The one question I get asked again and again: Is yoga or Pilates better? In 2004 I enrolled in an 8-week Introduction to Yoga & Pilates course: 4 weeks of Pilates, 4 weeks of yoga in a frigid church hall in West Kensington, London. As far as I was concerned, Pilates was a slow form…
I’ve dabbled in almost every style of yoga imaginable: hatha, kundalini, vinyasa, hot, acro, blindfolded and even… nude yoga (just the once). These experiences have been interesting but my teaching style has been largely shaped by two more personal considerations: injury and anxiety Yoga selfies and the glorification of flexibility It started as a very…
In our busy lives, it’s easy to get caught up in a constant cycle of doing. Continuously moving from one task to another we are, more often than not, on autopilot. Sadly, this lack of awareness is having a huge negative impact on an individual and global level. When we don’t make space to feel, reflect…
It took me five years to sing in front of my husband. Five whole years to get over my fear of singing in front of the human being I love and trust more than anyone else on Earth. Not only did I have an intense aversion to singing; I was scared to express myself and…
I envy people who look back on high school with nostalgia. Tainted by bullying, my memories of my all-girls high school aren’t so fond but one thing I am eternally grateful for is the belief instilled in us that women can do and be anything. That and the ability to administer a decent handshake. You…
Before diving in to this post about the heart chakra, you may find it helpful to read my Introduction to the Chakras and posts about the first, second and third chakras. Located in the centre of the chest, the fourth chakra is the ‘bridge’ between the lower chakras which represent our place in the physical…
This is the year, you’re finally going to do it! Way to go! I remember the first time I went to a yoga class. Although I’d heard so much about the benefits of doing yoga and knew it would be a positive addition to my life, I won’t lie, I was anxious. When I thought about…
Before diving into this piece, I suggest reading my Introduction to the Chakras and posts about the first and second chakras. The third chakra, known as the solar plexus chakra or manipura, is yellow in colour and located around the area of the stomach. It is responsible for looking after the health of the stomach, liver, pancreas, spleen,…
You’ve seen it on Instagram. You’ve seen it on tank tops. I’m just here for the savasana. Yes! Although my students rarely leave before savasana, I’ve heard it’s common. When I talk about this phenomenon with other teachers or long-term yogis, they look quizzical and say something like, “but it’s the best bit!” The best…
I suggest reading my Introduction to the Chakras and post about the first chakra before diving into this article! The second chakra (aka. sacral chakra or svadisthana in Sanskrit), is orange in colour and located just below the navel. The second chakra is responsible for looking after the health of the body parts located in this…
