Best yoga studio!

...in Park Lane, I think...

I'm really pleased with my new yoga studio just completed, I have finally found the right place for yogi-gnome, you could say he's "taken his seat." Looks pretty chilled, certainly will be in the frosty mornings.

The intent is to provide a nice warm environment for yoga practice, when public classes are either at the wrong time or just not the thing. Watch the website and my Facebook page for courses and classes, and please let me know if you are interested in a personalised practice plan, your time, even your music….

The studio has underfloor heating and all mats, blocks belts provided, I have to mention Nelly in the photo below…..but we find it awkward to talk about her…..

(think about that one…..)

This week’s class at the FBC, Tuesday 6:45 to 8pm is themed around the locks and in particular mula bandha and uddiyana bandha. This was something I really struggled with when I first started yoga, not only knowing where they are, what they are but what’s the point of them? It seemed a bit left of field to me. With some research and my natural inquisitiveness, I feel, for me at least, I have now found the key to the locks…

Come and join in for some lightness and lifting.

No time for a home yoga practice?

How I managed to develop a daily yoga practice that fits in with a busy schedule

I really struggled early on along my yoga path build up a personal practice, I just “didn’t have the time” this probably is the same for most people, we are all sooo busy these days and priorities take over.

It didn’t really help that my perception, from hearing other experiences and reading articles, was that I would need to commit an hour or 90 mins to have any meaningful benefit, which would never work, please read on.

So I just resigned myself to the weekly class, which was great and I really looked forward to the time on the mat and the feeling afterwards.

But I still felt inside that to get more out of this marvellous yoga that I should work something out and was reminded of the third Niyama ‘Tapas’ in the context of cultivating a sense of self discipline, not the sophisticated Spanish cuisine, that’s an entirely different blog….

The solution for me was to create a habit, I took the opportunity of a holiday, where my routine would be totally different for a period of time anyway so I could experiment with the time and commit to some yoga, every day. I was also realistic with the intention, I would do 10 minutes only and worked out a comfortable practice around this. On my return to the normal timetable, I found that the 10 mins could be accommodated quite easily, and settled into a morning practice.

You may ask what benefit just 10 minutes of yoga could achieve….I would respond , try it and keep with it every day, see if you can get to a month, and then ask the question again, you’ll have the answer!

It wasn’t long however before I started bringing in new asanas and experimenting with modifications and 10 minutes became 20, I reorganised my morning, got up a little earlier, 18 months on, I can just about squeeze in 35 minutes, but don’t want to leave the mat – you could say I now  have a habit (but I’m dealing with it)!

It doesn’t matter either if we miss some days, just keep going back, some mornings I really don’t feel like it, (the inner voice whispers Tapas) and when I come off the mat, I feel great..

Some days when I just cannot roll out the mat, but I really miss it, it turns my day..

Developing a daily practice will improve the balance in your life. There are plenty of sequences and asanas to provide a rounded accessible daily asana and pranyama practice where you can lose yourself

Drop me a line if you would like help along your path.

"I don’t think a public yoga class would be my thing…."

I remember thinking exactly this when a suggestion was made about a means of sorting out my creaking body, however I began to realise that as miraculous the human body is with repairing itself, it could do with our help along the way.

Many of us consider that because they may not fit the ‘typical yoga profile’, as seen in the magazines and the media, they do not belong in a public yoga class. I was somewhat nervous about being a ‘chap’ and going along to my first class, but it soon became apparent that this was not like going to the gym at all and actually once we had been through warm up, became such a fascinating experience. Eternal thanks to Sam Rao.

The truth is that yoga is the most accessible and welcoming activity for anyone, no matter their level of fitness, flexibility, age, gender etc.

Almost anyone will be able to do the sort of gentle stretching that is characteristic of yoga. You will find that possibly, at one time in your life you have performed many of the foundation asanas. Even if you are out of shape you will be able to participate and start to improve the way your body looks and feels. I am offering beginners and newcomers the

first class free to come and try it out if they wish..

Generally speaking, a hatha yoga class will follow a sequence of postures, which in turn relax different muscle groups, promoting an engagement of mind and body, we tune into ourselves through the class and start to reacquaint with ‘us.’

Over time, our bodies adapt, our nervous system relaxes and we find that what we couldn’t even conceive doing last year is now an easy foundation to another posture. But let’s not lose sight of the holistic benefits of yoga going far beyond a strong flexible body, take a look at my FAQ.

I often remark that my yoga journey started when I needed to mend by body from various sports injuries, and then yoga crept up on me. When competing, it became evident that my performances dropped with each passing year, although as the yoga took hold, I became more flexible and relaxed with each passing year.

It still remains though, that some people just aren’t comfortable with attending a public class which is understandable, however it would be such a shame that this precluded a yoga journey.

If this sounds like you, I would welcome a chat about how we could get you on your way to your personal practice, so you too can experience this beautiful way of living.