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…
Pain can always cause us concern, but often the words of our doctor, physiotherapist or even friends can cultivate more alarm. The words ‘degeneration’ and ‘herniation’ are the most common when we have pursued imagery of the spine. They can be very daunting and the use of, impact and associated qualities of these words can…
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…
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…
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…