Skip to main content

Posts

Showing posts from 2012

Ashtanga yoga charity classes with John & Lucy Scott

Calling all you London yogis. Last chance to join in these charity classes at STILLPOINT YOGA LONDON tomorrow ( Sunday 30th of December ). Get to practise with senior Ashtanga yoga teachers, whilst raising money for a wonderful charity Centrepoint and remembering a member of the yoga community sadly no longer with us. Only a few places remaining so book your space here . A day of charity yoga classes with John and Lucy Scott                                  In memory of Ozge Karabiyik Raising awareness of Centrepoint , helping London's young and homeless Sunday 30th December 2012 John and Lucy will be teaching 2 classes on a donation basis (minimum £10) and all proceeds will be passed on to Centrepoint, John and Lucy's favourite homeless charity.  There will be 2 classes on the day, both being a Sanskrit counted led Ashtanga Yoga primary series. The times of these classes are: 1st Class: 10:00am - 12:00pm 2nd Class: 13:00pm - 15:00pm  We are lookin

All about the balance

My festive fruit bowl... A bit like me... good and bad.

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 25th

Lets get this party started. Wishing you all a very Happy Christmas. x

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 24th

Phew! One more sleep till Christmas.

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 23rd

Mudra time

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 22nd

Silence in the chaos....

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 21st

I prefer the view from here....

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 20th

In need of a lie down......

The yoga advent calendar: December 19th

Naval gazing at Christmas

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 18th

I beg your pardon! I most certainly have not had one too many sherries... Naturally relaxed with yoga.

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 17th

Cant hear you, cant hear you.......think its another rendition of jingle bells Karnaapidasana -Ear pressure pose. Not to be confused with a trussed up turkey.

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 16th

Oh, I could kick myself for eating all those mince pies!

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 15th

Bakasana- Crow pose All I want for Christmas is my my two front teeth. At least that's what I will need if I fall on my face here :-)

Kim Wilde's drunken rendition of Kids in America-Fantastic!

Kim Wilde has so gone up in my books after this drunken "sing song" on the train

The Yoga advent calendar: Dec 14th

Yes, I said I want quiet time....Not "Last Christmas" by George Michael (although I do love that song :-))

The Yoga advent calendar: Dec 13th

Any chocolate back there?.... Ustrasana variation

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 12th

Tittibhasana-Whats that in the distance Santa's sledge? Er, think it might be my feet...

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 11th

 Bhujapidasana- Drishtis.  Is that Santa I can see in the distance ?

The Yoga advent calendar: Dec 10th

Trying to find the balance....

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 9th

Looking back on the year-Time of reflection ....

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 8th

Upavista Konasana. Is is safe to come up yet? ( Christmas madness)

The yoga advent calender: Dec 7th

Ushtrasana -Camel pose. And the three wise men came on a camel... didn't look like this though.

Yoga advent calendar: Dec 6th

Hiding here in Badha Konasana :-)

Yoga advent calendar: Dec 5th

One of my favourites Bharadvajasana

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 4th

Krounchasana-Heron pose..

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 3rd

Dreaming of the Ibiza sunshine....

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 2nd

Day two of avoiding the festive madness...

The yoga advent calendar: Dec 1st

In no particular order... 25 days until Christmas. This is how I will make it to and through the festive season; a pose a day :-)

Yoga Pose of the Day: Balasana

Balasana (Child's Pose) - © Yoga Mama Yoga pose of the day: Balasana , otherwise known as Child's pose.

Feeling the winter blues?

Feeling the winter blues…. With Christmas only four weeks away and the short dark days fully upon us. Many of us can suffer from SAD seasonal affective disorder. We can feel tired and lethargic and our moods can be on the low side. The lack of day light can have a significant effect on our hormones. There can be an increase in the "sleepy" hormone melatonin and a decrease in the "happy" hormone serotonin;  our body clock feels "out of sorts". Spending as much time out doors will really help to balance this situation, as will exercise, as the increase in endorphins will lift the spirits. A brisk walk in your local park at lunchtime, when the light is at its best, will have a really positive effect. So avoid the mad shopping crowds and get walking!

Berries are good for the brain

By Fleur Borrelli BSc Nuit med,BA Hons Nutritionist at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy Berries contain plant chemicals known as polyphenols. These are found in vegetables and fruit as well as in coffee and cocoa. Recently one category of polyphenols (anthocyanins) found in strawberries, raspberries, and blueberries have attracted attention for enhancing cognitive function in the elderly. Whist it is still early days for any conclusive evidence, there is no harm in eating a handful per day,fresh or frozen.

Russell Brand to become a yoga teacher....

So the twitter jungle drums say Russell Brand is going to do a yoga teacher training in Los Angeles . I know he has practised yoga for quite sometime, so maybe now he feels he would like to share his knowledge with others.  He is a recovering addict and so probably has a great understanding of the spiritual side of yoga....he also has an amazing sense of humour which I think is a great gift to a yoga teacher- as  many teachers take themselves very seriously.... So Mr Brand if you are planning on doing some dogging ( down dogging obviously:-))  and you need a few students to practise on -look no further....I think you would have a queue out the door -so go for it Russell.

ACL Knee Injuries and Female Athletes

This is an interesting article on anterior cruciate ligament knee injuries that was originally posted on Science Daily . ACL knee injuries much more likely in female athletes Female athletes are far more likely than males to suffer serious ACL knee injuries. But many of these injuries could be prevented by doing pre-season conditioning and using proper landing techniques after jumping, said Loyola University Medical Center orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Pietro Tonino. Doctors aren't certain why female athletes are more prone to ACL injuries. One reason may be related to how they jump, Tonino said. Due to the shape of the female pelvis, females tend to land from a jump with their knees locked. This puts added pressure on the knee. Females also tend to be more knock-kneed, with knees close together and the ankles far apart. With the basketball season under-way, Tonino and other orthopaedic surgeons are seeing a significant number of knee injuries in female athletes, ranging from middl

Ashtanga yoga Prasarita Padottanasana

Ashtanga yoga- Degy practising with me in a Mysore class in my studio in Putney.

Yoga for toddlers

Toddler yoga class every Friday at 10am with Hajni . Suitable for toddlers from 1-3 years old. Cost £8.00 . For more information or bookings, please email info@putneyclinic.co.uk .

Cold and Flu: Stay in Bed or Exercise?

Stuffy noses, hacking coughs and aches all over -- cold and flu season has arrived. Though your body may be aching and your nose running like a faucet, it can be difficult to decide if you should continue your exercise routine or take a temporary break. "We all know that exercise is key to good health, but there are times that your body may need a break," said Keith Veselik, MD, director of primary care at Loyola University Health System. "Having to slow down when you're sick is Mother Nature's way of saying don't push it and it's reasonable to pay attention to that." According to Veselik whether a person should exercise or not can be disease specific. When sick our bodies already are battling against an illness and that takes energy. For instance, adding the extra stress of exercising while sick can be dangerous for a person with a heart condition. A person with diabetes may need to monitor blood glucose levels more often, especially if one is not

Prison Art-Koestler Trust

I went to a fantastic art exhibition at the South Bank Centre in London this week. The exhibition is run by the Koestler Trust and displays art produced by offenders, secure patients and detainees. It's a free exhibition and one of the best I have seen in a long time. I will not go into the politics of rehabilitation through art, and other forms here, but will let the images do the talking. The exhibition runs until the 25th of November 2012. Some of the art will be for sale at the end of the exhibition and proceeds from sales are divided between the artist (50%), victim support (25%) and the Koestler Trust (25/%). There are too many paintings and sculptures that I would have love to included here (I don't know how the curator Sarah Lucas managed to pick from many thousands) but this is a small sample. Spirit Level at Royal Festival hall. Southbank centre London SE1 8XX http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/home http://www.koestlertr

Nancy Gilgoff assists Vrishchikasana

A photo from the workshop Nancy taught at my Putney Studio June 2012.   www.yogamama.co.uk wwwputneyclinic.co.uk

Will Ferrell, Barack Obama, US elections

So the elections are over and the world can breathe a sigh of relief that Obama has been re-elected (well, I speak for myself here). This election promo made me laugh... Perhaps we should do something similar in the UK; David Cameron could get "Borat" on the case? Nominations start here....

Postnatal Massage

Here is an article about Postnatal Massage from Hajni Varadi. Postnatal massage by Hajni Varadi, sports & therapeutic massage therapist Women often ask me how soon they can have a massage after giving birth. I usually recommend at least 3 weeks after having a natural birth, and 4-5 weeks after having a caesarean section. It is advisable to allow time for the body to recover, heal and adjust to motherhood, as there are all sorts of new aches and pains to deal with. During pregnancy it is usually the lower back that hurts. However, with breastfeeding and carrying a baby, the muscles between the shoulder blades can get tight and sore. The neck can also be painful from constantly looking down. On top of this, hormonal changes in the body can sometimes cause postnatal depression. I know it all sounds daunting, but on a cheery note, massage can help you feel human again. What's more, during the treatment you can have a well-deserved power nap! If you are breastfeeding and/or h

Ashtanga yoga - Surya Namaskara A

One of my students Degy practising in my studio in Putney-calm, flowing Surya Namaskara A

Pukka herbs

I've just come across this amazing range of organic herbs-Not only are they organic and beautifully packaged but that have a fabulous name "Pukka herbs" Im starting with the organic aloe Vera juice -Aloe is is excellent for skin conditions and has been used for many years to enhance beauty and aid digestion. It is also used to help regulate/stimulate the immune system. It is one of the few vegetarian sources of vitamin B12  and contains many minerals vital to the growth process and healthy function of the body. Have to be completely honest and say Aloe Vera isn't the best tasting stuff to drink ( although this range isn't as bitter as some I have tasted) - but who cares if it works?...... I will post an update as I continue with the Aloe so watch this space and check out the large range of products available on-line from Pukka herbs http://www.pukkaherbs.com/aloe-vera- pukkaherbs.com   organic, nutrient rich, inner leaf gel, 100% natural          

Saraswati in Gandhaberundasana, circa 1950

Saraswati in Gandhaberundasana, circa 1950. I came across this photo on Ashtanga Yoga New York . It is the only image I have seen of Saraswati practising yoga. She is now in her 70's and assists her son Sharath in Mysore.

Spectacular autumn colours

At the beginning of the autumn I read we were in for an autumn of spectacular colours....What a delight the colours on offer are here in London-truly amazing at the moment-get out and enjoy before the wind takes the leaves away....