I have not ceased being fearful, but I have ceased to let fear control me. I have accepted fear as a part of life - specifically the fear of change, the fear of the unknown; and I have gone ahead despite the pounding in my heart that says: turn back, turn back, you'll die if you venture too far. Erica Jong

Supta Padangusthasana -Hand to toe , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Supta Padangusthasana -Hand to toe

The only way past fear is to go through. Author Unknown

Fear is an acronym for: F alse E vidence A ppearing R eal. Author Unknown

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen. Winston Churchill

Chaturanga Dandasana , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Chaturanga Dandasana

People are like stained-glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross

Whatever course you decide upon, there is always someone to tell you that you are wrong. There are always difficulties arising which tempt you to believe that your critics are right. To map out a course of action and follow it to an end requires courage. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Urdhva Mukha Svanasana-Upward facing dog , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Urdhva Mukha Svanasana-Upward facing dog.

There is a great deal of hatred and anger and discrimination. How is it possible, in such a state, for people to practice deep looking with the aim of achieving a deep knowledge... So it is necessary to practise mindfulness. It could be Buddhist or Christian, but it is necessary to bring mindfulness to our everyday life. If you are a journalist, a teacher, or a filmmaker you should practise mindfulness for the sake of your own calm and your own happiness, but also for that of other people as well. Because we need your calm, your compassion, your understanding. So we should be mindful as individuals but also as a community, as a family, as a nation. Thich Nhat Hanh (True Love, chapter: Everybody Should Practise Mindfulness)

If you deliberately plan on being less than you are capable of being, then I warn you that you'll be unhappy for the rest of your life. Abraham H Maslow (Psychologist and Author)

Relief, Peace, well-being, joy and better relations with others will be possible if we practice mindfulness in our everyday life. I am convinced that everybody can practice mindfulness, even politicians, political parties, even the Congress. This is a body that holds the responsibility for knowing the nation's situation well, and knowledge of this kind requires the practice of looking deeply. If our elected officials are not calm enough, do not have enough concentration, how can they see things deeply? Thich Nhat Hanh Taken from True Love (Chapter: Everybody Should Practice Mindfulness)

Halasana-Plough pose , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Halasana-Plough pose

I have made some changes to my website; adding some new contents and links to the yoga mama prenatal yoga app (for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch), which is now available to buy on the iTunes App Store. The iPhone app project has been a very exciting venture and I will blog more about it soon. Incidentally, I have also created my own YouTube channel, where I will add any videos that I make in the future. It's tough work this social networking business! Links: yoga mama website yoga mama prenatal yoga app yoga mama YouTube channel

Love is what we were born with. Fear is what we learned here. The spiritual journey is the relinquishment - or unlearning - of fear and the acceptance of love back into our hearts. Marianne Williamson Taken from the book 'A Return to Love'

You are yourself, and you have acquired some peace. Drink your tea slowly and reverently, as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves - slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future; Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life. Thich Nhat Hanh

And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud became more painful than the risk it took to blossom. Anais Nin

On my recent excursion to Sweaty Betty in Fulham Road, I managed to acquire the above items. The staff in the shop are always so helpful and didn’t bat an eyelid when I practised my yoga moves in the shop to ensure there was no “fallout” (big-boobed gals will understand this one). Most of my yoga clothing comes from the Sweaty Betty range. The colours and fabrics are always beautiful and they seem to be able to accommodate all shapes. As well as fantastic yoga clothing ranges, they also sell some great running gear: This Velocity Jacket is almost worth taking up running for. Beautiful light sheer fabric and the compression running tights offer maximum muscle support. Compression panels reduce muscle vibration conserving vital energy. Perfect for any stylish Marathon runners out there.

I have just booked a place on this workshop with Nancy Gilgoff in Tarifa, Spain. Adam Keen & Theresa Appleby have set up a beautiful yoga space in an area renowned for its windsurfing beaches. I had been trying to arrange to practice yoga with Nancy in her home studio in Maui, but life was getting in the way of making this big trip from London. I am delighted to be able to take the short flight and practice yoga with Nancy. She has so much wisdom and is always willing to share it. I would highly recommend practising Ashtanga with the grand dame, Nancy. June 2nd to June 6th: Nancy Gilgoff - 5 Day Practitioner’s Workshop Nancy began practicing Ashtanga yoga over 30 years ago with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and was one of the first Western women to study with him in Mysore, India. As a result of their long and close association Nancy is able to teach with a style and touch that comes directly from 'Guruji' who has told her to teach the same way he taught her, advice which she took ...

It proves that you are being gentle with yourself, that the sun of awareness is shining in you, that you have control of your situation. Thich Nhat Hanh

Life is a song... Sing it. Life is a game... Play it. Life is a challenge... Meet it. Life is a dream... Realize it. Life is a sacrifice... Offer it. Life is love... Enjoy it. Sai Baba

Yoga Om 067 , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Eka Pada Adho Mukha Svanasana -Tripod downward facing dog.

Yoga Om 116 , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . My daughter took some yoga photographs of me today. This one was an impromptu photo at the end and is my favorite shot.

To meditate does not mean to fight with a problem. To meditate means to observe. Your smile proves it. Thich Nhat Hanh

Fear less, hope more. Whine less, breathe more. Talk less, say more. Hate less, love more. And all good things are yours. Author unknown

The Buddhist Sutra of Mindfulness speaks about the meditation on the corpse. Meditate on the decomposition of the body, how the body bloats and turns violet, how it is eaten by worms until only bits of blood and flesh still cling to the bones. Meditate up to the point where only white bones remain, which in turn are slowly worn away and turn into dust. Meditate like that, knowing that your own body will undergo the same process. Meditate on the corpse until you are calm and at peace, until your mind and heart are light and tranquil and a smile appears on your face. Thus, by overcoming revulsion and fear, life will be seen as infinitely precious, every second of it worth living. Thich Nhat Hanh

PPW Riverside , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . HEALTH CLUB THINKS PINK TO HELP FIGHT BREAST CANCER The PinkPower Walk is now in its eighth year and will take place on the 15th of May 2011. So far, more than three quarters of a million pounds have been raised, for two Breast Cancer Charities. The Riverside Health and Racquets Club Chiswick is one of the events sponsors. They have fully embraced the 16-mile fund-raising event and are offering training walks and tips to both members and non-members participating in the PPW 2011. The walk is held annually in south-west London to raise vital funds for Breakthrough Breast Cancer and the Caron Keating Foundation, a charity set up by TV personality Gloria Hunniford in the wake of her daughter Caron’s death. To find out more about The PinkPower Walk , please visit: www.pinkpowerwalk.org . To find out about training sessions with Esporta, call The Esporta Riverside Health and Racquets Club , Chiswick on 020 8987 1800 or ask at re...

sthira, sukham, asanam The connection to the earth should be steady and joyful. Patanjali

We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same. Carlos Castañeda

If in our daily life we can smile. If we can be peaceful and happy, not only we, but everyone, will profit from it. This is the most basic kind of peace work. Thich Nhat Hanh

Earth laughs in flowers. Ralph Waldo Emerson

Smiling is very important. If we are not able to smile, then the world will not have peace. It is not by going out for a demonstration against nuclear missiles that we can bring about peace. It is with our capacity of smiling, breathing, and being peace that we can make peace. Thich Nhat Hanh

If you cannot find happiness along the road, you will not find it at the end of the road. Author unknown

This week we had our book group meeting in the fabulous Putney Station (one of the Brinkley’s restaurants – very cool and accommodating they were too) and we were lucky enough to have the author of the book we were reading come along. Lucy Edge's book, Yoga School Dropout , describes her journey to become a yoga goddess. Her book documents her travels in India and has a warts-and-all look at some of the "gurus" she met on her journey. Lucy clearly has a passion for all aspects of yoga, so the book has a lot of references to yoga terminology. It made me laugh out loud in some places. I too have travelled in India and have been in situations where the lessons learnt were not what I had expected them to be. "Gurus" - or teachers - come in many different forms and I think this book describes finding humility, to see that perhaps it is the shop keeper or the taxi driver who can open your eyes to something new. It is the journey within that Lucy ultimately discovers...

Sometimes your joy is the source of your smile, but sometimes your smile can be the source of your joy. Thich Nhat Hanh

Nancy Gilgoff Yoga workshop 10 , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Urdhva Dhanurasana-Nancy Gilgoff workshop Oct 2010 Nope -this is not me ;-)

Children smile 400 times a day on average. Adults, 15 times. Children laugh 150 times a day. Adults, 6 times per day. Children play between 4-6 hours a day. Adults, only 20 minutes a day. What's happened? Robert Holden Taken from 'Living Wonderfully'

The practice of peace and reconciliation is one of the most vital and artistic of human actions. Thich Nhat Hanh

Since everything in life is but an experience; perfect in being what it is, having nothing to do with good or bad, acceptance or rejection, one may well burst out in laughter. Long Chen Pa

People have a hard time letting go of their suffering. Out of a fear of the unknown, they prefer suffering that is familiar. Thich Nhat Hanh

The human emotional system can be broken down into roughly two elements: fear and love. Love is of the soul. Fear is of the personality. Gary Zukav Taken from 'Seat of the Soul'