SingingTreeYoga

The only obstacle is the obstacle that is in the mind. You have pushed the voice in the head down, the one that pops up with negative things. You've moved through mindfulness sequences learning the fine art of controlling the more controlling thoughts and letting things move on. "Watching the traffic' as some teachers call it - but now life throws up for you: Grief is unavoidable, but there is help and there are methods to be able to deal with it. I've seen first hand a senior Iyengar Yoga instructor move a student through the stages of grief with one-to-one classes. It's incredible to watch as physically a person changes with their ability to cope with sorrow and sadness over time. Yoga can be the brick in that foundation that you can use to structure a positive thought framework. Unlike rigorous exercise you have time to feel the emotion in the body shift and leave. Not that I wouldn't recommend rigorous exercise for someone experience real grief.......

'Namaste'! said the girl that had to swerve to avoid being squashed between a car and a bus. I used to cycle here in London taawn! I used to be able to get from Shepherds Bush to Columbia Flaaawer market in 45 minutes using only canals and parks... ok, maybe a few roads. Ok, my boyfriend at the time used to lead me safely through the tricky bits. Guided by a cycling expert I really enjoyed the ride. London has changed. Today there's definitely too much traffic on the road for me to brave the bike.  Times change, but we don't have to lose our sense of 'rose tinted glasses' with that change. The thing I love about immersing the mind in philosophy, like Yoga philosophy is; that it gives you the resilience to deal with time and change. Claim that mud wracking I DO see London through Rose Tinted Glasses and I'm proud of that! I invite you to try a restorative / relaxation class. If you are in New Zealand drop into Herne Bay Yoga, some of NZ's best Yog...

Mother Nature has tipped the country into chaos once more. Consider local farmers and their businesses at the moment! Here at SingingTreeYoga the snowy chaos has prevented my catching a train to Devon - Dartmoor is impervious. I'm sure the more adventurous, less timid will be there exploring it's beauty, however I have to trouble shoot this next step somehow ensuring a treat-full retreat without actually being there. Watch this space... On another note (because one should never give up) Yehudi Menuhin was widely one of the greatest violinists of the 20th century. He had a passion for Iyengar Yoga. Even saying that his Yoga instructor was his best violin teacher. Playing classical music gives you a fair share of the aches and pains. As a professional Opera Singer I certainly have at times during a concert season relied on specific asana to ease my aching torso (all that breathing) and aching feet and legs (squeezing into uncomfortable costume shoes and standing long hou...

Here in the SingingTreeYoga factory of invention we have inventions underway. I am in the process of being the maker of my own dreams 😊And there are hints in the Yoga world already of better things to come... How about taking a break in the middle of your furiously busy year in a place of protected natural beauty. And being provided a means to RELAX. With a practise like Iyengar Yoga you don't need Herby pillows or a bed that elevates your legs 30% in the air, or even long spritzing in a spas (although that pampering sounds nice). With an Iyengar Yoga instructor on hand, adjusting and moving your body into a decent asana. You are lucky because then 100% relaxation is achieved with only 10 - 20% effort. Shake those office high heels off and get yourself to a Ashram the home of the Indian tradition. Here's a nice article from The Guardian about the Top  10 India Retreats Having travelled in India and having half an Indian family from Hyderabad and Karachi respectively...

It's hard to stay fit and healthy in a metropolitan city, such as London. We are assailed by advertising everywhere. It's on the screen at the gym, it's on your phone in your hand, it's on the computer screen at work, it surrounds the pavements that we walk along. So avert your eyes. Once you start to train your mind to look away, to not buy into it, then with practise it becomes easier. If losing some weight and getting fitter is your goal before Summer starts then this what you should do: Less time wasted in advertising land and more time for yourself. Start that 10 minutes stretching every day. Find an app that encourages you. Schedule the exercise into your daily schedule. Starting a routine is the easy bit, it's the continuum that is tricky to master. I guarantee doing Yoga helps you master this skill. If you can be present in your body you will be able to notice your own thoughts and what those thoughts are attached to - for some: stories about the pa...

It's International Women's Day. Quick get over to The Southbank Centre or The National Theatre, they always have great activities acknowledging these fab moments. I digress now: the more I learn about Architecture the more respect I have for my Architect friends. Especially those that work in sustainability. There's an amazing event on today at the ExCel Centre all about forward thinkers in the built environment, called Eco Build. I love attending these king of things the Ecobuild conference thinks futurebuild. I think futurebuild. It's the future of design, construction and the built environment. The latest developments and new product launches. I like to immerse myself for the sake of changing my perspective. I felt so disappointed when the London Green Bridge didn't happen. All that investment, time, energy and expertise waisted... We are the architects of our own dreams. Practising Yoga and mindfulness can keep us centred in working towards our goals...

I appreciate that many people last week saw the snow as a boon. A good excuse to grab a couple of hours extra time in bed sleeping / nay hibernating through the cold weather. But we are not creatures that hibernate. So get back to your exercise routine. Whether that is 10 or 20 minutes Yoga before you go to work, an evening gentle stretch and wind down. However a good exercise routine has proven to work wonders on your Health: Heart, Body, Mind and yes soul. Here at SingingTreeYoga I am collaborating with experienced Yogi's who teach mindfulness and meditation. We are working towards offering you a luxury retreat...more about that soon😄 So today, Monday, back to the old slog and grind. Do your morning walk, get out there, there is no more snow to hold you back. I had terrific fun tobogganing and being a kid in the snow again - see previous blog on 'free-play' but today it was straight back to my HIT High Intensity Training (for teachers have to be very-fit) and s...

Well this is exciting. I'm creating my first free-bee gift for you loyal and avid readers of SingingTreeYoga. Here in the Yoga Blog background, the factory of invention and ideas we're brewing up something exiting for your Yoga enjoyment. When storm Emma hit London, I went out onto the Heath and ran around for hours in the snow. Thanks storm Emma for providing us with time to stop, think and possibly re access things. With my friends' daughters home from school and having fun on the toboggan, with other kids of all ages, we were able to pretend we had our own veritable St Moritz or Cortina ski resort. Without the outrageous expense! A sudden winter wonderland has luckily descended. Free Play has been proven to be essential for normal emotional development. In play children learn how to regulate their fear and anger and thereby how to maintain their emotional control in real-life threatening situations. There are also positive cognitive benefits associated specific...