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Concentrating on contemplation
In my yoga classes and one to one sessions, we are are looking at the array of mind training practices that Patanjali describes as dharana (concentration), dhyana (contemplation), and samadhi (meditation). In our asana (posture and movement) and pranayama (breathing) practice we can explore these mind training methods quite well. In fact, for many of…
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On curiosity in yoga
Are you curious? I am. I think we all are. It seems that we are hardwired for curiosity because it is linked not just to our cognition but also to our survival and evolution. Recent research confirms that it is critical to learning and knowledge acquisition. It turns out that curiosity didn’t kill the cat,…
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The isness business
Yoga is the “isness business”. It is a collection of tools and techniques to help you see yourself as you are, and the world – “as it is”. There are other methods and techniques that can help you do this. Infact, everything has the potential to do this. As a very english yogi, I tend…
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What I talk about, when I talk about yoga
I love the package that is what most people call “yoga”. It’s a complete DIY toolkit of self-help, personal discovery and evolution. It’s not just a load of postures. It is breath exploration. It includes some principles for living individually and within society. There’s a library full of philosophy. There”s this neat thing called meditation,…
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If this is your first time at yoga club – you have to do yoga
The 8th and final Yoga Club rule is a request – if this is your first time at yoga club – you have to do yoga. But, what is yoga club ? Yoga club is one of the best kept secrets ever. Yoga club is a state of mind. It is doing a regular and…
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Enjoy yourself?
The 7th Yoga Club Rule is another simple one. The rule is simply to enjoy yourself. This sounds more straight forward than it is though. Which is why I put a question mark after “enjoy yourself”. There are quite a few people who still quite like to feel “the burn”, and to feel pain. You…
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Yoga is a form of Kintsugi
Pretty much everyone I know has some sort of damage. Heck – even I have some form of damage. What do I mean by that? Well we are all not perfect. We don’t just turn up to the mat and do yoga with a perfect body, breath and mind. We bring with it a history…
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Keep it simple
The 6th Yoga Club Rule is : ‘keep it simple’. It seems such a straightforward rule that I wonder why it’s even worth saying. But it is…. I think we tend to confuse complexity with meaningfulness. If something is complicated or complex – it means its uber brilliant or beneficial. It’s a bit like that…
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Nothing but a blinding light
Every so often, I get asked the question: “why do you ‘do’ yoga”? It’s usually in a yoga class, but sometimes it’s over a particularly lovely drink in one of the beautiful places that I visit in the Ribble Valley which is where I live. It’s a good question to ask. Over the years, I…
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Gomukhasana : cow face pose or light headed pose?
A very English Yogi has been practicing an asana that tickles him (literally and metaphorically speaking). It’s an arm and leg twister, and is known by the name of Gomukhasana. Most people refer to it as the ‘cow face’ pose typically because when you are in it’s final position, from the front it looks a…
