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 centre London SE1 8XX http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/home http://www.koestlertr

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