Be a Beginner: It Will Change Your Life

Be a Beginner: It Will Change Your Life

Yoga BeginningsDo you like to be a beginner? At times I think that I don’t, but once I have additional skills and knowledge under my belt, it feels great.The domain of neuroscience and neuroplasticity informs us oldies that we need to keep our grey matter fresh through on-going learning. We especially need the sorts of complicated learning that challenges our brains and creates new neural pathways.The most transformative learning experiences I’ve had have been through the pursuit of yoga.Being a beginner in Iyengar Yoga is still a vivid experience for me. It was mid-week October 1979. […]

In Praise of Legs Up the Wall

In Praise of Legs Up the Wall

What’s not to praise?Legs up the wall is a favourite with many people because it’s a pose that’s guaranteed to sort you out. With a minimum investment of energy, the pose will return you maximum benefits. It is restorative, regenerative and reviving.Even non-yogis seem to find their way to this pose. I’ve seen bushwalkers take a break, lie down and put their legs up a tree. […]

'Ultimate' Yoga is Coming

'Ultimate' Yoga is Coming

When ‘Ultimate’ is a nounIn the U.S. where I was born, there’s a word–snowbirds–to describe people who head for warmer climes when the first hint of winter chill infuses the air.For some of us, this is the ultimate lifestyle–never ever having to experience snow, wind and ice. Others might want to enjoy the snow-and-cold experience, but only in the ski fields when winter evenings feature warm fires and mulled wine.My smart housemates, Heather and Rick, just before they flip the calendar to June 1st, routinely head for the north American summer season. […]

Mother Love: Let Me Count the Ways

Mother Love: Let Me Count the Ways

My Women’s GroupOn Mother’s Day, as I write this post, I’m full of happy memories from the reunion that I shared with my women’s group last week.Let me tell you a little about us.Everyone of our group is a mother and some are grandmothers. Everyone loves their progeny fiercely and has been through all the ups and downs that come with being a mother.We get together once a year and come from all over the place–Broome, Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Mitchells Island and Adelaide. We value this time together that we carve out of our busy lives. […]