Change is difficult for humans. We place ourselves in the past or the future instead of that tricky present moment of in-betweenness. Yoga has a lot to teach us here.
Category Archives: Body-mind connection
If you’re angry and you know it stamp your feet (and 9 other top tips)
If you don’t know what to do when you feel angry – here are a few of the ideas I have picked up over the years.
Yoga myths and yoga magic
“You’re not adding poses to your shopping trolley”. Here are a few myths about yoga you might be carrying around with you…and some yoga magic to help you on your way.
Will yoga make me happy?
You’d be forgiven for thinking that yoga is all about making you happy, being positive, and looking on the bright side (well, either that or having a workout, but that’s a topic for another time). But if yoga isn’t about making you happy, what is it about?
Finding your ‘beginner’s mind’
We often try to cultivate a “beginner’s mind” in yoga. But sometimes life sends you an opportunity where it’s all you can do.
How to find calm when anxiety strikes
Yoga, meditation, and mindfulness give us valuable tools to overcome anxiety, by overriding the accompanying stress-related “fight or flight” response. Here are my favourite practices to cope with anxiety.
The power of pranayama
I’ve been spending more time working with my breath recently, revisiting familiar pranayama practices and exploring new ones. It’s been a wonderful reminder of the power of breathing for shifting energy, changing thought patterns, and finding balance and calm. And I’m enjoying hearing my beginner students’ reflections and reactions as they explore how breath affects their bodies and their state of mind too.
How to strengthen the vagus nerve for wellbeing and resilience
A few weeks ago I introduced you to the vagus nerve. Read on to find out about the signs of a weak or strong vagus nerve and how make this nerve as healthy as possible to keep us happy and resilient in the face of life’s stresses and upheavals.
What is the vagus nerve?
Yoga makes us feel good. And scientific research is just beginning to discover why. Over the next few posts I’ll introduce you to the vagus nerve, which is a key player in balancing the calming and activating sides of our nervous system. Read on to find out how this single nerve can help us with health, emotional wellbeing, happiness, memory, digestion, and social relationships. It’s fascinating, even if you’re not a science geek like me!
Less is more: Slowing down for stress relief
A vigorous yoga practice has never been my thing. What I love is a strong but slow Hatha yoga class, with plenty of mindfulness, and lots of attention to micro-movements and alignment. So that is what I teach. Here are a few reasons why I love to slow my yoga practice down and why less can be more, especially when it comes to managing stress.
Peach Yoga 