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

The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, worry about the future, or anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly. Buddha

A great demonstration of Ashtanga yoga by David Swenson.

Non-violence is the greatest force at the disposal of mankind. It is mightier than the mightiest weapon of destruction devised by the ingenuity of man. Gandhi

Spiritual practices help us move from identifying with the ego to identifying with the soul. Old age does that for you too. It spiritualizes people naturally. Ram Dass

Yoga nidra is described by the Bihar school of yoga in India as “sleep with a trace of awareness”. It is a deep relaxation practice, dropping the conscious mind into the unconscious, bringing you to a deep meditation in which you are awake and aware… releasing tensions. It involves practising the 5th limb of yoga, pratyahara (withdrawal of senses). A sankalpa – or positive affirmation - is introduced to direct the mind. Rotation of consciousness is used to take the mind on a journey through the body, and breath awareness and visualization techniques balance the left and right sides of the brain, deepening the feeling of relaxation. I would like to recommend a book and a yoga nidra CD by Richard Miller Ph.D.: Yoga Nidra - The Meditative Heart of Yoga His wise guidance is clear and inspiring, and is a great tool for teachers and students alike. I always feel refreshed and balanced after yoga nidra and teach it to my prenatal students who find that it helps alleviate fears associated wit

Learn to know yourself ... to search realistically and regularly the processes of your own mind and feelings. Nelson Mandela

The breath is the intelligence of the body. TKV Desikachar

Trust the dreams, for in them is hidden the gate to eternity. Khalil Gibran

Here is another video I have found on Youtube regarding the Kumbh Mela in Allahabad, India. It is taken from the BBC programme Extreme Pilgrim and provides an interesting and more than entertaining insight into the lives of the Sadhus - a term used to describe mystic, ascetic practitioners of yoga; as well as wandering Hindu monks.

So the smart brain must be balanced with a warm heart, a good heart--a sense of responsibility, of concern for the well-being of others. Dalai Lama

Many people who study yoga think that along with the physical body, there exists a subtle energy system or energy channel. They believe that there are three main channels which are called ida, pingala and susumna, and that these run in and around the spinal column, from the crown of the head to the base of the spine. Along these channels sit the chakras, which are divided into seven main wheels or discs. Chakras are often described as prana centres and are depicted as spinning wheels of light. Each chakra has a colour associated to it and correlate to specific parts of the body; as well as to emotional and spiritual well-being. During the practice of yoga, prana is encouraged to flow through the chakras, increasing and balancing these subtle “wheels of light”, while having a positive and healing effect on the mind, body and spirit. The seven chakras are: Mulahara (red): grounding, stability, stamina, motivation, self-confidence, purpose, passion, excitement. (Base) Svadhisthana (orange

Words have the power to both destroy and heal. When words are both true and kind, they can change our world. Buddha

I came across this video from shortcuttonirvana.com on Youtube, and thought I would share it with you all. It was filmed at The Maha Kumbh Mela (Great Festival of the Urn), which takes place every twelve years near the Indian city of Allahabad. With more than 70 million people attending (gurus, spiritual leaders, devotees) from all around the world, the Maha Kumbh Mela is the largest gathering in the history of humanity. In the video, the Dalai Lama talks about the ancient spiritual connection between India and his homeland of Tibet. Hope you enjoy his words of wisdom!

It is the enemy who can truly teach us to practice the virtues of compassion and tolerance. Dalai Lama

Believe nothing, no matter where you read it, or who said it, no matter if I have said it, unless it agrees with your own reason and your own common sense. Buddha

What I believe, according to my own experience, is that a calm, peaceful mind is a very important element for sustaining the body in a balanced way. Dalai Lama

I am pleased to announce that a new yoga magazine will be available in the UK soon. Om magazine will be launched at the Yoga Show in October/November, which is great news for anyone with an interest in yoga. On a personal note, it is an exciting time for me too as they have kindly agreed to publish an article that I have written in the first edition. Be sure to look out for Om when it is released. They do have a website, which you can visit at: http://www.ommagazine.com/ . At present, there are no contents, but once they are up and running, I am sure it will be essential reading.

Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity. Buddha

The practice of yoga induces a primary sense of measure and proportion. Reduced to our own body, our first instrument, we learn to play it, drawing from it maximum resonance and harmony. Yehudi Menuhin