The Self-Declared Yoga Prop Queen

The Self-Declared Yoga Prop Queen

by | Jul 2, 2013 | Video, XTeaching, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching , Yoga Therapy

If you know me as a teacher, you probably also know that I am the Prop Queen. It would be a rare class where I taught without the students using props. I find they are beneficial for beginners to advanced students for a variety of reasons, and they work great for me in my personal practice.
I wasn’t always like this. I learned hatha yoga originally like a lot of people do in a community hall with a hard wooden floor, well before the advent of non-skid mats. […]

Winter's Here: May As Well Put Out the Welcome Mat

Winter's Here: May As Well Put Out the Welcome Mat

by | Jul 1, 2013 | Community, Gardening, Health, XToolKit

It’s so much more satisfying to have the luxury of a whole weekend to spend with friends instead of trying to fit in a meal together in the city. City people should probably be having more sleep-overs.
I thought that, since Daniel and I didn’t have a winter holiday planned this year, we would be feeling the weight of the winter season – and a wet one at that. But no… […]

Make Every Day Count

Make Every Day Count

by | Jun 30, 2013 | Community, Gardening, XCommunity

I came across a great post on The Elephant Journal entitled: “Exercise & Opportunity: Why You Should Throw Away Your Bucket List & Stop Wasting Your Life” by Jennifer S. White.
The author reminded me of two things that people of a certain age like me should consider – get plenty of exercise. The Victorian Government Better Health Channel says:
“Only 1 in 10 Australians over 50 exercises enough to gain any cardiovascular benefit. […]

Yoga for All Seasons – Especially When You’re Under the Weather

Yoga for All Seasons – Especially When You’re Under the Weather

by | Jun 28, 2013 | Healing, Health, Yoga practices

It started early this week, a feeling of blocked sinuses accompanied by congestion at the back of my throat. A feeling of yuk that unfortunately had the affect of leaking testiness into my intimate relationships. Sadly, it took me fully a day to realise that physical symptoms of my cold and sore throat had blighted my spirit, too.
This is where forgiveness comes in handy. […]

Making the Most of: Grist for the Mill

Making the Most of: Grist for the Mill

by | Jun 27, 2013 | Healing, Health, Mindfulness Meditation, Wisdom, Yoga teaching 

Do you like words? Do you find that when you read a phrase that’s well-written, you stop and savour it? Let it roll around in your mind the way you roll a fine chocolate around in your mouth until it melts.
Do you file away particular expressions that you love to be brought out and displayed the way you would proudly flash a boutinaire or a necklace? I meditate while being guided by the audio recordings of Jon Kabat-Zinn, and, man, does he have a way with words! […]

Winter's Here: May As Well Put Out the Welcome Mat

Yoga in A Good 'Ole Aussie Shed

by | Jun 26, 2013 | Community, Nature, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching 

For any of you non-native Australian people out there, a Shed (with a capital “S”) is an Aussie institution. In the country, Sheds act as primary residences for people until they can afford the time, energy and money to build a house. If all of those things don’t fall in place, living in a shed might be a long-term proposition.
More often than not, the Shed is the place that a bloke can get away from his missus and the kids for a bit of peace and mind. […]

What Makes a Bad Day Bad?

What Makes a Bad Day Bad?

by | Jun 25, 2013 | Being a writer, Wisdom, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching 

photo by leena holmstrom via pinterest
I’ve been having a bad day. ‘Bad’ is such a puny little word to have to act as a bog umbrella over so many kinds of things: physical, emotional, spiritual, mental.
What do I mean by ‘bad’? Cold symptoms, a twinge of an old rotator cuff injury, feeling low in myself and out of relationship with my husband, and an extremely slow blog connection right at this moment. […]

Winter's Here: May As Well Put Out the Welcome Mat

True Confessions From a Yoga Teacher T.V. Watcher

by | Jun 21, 2013 | Pleasure

Many yoga practitioners spurn watching television and some don’t even like reading the newspapers. In the spirit of full disclosure, I’ll just say that I’m not one of them. In fact, I watch a lot of programming. I am discerning. My interest in good programming started way back with a couple of brilliant shows called, “The West Wing” and “The Sopranos”*.
I felt sad last night when I heard that James Gandolfini,  the star of the “The Sopranos” had passed away. […]

Arguing with Your Yoga Poses

Arguing with Your Yoga Poses

by | Jun 20, 2013 | Wisdom, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching 

 
yogashaktiravena.it via pinterest
When you do your yoga practice, either in class or at home, have you been paying attention to the ‘push-pull’ energy that certain poses have for you?
What I mean is that spontaneous feeling of contraction you experience mentally or physically when your teacher says that you are going to do chaturanga dandasana (the yogi’s push-up pose), for instance, or ardha chandrasana (half-moon pose, pictured above).
Sometimes the push feeling might register as strong aversion, like a tightening in your gut or a furrow between your brows.
On the other hand, at times, you […]

Winter's Here: May As Well Put Out the Welcome Mat

Yoga Practice: Being Durable and Vulnerable

by | Jun 19, 2013 | Healing, Health, Wisdom, Yoga practices, Yoga teaching , Yoga Therapy

As a blogger ensconced in my little Mitchells Island retreat, I walk a thin line between being open and revealing in my writing but not so much that I come across as neurotic and narcissistic.
Really, I do rein myself in at times. Also, I don’t want you to lose confidence in me because I don’t show up as the epitome of a strong, well-balanced yoga teacher (which I’m not, certainly not at all times…ask my husband). […]