SingingTreeYoga

And once again I've deservedly been brought back down to earth here in Rhodes town, by local conversation. Of course there is concern about Eco-tourism (or lack of) and there are people working towards solutions Ms Morrell!  I guess the problem once again all boils down to numbers, the sheer amount of people in Europe taking holidays is the issue. So I ask you wouldn't you rather contribute to a places natural beauty and antiquity rather than this oblique manner of existence? Don't you want to be absorbed in travel, for the experience to move ones whole being, change focus, change brain waves, make you feel alive? Ahem! One day I'll be truthful about times & dates (but for now I'm happy in my Yogic youth giving properties). Back to the late 60s & early 70s here in Crete, where my mumma lived and taught. She has amazing pictures of what I imagined I'd see here in Greece. And I did, to certain extent.... if I ignored the fat 'sun-red' punt...

So here I am, like a child about to dive into their first ice cream of the summer; waiting in anticipation of a great new adventure... that's right, I'm off to Rhodes Island, Greece. My momma taught English and History here in the early 70's. In her Dusty Springfield Joan Baez phase... protesting the Vietnam war, falling in love with a local boy and then getting kicked out of the country for standing by what she believed in. So I have lots of imaginary 'baggage' to lug over with me. I'm fictionally not travelling light. Practically I am though, with sustainable travel kit and the intention to explore intrepidly, zoot...I'm off. Au revoir, ciao London is black hole at times, a succubus of souls. Yoga on clean sand and salt in my hair; here I come! 

Merry Stretch-making and all things Yogic this Christmas. I've arrived mid jet lag in the Southern Hemisphere...all the stars have changed and the water runs round the plug in a different direction. However Yoga is still fun and this week in the lead up to tomorrow's big day I've gone to my original ashram with my brother to do Yoga together. Love it! Happy and safe holidays ☺️🧘🏼‍♀️🌺 "Happiness will never come to  those who fail to appreciate what they already have."                                                                                                                                        Buddha

Did you manage to do your own 10-15minutes yoga and stretching this week? Good work! Well done! Yoga can really be the backbone to a full career in whatever it is you are most passionate about, whatever you love the most. Here at Yoga is where you can explore the change in your lifestyle, the flux that people go through these days in between jobs, changing career paths and let's face it today's stresses and strains require that we stay so very flexible. So I give you permission to step back in time, tell the boss you quit or whatever and... as they used to say on the 60's Morocco hippie trail, after the beatniks, the 'overland', go find yourself!  My fault,  my failure, is not the passions I have but in my lack of control of them.                                                                   ...

Modesty isn't something that can be taught, I don't think. In Patanjali's philosophy there is emphasis through doing Yoga on modesty. This can be applied to thought processes too, to have modesty is to learn compassion and to have compassion you can understand your environment; other people's problems and pains, other animals and the environment's needs. Yoga isn't performative. I say this because of a sudden shift in the delivery, if you like, of Yoga in Western practise. Yoga is based on an eastern 2500 year old philosophy and is a mode of exercise that has become useful to our vocations here, in the Western world. A tool-kit to release day-to-day stress and peaceful, often communal mode of exercise. It has more similarities with Tai-Chi, than anything I can think of. Again an Eastern practise. I find some of the styles of Yoga out there grotesque in their interpretation. Mainly because of the freedom that Yoga gives in it's various translatio...

Here's a straight forward blog about Chakras, the differences, the colours pertained to them and their use in Yoga. Look at the etymology of chakras ==>CLICKHERE<==  if you like then read on: There are 7 'main' chakras arranged along the spine from the bottom to the top; 1. Muladhara  2. Svadhisthana 3. Nabhi-Manipura  4. Anahata 5. Vishuddhi 6. Ajna 7. Sahasrara In Iyengar Yoga we refer to them in practise and also with meditation. Giving a great sense of wellness and holistic application to meditation. 1. Muladhara RED means 'root support' originates at the base of our spine and governs down through the bottom of our feet. Breath deeply here, we wash away impurities and strengthen our sense of stability and groundedness in our lives. 2. Svadhisthasana ORANGE  'Sacral Chakra' below the navel and small of the back. Translated means 'one's home' 'loveliness' or 'sweetness'. Heal sexual woundedness, cultivate na...

I suppose the style of Yoga you do offers so much or so little complexity to your life. If like me you thrive on being busy and inspired then possibly Iyengar Yoga is the choice of yoga for you too. Anyhow this latest Blog is a quick heads-up to anyone struggling with tight hamstrings in their practise. These 5 Asana can be practised as a whole sequence or individually to get the benefits: Uttanasana (forward bending pose) Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose) Prasarita Padottanasana (Wide-legged forward fold) Pachimottanasana (Seated forward bend)  Supta Padanguthasana (Reclining hand-to-big-toe pose).  The last asana of this group especially targets the hamstrings - and in Iyengar we use straps so it's easy to access or 'get into' this one. Also a SingingTreeYoga top tip if you are suffering with tightness in the legs is to afterwards soak in a hot bath with natural Epsom Salts - bliss! Enjoy 😊

In the U.K. here we had a long bank holiday weekend. In an urban metropolitan city it's really important to find 'chill-out' spaces to relax surrounded by green or more ergonomic, comfortable surrounds. In London we have women only spaces - these are long kept secret hideouts where you can swim in fresh water and sunbathe on the banks. Where alcohol, mobile phones, kids and lots more are not allowed. It's truly a woman's only space. Thankfully it exists in this city once called 'The Old Smoke'. I'd like to propose that the communications on line have now surpassed much of the communications you hear out and about. That if we are advising to 'detox' digitally in our lives from time to time then shouldn't we also try to detox and improve actual conversation. The level of gossip and circular chat really met levels of hysteria over the weekend. It's just unpleasant to hear with no resolve, no solution. Pointless. Here's wher...