As you identify less and less with the "me", you will be more at ease with everybody and with everything. Do you know why? Because you are no longer afraid of being hurt or not liked. You no longer desire to impress anyone. Can you imagine the relief when you don't have to impress anybody anymore? Oh, what a relief. Happiness at last! Anthony de Mello

Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still.. Dalai Lama

The more you have, the more you are occupied, the less you give. Mother Teresa

One in soul, you and I A moment of happiness, you and I sitting on the veranda, apparently two, but one in soul, you and I. We feel the flowing water of life here, you and I, with the garden's beauty and the birds singing. The stars will be watching us, and we will show them what it is to be a thin crescent moon. You and I unselfed, will be together, indifferent to idle speculation, you and I. The parrots of heaven will be cracking sugar as we laugh together, you and I. In one form upon this earth, and in another form in a timeless sweet land. Mevlana Rumi

Understand the obstructions you are putting in the way of love, freedom, and happiness and they will drop. Turn on the light of awareness and the darkness will disappear. Happiness is not something you acquire; love is not something you produce; love is not something you have; love is something that has you. Anthony de Mello

If people become better Hindus, better Muslims, better Buddhists by our acts of love, then there is something else growing there. Mother Teresa

Basically, a human being is a social animal. So, if you create some short moment of happiness for people, you get deep satisfaction. Dalai Lama

I love all religions, but I am in love with my own. Mother Teresa

Even a happy life cannot be without a measure of darkness, and the word happy would lose its meaning if it were not balanced by sadness. Carl Jung

I don't claim anything of the work. It is his work. I am like a little pencil in his hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. Mother Teresa

Chaturanga Dandasana can be a very strong pose for some people and is often practised in a way that is quite tough on the shoulders. I have noticed in some of my classes that there is a tendency for some students to come from plank pose into chaturanga and lift the backside, causing the shoulders to drop forwards towards the floor. I am not sure if this is a particular style that is being introduced by some teachers or if the momentum caused by this “sweeping action” makes the pose feel easier for some people. What I do know is I am seeing more shoulder injuries as a result of the repetition of this particular style. When the backside is lifted in this way, it is quite difficult to engage bandhas and use your core belly strength, thus increasing the risk to the lower back. With the shoulders in this position, there is a greater risk of impingement of the rotator cuff tendons, leading to tendonopathy and pain. In my opinion, it is better to drop the knees to the floor if you do not hav...

This much is certain: when a man is happy, happy to the core and root of beatitude, he is no longer conscious of himself or anything else. Meister Eckhart

Padmasana - Lotus position , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . I am feeling tired and although burn out is probably a bit of an exaggeration, my body and mind needs a bit of a rest from teaching yoga. I am very fortunate to do a job I absolutely love… Having a yoga practice of my own enables me to stay in touch with what is going on in my body and to be aware when I need to take a break. I think people sometimes have a preconceived idea that yoga teachers all wander around in a haze of peace and love and that life’s ups and downs do not affect them. As with all the teachers that I know, this is not quite how it is. We are human beings with human failings; we get injured, we get parking tickets, held up in traffic, etc... . The key is to know when you need to draw back a bit, when you need to concentrate on your own practice and really connect with your inner-self. Compassion for oneself enables compassion for others. For me to be able to teach yoga, I have to practice all facets...

A friend sent me this today:- “Our daughter-in-law, Emily (MacInnes) Somers, created, directed and choreographed this in Portland last week for her Medline glove division as a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness. This was all her idea to help promote their new pink gloves. I don’t know how she got so many employees, doctors and patients to participate, but it started to really catch on and they all had a lot of fun doing it. When the video gets 1 million hits, Medline will be making a huge contribution to the hospital, as well as offering free mammograms for the community. Please check it out. It’s an easy and great way to donate to a wonderful cause, and who hasn’t been touched by breast cancer?”.

See God in every human being. When I wash the leper's wounds, I feel I am nursing the Lord Himself. Is it not a beautiful experience. Mother Teresa

My daughter recently meet Daniel Radcliffe of Harry Potter fame and said what a charming unaffected young man he is. I thought I would share a (what I think is funny) conversation that she overhead from a couple that joined them in the room. Woman: “Look there, that man from the telly” Man: “What? Is he in Eastenders? Coronation St?” . (He then proceeded to name various TV shows) Woman: “No, you idiot! He is a hobbit in The Lord of the Rings !” Think not! Fortunately Harry Potter did not hear this conversation, but from what I have been told, he too might have found it funny.

Your grief for what you’ve lost lifts a mirror up to where you’re bravely working. Expecting the worst, you look, and instead here’s the joyful face you’ve been wanting to see. Your hand opens and closes and opens and closes. If it were always a fist or always stretched open, you’d be paralyzed. Your deepest presence is in every small contracting and expanding, the two as beautifully balanced and coordinated as bird wings. Rumi

Within the framework of the Buddhist Path, reflecting on suffering has tremendous importance because by realizing the nature of suffering, you will develop greater resolve to put an end to the causes of suffering and the unwholesome deeds which lead to suffering. And it will increase your enthusiasm for engaging in the wholesome actions and deeds which lead to happiness and joy. Dalai Lama

The resistance to the unpleasant situation is the root of suffering. Ram Dass

To see the universal and all-pervading Spirit of Truth face to face, one must be able to love the meanest of all creation as oneself. Gandhi

The love that you withhold is the pain that you carry. Ralph Waldo Emerson

I have just returned from a wet and windy weekend in Lyme Regis . The reason for the trip was to celebrate Christmas with family, albeit somewhat prematurely, as we will not be able to get together over the festive period. This year, we will be spending Christmas in India (the tropical paradise of Goa to be precise), where I hope to practise lots of yoga and spend some quality time with my family. For one reason or another, this has almost been mission impossible this year. But getting back to the subject at hand... For those of you who have never been to or never heard of Lyme Regis, it is located in western Dorset, (approximately 55 miles west of Bournemouth; 25 miles east of Exeter, in neighbouring Devon, and 25 miles south of Yeovil in Somerset), on the stretch of the English coastline known popularly as the Jurassic Coast. It has been given this name due to the amazing amount of prehistoric fossils that have been discovered in the area and which has led to it being declared a U...

And once we have the condition of peace and joy in us, we can afford to be in any situation. Even in the situation of hell, we will be able to contribute our peace and serenity. The most important thing is for each of us to have some freedom in our heart, some stability in our heart, some peace in our heart. Only then will we be able to relieve the suffering around us. Thich Nhat Hanh

Here is a video of Joni Mitchell performing Big Yellow Taxi live in concert way back in 1970. Virtually 40 years later... (oeer, not showing my age :$ ) her words ring truer than ever... "Paved paradise and put up a parking lot". I, for one, definitely prefer having spots on my apples and keeping the birds and the bees. Enjoy!

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa

Pain is inevitable. Suffering is optional. Dalai Lama

Past and future are in the mind only - I am now. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

A person does not have to be behind bars to be a prisoner. People can be prisoners of their own concepts and ideas. They can be slaves to their own selves. Maharaji

Your children are not your children. They are the sons and daughters of Life's longing for itself. They come through you but not from you, And though they are with you yet they belong not to you. You may give them your love but not your thoughts, For they have their own thoughts. You may house their bodies but not their souls, For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow, which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams. You may strive to be like them, but seek not to make them like you. For life goes not backward nor tarries with yesterday. You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth. The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite, and He bends you with His might that His arrows may go swift and far. Let our bending in the archer's hand be for gladness; For even as He loves the arrow that flies, so He loves also the bow that is stable. Khalil Gibran

The basic fact is that all sentient beings, particularly human beings, want happiness and do not want pain and suffering. Dalai Lama

But it is his work. I think God wants to show his greatness by using nothingness. Mother Teresa

Here is a blog on yoga from one of my friends. She is attending a yoga course that i am teaching and this is her experience to date. The class is a beginners Ashtanga class, so we are gradually increasing Surya Namaskara A B , standing poses and working with a few seated poses. My teachers, generally speaking, do not offer the vinyasa "opt out" and I now know why; offer the "opt out" for newbies and they will take it... Enjoy this account. I am holding my lovely yoga teacher of a friend personally responsible for keeping me sane at this moment in time. I am thoroughly enjoying doing her classes and spending an hour a week deflecting negative thoughts and working on my shoulder stands. It is really helping me clear my mind of all the crap, even if for a brief moment…. I am really not very good at it though and I’m not sure I really get it. I have never been good at learning languages and all the unfamiliar words – bungas and triganasna’s and om’s and whatever els...

When the doors of perception are cleansed man will see things as they truly are, infinite. William Blake

Pincha Mayurasana , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Pincha Mayurasana (feather of the peacock posture, sometimes called the scorpion)

We are living in a world in which things change fast. New technology, new cars, new clothes, new this and new that; the constant need to change is everywhere. We, as human beings, are being forced to change. The global economy crisis that is affecting millions of people around the world has forced a change on many of us; perhaps one that we might not have chosen. Money is not so free and easy as it once was. Consumerism is not as de rigueur as it has been in the previous decade: more people are recycling items of clothing; new cars are not top of the agenda; we are being forced to reassess some of our values and change them... Conscious evolution is happening. Patterns and ways of thinking are changing, and this has to be a good thing. As a yoga teacher I have noticed that the number of people coming to yoga classes for the first time has hugely increased. Communities of likeminded people are springing up and conscious awareness is developing. As a result, energies are changing. I have...

Tender words we spoke to one another are sealed in the secret vaults of heaven. One day like rain, they will fall to earth and grow green all over the world. Rumi

I'm very happy to say that my home life is my haven. Derek Acorah

I recently attended a yoga workshop at the Jivamuckti Yoga Centre in London. The event was hosted by Sharon Gannon and David Life, both devoted vegetarians. The studio was filled to capacity, so I snuck in at the back and was prepared for a full on yoga practice. I was, however, not prepared for a recording of harm being done to animals playing in the background. The physical yoga was, as I had expected, dynamic and flowing (even slightly easier than anticipated). At intervals throughout the class, the tape would play describing unpleasant scenes of farming animals. At the end of the physical practice Sharon gave a very graphic talk on the abuse of animals for about and hour or so. She even used the word “rape” to describe some scenarios. Whilst this was not what I had planned on listening to on a Sunday morning, I did find her ability to link vegetarianism with Patanjali’s Yamas and Ahimsa (not harming) both fascinating and disturbing. So much so that I am still getting images in my m...

You've got to drop something. You've got to drop illusions. You don't have to add anything in order to be happy; you've got to drop something. Life is easy, life is delightful. It's only hard on your illusions, your ambitions, your greed, your cravings. Anthony de Mello

By bringing about a change in our outlook toward things and events, all phenomena can become sources of happiness. Dalai Lama

Ashtanga yoga jump backs in slow motion. Enjoy!

A video of Ashtanga yoga jump throughs in slow motion.

You must make them feel loved and wanted. They are Jesus for me. I believe in that much more than doing big things for them. Mother Teresa

Friday music video... Father and Son by Cat Stevens. Enjoy!!

Is not prayer a study of truth, a sally of the soul into the unfound infinite? No man ever prayed heartily without learning something. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Great video clip from house of Zen in Maui, featuring my favourite teacher Nancy Gilgoff and David Williams, amongst others. I love watching the adjustments made and the steady pace at which the Ashtanga yoga is taught. Has a real traditional feel to it. Enjoy!

When we think of inverted poses, we tend to think of poses such as the Sirsasana (headstand) and Sarvangasana (shoulderstand). These are often described as the “King and Queen of poses”; thus defining their importance in practising yoga. What is an inverted pose? An inverted pose – or inversion - is a pose in which the head is lower than the heart. Given this definition, there are in fact a number of yoga poses that can be classed as inversions; some of which are more easily achieved than the poses mentioned above. Here is a list of some inverted poses: Viparita karani - Legs up the wall Ardho mukha svanasana - Downward facing dog Sasankasana - Hare pose Prasaritta padottanasana A,B, C, D Other inversions (not usually for beginners) include: Halasana - Plough pose. Karnapidasana - Ear pressure pose Urdhva padmasana - Inverted lotus pose Urdhva dandasana - Upward staff pose Adho mukha vrkasana - Full arm balance Pincha mayurasana - Elbow balance Inverted poses are said to have man...

As we cultivate peace and happiness in ourselves, we also nourish peace and happiness in those we love. Thich Nhat Hanh

Thought I would blog a sample of my daughter Cally’s print design. She is a first year student at Central St Martins in London, where she is studying textile design. This is her first print design since she started in October. She has created the image from scrap. The original theme was recycling, so the tree design was created by using old cassette tape and laminating it. If you look closely you can see small flowers that were created by melting old wax and moulding into flowery shapes; blocking my sink in the process! She spent an afternoon at a scrap yard in Hackney collecting other people's bits of old junk (a lot of which sat in my kitchen for a few weeks) and creating beautiful things from rubbish. Her final piece on her foundation course was inspired by timorous beasties and depicted a London binge-drinking scene, using colours which - at first glance - would make you think of a more picturesque outlook, but were, in fact, much more ominous on closer inspection. Art student...

If you judge people, you have no time to love them. Mother Teresa

There is no way to happiness, happiness is the way. Buddha

Realize deeply that the present moment is all you ever have. Make the Now the primary focus of your life. Eckhart Tolle

This is my simple religion. There is no need for temples; no need for complicated philosophy. Our own brain, our own heart is our temple; the philosophy is kindness. Dalai Lama

If you could only keep quiet, clear of memories and expectations, you would be able to discern the beautiful pattern of events. Its your restlessness that causes chaos. Sri Nisargadatta Maharaj

Everything is a miracle. Albert Einstein

With winter approaching, many skiers will be busy preparing themselves for the ski season. Although at first glance it may seem unlikely, yoga and skiing have a lot in common. Balance, flexibility and strength are essential for both activities, so it should come as no surprise that yoga can be hugely beneficial when combined with a suitable pre-ski fitness programme in order to optimize preparation. It goes without saying that a gentle yoga practice is a great way to unwind after a long hard day of physical exertion on the slopes. Physical benefits Developing all the key major muscle groups used in skiing - such as the quadriceps, hamstrings, gluteals and abdominals - by practising yoga can have a very positive effect on the body; even before you even set foot on the ski slopes. Many of the common injuries that affect skiers, in particular those who lead sedentary lifestyles, are knee-related. By practicing balancing and strengthening poses, such as the warrior sequences, you strengt...

There are five billion human beings and in a certain way I think we need five billion different religions. Dalai Lama

I spent last weekend running a weekend of yoga in the beautiful town of Lewes, near Brighton. It was a mixed group of students some of whom knew each other, and some who met for the first time. The group was quite varied in terms of yoga experience, with some people having practiced a lot of yoga and some real beginners. This can sometimes be difficult for more advanced students, but on this occasion there was patience and tolerance abound. We practised asana, pranayama and yoga nidra. The yoga nidra session on the Saturday night was pretty changing to say the least… There was a teenage party going on at the hotel and Abba and Katie Perry blasting away in the background. "I Kissed a Girl" really doesn't encourage relaxation. Nonetheless, everyone in the group managed to stay focused on the nidra, until someone decided to empty the entire contents of the bottle bank. At this point we all roared with laughter and called it a day… The common denominator of the weekend was ...

I have faith, therefore, that if, in spite of our shortcomings, the big thing does happen, it will be because God wanted to help us. Gandhi

I believe that it is essential to appreciate our potential as human beings and recognize the importance of inner transformation. Dalai Lama

Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned. Buddha

The power, when it comes, will belong to the people of India, and it will be for them to decide to whom it placed in the entrusted. Gandhi

I think in many ways narrow minded-attitudes lead to extreme thinking. Dalai Lama

I believe that in the history of the world, there has not been a more genuinely democratic struggle for freedom than ours. Gandhi

Last night I went to the launch of the lovely Jemma Forte's first novel entitled Me & Miss M . She and her family are great friends. She is a bright, talented, witty woman and her book looks great. I am about to start reading it and I can guarantee there will be some of Jemma's fantastic sense of humour, somewhere in the book. The event was in Waterstone's on The King's Road. It was packed with family and friends and she delivered an amazing speech, which was both moving and hilarious. She is also one of my yoga students and I love having her in my classes. We always laugh a lot when she is in class. I am really proud of her and wish her lots of luck. The book is on sale in the UK from today, and Jemma describes it as "Chick Lit"; my sisters will be getting a copy for Christmas.

Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Pose of the day. .Ardha Baddha Padmottanasana

We have sufficient cause to be cynical about humanity. We have seen enough injustice, strife, division, suffering, and pain, and our capacity to be massively inhuman. Nelson Mandela

Neither my life of luxury in the palace nor my life as an ascetic in the forest is the way to freedom. Buddha

World economies are always so tenuous and we are subject to so many losses in life, but a compassionate attitude is something we can always carry with us. Dalai Lama

Ours is not a drive for power, but purely a non-violent fight for India’s independence. Gandhi

The optimist sees the rose and not its thorns; the pessimist stares at the thorns, oblivious of the rose. Khalil Gibran

So the first step in seeking happiness is learning. We first have to learn how negative emotions and behaviours are harmful to us and how positive emotions are helpful. Dalai Lama

When I despair, I remember that all through history the way of truth and love has always won. Gandhi

It enables me to go to bed with an enriching feeling in my soul and the belief that I am changing myself. Nelson Mandela

I sometimes think that people in the public eye often get a bit of a raw deal about practising yoga. Well-known yoga students are often referred to as “yoga gurus” or are mocked for having an opinion about yoga, as if being a celebrity does not entitle you to a spiritual journey or makes you an expert on the subject. One such personality is the model Christy Turlington. She, of course, has made a living from how she looks. She has also embarked on a yogic path and has studied and written about the subject in a very in-depth way. Her book Living Yoga is a beautifully written and illustrated. She talks about her life, in what is considered to be a superficial profession, and how it fits in with her yogic lifestyle. She also talks about being a practising catholic and, having studied theology, she has a great deal of knowledge on the subject of religion and why it does not impose on her yoga and vice versa. She has visited Ashrams and attended The Kumbh Mela in India. From her photograp...

In the democracy which I have envisaged, a democracy established by non-violence, there will be equal freedom for all. Gandhi

Here's a video I saw on Youtube. It's not related to yoga at all, but it made me laugh. Just out of curiousity, my dog is also a keen musician. Must have the camcorder ready at Christmas when he does his Liberace number! :o)

What the word God means is the mystery really. It's the mystery that we face as humans the mystery of existence, of suffering and of death. Ram Dass

The question how do you choose a yoga teacher came up in a workshop that I recently attended. At the time my response to this was that it is an intuitive feeling you have when you come across a teacher that you seem to connect with. Having pondered over this some more, I looked at what has attracted me to the yoga teachers, that I still look to for guidance, and why I have let go of some teachers along the way. My thoughts on this are: The yoga teachers that I really connect with are the ones who have something that I would like to learn myself. They display all elements of yoga, not just the physical asana practice. They teach with kindness and compassion, I trust them to adjust me in postures, especially poses that I am fearful of. My trusted yoga teachers have enabled me to work through some of these poses and move on when I was ready… They don’t look to hold me back. A good teacher for me is someone who wants to share their knowledge and growth with their students and is able to...

Life without love is like a tree without blossoms or fruit. Khalil Gibran

I truly believe that compassion provides the basis of human survival. Dalai Lama

We are the same as plants, as trees, as other people, as the rain that falls. We consist of that which is around us, we are the same as everything. Buddha

David Swenson, teaching first part of the Ashtanga primary series.This clip allows you to really observe the flow of the Sun Salutations. So many yoga poses come from the strength and awareness of the Surya Namaskars. I like the way David teaches the primary series, while it is obviously still dynamic, it is not as fast as some teachers like to practice.

Sometimes, whether a desire is excessive or negative depends on the circumstances or society in which you live in. Dalai Lama

Kino shows some poses from the intermediate Ashtanga practice. It shows some poses that I personally can only imagine experiencing, but as Pattabhi Jois says "practice all is coming....and who knows what is possible?".

Humility is the key to success. Gandhi

Bhujapidasana Arm pressure pose , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . This is the Bhujapidasana Arm pressure pose.

The dance goes from realizing that you're separate (which is the awakening) to then trying to find your way back into the totality of which you are not only a part, but which you are. Ram Dass

In the attitude of silence the soul finds the path in a clearer light, and what is elusive and deceptive resolves itself into crystal clearness. Truth is the breath of my life. Gandhi

When thy mind leaves behind its dark forests of delusion, thou shalt go beyond the scriptures of times past and still to come. Bhagavad Gita

I saw this video on Twitter thanks to CoraYoga and thought I would share it with you. Now it is not to be taken seriously at all, but it is interesting that the misconception that people who practice yoga do nothing but prance around making fools of themselves is not a recent thing. The teacher could not be any more English even if she tried!! Anyone for tea, vicar?!

You give but little when you give of your possessions. It is when you give of yourself that you truly give. Khalil Gibran

If we utilize our favourable circumstances, such as our good heal or wealth, in positive ways, in helping others, they can be contributory factors in achieving a happier life. Dalai Lama

Religion is one of the most important forces in the world. Whether you are a Christian, a Muslim, a Buddhist, a Jew, or a Hindu, religion is a great force, and it can help one have command of one's own morality, one's own behaviour, and one's own attitude. Nelson Mandela

Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action. Gandhi

This is a shortened version of a Buddhist meditation. It can be directed to oneself or directed at someone else, by replacing the “I” with “ you” and thinking of that person. It is, as the name suggests, an invocation for loving kindness… Even for those people you may have difficulties with. May I be filled with loving kindness. May I be well. May I be peaceful and at ease. May I be happy.

Compassion automatically brings happiness and calmness. Then, even if you receive disturbing news, it will be easier to take, as your mind is still. Dalai Lama

Here are some pictures taken during the yoga weekend in Wiltshire last weekend. Nancy Gilgoff Nancy Gilgoff and myself Photo taken during yoga session

I have just returned from a fantastic weekend in Wiltshire where I attended Ashtanga yoga workshops with Nancy Gilgoff. Nancy was one of the first western women to practice Ashtanga yoga in Mysore with Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) back in the 70's. She and her partner at the time, David Williams, brought SRI Pattabhi Jois to the USA and opened up the door of yoga to the west. Nancy has been practising this style of yoga for more than 34 years and has an amazing ability to share her knowledge of Ashtanga yoga, as it was taught to her, by her guru, Guruji. As the Ashtanga yoga practice has been embraced by the West, it sometimes gets slightly diluted or changed. Change will always naturally occur as traditions are passed down, but sometimes the changes are not always for the best. Nancy has kept true to the Ashtanga traditional teachings, but is able to see when a western body needs to do something differently to continue on their yogic journey. I am lucky enough to have practiced with Na...

This is a funny clip and takes a light-hearted look at yoga. I, too, have never seen that pose, or adjustment before. Enjoy!!

All living beings have the Buddha nature and can become Buddhas. Buddha

I believe that whether a person follows any religion or not is unimportant, he must have a good heart, a warm heart. This is essential for a happy life, which is much more important than Buddha-hood. Dalai Lama

There have been many Buddhas before me and will be many Buddhas in the future. Buddha

Immature love says: "I love you because I need you." Mature love says: "I need you because I love you." Gandhi

Prasarita Padottanasana C (Wide-Legged Forward Bend) - © Yoga Mama Yoga pose of the day is Prasarita Padottanasana C , otherwise known as the Wide-legged forward bend.

I came across this video on Twitter recently and thought I would share it with you. I really enjoyed listening to Rod Stryker talking about yoga and asana practice. I think the analogy he uses about spiritual leaders not doing great handstands in the middle of the room is fantastic. The way he describes the effect a physical practice can have on our personal and spiritual journey is also very interesting and, in my opinion, makes a lot of sense. Having said that, had I seen this when I first started yoga and was only looking at the physical aspect, it would not have resonated with me in the same way, yoga is so much more than asana (poses).

But let there be spaces in your togetherness and let the winds of the heavens dance between you. Love one another but make not a bond of love: let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls. Khalil Gibran

It is important to expect nothing, to take every experience, including the negative ones, as merely steps on the path, and to proceed. Ram Dass

As far as ignorance is concerned, not just Buddhism, every religion recognizes it as the source of suffering. Dalai Lama

To prop or not to prop... That is the question. Many schools of yoga believe you should not use props in yoga poses, whereas followers of BKS Iyengar are great advocates of using them. When he first started writing about yoga in 1958, Iyengar said all that was needed to practice was a mat and a space free from the elements and insects. The Iyengar style of teaching now uses props more than any other school of yoga. Props include blocks, bricks, belts, wall ropes, folded blankets and even chairs. This makes me think that Mr Iyengar has given a lot of thought to the use of props since starting yoga in 1934 and now believes it is necessary for some people to have extra help in some poses. My own thoughts on this subject is that propping is a good thing. I have yet to find a “one-size-fits-all” school of yoga. Our bodies are so different, yet we are all trying to do the same poses. Sometimes boobs, bums and bellies get in the way; but other common problems such as short hamstrings, bac...

I have not been able to do any yoga since Saturday as I have a cold and trying to inhale and exhale through my nose is quite frankly not a pretty sight. I had to find cover for yesterday's classes, as having your yoga teacher cough and wheeze all over you (while stuffing used tissues up her sleeve) is not conducive to a state of Zen. Acceptance, acceptance, acceptance is my mantra of the day. Being confined to barracks and watching old episodes of Britain's Most Haunted with my daughter is adding a new dimension to my Tuesday… My son is right, day time TV presenters do talk really slowly; which is great for me today, as my head feels like I have a bucket of frogs in it.

When in recollection he withdraws all his senses from The attractions of the pleasures of sense, even as a tortoise withdraws all his limbs, then his is a serene wisdom. Bhagavad Gita

The fifth annual Yoga Show will be held at the National Hall in Olympia, London, from the 30th October to the 1st of November 2009. The event is good for beginners and experienced yoga students alike, and has lots of free yoga & pilates classes, children's yoga, demonstrations and lectures from interesting teachers. For full information regarding the programme and ticket prices, please visit the YOGA Show website .

Urdhva dandasana , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Urdhva dandasana - Upstaff posture.

There are only two mistakes one can make along the road to truth; not going all the way, and not starting. Buddha

All sentient beings have the seed of the Buddha within them. Dalai Lama

Here is an amusing account of one of my friend's experience with yoga, which she originally published on her own blog, Family Affairs. Coincidentally, the yoga teacher with the yoga logo on the side of the car and trying hard not to get stressed out by the traffic was yours truly. :o) Yesterday, I went to a yoga class with a girlfriend who is a yoga teacher. She drove and we were running really late, but because she's got her yoga logo on the side of her car so she had to try really hard not to get stressed - drivers of cars with yoga logo's on the side must not, under any circumstances succumb to road rage. I am so rubbish at yoga it's ridiculous. My friend's 19 year old daughter came too and she and I went right to the back in an effort to be ignored. You need such strength and discipline. Some of the moves involved lifting your body off the mat with your arms and swinging your legs underneath you to the back. Not a hope in hell of doing that. Then we had to do...

Here is a video of Cat Stevens (now Yusuf Islam) performing Morning Has Broken live on German television in the mid 70's. I find the song, which was originally a Christian hymn, quite uplifting. Enjoy! PS: Just love the afro on the guy playing the piano!

One of the most difficult things is not to change society - but to change yourself. Nelson Mandela

Birth and death are not two different states, but they are different aspects of the same state. There is as little reason to deplore the one as there is to be pleased over the other. Gandhi

Half handstand , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Half handstand

The mind may also be calmed by expulsion and retention of the breath. Pattanjali

Urdhva Dhanurasana , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Urdhva Dhanurasana or upward-facing bow pose/bridge.

Advance, and never halt, for advancing is perfection. Advance and do not fear the thorns in the path, for they draw only corrupt blood. Khalil Gibran

We are human beings, and we have this marvellous brain and marvellous heart, so there is potential to develop a proper mental attitude, through which we can have a happy, more peaceful life. Dalai Lama

It is better to conquer yourself than to win a thousand battles. Then the victory is yours. It cannot be taken from you, not by angels or by demons, heaven or hell. Buddha

I believe each human being has the potential to change, to transform one’s own attitude, no matter how difficult the situation. Dalai Lama

Here is a video that I have come across on Youtube, with a great demonstration of ashtanga yoga from Danny Paradise, yogi to high profile celebrities such as Sting, Madonna and Paul Simon. Great locations and postures... Enjoy!

My whole life I never spoke one word. Buddha

Basically, a human being is a social animal. So, if you create some short moment of happiness for people, you get deep satisfaction. Dalai Lama