Neutral isn’t a magical land where injury doesn’t occur. Neutral isn’t a unique zone where you are bulletproof and protected. Neutral isn’t a special place of safety where movement is executed perfectly. Neutral is not a rare sought after unicorn but it is absolutely a myth. Neutral simply cannot exist. If you accept our bodies…
It is a common misconception that more of anything is ‘better’. However, when it comes to exercise and indeed yoga, there is a strong case for less is more. Pushing into shapes and poses on the yoga mat can be a counter productive stress signal to the body, whereas backing off, building your stretch tolerance…
What does a yoga teacher actually need to know about anatomy that has useful connections and practical applications to the reality of teaching? I am very guilty of over learning, overly pursuing advanced anatomy, courses for physios and deep dives into fascia and cadaver work. Anatomy has become seen as a badge of knowledge in…
When we talk in yoga of losing weight, strength or fitness goals we immediately prioritise the body over the soul. Talk of ‘sweating out sins’, ridding yourself of guilt through practice? Centralises the body over the mind. Narrative around practicing postures to improve, achieve or attain? It ranks the future abound the now. Placing importance…
We keep rescheduling rest. We deprioritise slowing down. We distract with highs. We tell ourselves rest must be earned. We convince ourselves only physical progression counts. We long for what’s next, what’s been, not valuing the now. We honour ‘more is more’. And we wonder why our minds struggle. Yet we keep on rescheduling rest.
Think of yoga as having the right coat for the weather. When we start we often reach for fashion, what style is popular and cool, what style gives us that instant shoppers high, immediate gratification but often unethical and unsustainable. When we find out feet, over time, we instinctively listen to the forecast of our…
Celebrities swear by them, colleges provide them for staff and students, recovery centres use them for addiction, trauma and now pain – but what exactly is a sound bath and will you have to get wet? They may sound like a revolutionary new age wellness trend, especially with city sessions selling for around £70, but…
Teams don’t make it to the Super Bowl the first time they step out on the pitch. It can take years, a whole career – and they may not make it even then. This dosn’t stop them trying, training or enjoying the process. We can apply the same idea to savasana, corpse pose, the relaxation…
Movement ‘Snacks’ No, not the kind you eat! A 2018 study shows that breaking your movement into just a few minutes through the day is more effective and has multiple benefits preferable to several long workouts. Current guidelines suggest moderate exercise is when you feel warmer, are breathing harder and your heart beats faster but…
Ahhh, the joy of being outside. We are not talking about exercise or 10,000 steps a day, just simply spending time outside in nature. By being engaged in the world around us – listening to birds, feeling the weather and touching the earth we become less introspective and it reduces our anxiety and lowers cortisol and…