THE PROCESS of shifting attention from the large and/or final movement, the outward shape of the asana to the micro moves, deeper muscles, mindfulness and the quality of the breath …
A HAPPY LIFE LASTS 90 MINUTES
The Bliss path to Self Realisation becomes obscured ‘over time’; relatively speaking, time can be an enemy as well as a friend; your ‘Bliss suffers with the mere passage of …
IT IS NOT IN OUR NATURE TO BE STILL YET ‘STILLNESS’ IS OUR ESSENTIAL NATURE
Are you suffering from a lack of Stillness in your practice? In the consistency of our Bikram Yoga sequence there is SO MUCH FREEDOM to explore Stillness ‘in’ and ‘not …
What does Kahlil Say?
Book Posing ~ Bookasana ~ Had a few conversations with people this week about favourite books! Too hard to pick fave; makes my head spin as only a book lovers …
12/4/21 Guidance & Protocols Still With Us
So. 12/4/21. ‘GUIDANCE’ IS STILL WITH US. Risk Assessments, Mitigation Plans and Protocols are STILL WITH US and Gov’t still expects us to promote: …“PHYSICAL DISTANCING AND CLEANLINESS… AT THE …
WHAT DOES ‘FINDING YOURSELF’ MEAN?
Using western ‘logic’ ‘fact/literal meaning’ it is too easy to dismiss this little phrase as a bit of ‘new agey’ ‘nonsense’. To the person who hasn’t explored the idea these …
Daydream Believer
When I’m practicing Yogasana my mind is 100% ‘IN THE MOMENT’. This state did not come easily; it took a while at outset of practice to develop this strong body-mind …
The Way of the Peaceful Warrior
Aah dusting: an excellent way to re-acquaint yourself with classics; THIS ONE has had its 3 readings 🙂 first early 90s and it truly DID bring big CHANGE to my …
The Doors of Perception
Just done some Yoga and feeling a bit trippy! ~ I remember reading The Doors of Perception {Huxley} thinking gad he goes on a bit about ‘that chair’! but I …
WE DON’T USE THE BODY TO GET INTO THE POSE. WE USE THE POSE TO GET INTO THE BODY.
Don’t mess with knees. You know I’m always ‘banging on about knees’ in class 🙂 . At YM we promote ‘HONOUR YOUR KNEES’. They do so much for us, we …
Speaking of ‘Adages’ and ‘Edges’…
“IF YOU CAN YOU MUST” ~V.~ “JUST BECAUSE YOU CAN DO SOMETHING DOESN’T MEAN YOU SHOULD” ~ Sometimes I feel like… I am speaking in adages in class and taken …
CONTAGION ‘MITIGATION’ PLAN
****scroll down to see 26/8/21 ‘Stage 7’ update**** We are so happy and excited to be able to WELCOME YOU BACK to our little Yoga school. To help you feel …
2020/21/22 cv era diary
The following is YM record of events/communications to our practitioners and protocols/mitigation updates/ focuses over this era since 11/3/2020 : CONTAGION ‘MITIGATION’ PLAN is a separate document. 29/4/22 ~ ‘De-escalation’ measures …
HOW NOW 2020?
WHAT.a.year. It has been MASSIVE in terms of our Yoga community locally AND globally. The world in its changing feels freefall and less predictable at the moment; where will we …
OMG 30 Degrees ~ INTRODUCTION by Trisha
You already have reaffirmed in your mind that you can have a physicality and you can choose to get in your body and MOVE IT TO WHATEVER ITS LIMIT IS. …
‘out of office / gone to Yoga Matters’
picked up ‘Business Life’ local mag at airport {Sep19}; ‘twas the cover that caught my attention “DUTY OF CARE, ITS TIME TO FACE UP TO STARK STATISTICS ABOUT EMPLOYEES MENTAL …
‘OUT OF OFFICE / GONE TO YOGA’ DOWNTIME
2 x 30 minute SESSIONS every Wednesday TO CHOOSE FROM: 12.15p.m. to 12.45p.m. AND 1.15p.m. to 1.45p.m. no need to book wear comfortable clothing ALL LEVELS WELCOME £5 DROP IN …
You are the driver…
Dear Practitioners Having received a parking ticket at Langford Friday evening for forgetting to display ‘time arrived’ (ouch!) it got me thinking on the whole parking and driving to Yoga …
getting back to that sacred space
Excitement is starting to build… We will be starting back with our FULL SCHEDULE ~ YES! Bikram Yoga EVERYDAY! Sometimes TWICE! Because Bikram practitioners deserve to be able to practice …
No Devices in Yoga School
Sometimes we have to home in on the ‘etiquettes’ what they are and why we have them so people can work on the same page as us if they wish… …
Yoga Ethics ~ Part III ~ Niyamas (Observances)
Remember from Part I & Part II we are focusing in on how you can apply Yoga ethics when you are at Yoga school and on your mat. The Niyamas …
Yoga Ethics ~ Part II ~ Yamas (Restraints)
Remember from Part I that we are focussing in on how you can apply Yoga ethics when you are at Yoga school and on your mat. The ‘Yamas’ are universal …
Raja Yoga ~ Part I – Ethics
THE TREE OF YOGA represents one of the 4 main Paths of Yoga ~ ‘RAJA’ or Royal Yoga. The Tree has EIGHT LIMBS or ‘branches’ (referencing Patanjali’s Sutras and ‘Ashtanga’ or ‘Eightfold’ …
Me? Acting/Bored with Dialogue? No Way!
My first Bikram Yoga class was like someone had finally turned the lights on.To some this might sound over the top (I am well aware that not everyone gets this …
Math – All the Cool Kids Are Doing It
As usual I have a number of books ‘on the go’: ‘Harry Potter’ (again! keeping my daughter company on her first reading), ‘Of Human Bondage’, ‘The Chair’, ‘The Casual Vacancy’, …
BREAKING SYMMETRY
Have you ever heard the expression ‘if your gonna be tight be tight on both sides’ ? 🙂 Think about it! One sure way your body will be MORE vulnerable …
Lines of Energy
You can change a posture in an instant by creating a LINE OF ENERGY. You are a living being. You are a LIFE FORCE. In Yoga class we work to …
Trees for Life
It has long been on our mind that we need to do something to offset any negative imprint the running of our lovely studio may have on the environment. It …
BELLY UP PART IV ~ KNOW YOUR BELLY ~
I would like YM students to become more considerate of all the layers of muscles and organs* residing in this area. Use your Yoga to tune into the deeper abdominal …
BELLY UP PART III ~ RESPECT YOUR BELLY ~
It is hard to know where to start on this point. Harder still to know where the stop!! AGNI The fire of digestion resides in the belly area. It is …
BELLY UP PART II ~ SEE YOUR BELLY ~
AT THE BEGINNING of a Bikram Yoga Class in ‘Pranayama’ one of the standard phrases in the Bikram dialogue is ‘stomach in…depression of the abdominal wall…ribs stick out’ ‘RIB CAGE …
BELLY UP PART I ~ FREE YOUR BELLY ~
THE IMAGE: my belly is nearly 46 years old. My daughter resided and was nourished in there for 9 months. She arrived via c-section. She was 8.4lbs. Like many before …
feeling your Yoga
A YOGA POSE IS A LIVING THING. Not set in stone. Your pose is ever changing. It expresses differently from personality to personality, body to body, history to history, class …
~ FEEL V. FORCE ~
After 2 posts about ‘seeing’ your Yoga I thought I better ‘Yin’ it out with a couple of ‘FEELING’ your Yoga post :). Its all about balance 🙂 : Sometimes …
~ MIRROR MIRROR ~
Do you obey what your eyes show you or do you feel your Yoga? Some might say feeling your Yoga is King but as a beginner the reality can be …
Don’t Nourish the Flourish
More experienced students taking places in front few rows please/should be aware of the newbies placed behind them and try to lead by example: remembering not to insert extra movements/quirks/flourishes …
Responsibility; the Road Less Travelled
BIKRAM YOGA IS, amongst many other things, about strength, flexibility, balance and stamina which contribute HUGEly to one’s overall health and fitness. This is a challenging beginning Yoga class and …
Bikram’s Five Qualities of Mind
The Boss says: “the greatest challenge we face as human beings is controlling and properly using our own minds… The ego driven mind… does not want to give up its …
Yoga Matters Manifesto
As you LOOK into the eyes of your reflection and KNOW these are the eyes of your teacher, you REALISE there is nowhere to hide. Your smartphone can’t help you …
Change One Thing. Change Everything.
Change Nothing? Nothing Will Change. {May 2015} Yesterday I was unexpectedly presented with a person that I associate with being the cause of extreme stress for myself personally (Yes I …
Choosing the ‘Right’
The word ‘right’ is not right! The word ‘perfect’ is not perfect! Words are so powerful; what would we do without Shakespeare’s 800 ! I fancy I have invented a …
Thumbs Up!
Whist I was tightening up all my bits preparing for Part I Utkatasana today I suddenly became excessively aware of my THUMBS! I feel them, any movement, they feel strong, …
I Am Awesome Yogi
So folks, I’m psyched! After an amazing weekend in Brighton (I even got a glimpse of their naked bike ride!! Woohooo (ok more than a glimpse 😉 possibly more than …
Cut Your Toenails BEFORE you Come to Yoga Class !
YOGA TIP OF THE DAY: TO AVOID INJURY IN YOGA CUT YOUR TOENAILS BEFORE YOU COME TO CLASS ! If you have been practicing Yoga a while you might be …
A Bikram Yoga class is not Cirque de Soleil
The educator must believe in the potential power of his pupil, and he must employ all his art in seeking to bring his pupil to experience this power.” ~ Alfred …
How To Get The Monkeys Out Of Your Temple
Your Body is a Temple 🙂 . It’s where you live, love, learn, dream. Sadly, you may also be sharing it with a few squatters. Yup. The monkeys. A little …
“Let go or be dragged” Zen proverb (I think)
I DO like to employ a bit of Zen 🙂 ; as much as you can square anything off with Yoga you can round things off nicely with a little …
“There are many possibilities but the expert has few.” ~ Suzuki
QUESTION TIME: You all know my thoughts on keeping an open mind to receiving teachings from new/different teachers, yes? But WHAT ABOUT THE WISDOM YOUR OWN BODY HAS TO OFFER? …
Yoga Homework
Put some “Yoga” in your journey to YM… Om Shanti 🙂
Notes from Darren: Top Ten Tips for Newbies
These tips are written with the ‘new to Bikram’ Yogi in mind. For those more experienced? no harm to refresh your memory but you will probably have already integrated these …
How to approach your practice…
The sequence performed as a ‘whole’ is what maximises benefits. Practicing the sequence nourishes and invigorates the entire body and mind as well as enabling one to access their own …
Happy Hydrating
Managing your water consumption in a Bikram environment So you all know you must come to class properly hydrated; come in de-hydrated and it is downhill all the way. You …