i did get my natarajasana ...

we spent Sunday at Induction 1 for Yoga Teacher Training, on reflection i don't really think i was in the Yoga TT zone on Sunday

Yoga in my life

In 1997 I was wrongly diagnosed with a groin strain, & today I still have the same injury, Yoga was suggested to me as an alternative to Pilates, in 2007 Colin & I started attending regular classes 2-3 days a week, after 2 years we both felt we had more to learn, we started attending workshops & event days & in September 2010 we started another regular class with Gillian Gee which in turn led to us doing the Foundation course in January 2011.

I have found Yoga has had an incredibly powerful & positive impact on my life both physically & mentally, especially in the last year as I have started to look at Yoga as a whole rather than just the physical postures, Yoga is a very important part of my life already & I can never see that changing

i read Frank Lunn passed (BWY Treasurer) the more we walk into this immense extended yoga family, its hard not to cross paths with so many, i still think of Helen once in a while, she reminded me so much of Aunt, i hope to bump into her again soon 

Col & i spent last week with Carolyn at the yoga centre, 5 hours of yoga a day, by wednesday i was struggling by friday i didn't want to leave, i have fond memories of two people Helen who reminded me of my aunt, well spoken & eccentric & Brenda, she & i were the only people who chose the orange circle this means everlasting.. no begining & no end, i can relate to that, we were there when the final funding call came in to renovate the new centre, so this is where we will do our teacher training

In Jivamukti a couple of weeks ago we were contemplating your guru being obstacles/ people in life getting in the way, rather than people who teach you good things, if you can kiss the feet of your guru you find your peace

Col also opted for another tattoo last week, Celtic quoted him 120 & 3 hours, he went elsewhere it cost £60 & took 45 minutes, its the same style as his skateboard sequence but Surya namaska, again i'll take a better pic when its healed  

 

We did Jivamukti last September, there are a seriously limited amount of teachers here in the UK for this recognised style of Hatha, which is a shame, i love how Jivamukti is more than just Asana & does focus a lot on the spirtualised side of yoga, why are certain people drawn deeper into yoga, i could feel a vast improvement in my practice from the last time. I find strict Astanga too regimented & unforgiving, we really do need to find a Kundalini or Bikram workshop/class, i have to say though the London prices are high =/ I know they have a higher expense on living but you've got to be able to afford to practice, the Yoga Show is at the end October BW members didn't have to pay last year, the trains don't book that far in advance just yet. We now have 5 free weekends to make the most of before we give ourselves over for the next 3 years, this is assuming there are enough people who get on to teacher training, though i personally wouldn't mind taking another year looking deeper into the 9 styles....  we have 3 classes a week booked starting in September & hopefully Jodie will start her Ashtanga class Thursday nights

as weekend yoga goes, i have to say this weekend gone has been my favourite by far, not so much hip work, both days were mostly inversions & backward bends, its not often i sweat that much & felt so good.. i still do... at the saturday workshop we met another person coming on to teacher training in January, she's from the Jasmine side but comes from Matlock

Saturday we booked in for 6 hour workshop, i didn't get so much out of this one, Bridgets teaching was rushed & she didn't explain herself properly, we are once again heavily leaning towards the BW Foundation Degree, so much so i filled in the Introductory Day forms last night

I found our 2nd teacher for next year & she has a 3 week summer school running, i constantly search for retreats/workshops & although the retreats here & abroad look so nice they only have 2/3 hours of yoga a day, so it kind of defeats the object, this one has 5 1/2 hours a day for 5 days monday to friday with lunch included for £145 each/ or £260 residential... i do think its a good idea to work with her before we decide to do the next 2 years, there is no going back once we decide, i'm still 75% yes 25%, just from a finacial position, 4k each is a lot for 2 years or we could do the Yoga Alliance for a year like Bec did & only pay £1500 each, she is our longest standing teacher & if i'm honest, my favourite... i have a few months to decide yet so i'm not rushing any decision

i'm pleased i mastered crow/crane a while back... & it took a while due to my shoulder injury..