Im reading this wonderful book " Comfortable with uncertainty 108 teachings" by Pema Chodron. In the past few weeks many things have happened that have have turned things upside down for me... A friend decided he could no longer deal with this world and took his own life.  My brother in law was given four months to live because of an in operable brain tumour.  I was presented with a "huge" financial bill.  My son was randomly attacked by a group, hit over the head with a bottle and kicked to the floor, as people walked on by and did nothing. To say I have felt angry with the resent events would be an understatement-but it is what to do with this anger, and the feelings of uncertainty that is key...   This book has been really helpful ( along with talking to some trusted friends)and taking "time out" to meditate to  quieten the mind. I am not a  Buddhist,  but I  find these  Buddhist  teachings show me a way to  experience  the darker side of li

Its a dogs life......my dog has it sussed.

Welcome to my world....a brief tour of Putney and our clinic & yoga studio in action...come visit sometime.

Great photo of Daniel from Yogapod in Wiltshire...This photo was taken at Nancy Gilgoffs Wiltshire workshops. Visit Yogapod to see Daniel and Olivia's Ashtanga yoga classes in the area   http://www.yogapod.co.uk

We ran a baby massage taster class today-here is some information and some beautiful babies (and mums) The benefits of baby massage • Massage is the most natural and instinctive form of caring for the baby. The new-born baby experiences the world through his senses, such as touch, smell, taste, sound and vision. These senses are developing gradually, but from the moment of birth the baby already understands the language of touch. • Massage helps to create a unique bond between the parents and the baby. • Gives confidence for first time parents. • Relaxes both the baby and the mother/father. • Mothers who suffer from post-natal depression feel more positive when they experience their baby’s response to the massage. • Massage helps parents to be aware of their baby’s body and the developmental changes they going through. • Regularly massaged babies develop their motor skills quickly. • The general benefits of massage, such as improved circulation, healthy skin, strong

I have been working for the LTA for 19 years and every June I get to do this-I love introducing many of the ball boys and girls to yoga for the first time...and they are always pleasantly surprised at how much they enjoy it ( mostly) Me with one of the teams Giving trikonasana a go... Favourite pose of the day Savasana Yoga mama bebe :-) The tennis...

So Im back on mat having been stuck in this boot for more than four weeks. I asked my daughter to assist me with my back bending this morning-She has never done this before so it really made me laugh when she said " am I as good as Sharath?" I was also impressed that she knew who Sharath was?.....Whilst she is a wonderful talented artist, I don't think he need worry about her taking his "guru" role any time soon. The girl child Sharath Jois Mysore

 What a fantastic weekend of celebrations we have had....street party's, friends and loads of cake....Even got to hang out with the Queen for a bit ( okay a cardboard cut out of her). Tug of war with competitive men and meeting neighbours that i did not know existed-Love or loathe the royals a community get together is brilliant!

I am having to look at 2nd series back bends more than usual at the moment-so always useful to have some tips from Kino.

According to my experience, it is clear that if each individual makes an effort then he or she can change. Of course, is not immediate and it takes a lot of time. In order to change and deal with emotions it is crucial to analyse which thoughts are useful, constructive and of benefit to us.  I mean mainly those thoughts which make us calmer, more relaxed and which give us peace of mind, versus those thoughts which create uneasiness, fear and frustration. Dali Lama Book of wisdom

Keeping the knees closed and allowing the hips to open over time is key I feel-Great tip from Kino.

So for the past 10 days I have been unable to practise yoga ( asana that is)-I have had to find a way to sit with myself and accept I will not be practising Ashtanga yoga in my usual way, for quite some time. I would like to say I injured myself sky diving, or in a shark attack, or something equally dramatic and exciting-but no, a very heavy table fell on my foot causing a crush fracture. So crutches and the very attractive boot below are part of my life for up to six weeks. Do not scroll down if like me you are squeamish. Minging toe -)  

Wonderful clip of Sharath doing a rare public demo at conference-KPJAYI. This would have been after teaching one ( if not two) led classes in the morning. Amazing. Thank you to  brendamedinayoga  for whipping out her phone to record this ( braver woman than me :-) )

  There are a couple of spaces still available at Nancy's only London Ashtanga yoga workshops. A rare opportunity to practise with one of ashtanga yoga's senior female teachers. Nancy has been my teacher for 7/8 years, and I'm very happy she is coming to share her wisdom at my little Putney studio.  I have ventured to many places to practise with Nancy -including a few trips to India, and feel grateful that she still continues to travel the world to share her love of Ashtanga yoga Tuesday 26 th June 8,30am -11.30am  Led class followed by Q&A and examining the breath in the practise. Wednesday 27 th June 8.30am-11.30  Mysore style practise followed by Q&A and loving kindness  mediation   Thursday 28th June  8.30am- Mysore style practise only Nancy has requested you attend all three sessions where ever possible. Venue The Putney clinic of physical therapy. 2 nd floor  266 upper Richmond road, Putney London SW15 6TQ.

We had our ninth PinkPower walk event yesterday-and the sun shone down on us. Friends and families gathered and supported walkers along the 16 mile route. The events committee are hoping to reach the Million pound target this year, supporting two two Breast cancer charities : Breakthrough breast cancer and the Caron Keating foundation.  I would like to say a big thank you to everyone who took part, volunteered or sponsored an individual/or the event. Gloria Hunniford gave a wonderful speech about the loss of beautiful daughter to Breast cancer, and why we are all committed to trying to eradicate this disease. One of  my team members in this photo was diagnosed with Breast cancer in September of last year-She has since had treatment and a mastectomy-she walked 16 miles yesterday and her bravery and courage keeps us all motivated. I would also like to say a big thank you to all the osteopaths and physiotherapists from The Putney clinic  www.putneyclinic.co.uk   who massaged more

Here is a clip of a film by Academy Award nominated director Roko Belic, entitled HAPPY HAPPY takes us on a journey from the swamps of Louisiana to the slums of Kolkata in search of what really makes people happy. Combining real life stories of people from around the world and powerful interviews with the leading experts in happiness research, including Ed Diener, Sonja Lyubomirsky and Nic Marks, HAPPY explores the secrets behind our most valued emotion. What makes you happy? Happy - A Documentary Trailer from Wadi Rum Films on Vimeo .

Practise. All is coming... Sri K.Pattabhi Jois

Someone told me recently that they were a regular Ashtanga yoga practioner, and they had a daily primary series practise. She was somewhat surprised when I told her this pose is NOT part of the primary series....Great pose but not in primary-funny how some teachers will throw in a few extra poses, and not mention to their students this is not part of the traditional sequence.

Swami G Mysore , originally uploaded by yogamama.co.uk . Swami G is to be found living in a cave in Charmundi hills Mysore India. He has lived in the cave for 17 years-A wonderful gentle wise man. When I asked him if I could take a photograph of him-he agreed and then asked me if he could take one of me too-I roared with laughter when he pulled out an iphone ( or similar)...the modern day swami :-)

Resentment is like drinking poison expecting someone else to die. Anonymous

I think this is good tutorial for students new to headstand-although I find Kino saying move the pelvis forward slightly confusing, as I would describe this as moving the pelvis backward- but all amounts to the same direction I guess.

Please watch this moving documentary; Neil Bulstrode is an amazing plastic surgeon who is both a friend, and a work colleague. He and his fellow professionals are changing peoples lives with their amazing surgical skills.  In a tiny hamlet in Colombia, six-year-old Didier has struggled with a huge burden: a rare condition called a Congenital Melanocytic Nevus: a giant mole that grew so much that it covered 40% of his body. It resembled a shell, and Didier was nicknamed Turtle Boy. There was a chance it could turn malignant. And Didier's mother Luz struggled with an additional burden: guilt. In this superstitious society, there was a belief that Didier's growth was a result of being conceived during an eclipse, which meant Luz and her family had to live apart from the rest of the village. Luz longed to be free to have her son baptised, to take him to school and see him grow up like any other boy. But there was no way she could raise the money for an operation; until a lo

The benefits of baby massage • Massage is the most natural and instinctive form of caring for a baby. A new-born baby experiences the world through his senses, such as touch, smell, taste, sound and vision. These senses are developing gradually, but from the moment of birth the baby already understands the language of touch. • Massage helps to create a unique bond between the parents and the baby. • Gives confidence for first time parents. • Relaxes both the baby and the mother/father. • Mothers who suffer from post-natal depression feel more positive when they experience their baby’s response to the massage. • Massage helps parents to be aware of their baby’s body and the developmental changes they going through. • Regularly massaged babies develop their motor skills quickly. • The general benefits of massage, such as improved circulation, healthy skin, strong immune system, applies to the baby massage as well. • As a baby relaxes during a massage their muscl

  Here is an ashtanga yoga video from Kino MacGregor, in which she demonstrates the Marichyasana A pose. I have never seen this jump back done before. I also found the foot adjustment interesting.

Yoga Mama is a proud sponsor of The PinkPower Walk 2012. This 16-mile event raises funds for two breast cancer research charities: Breakthrough and The Caron Keating Foundation. This year's walk will take place on Sunday 13th May.We have extended the closing date to the 7th of April. Places are still available and the event organisers hope that this year's walk will see the million pound fundraising target broken. Take some positive steps to help eradicate Breast cancer For more information about participating, sponsoring or donating, go to:

I really like what Eddie says about the practise being joyful-we have enough intensity in our lives without making our yoga practise intense too

According to the Hatha yoga Pradipika, "Both the mind and the breath are united together like milk and water and both of them are equal in their activities. The mind begins its activities where there is breath, and the prana begins its activities where there is the mind" Hatha yoga Pradipika

There are signs all over the KPJAYI shala in Mysore saying no photographs-however on conference days this seems to not apply-hence this photo. A very special place indeed.

On my last day of conference at the KPJAYI shala one of my friends snapped this photo of myself and Sharath...Shame I hadn't brushed my hair...but hey story of my life.  Sharath is a wonderful intuitive teacher and nothing passes his watchful gaze ( even when you think he hasn't noticed something, he usually has). A couple of days into my stay in Mysore, Sharath said to me on a Monday " Wednesday you drop back " I said nothing but thought " I dont think so".  I have avoided drop backs since I took up Ashtanga yoga many moons ago, and whilst I had not mentioned this to Sharath, he just seems to know where you need some assistance  .... Wednesday I turn up, go through my practise and just when I think I can finish my back bends and clear off-he shows up on my mat (no idea how he remembers, with so many people in the room) and says " you drop back". The look of terror must have been on my face as he whispered "don't fear go back"

Not planning to give up my London life just yet-but this is a job I could possibly do-Rickshaw driving in Mysore India. Although I spent 5 weeks in Mysore I have no idea what the road rules are? (there don't appear to be  any, as far as I could see). I do know they drive on the same side of the road as we do in the UK and that you must not injure the cows that hang out in the middle of the road. You may also come across the odd herd of goats Blissed out yoga students And Monkeys eyeing up motor bikes for a spot of Joy riding. I think a rickshaw driver must be fairly entertained by the influx of yoga students that pass through Mysore during the season-Especially when they are asked to be taken to "magic school",  "you know like Harry Potter" -when in fact its "mystic school" and not a Harry Potter in sight....I reckon your day would be fairly interesting, and definitely one that requires nerves of steel, and a

This video is just fabulous-Thank you to the person who posted it. How wonderful to have all this information, from all these amazing first generation Ashtangi-So much shared knowledge and wisdom and not an asana in sight. 

"Yoga is the stilling of the mind. Only then when the mind is still abides the seer in its true nature" Sutra 1.3 Patanjali 

A powerful video- Retweet or post to make this Kony guy more public. Its up to you if you want to donate £$....the message is about these children being kidnapped and killed. 

I was working from home yesterday when the door bell went-I thought about not going to open it, as it would probably be someone trying to sell me manky tea-towels, at over the top prices. But no, a delightful gift box was handed to me by a delivery man, and inside were these.....Yeah!!! I have never had a box of cupcakes sent to me as a gift-it really made me smile on what was a "grey old day". A great present to send someone.... As you can see I had to sample a few before I even thought about taking a photo-they were delicious. A big thank you to  @constantcontact  for sending them and  www.LOLAS-KITCHEN.co.uk  for baking them.

Nancy Gilgoff London Ashtanga Yoga workshops 26 th -28 th June 2012. It is a great  privilege  for us to be hosting Nancy Gilgoffs only London yoga workshops. Nancy is widely respected as one of the greatest pioneers of ashtanga yoga to the West.  She was one of the first westerners to study ashtanga yoga, over 30 years ago with K.Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India.  She is the director of Maui’s House of Yoga and Zen www.ashtangamaui.com . Her studies have led her to the dharma teachings of the Dalai Lama and the expression of love and compassion for all beings.  Nancy travels throughout the US, Europe and Japan sharing her experience of yoga. We are very honoured to have her come and share her wisdom with us, on her rare trip to London. Workshop dates and format. Tuesday 26 th June 8,30am -11.30am ; Led class followed by Q&A and examining the breath in the practise. Wednesday 27 th June

What an amazing piece of old footage

Breakfast Luxury 5 rupee toilet bath Luxury toilet in reality                                                                                                            The scenery                                                                   Priests                                                                               Temple                                                           Selling his wares                                                                        Sanskrit                                                                     Friends                                                                                                Goat feeding ( coconuts)