Sometimes the array of yoga practices on offer means we get overwhelmed with choice. Much like going into a big supermarket like Tescos, we cannot decide which type of yoghurt to buy; so as it is with yoga at times. Should I meditate? Or chant a mantra? Or perhaps join a yoga flow class? Like me, you might wonder what practice is best to start your day? Over the years of practicing, I have found my preferences for practices changing and starting to evolve with how my life looks now. In my opinion this is the beauty of this practice. Ten years ago when I started yoga, I loved dynamic flows of ..read more

The breath is the single most important function in our bodies. It keeps us alive, determines how fast our heart beats, and carries essential nutrients around our body. "Breath is synonymous with life." So why do we keep hearing that so many of us are doing it wrong? How can it be that in our advanced medicalised society, we don't know how do to the most basic bodily function of living? Over the past 3 years, I have taken 2 advanced breath-work trainings, and become more and more fascinated by the breath. As a yoga teacher, breathing has been a part and parcel of my training, language in class ..read more

We all have an inner critic. Sometimes they shout loudly 'why did you do that!?' Sometimes they admonish us for not doing any meditation. And for some of us they are louder than others. So, how can we work with this inner critic in our yoga practice? With all that continues to go on in the world, compassion is a cornerstone of my personal practice. It is also a foundation of yoga philosophy, known as 'Ahimsa'. Ahimsa is commonly translated as 'non-violence' and is part of the yamas, the ethical guidelines of yoga laid out in sage Patanjali’s path. So in yogic philosophy, avoiding harming ours ..read more

Especially in the UK, the change of seasons into autumn is very apparent. Leaves change colour, rain patters the ground and for some of us, the descent away from summer can be long and challenging. In this blog, I aim to give you a few of my favourite Yogic resources to navigate this time of change. This natural change of the seasons from Summer into Autumn is a time of increasing darkness outside in nature, but also within our bodies. In many spiritual traditions across the world, Autumn is seen as a time for self reflection, nourishment and slowing down. Within Traditional Chinese Medicine ..read more

There are many props in yoga: bolsters, meditation cushions, eye pillows, straps, the yoga mat itself and the mighty yoga block. When I first came to practice yoga I thought of props as something that I would eventually move away from, but now I see them as handy pillars to enhance my practice. Props can provide loving support, or extra challenge and spark creativity in our practice The mighty yoga block is no exception. And if you don't have a block to practice with at home, don't let that stop you! Depending on it's use, try a book, water bottle, table, chair or anything else of the right s ..read more

What you might be thinking is - What the fffffff is fascia? It is a brilliant, intelligent web of connective tissue that runs uninterrupted through the whole body. Quite a lot like Spiderman's suit... (but with layers underneath the skin). Fascia supports our whole body through tensegrity - a brilliant system whereby our bones are suspended in space by connective tissue rather than having to be held up. When functioning well, the fascia glides when we move - much like a graceful dancer, and this system is dependant on being hydrated (which is also keeps us looking young, thanks to collagen ..read more

Savāsana or "corpse pose" is the way the majority of teachers end a yoga class, and is commonly known as final relaxation. It is practiced lying down in stillness (hence the name). But why do we lie still for several minutes at the end of yoga? Like many people, when I first started yoga, I dreaded the silent space at the end of class where my thoughts would swirl around my head. My first yoga classes were in a Virgin Active gym, and although my teacher was brilliant, I would lie still listening to the grunts and clanks of the gym area close by. It always seemed like a great irony to me that ..read more

Practicing yoga is a very personal journey that many of us take in a public setting: a studio, community centre, or online class. I love practicing in a group - the energy and vibrance that it brings is second to none. BUT having your own personal guidance through a private class is something very special! “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” — The Bhagavad Gita. Wherever you are in your yoga journey you might have wondered if you could benefit from a private class, or if they are just an expensive way to practice (I also used to think this...) But whether we've be ..read more

Teaching yoga to children has taught me a lot about myself as a yoga teacher. Children have raw energy which cannot be kept inside themselves and this changes the mood of the room for yoga. At first this energy seemed daunting - even with 3 years' experience teaching children in classrooms. However, the last class before summer that I taught to my after-school kids yoga club was one of the best classes I have ever had the good fortune of leading. So, I thought here might be a good space to share some of the things I learnt and failed at along the way. My hope is that other teachers, parents, a ..read more

Do you ever feel the need to breathe through your mouth to be able to take in enough air? Well, you're not alone. Many people breathe through their mouths, and especially when we are exercising. Now, research is confirming what yogis have known for thousands of years: Breathing through your mouth is like eating through your nose. Mouth breathing doesn't make us feel good because it's not optimising the gasses in our body, or our nervous system response. Since most of us breathe much quicker and shallower than we should optimally (something that mouth breathing encourages), this has a cascade e ..read more