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:...

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

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

Phew! One more sleep till Christmas.

Mudra time

Silence in the chaos....

I prefer the view from here....

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

Naval gazing at Christmas

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

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.

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

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

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

Any chocolate back there?.... Ustrasana variation

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

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

Trying to find the balance....

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

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

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

Hiding here in Badha Konasana :-)

One of my favourites Bharadvajasana

Krounchasana-Heron pose..

Dreaming of the Ibiza sunshine....

Day two of avoiding the festive madness...

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 :-)

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

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!

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.

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.

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

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 .

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 ...

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 cent...

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

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....

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...

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

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- pukkah...

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.

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....