Chakras: Beyond the Myths and Misconceptions Chakra, pronounced “chu-kra,” not “sha-kra” commonly translates to “circular wheel-like disc.” However, the common terms we often hear, like chakra blockages, balancing, opening, or healing, can be misleading. Traditional Yoga texts suggest that chakras don’t need opening because they aren’t closed, nor do they need healing because they aren’t…
Hear me out. Has consent clouded our reasons for adjustments in yoga? Yes, personal choice, agency and respect are important, as are the deeper elements of trauma and triggering and the freeze/fawn responses – but what about the really really simple and most obvious reason? Is there merit to weight loading a body that neither…
7 reasons to avoid saying ‘the full expression of a pose’: 🌟There is no such thing if we all acknowledge the irrefutable fact that our skeletons alone are completely unique as well as the rest of individual anatomy. 🌟It breeds a culture of hierarchy, those who ‘can and those who ‘can’t’. 🌟Perfection dosn’t exist –…
The more physically dramatic the practice the more outward it takes you.The more subtle the practice the more it draws you inwards. This interiorisation is yoga. Choose any practice that clears the path inwards and repeat it. Again and again. The more we can practice this the easier it becomes to drop into tranquility within…
Your yoga practice is a personal journey inwards, an interiorization. One concept connected to that is the inward turning of the mind and senses, pratyahara. It is often misunderstood as pushing away experiences and shutting the world out, forcing yourself into avoidance and isolation, believing this is true withdrawal. Kaya Mindlin poses a beautiful question…
Triangle pose I always teach with ‘lightness and lift’ cues rather than sink down, dump down and reach ideas, thinking about up rather than down but for as many different ways to approach the shape there are different ideas around its symbolism too. There is the tale of Parvati inspired by her reflection to adopt…
Hear me out. Has consent clouded our reasons for adjustments in yoga? Of course personal choice, agency and respect are important, as are the deeper elements of trauma, triggering and the freeze/fawn response- but what about the really, really simple and most obvious reason? Is there merit to weight loading a body that neither you,…
I can promise you that the toes are not the goal. I can confirm that there are multiple directions of travel, not just down. I can guarantee that there are good things to discover with lightness and lift, not just depth and down. It can be a beautiful approach for both the body and mind…
One of the most common questions I am asked as a yoga teacher peer mentor is about expanding into teaching regular private sessions and client retention. Teaching a one-off session isn’t difficult, retaining returning weekly, fortnightly or monthly clients requires a whole different skill set. So let’s start at with the basics to put in…
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…