By Clive D. Lathey D.O MSc (Sports Medicine), Registered Osteopath and Director of The Putney Clinic We are starting to see young patients at the Putney Clinic in the 18-36 year age group with repetitive strain injuries (RSI) from excessive use of computers, iPads, smart phones and PlayStations. Common conditions that we regularly treat are: inflammatory tendon injuries of thumbs and fingers; tennis and golfers elbow from excessive use of the forearm muscles, and low back and neck pain from prolonged sitting in poor postural positions. The increasing use of computers and smart phones, particularly in the younger population, will inevitably lead to a rise in the frequency of low back and neck pain and repetitive strain injuries. There is also concern about the physiological effects of sedentary behaviour and the associated health risks such as obesity, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. There is further concern about the link between sedentary behaviour and psy...

Eddie Stern and the supporters of LIFE Camp walking the walk with yoga. Truly inspiring.

Slightly longer version of the one posted yesterday :-)

I suppose this was always going to be a matter of time-Sharath Jois in an online yoga programme. I find it slightly odd seeing him in this plush studio setting ...this is so far removed from anything Ive experienced with Sharath, but with KPJAYI being so full perhaps this is the reason why he has branched into this?. Whilst this may be helpful for some nothing can replace the teacher/student relationship.

By Laura Tilson BA (Hons) M.Ost DPO Registered and Paediatric Osteopath at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy Here are my top tips for rehabilitation after having a baby: Avoid strenuous exercise for the first 6 weeks: you may have bruised and inflamed tissues that need to heal. Don't compare yourself to others: your pregnancy and birth will leave a unique footprint on you and your body. If something doesn't feel right, chances are it isn't. If something hurts, sit back and attempt the exercise again when you are stronger in a week or two. Walking is great: the movement of walking mobilises your pelvis, hips and lumbar spine to help with healing. Try doing pelvic floor exercises and avoid leaning over your buggy as you walk. Pelvic stability is key: all exercise should be conducted with a strong and stable pelvis and lumbar spine. This should be the first thing you address. Have faith in your body's ability to heal and strengthen. Look after your pelvic floor:...

By Laura Tilson BA (Hons) M.Ost DPO Registered and Paediatric Osteopath at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy I have never felt as weak and physically vulnerable as I did after having my baby 5 months ago. It was immediately obvious the minute I tried to stand up after the labour and it was something I feel I was totally unprepared for. It is only in hindsight that I can see how frightened I might have been had I had a minute to think about myself and my body – rather than my baby and where his next feed was coming from. I couldn't sit up or turn in bed without using my arms, I waddled rather than walked for at least a week. My first few trips to the supermarket were a push. My back ached over the site of my epidural. I was shocked at how my muscles, despite exercising throughout my pregnancy, had weakened. I know from my osteopathy training that during pregnancy ligaments stretch, muscles atrophy, fat is deposited and breasts grow. I also know that the occasional afterno...

By Laura Tilson BA (Hons) M.Ost DPO Registered and Paediatric Osteopath at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy As an osteopath I spend the majority of my time showing people how osteopathy can benefit them. But trying to persuade a busy mum that she should put herself first for half an hour a day to sort out her bad back or that dodgy shoulder will be my mantra for the rest of my career. Mums are renowned for putting others first and bravely soldiering on – because they are mums and that's just what they do.  And now – as mother to a four month old little boy - I can see why.  My days blur into one – each a haze of coffee, marching around parks and attempts at housework, never mind trying to fit in brushing my hair or getting a little admin done. So perhaps I am biased, but over the last few months I have seen for myself how osteopathy has helped me and my little boy. I have been for four treatments since having him. Once a month, I have carved out the time and mad...

" That (true knowledge) which cannot be realized, merely by reading and studying, becomes real only through application and practice of yoga" Yoga Makaranda-The Nectar of Yoga  Krishnamacharya 

The greater the level of calmness of our mind, the greater our peace of mind, the greater our ability to enjoy a happy and joyful life. Dalai Lama: The Art of Happiness: A Handbook for Living.

Ashtanga yoga is a flowing dynamic form of yoga, where each pose is linked and synchronised using a breath and movement system . Developed by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Ashtanga yoga is a set series of postures that are linked to the breath in a flow of movement, increasing strength and flexibility. The discipline of this system allows us to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of ourselves. It is both empowering, and liberating and allows us to move through life with a calmness and steadiness of mind and body. Ashtanga Yoga courses at Yoga Mama In addition to our Friday morning (9 -10:30am) Ashtanga Led Yoga course, we have added a new Tuesday morning (9:30 - 11am) course too. Both of these courses last for 8 weeks and cost £120. Come along and join our yoga classes to gain muscle strength, flexibility and improve your posture to help prevent re-injury and to achieve a mind-body connection. More information and bookings For more information or to book your place on...

Yoga Mama features in the September 2014 edition of the OM Yoga and Lifestyle magazine. Cherie Lathey's article, titled "The Fourth Trimester", looks at the importance and benefits of postnatal yoga. The magazine is available to buy at newsagents. Cost £3.95.

Yoga is a spiritual discipline, the quest of the soul for the spark of divinity within us. BKS Iyengar

Sad to hear the news of BKS Iyengar passing on to the next life What a truly remarkable man who studied and shared his knowledge of yoga to millions of people. His books have certainly influenced me-his dedication and wisdom stayed with him to the end. His mark on the world saw him nominated for the Noble Prize for peace.....lets hope we see more yogis follow in his "giant"  footsteps.

Our colleague, Neil Bulstrode (Plastic, Reconstructive and Cosmetic Surgeon), recently took part in a pioneering operation which has brought new joy to a 9-year-old boy born without ears. Using cartilage taken from the ribcage, the team of surgeons at Great Ormond Street Hospital were able to construct new ears for him. Boy has ears created from ribs by Fergus Walsh, Medical Correspondent for the BBC A boy who was born without ears has had a pair created from his ribs. Nine-year-old Kieran Sorkin had the surgery at London's Great Ormond Street Hospital. About 100 children a year in the UK are born without one or both ears, a condition known as microtia. Kieran was born deaf with small lobes where his ears should be. He can already hear, thanks to previous surgery to implant a hearing aid. "I want people to stop asking me questions", said Kieran from Hertfordshire. "I'd like just to look like my friends. "I'd also like to be able to wear sunglass...

As you probably already know, London is an exciting, vibrant and often noisy city. However, if you look hard enough you will also discover that it also has a quiet side. Writer, Siobhan Wall, has compiled a guide to quiet corners in and around the capital (some better known than others) and Yoga Mama are pleased to announce that we have been included in the book. Siobhan encourages Londoners and visitors to the city to wander away from the crowds and discover calm amid the hustle and bustle. Quiet London is a guide to over 100 quiet corners in and around the capital, bringing together a mix of peaceful gardens and green spaces to lose oneself in, and places that inspire rest, relaxation, meditation and mindful contemplation. We are honoured to have been chosen among a select group of quiet corners in London. Why not come along and find out for yourself? Our studio is located in a peaceful and tranquil environment in the heart of Putney, south-west London. Quiet London i...

This is a great image that really shows why posture is important, and why people working at computers should be especially mindful. Carrying around a 42lb head is going to hurt. Tuck that chin in and lengthen the spine. Thank you to The Putney clinic of Physical Therapy for displaying this on their notice board.

I recently did a 2nd series Ashtanga yoga adjustment clinic with Nancy Gilgoff in Berlin. Here Nancy shows how to crawl up from lotus position when learning this pose-She also recommend practicing lotus legs whilst in headstand, to gain strength and find the lotus without using your hands- Nancy is nearer to 70 then she is to 60-what an inspiring woman she is. 

by Fleur Borrelli, nutritionist at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy The skin and the brain are intricately linked. Both produce the same hormones and neurotransmitter substances. In the skin, serotonin should be converted to melatonin which acts as a natural antibiotic and anti-inflammatory. It is no wonder, therefore, that the skin condition psoriasis is linked to both depression and anxiety disorders (1) . A lack of nutritional cofactors such as vitamins B6 and B12 may prevent this conversion in a biochemical process known as methylation. Geographical latitude may also influence incidence of psoriasis as beneficial sunlight is also needed to produce melatonin (2) . Overuse of sunscreens and lack of exposure to the sun will also inhibit the production of vitamin D, vitally important for the integrity of the barriers of the body which include the intestinal lining, the blood brain barrier, the synovial lining and of course the skin (3) . The function of the barriers is...

No matter how hard the past, you can always begin again. Buddha

By Cherie Lathey, senior yoga teacher and director of Yoga Mama Many skin conditions such as psoriasis, eczema, and atopic dermatitis can be triggered by or, indeed, made worse once an outbreak is present by stress. Some suffers will become self-conscious and even depressed which then causes a circular negative effect on the condition. Practising yoga and meditation can have a really positive effect on both the mind and body. We know helping to relieve stress can help to alleviate some of the symptoms or aggravating factors of skin conditions brought on by stress. While I am not suggesting yoga and meditation alone will cure psoriasis, it can definitely help. A gentle yoga practice and breathing techniques can have a profound effect on how we manage stress, and how we perceive ourselves in the world. Helping to balance moods and enabling a positive connection to the body by letting go of the negative feelings that might occur when a skin condition is present. Gentle poses...

It is better to live your own destiny imperfectly than to live an imitation of somebody else's life with perfection. Bhagavad Gita

Rasa Vinyasa Prana Flow with Shiva Rea Venue: Cecil Sharp House * Date: Sunday 21 to Wednesday 24 September 2014 Time: 8:30am to 5:45pm each day Cost: £485 About the workshop The word 'rasa' has many beautiful meanings: in the arts, rasa is the transforming “taste” that brings inner satisfaction to the beauty of dance, music or painting. Within yoga and Ayurveda, rasa is our “inner juice” associated with longevity, joy, devotion, and flexibility. Without rasa, it is said, our experience of yoga and life, becomes “dry, rigid, routine”. Experience a full-spectrum yoga practice intensive into the art of RasaVinyasa™- an approach to sequencing vinyasa yoga drawing from yogic arts, tantra, and ayurveda. In this four-day teacher training intensive, Shiva will offer the theory and practice of Rasa Vinyasa by exploring three consummate rasas: Vira (strength, potency), Sringara (divine love and sensuality) and Shanti (living peace). We will explore the power of alch...

Holding on to anger is like drinking poison and expecting the other person to die. Buddha

Kino makes this look so easy. This is also the way my teacher teaches this pose.

May all become happy. May all be free from illness. May all see what is auspicious. May 'no' one suffer. Om, peace, peace, peace. The Upanishads

Before you can see the light, you have to deal with the darkness. Dan Millman

Better than a thousand hollow words, is one word that brings peace. Buddha

By Fleur Borrelli, nutritionist at The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy It is a relatively unknown fact that our body produces its own toxins as part of our normal metabolism. Our intestinal bacteria may also release by-products from metabolism that can be damaging to our health. This is before we even consider the toxins that come in from the environment. Fortunately we have evolved a complex network of systems to get rid of toxins that have been created internally. The antioxidant system cleverly destroys free radicals during chemical reactions in our cells before they can damage the cell itself. The liver, amongst its multitude of tasks, will take a toxic molecule which is generally fat soluble and transforms it into a water soluble molecule to be excreted out of the body in urine via the kidneys. Even fat soluble molecules can be shifted into bile which is then squirted into the intestine and ejected from the body in faeces. Sweating can lose any heavy metals lurking ...

What is the soul? The soul is consciousness. It shines as the light within the heart." Brihadaranyaka Upanishad

Lovely soft energy in the shala. I do believe I may have been in the led class :-) So many familiar faces and Sharath doing a wonderful job with his students.

I love this compilation of statements by Russell Brand. He is articulating what a lot of people feel at the moment and sharing his understanding of what is important in life and how yoga, prayer and mediation can help ALL human beings to be just that, "human". I personally love the section on "twerking" and Justin Beiber. As Mr Brand says, who really who gives a S*** about this stuff?

Creamy kale chips, another fabulous recipe from Jiva healing. Visit them at www.jivahealing.com . This recipe is adapted from a recipe from Julie Daniluk, a Canadian nutritionist who specializes in recipes that heal inflammation. They are creamy, cheesy and delicious and packed with nutrients. Ingredients 1 cup cashews, (soaked 2 hours) 1 cup raw sweet potato, chopped or grated 1 medium lemon, juiced 3 Tablespoons nutritional yeast 1/2 tsp grey sea salt or pink rock salt 2 Tablespoons filtered water 10 cups green curly kale, washed, large stems removed, torn into bite size pieces Cooking instructions Blend the first 6 ingredients thoroughly until smooth in a good food processor or Vitamix. Pour over kale and coat the kale. Place kale onto parchment paper and dehydrate for about 6 hours. If you don't own a dehydrator then place them in the oven at 65 C (150F) and dry them for about 1.5 to 2 hours.

A recipe from my friends over at Jiva Healing. These vegan black bean brownies are truly divine. As well as being gluten and dairy free, they are packed full of minerals and fibre. They are a wonderful treat and easy to make as well! This recipe has been adapted from The Minimalist Baker. Ingredients: 1 420 gram can (~ 1 3/4 cups) black beans, well rinsed and drained 2 large flax eggs (2.5 T flaxseed meal + 6 T water) 4 T coconut oil, melted (or substitute another oil of choice) 3/4 cup cocoa powder (the higher quality the better) 1/4 tsp sea salt 1 tsp pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup raw sugar, slightly ground or pulsed in a food processor or coffee grinder for refined texture 1 1/2 tsp baking powder For sprinkling on the top (optional): crushed walnuts, pecans or dark chocolate chips Cooking instructions: Preheat oven to 180 C or 350 F. Lightly oil a 12-slot standard size muffin pan (not mini) Prepare the flax egg by combining the ground flax and water in the bowl...

Thank you to Dmitry Baryshnikov for sharing.

I love these short clips on anatomy- and how to work with injuries from David Keil. Lotus is a pose many people struggle with especially if they have knee pain or tight hips...David says the glutes muscles are playing a big part too, which is why these stretches should help. Thank you for sharing David Keil ·

Move a muscle, change a feeling. Anonymous

You don't have to play tennis to get tennis elbow. In fact, many yoga practitioners get the symptoms when overloading in Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff pose or Low Plank) and other poses. K-Taping is great for helping you work with injuries. In fact, on my last trip to Mysore I taped my injured wrist and I could be spotted around the shala every time I raised my hands above my head (it was a neon pink tape) and it kept me going for my six-week stay. There are some great videos on how to K-Tape and this is one that I have used for elbow pain (wrist one to follow).

Asana is to be seated in a position which is firm but relaxed Yoga Sutras

A useful beginners guide to dropping back.

Amazing footage of a young Sharath Jois filmed in 1999. Thank you to  Adam Wade  for sharing.

I have posted before my love of handbags & of course my love of yoga....these bags by agoya combine the two. I'm currently rolling my mat and shoving it in my hand bag when I'm on the run ...this might be the way to go for me, as these bags/mat carriers are the most stylish I have EVER seen. For more details about these beautiful hand crafted items contact  hello@agoya.cc

Yoga for birth preparation classes are tailored for the final stages of pregnancy (from 32 weeks), where what we need most is to quieten the mind, let go of time pressures and constant doing and be in a consciously relaxed state, where we can connect with ourselves, our babies and our inner birthing wisdom. The course runs over four weeks and each week a different topic is discussed at the start of class: Week 1 :  The natural physiology of birth : what to expect at different stages of the labour process Week 2 :  Managing fear : Trusting your body and nurturing a sense of empowerment Week 3 :  Creating a positive intention and guided relaxation : Letting go of the intellect and connecting with intuition and instincts Week 4 :  Using breath as your anchor in labour : Detailed breath techniques for the different stages of labour After the initial discussion, the session becomes more body focused, incorporating yoga postures that can help move the labour...

" Practice implies a certain methodology, involving effort. It has to be followed uninterruptedly for a long time, with firm resolve, application, attention and devotion, to create a stable foundation for training the mind, intelligence, ego and consciousness." Light on the yoga sutras of Pattanjali.  BKS Iyengar No quick fix here and this section really is about the inside not the outside (Asana) 

Here are are few photos from my trip to the Western Ghats. Beautiful Indian country side (after being in the city for quite some time). Elephants, waterfalls, coffee plantations and national parks...

Sharath said "new asana new pain" last week in the conference here in Mysore. Anyone who practises Ashatanga yoga can probably relate to this.   I think practising some "old" asanas with a new approach can also create pain (both physical and emotional)... In my experience, if we stick with it and trust in the process, we can overcome some of of this pain (both real and imagined). He also said he took two years with one pose. I would love to know what pose that was, but I am not quite brave enough to ask. :-)

My daughter Cally is taking part in this year's London Marathon in aid of the World Wildlife Fund. This is a huge task for her as she is an inexperienced runner. The interview below in which she tells us about her preparation was originally posted on The Putney Clinic of Physical Therapy blog and I thought I would share it with you all. :-)   A beginner runner's account of Marathon training On Sunday 13th April, the 34th edition of the Virgin Money London Marathon will take place. The 26-mile route, which starts in Greenwich Park and Blackheath and ends in The Mall, attracts elite athletes from all around the world, as well as thousands of runners raising money for their favourite charities. One such runner is 23 year-old fashion graduate Cally-Siân Lathey from Putney, who is also a patient at the Clinic. She will be participating in this year's Marathon on behalf of the World Wildlife Fund and has kindly agreed to tell us about her preparation for the event. ...

Some of  my favourite photos of life in Mysore, India