Life on the slopes of Etna led me to muse on my place and my role on my own little patch of the planet. Do you recognise the flower above? It’s chamomile, and this photo was taken in the most unlikely of locations: high above the...
Autumn arrives in a series of double - take moments. That first, brisk morning, the sky an impossible blue. The first tree in the park to dazzle you with its costume change, from green to flaming red, orange or yellow. The first pumpkins outside a shop....
WHAT ON EARTH IS A MOON DAY? April 2022 was unusual for having three “moon days”. if you’re new to Astanga Yoga this might be an unfamiliar phrase to you. ‘Moon day’ refers to the dates of full and new moons. The moon orbits the earth...
Here are some questions I get asked a lot How long should my practice take me? How long does it take to perfect a posture? How long does it take to learn a series ? How long will it take me to become a yogi? If I was feeling mischievous...
A friend and I were once joking about how easy it can be to get addicted to ‘prep – poses’. In case you are wondering what on earth a ‘prep – pose’ might be, it’s a nickname for any number of warm ups which a...
You may remember from a previous article that in Astanga Yoga the first things we learn are often the most important. If I told you that Virabadrasana was one of the first postures you ever learned you might think I was mistaken. But that’s because...
If you have been joining online classes lately you’re probably getting very familiar with counted or “led” primary series. This is an important aspect of the Mysore practice and if you have never been to one before, now is a good time to try it....
Practicing during a cold snap There is no doubt about it: sticking to a regular practice through the winter is not easy. The dark mornings make it all the more tempting to hit the ‘snooze’ button. The festive season throws us off our routine. But if...
Asana Focus part one: Janu Sirsasana Please note: this article contains references to the literary output of K Pattabhi Jois. If the inclusion of these references raises any questions please Contact Me. Following on from last month’s article about the finishing sequence, I wanted to write about...
Have you ever made a Risotto? This beautifully simple dish from Italy, made with a short grain rice which gives it a creamy consistency, is something of a legend amongst cooks all over the world. It has a reputation for being fiendishly difficult to “get...
The Elusive Closing Chant The Astanga Yoga Closing Prayer is a bit of an enigma. Because of the nature of Mysore rooms, it’s possible to attend one for many months or years before becoming aware of its existence. This is a pity because the chant is...
Lotus feet and serpent heads… A look at the opening chant “Let’s start at the very beginning, it’s a very good place to start” I suppose I could have taken this advice several weeks ago when I began writing about Mantras. Not that beginning at ‘the beginning’ works...
Lock to unlock…The mysterious Bandhas The application of Bandha to our Asana practice brings us to a place where our modern understanding of anatomy rubs shoulders with a very ancient one. As a result many people view the Bandhas as a means to gain or enhance...
Ahimsa in the age of Covid-19 In our first online chat we discussed ways we might use the first limb of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras to help endure our current situation. The more present we are, the more durable we feel. Wishing away the time is not...
The Prayer of St Francis This week’s mantra may surprise you. The Prayer of St Francis is not in Sanskrit and it is not about forests or demons or Gods in disguise. It’s not ancient. It’s actually quite modern. No one is exactly sure when...
We are still in the woods. And just in case you thought I could get us out of here, I should come clean. I think I’m lost. In wanting to give you some nuggets of wisdom about this week’s mantra, I got drawn into a tangle...
There’s no clock in the forest This is one of my favourite lines of Shakespeare, taken from the comedy ‘As You Like it’. I quote it to myself sometimes, usually on those days when I’m ticking myself off for not getting everything done. Shakespeare used the forest...
The Swasti Varcanam Im flying by the seat of my pants a little when it comes to this sharing of resources. But Friday seems to be turning into a “mantra day” so let’s run with that for a while. Today’s Mantra is much more consise...
Aditya Hrudayam I don’t know about you but I reacted to this weeks blue skies with an almost giddy joy. Even though we have had to spend a lot of time just looking at them! As the famous Beatles song here comes the sun goes:...
Three is the magic number...
While we tough out the social distancing required at this time we have to make do with home practice. If you are new to this it can seem a little daunting. Here are some tips which might come in handy. The most important qualities of a home...