, that’s where you are! The Bhagavad Gita reads as though it’s about war but it’s actually about right action and peace of mind. The battlefield represents our internal battles and the Gita tells us to step up to our true purpose in life.

... and then I became a yoga teacher!!!

Home Studio

Every class makes me reflect that I meet such lovely people though yoga! This Monday, as with the last bank holiday, I'll hold two classes here in my Home Studio. One will be at the normal time, 7.30, and you can book that through my website. I'll hold an extra one at 5.45 - 6.45 and you can email or text me to reserve a place. You may be on holiday - if so, have a lovely time. 

Survey

Thank you for your responses to my very light-hearted survey for International Yoga Day. If you didn’t see last week’s email, I’m putting together a Top Ten list of How to Please your Yoga Teacher. Send suggestions if you have a contribution that is fun and entertaining, intelligible to non yogis, short... and broadcastable! Thank you to the yogi who wrote ‘Get you game on’! Love it!

The Foot Whisperer

Dear Yogis,

Last week I had my first ever reflexology session and I thought I would share my experience with you. You might find it useful. Reflexology is a therapy that applies pressure to ‘reflex areas’ on the feet and hands. In this way, a reflexologist can detect imbalances in the body and nervous system and stimulate the body's own healing processes...  a perfect complement to yoga!

By working around my big toe, my practitioner told me that my neck was 'nice and loose'. Then she told me that my 'spine felt good'. Applying pressure to the zone that included my bladder felt really very nice! Loads of stress evaporated. Who knew! But the first thing I learnt was that a reflexologist can tell with one glance if you're drinking enough water. I was apparently dehydrated... and quite embarrassed. You can also see a foot whisperer for menopause, migraine, sleep problems and it’s great for adolescents in their hormone madness. I wish I’d known that!  Give it a go. Let me know if you need a contact.

Workshops

Tonight at 7.30pm I’ll be doing “Headstand and Shoulder Stand” with Dina Karim at Triyoga Chelsea. I also plan to go to Amanda Denton’s Sunday class at Indaba at 4.30. (She was a gigantic and gorgeous influence on me when I was a new teacher.) You’re welcome to come with me if you like.

Home Studio

Classes get booked up online by people who are finding me through Google search. It’s very exciting to see new faces come through the door. It amazes and delights me constantly that there are so many fans of home studios; the simple setting and the camaraderie of a small class. If you are a regular here, try clicking the box for ‘recurring booking’ Next Tuesday and Wednesday are already full (unless a cancellation comes in) but there are places on Monday and Thursday.

Yoga in the News

The Telegraph (one of my ex-employers!) published an article by the science editor this week called: ‘Yoga better than crosswords for preventing pre-Alzheimer’s memory loss’... a snappy headline! Even though the article is about Alzheimers, it has information relevant to all of us, especially for people in the workplace who need to fend off brain tiredness and keep a sharp mind to stay ahead of their workload. For example: ‘Participants practising yoga and meditation were also less likely to be depressed and anxious, and were better able to cope with stress.’  Have a look here. 

Have a memorable weekend.