Yoga for when you’re REALLY tired

You know when you’re so tired, you can barely think straight? Even the idea of getting your yoga mat out is beyond you. That’s when I most love restorative yoga poses: simple positions, supported by props such as chairs and pillows that enable me to rest deeply – but quickly.

I sometimes use these at the end of the day when I’m desperate for the kids to go to sleep. I tuck them up in bed then get myself into a pose outside their bedroom door. So while I’m “guarding them” to get them off to sleep, I’m also giving myself a much-needed and instant

In the middle of a family meltdown, can you find bliss?

In the middle of a busy day at work or looking after kids, “bliss” can seem a long way off.

When I’m juggling the competing demands of several little people at once, trying to cook a meal, keep the house reasonably tidy and catch up with emails – all within the same hour or two, I’m most likely to feel overwhelmed and trapped, especially if I haven’t had a good night’s sleep. Bliss seems distant and elusive, something to hope for at another time, possibly in another life.

Five best yoga books – updated

Since I first published a list of my five favourite yoga books two years ago, it’s been the most popular post on this blog. I’ve kept reading and come across yoga books I love even more. So, here’s my revised top five:

1. Intelligent Yoga: re-educating mind and body – Peter Blackaby

Published in 2012 by this Brighton-based yoga teacher and osteopath, Intelligent Yoga

Your yoga home practice – take a poll

Developing a regular home practice is a sure-fire way to increase the benefits of yoga to your physical and mental wellbeing. But it’s easier said than done – it’s amazing how hard it can be to get to your mat!

In a previous post I offered six home practice sheets – each with ten minutes of yoga to do at home. I’m really keen to hear how helpful these have been. So please spend a few minutes answering this six-question poll and tell me about your experience.

If you would like to try out the programme, contact me to receive home practice sheets. And then come back and do the poll!

Seven ways to beat the winter blues

With Christmas party time a distant memory and summer still a long way off, it can be a tough old time of year. Here are my suggestions for seven ways to beat the winter blues – originally published in Brixton Blog.

100 calorie cooked breakfast

After a thoroughly self-indulgent Christmas, I’m back on 5:2 fasting (eating normally 5 days a week and restricting my calories to 500 on the other two days). But that doesn’t mean I’m forced to munch on chilly salads, which is just as well as snow is tumbling past the window as I write this.

I’ve come up with a thoroughly warming and hearty cooked breakfast: mushrooms,

Your yoga challenge for 2013 – a home practice

Students often tell me they try to practise yoga at home in between classes – but when they get to their mats they can’t remember what to do.

So from January, I’m going to be giving my regular students 10 minutes of homework each week. I’ll email them – and post here on the blog – diagrams and instructions for a short yoga practice to do at home.

Contact me to receive home practice sheets.

Over the course of six weeks it will cover relaxation, breath, meditation and asana. By the end of the six weeks you’ll be able to join together all those 10-minutes to have up to an hour’s yoga practice to do whenever you have the