Quite a few things have been going on lately. Weekend trips to London and Paris, wedding planning (the big day is getting closer) and a few updates on my path as a yoga teacher. 

I have now taught Hot Yoga at the YogaHub for almost 3 months. I am so grateful for the students that keep returning and for being patient with me when I confuse the mirroring or say silly things such as "now lower your floor to the chest". 

I remember especially that class when we brought it down to the floor after a series of balancing standing postures. As we sat tall with our legs stretched out in front of us in Dandasana and I was just introducing Paschimottanasana, Seated Forward Bend, the sun starts to shine in through the window. We're blinded by the sunlight. That moment was filled with energy, almost like if time had stopped. 

Next up for me is to start teaching yoga at Squarespace. The students have a varied level of experience, most of them are beginners. I can't wait to share my practice with a group that is so curious and motivated. As discussed in this post, the only thing you need to start is motivation.  

"Just to let you know I am really not flexible, so I don't think I will be able to do so many poses?"

This question is so often asked, especially when we question ourselves and what our bodies will be able to do.

We think of yoga as a physical practice, but yoga involves so much more. It's about working with the breath, mind and the body. These are our tools to find a healthier way to relate to ourselves and to others. 

When we deepen our breath, focus our minds or shift our bodies into different asanas (poses), all that is yoga. It doesn't take a specific asana to be a yogi. 

However, if we're already in an asana, which is no longer a challenge for us and we distract from it. I would hesitate to call that yoga. 

When you walk in a labyrinth, you need to stay open, patient and curious to enjoy the winding path. Once you arrive in the centre, you might expect a feeling of victory, but that feeling often goes away way too quickly. The rest of the time is merely about taking the same way back, the perspectives may change here, but the path is familiar.

It is all about how we create our own experiences as we travel from our own unique starting point. There are more than 800 yoga poses. But keeping a mindful healthy yoga practice doesn't have anything to do with how many of these poses you are comfortable with. It is not about the achievment. It is rather about the progress. 

"Work alone is your privilege, never the fruits thereof. Never let the fruits of action be your motive, and never cease to work. Work in the name of the spirit, abandoning all selfish desires. Be not affected by success or failure. This equipoise is called yoga." (Bhagavad Gītā)

Trust that your body will tell you what it needs. If you have tight hips, shoulders or hamstrings - focus on the breath and practice the poses that will help to loosen these muscle groups. The same goes for finding a yoga practice that will balance the level of stress you have in your life, most of us needs to include a calming yoga practice. What we call yin yoga. And don't forget Savasana.

In this sense, yoga is a training for life. Practice where you are at, right now. Practice to breathe through the tension. Practice an open heart in difficult situations. Practice small active changes and observe the difference it will make. Have your eyes at a goal, but don't be fooled to think the goal is where you need to be. It is in the practice of getting there, that liberation and positive impactful change will happen. 

I find a ton of inspiration in the world of yoga podcasts. I love walking and listening and being totally immersed in someone else's conversation. I love stories, and there are so many interesting ones out there to be shared, heard and learned from. Thanks to some really great podcasts I get to virtually meet some really interesting personalities; hear some really intriguing stories; and grow even more as a yoga student and teacher. 

I do subscribe to a lot of podcasts in general. While some of my long-term favourites are Swedish entertainment or interview podcasts, over the past year I've been researching the Yoga podcast scene. 

I've been trying dozens and dozens of them, in the London tube, when walking up and down the hills of San Fransisco, on planes over the atlantic ocean and lately, as I walk around Dublin town.

Today I'd like to share my absolute favourite ones with you, what they are about and why they are my favourites. 

The Yoga Talk Show, with Lucas Rockwood
In his weekly show, Lucas interviews yogis, fitness instructors and health entrepreneurs. I love how the conversation always stays fresh and interesting. So how does he do it? Lucas is the founder of Absolute Yoga Academy which is one of the world's top yoga teacher training schools. He is American but based in Barcelona which might work to his advantage with gaining some real fresh perspectives. Lucas is a great listener and has a very nice voice. And that's definitely important. One of my favourite parts of the show is the Q&A at the end of each episode. This is when Lucas, that is also a chef, comments upon common food myths and gives his advise for a better health and eating habits.

Hang out with Lucas here

The Healthy Moving Podcast, with Jen Hoffman
"What if we could exercise less and move more, so that we can feel better?"
This is the question that Jen poses at the beginning of each episode. It sets the tone for further discussions on how we can incorporate more movement into our lives, the power of our minds, our relationships and healthy actions. Jen gets her message across; change doesn't have to be hard. The only thing we need to do is to incorporate small changes in our everyday lives, and eventually great results will come. The episodes are short and sweet, but fortunately - there's a new one every week.

Enjoy it here

Yoga Stories Project, with Hunter Clarke-Fields
This is definitely one of my favourite podcasts out there. With one new guest each month, Hunter lets you discover their personal story in a way that is genuine, enjoyable and interesting. Her guests are yogis, or yoginis as she calls them, and Hunter does select her guests carefully, each one of them has a fascinating story to tell. Through her episodes you learn about a range of interesting subjects; including yoga for fertility, yoga after an injury and yoga for mindfulness.

Join the conversation here

HAPPY INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY!

Hope you all have had an amazing day! My day started off teaching yoga, with a women's theme of course. We practised some of my favourite yoga poses with a lot of female power (think Warrior ll, Lord of the Dance and Bow) and celebrated ourselves and our bodies all throughout the class. An hour of bliss.

One of the yoga poses that has always fascinated me the most is Sarvangasana, or shoulderstand. 

Actually, it might be one of the first poses that I ever tried out. If you don't count basic poses such as a cross legged or savasana, obviously. 

Sarvangasana always came so naturally to me, to just throw my feet up into air, resting them on the wall - or as a free stand, with my back resting in the palms of the hands. 

It is like my body is asking me to do this pose; it really helps me to clear my mind. 

Next time you feel restless, agitated or stuck in a rut - try it out. Only after a few minutes of pressing down through the upper arms and watching your toes reach up towards the sky, your mind and senses will heighten and most likely, you will feel back in tune with the now. Feeling grounded, focused and with a new frame of mind 

Preparing for and moving into Sarvangasana

1. Fold a few blankets, evenly and to a large enough piece to fit your arms and back. 
2. Place your blankets at the top of your yoga mat or about 50 cm away from the wall. Turn the folded edges towards the wall or the edge of the mat
3. Lie down on your back with the shoulders two centimeters away from the folded edge. 
4. Bend your knees and bring the arms in by your sides, palms facing up. 
5. Root your shoulders and arms into the blanket.
6. Inhale gently, and as you exhale swing your legs up in the air and/or against the wall. 
7. Bend the elbows and place the palms of your hands on your lower back with the fingers pointing up.
8. Keep your elbows in line with the shoulders and keep you neck still for good alignment
9.. Reach out through the toes and bear the body weight through the foundation - your elbows, shoulders, and head. Each point should bear weight, but your elbows should bear the most, followed by your shoulders and your head. 
10. If your neck is comfortable and your setup feels like a breeeze, stay for 5 to 10 breaths. Then, slowly release from the pose. Gradually increase the time spent in the pose, to eventually remain in the pose for five peaceful minutes.