My blog has been a bit neglected of late as life is pretty hectic at the moment. I continue my daily Ashtanga yoga practice (mostly) and come to child's pose when things get busy in my world. Balasana or child's pose is both relaxing and calming, allowing the back brain to rest towards the front brain, encouraging a restful mind.  While I don't recommend you drop to your knees every time you feel a bit of stress (could make for interesting business meetings), I do recommend finding time for child's pose for quietening the mind, and connecting with the child within.

Wonderful rare clip of Sharath both teaching and talking at  Astanga Yoga Copenhagen . Beautifully filmed -what a treat. Big thank you to Jen's and Susanna for sharing. I believe Sharath will be joining them again this summer-see website for details.

Okay not a long item on the pros and cons of a home ashtanga yoga practice (or any yoga for that matter). That I feel is for another day. The pros, as shown in this photograph, are that I get to practice with unbrushed hair in my pyjamas at home. The cons are fairly obvious here. My beautiful old Labrador likes to come and practice his down dogs on my mat and occasionally licks my face when I fully absorbed in my drishti. I wouldn't have it any other way :-)

Some great old footage. Not sure when this was taken, but Sharath looks quite young. Thank you to  Dmitry Baryshnikov  for sharing.

               Cherie Lathey,  Clive Lathey,  Chrissie Wellington,  Doctor Courtney Kipps  We had a day of talks and treatments at The Putney clinic of physical therapy on Saturday. Our main speaker of the day - was the four times world champion Ironman Chrissie Wellington. What an amazing inspirational speaker she is...and a fantastic role model for young women.  Her book "life without limits" is well worth a read. I don't need to relate everything I write here to yoga, but some of Chrissie experiences really resonated with me...Obviously I have not achieved the magnificent world titles, but I have worked through pain and fear in my ashtanga yoga practice (and in life).... Chrissie described pain in the body shifting as she embarked on triathlons and Ironman events..IE.a pain that starts in the shoulder as you embark on your event ( or on your mat), can disappear along the way only to relocate to another part of the body..this is where the training of the min

There is so much to talk about about my recent trip to Mysore- but as I am still tying to assimilate the experience, I think a photo is the way to go.This photo was taken at the end of my last conference day-I dug up the courage to ask Sharath a question ( anyone who has been to his conferences will know its a teeny bit scary :-))...again I may share this and the response in another posting. I will say that Sharath is a kind and gentle man- who has truly given his life over to sharing Ashtanga yoga

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

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

I was in Venice this weekend with my husband celebrating 19 years of marriage....busting an impromptu yoga pose under " the bridge of Sighs" & also nearly doing a knicker flash-still not a grown up :-)

So Im back on mat having been stuck in this boot for more than four weeks. I asked my daughter to assist me with my back bending this morning-She has never done this before so it really made me laugh when she said " am I as good as Sharath?" I was also impressed that she knew who Sharath was?.....Whilst she is a wonderful talented artist, I don't think he need worry about her taking his "guru" role any time soon. The girl child Sharath Jois Mysore

  There are a couple of spaces still available at Nancy's only London Ashtanga yoga workshops. A rare opportunity to practise with one of ashtanga yoga's senior female teachers. Nancy has been my teacher for 7/8 years, and I'm very happy she is coming to share her wisdom at my little Putney studio.  I have ventured to many places to practise with Nancy -including a few trips to India, and feel grateful that she still continues to travel the world to share her love of Ashtanga yoga Tuesday 26 th June 8,30am -11.30am  Led class followed by Q&A and examining the breath in the practise. Wednesday 27 th June 8.30am-11.30  Mysore style practise followed by Q&A and loving kindness  mediation   Thursday 28th June  8.30am- Mysore style practise only Nancy has requested you attend all three sessions where ever possible. Venue The Putney clinic of physical therapy. 2 nd floor  266 upper Richmond road, Putney London SW15 6TQ.

Practise. All is coming... Sri K.Pattabhi Jois

  Here is an ashtanga yoga video from Kino MacGregor, in which she demonstrates the Marichyasana A pose. I have never seen this jump back done before. I also found the foot adjustment interesting.

I really like what Eddie says about the practise being joyful-we have enough intensity in our lives without making our yoga practise intense too

There are signs all over the KPJAYI shala in Mysore saying no photographs-however on conference days this seems to not apply-hence this photo. A very special place indeed.

On my last day of conference at the KPJAYI shala one of my friends snapped this photo of myself and Sharath...Shame I hadn't brushed my hair...but hey story of my life.  Sharath is a wonderful intuitive teacher and nothing passes his watchful gaze ( even when you think he hasn't noticed something, he usually has). A couple of days into my stay in Mysore, Sharath said to me on a Monday " Wednesday you drop back " I said nothing but thought " I dont think so".  I have avoided drop backs since I took up Ashtanga yoga many moons ago, and whilst I had not mentioned this to Sharath, he just seems to know where you need some assistance  .... Wednesday I turn up, go through my practise and just when I think I can finish my back bends and clear off-he shows up on my mat (no idea how he remembers, with so many people in the room) and says " you drop back". The look of terror must have been on my face as he whispered "don't fear go back"

Here is a short clip of a new video filmed at the Ashtanga yoga institute in Mysore. Thank you to Claudia for sharing the link ASHTANGA YOGA MOTHER EARTH earthyogi . blogspot.com 

Without the work of Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga yoga would have been lost. All modern practitioners of Ashtanga yoga benefit directly or indirectly from his teachings. Sri K Patthabi Jois learned from his master Krishnamacharya, whose own master was Ramamohan Brahmachary. My own yoga teacher Nancy Gilgoff learnt directly from Pattabhi Jois. For me, keeping close to the lineage is very important. I try my best not to dilute my physical yoga practice and continue to study the text of Patanjali (Pattabhi Jois said he taught Patanjali's yoga). This, alongside reading items by writers who have given a lot of time to research both the history, and the physical practise of Ashtanga yoga. I am currently reading this book on my Kindle: Ashtanga Yoga: Practices and Philosophy by Gregor Maehle The first two lines above are quoted directly from this book by Gregor Maehle. It is a fascinatingread so far. My well-thumbed book, The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali ...