Tag Archives: mental health

Menopause is normal – and so are female bodies

Posted on October 19, 2019 by Chris Holt

Yesterday was national menopause day – accompanied by a slew of press articles, many bossily telling us how to ‘sail through’ this phase of life as if nothing were happening. The transitions going on in our bodies are often referred … Continue reading →

Posted in yoga | Tagged meditation, Menopause, mental health, restorative yoga, retreat, wellbeing, yoga nidra | Leave a comment

Have an un-Happy Christmas

Posted on December 20, 2015 by Chris Holt

This will be the first Christmas without my Mum. And our boys’ first without any grandparents. So you’ll forgive me for feeling a little sad and nostalgic. There will be no Christmas visit home this year. The small village in … Continue reading →

Posted in meditation, Uncategorized | Tagged family, mental health, parenting | Leave a comment

A gift of yoga – to people in prison

Posted on December 1, 2015 by Chris Holt

For the last couple of months I’ve been teaching a weekly yoga class to men coming towards the end of long prison sentences. Some were introduced to yoga in prison – for others this lunchtime session in probation service hostel … Continue reading →

Posted in yoga | Tagged meditation, mental health, Prison, yoga | 1 Comment

10 ways to beat the December frazzled feeling

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Chris Holt

At this time of year we can sometimes find ourselves overwhelmed by demands on our time and energy. Even if you’re not trying to live up to self-imposed expectations of making perfect home-made Christmas cards (no way) and home-cooked Christmas … Continue reading →

Posted in Brixton, yoga | Tagged family, meditation, mental health, mindfulness, parenting, quick yoga, stress, yoga, yoga practice | Leave a comment

What silence did to my mind

Posted on October 18, 2014 by Chris Holt

Earlier this month I spent a weekend in complete silence. From Friday evening through to Sunday afternoon I spoke to no one. No catch-ups with friends or family; no shouting at the TV, or the kids; no embarrassed small-talk with … Continue reading →

Posted in meditation | Tagged meditation, mental health, Prison, retreat, stress, therapeutic yoga, Yoga philosophy, yoga practice, yoga therapy | Leave a comment

Why meditation is easy, hard – and worth it

Posted on July 15, 2014 by Chris Holt

I once asked my inspirational yoga teacher Judith Lasater what would be her best advice for surviving the challenges of parenthood. Without missing a beat, she answered: “meditate”. Now, after nearly three years of trying – and mainly failing – to … Continue reading →

Posted in meditation, yoga | Tagged family, meditation, mental health, mindfulness, parenting, Prison, retreat | Leave a comment

My feelings of loss – and how they’re lifting

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Chris Holt

Over the autumn and winter my sister and I have been moving our elderly mother into sheltered housing and selling the family home that had been a solid and reliable part of our lives almost since we were toddlers. Yesterday … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, yoga | Tagged depression, family, meditation, mental health, pranayama, Yoga philosophy | 14 Comments

Seven ways to beat the winter blues

Posted on January 24, 2013 by Chris Holt

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 … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized, yoga | Tagged Brixton, exercise, meditation, mental health, Streatham, stress, yoga | 3 Comments