This week I’m bringing you a shorter piece as I’ve been away in another land… to the astoundingly beautiful and highly improbably city of Venice. My partner was invited there to set up a soundscape for an artist called Wallace Chan. Mr Chan’s exhibition of incredible sculptures was inspired by his daily meditation practice. Originally …
In last week’s article, we looked at pain and the brain, and how we can calm and rebalance our thinking mind with our wisdom layer (vijyanamayakosha) and our intellect (buddhi). As discussed, yoga views the physical, mental and spiritual parts of being (panchamayakosha) as interwoven – they all affect each other. Having less stress and agitation within …
Attending to the Messages of Pain: Part 3 – Pain of the Soul Read More »
Pain and the Brain Last week, we looked at what we can do to nourish and soothe our physical body (annamayakosha) to help relieve or reduce pain. This week, we’ll explore how the manomayakosha (mental body) and the vijynanamayakosha (wisdom body) contribute to us experiencing physical pain. Next week, I’m planning to look at how …
Attending to the Messages of Pain: Part 2 – Pain and the Brain Read More »
What Catches Your Attention? Last week, I introduced the yogic concept of illusion, the drama that unfolds within our inner and outer worlds. This week, I’d love to explore in a little more detail, how our attention interacts with these illusory worlds. And how we can gain a sense of agency and freedom from these …
Photo by Dhivakaran S from Pexels I Believe in Humanity How are you coping with recent world events? I’m feeling heavy-hearted, weighed down with grief, yet underneath this, there is a little glimmer shining within, a ray of hope. In times of darkness, it is essential to have a guiding light. I believe we have …
Photo from the BBC Website How Yoga Empowers Us to Stand for Democracy and Truth Yesterday I cancelled the Saturday morning Zoom class to join my Ukrainian friend at Downing Street, to protest against Putin’s invasion of Ukraine. We stood together in bright sunshine, under the clear sky surrounded by the yellow and blue of …
Stand With Ukraine: Action Rightly Performed Brings Freedom Read More »
Awe and Wonder I’m writing on a Friday, as storm Eunice rages outside… We’re not so great at extreme weather in London, the streets are very quiet. Most people are sheltering in place as we are used to doing these days. Normally I don’t like wind, it makes me feel antsy and ungrounded. However, I …
Photo by Anna Shvets at Pexels Feel Good Every Day…. Perhaps you’re reading this article because you are interested in yoga. Maybe you’ve tried a few classes in-person or online and felt a tangible positive benefit. Yoga has an incredible balancing effect on us humans. Moving and breathing with mindful attention allows us to feel …
You Love Yoga… So Why Aren’t You Doing it More Often? Read More »
Photo by Joran Quinten from Pexels How To Celebrate the Winter Solstice: Modern Perspectives on an Ancient Festival Learning How to Thrive in the Darkest Time of The Year Northern hemisphere dwellers will feel, within their bones, the approach of the longest night of the year: the Winter Solstice. The diminishing light is felt keenly by half the …
Investigating the Roots of Yoga After my facilitation course, I have committed to investigating the roots of yoga, cultural appropriation and the effects of colonisation in yoga. It’s taking ages, so much reading pondering and enquiring!! You might think, oh Julia, just stick to the lovely relaxing breathing and moving and don’t worry about all …
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