Spring Forward (but Don’t Be Afraid to Fall Back)

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#yogaeverydamnday, daily yoga, mindfulness, overcoming obstacles, spiritual growth, yoga, yoga practice, Yoga With Paul

The recent changing of the clocks got me thinking about one of the biggest fallacies we can get caught up in, which is the myth of perpetual progress. We live in a culture where success and achievement are prized. We learn to continually set goals, aim higher, and push ourselves harder.

There is nothing wrong with aspiration or hard work, but we need to remember that not all progress is forward motion. We are so trained to think of “climbing the ladder” or “taking the next step” that sometimes we lose sight of the fact that growth happens in all directions. Even “backwards”.

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Grow with patience

Yoga is an opportunity to study and meditate on this truth. In the studio, it is tempting to push harder every day, to always want to go a little deeper, to hold the pose a little longer. But that’s not how our bodies (or minds) work. When you practice regularly you have the chance to observe that each day is different. Some days you’re strong, some days your flexible, some days you’re none of the above.

At first, it can be frustrating or daunting to feel like you’re falling back, but with time and practice we discover that the “bad days” are part of a larger pattern. The times when we struggle and feel weak are part of getting stronger.

Next time you feel you are “falling back” in some aspect of your practice, or career, or relationships, or finances, or whatever else, don’t beat yourself up. Don’t get stressed. Growth happens organically, in all directions. Let yourself be where you are…

How do you embrace difficult periods in your life? Share in the comments!
photo credit: Emilio K Little dreams via photopin (license)

Yoga and the Big Freeze

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hot yoga, London snow, London weather, seasonal yoga, yoga benefits, yoga London, yoga mindfulness, Yoga With Paul

I’ve been away recently and hoped, optimistically, to come back to a warmer city than I left. Not to be! The whole of the UK and even Europe has been hammered by cold. The snow is beautiful but it has disrupted life across the whole country.

 

Occasions like this remind me that no matter how hard we try we are, ultimately, not in control. We have our schedules, routines, routes, jobs, plans, and so forth yet all it takes is a blast of winter weather to turn everything on its head.

This can be very frightening to some people. It is natural to want to feel in control, to feel like the masters of our destiny. However, if we look at it through the lens of yoga, we gain a different perspective.

Our world, our environment, and even our daily routine, is at the mercy of forces way beyond our power. The only thing we can change is ourselves. We may not be able to make it to work, or to our appointments, or even to yoga, due to circumstances beyond our control. What we can do, is approach whatever life throws at us with mindfulness and flexibility.

Yoga teaches us that what matters is not the outcome, but our effort. Wherever we are, whatever situation arises, we can always do our best to maintain a loving, open, creative heart and mind. If we do that, nothing can derail us — not even a blizzard!

How did the Big Freeze affect you? Share in the comments!

 

Your Essential Accessory?

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self-rolling yoga mats, yoga equipment, yoga gear, Yoga Holiday With Paul, yoga mats, yoga studio, Yoga With Paul, yoyomats

One of the great things about yoga is its simplicity. All you really need to practice is a mat. If you’re on one of my Yoga Holiday with Paul retreats, you can even skip that and simply do some poses right there on the beach!

That said, we all have accessories or gear that we enjoy using, whether it’s a great water bottle or that perfect pair of shorts. One piece of gear I’d love to try is the Yoyo Mat. It is a self-rolling yoga mat based on the model of those slap-on bracelets (remember those?)

It rolls itself up and stays rolled without needing straps or bags. And when you unroll it to use, the “snap factor” keeps the edges flat. This sounds like a brilliant invention. I’d love to hear if you’ve tried it.

What is your essential accessory? Please share your recommendations in the comments or Tweet @YogaWithPaul. It would be great to compile a list of the best clothing, mats, props and other gear that we can share with all our fellow yogis.

Celebrating 2017

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Bikram yoga, daily yoga, hot yoga, meditation, mindfulness, new year 2018, New Years Resolutions, vinyasa yoga, Yoga Holiday With Paul, yoga practice, Yoga With Paul

Happy New Year!

Chances are, you’ve made some resolutions. New Year’s resolutions imply that we need to fix things; that our lives are there to be tidied and perfected.

I suggest before starting on resolutions, however worthwhile, we take the time to think about all the ways life is rich, fulfilling, rewarding and blessed.

Make a list of the amazing things that happened in 2017. Ask yourself

• How did you grow?
• What did you experience?
• How did you invest in your well-being?
• What relationships did you nurture?
• Where did you go?
• What are you grateful for?

My 2017 held incredible moments, like the Yoga Holiday With Paul retreat and my trip to Bhutan. But highlights don’t have to be big adventures or foreign excursions. Some of my most cherished moments were the joy of seeing students grow in their practice, deepening my bonds with family and friends, simply cycling through London and taking in all this city has to offer.

Take the time to celebrate 2017 and please, share your happy moments in the comments or Tweet @YogaWithPaul!

 

 

#YWP December Newsletter

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London yoga, new years yoga, Yoga Holiday With Paul, yoga news, yoga newsletter, yoga postures, yoga teacher, Yoga With Paul

Last one of the year, friends! The #YWP December newsletter is here. Enjoy & share.

Namaste

Yoga With Paul newsletter DEC 2017

Photo by Urban Decay Visuals

 

5 Step Self-Care Challenge

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meditation, mindfulness, philosophy of yoga, self-care, self-care challenge, yoga, yoga intention, Yoga With Paul

Self-care. Would you believe that in all the years of Yoga With Paul blog, I’ve never written a post with “self-care” in the title.

In a sense, the whole blog is about self-care, so you could say there is no need to spell it out. On the other hand, self-care is something we should be consciously embracing.

Why? Because otherwise self-care can turn from something positive into just another line on the to-do list. What I mean is, when we make a decision to take care of ourselves by going to yoga, eating clean, meditating, or taking time to do an activity we love, it enhances our well-being. We go to yoga with the intention of healing and energising our bodies. We eat choose wholesome food to build us up. And so forth.

If we forget about self-care, yoga becomes another task, eating right is just a duty, hobbies get shoved aside because we’re too busy or too tired.

In other words, intention is everything.

When we approach our life and practice with the intention of self-care we experience the world differently. By being aware and respectful of our own needs, we become more sensitive to the needs of people around us. We learn to slow down and not judge.

Here’s my 5-step self-care challenge:

1. Make a self-care inventory: What keeps you healthy, happy and sane?
2. Write a list.
3. Stick it someplace you can see it.
4. Next time you’re struggling, read that list and pick one thing to do for yourself.
5. Repeat as needed.

What’s your favourite self-care treat? Share in the comments or Tweet @YogaWithPaul

Fight Allergies With Yoga

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fighting allergies, pranayama, savasana, yoga, yoga allergies, yoga asanas, yoga inversions, yoga poses, yoga spring allergies, Yoga With Paul

Spring is a wonderful time of year — unless you suffer from allergies and the beautiful blooms and bright green grass reduce you to a sneezing, red-eyed mess.

Yoga can help fight allergies and, combined with a lifestyle that integrates clean eating and mindfulness, help you sail through seasonal sniffles.

Here are three yoga practices to help you keep a clear, comfortable head.

Spring allergy alert

Pranayama

Breath-work has many benefits for allergy sufferers. First, regular pranayama practice increases your lung capacity and flexibility. This helps if you get short of breath or suffer asthma related to allergies. Second, it eliminates stale air and toxins to cleanse and rejuvenate the body. Third, yogic breathing calms the body and mind, reducing stress and inflammation due to allergies.

Inversions

Going upside down is a great way to clear your head. Inversions like headstand or shoulder stand (step-by-step instructions here) open your nasal passages and encourage drainage through the body. They also promote the circulation of lymph fluid. The lymphatic system transports immune cells through the body and works to detox the blood, helping clear those aggressive allergens.

Savasana

When you’re down in the dumps from allergies sometimes all you want to do is lie down. That’s fine! Taking some time in savasana is a great way to mindfully connect to your body and encourage self-healing. Breathe evenly and steadily, allowing the sensation of the breath to work through your body and calm any tension. This will help your body integrate the benefits of vigorous postures like inversions while promoting circulation and detoxification. Taking the time to relax in savasana is also a way to signal your mind and body that there is no emergency — allergies are a temporary irritant that will pass.

Share your allergy-fighting tips in the comments!

 

#YWP April Newsletter

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clean eating, learn yoga, London yoga teacher, vegan recipes, yoga events, yoga newsletter, yoga nutrition, yoga postures, Yoga With Paul

Don’t miss your round-up of the best of the blog from April!

Yoga With Paul newsletter APR 2017

Revolved abdomen pose

3 Yoga Poses to Open Your Heart

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#WeAreUnited, heart opening yoga poses, London yoga, open heart yoga, yoga, yoga healing, yoga postures, yoga unity, Yoga With Paul

In difficult times, it is easy to retreat, draw back, close our heart. We are bombarded with voices that incite conflict and division. We’re told we have to be afraid, build walls, turn away from the world.

Yoga teaches us the opposite. Yoga means unity. Not just mind-body harmony within ourselves, but unity with the world around us. Unity with fellow humans, with other living creatures, with nature, with the elements and the spiritual. Daily practice is an exercise in creating an open heart.

An open heart is receptive, fearless, loving and above all, strong. The beauty of yoga is you don’t have to feel a certain way to start with. You just do the practice and allow the asanas to do their work.

There are many heart opening poses and these are three of my favourites.

Cobra pose (Bhujangasana)

Lie flat on your stomach. Stretch your legs back, tops of the feet on the floor. Spread your hands on the floor under your shoulders. Hug the elbows back into your body. You press the front of your body firmly into the floor and as you inhale start to straighten the arms to lift the chest off the floor, maintaining the connection through your hips and legs. Keep your lower body tight, like a cobra’s tail. Take small breaths at the top as you gently increase the arc of your spine, lifting your eyes toward the ceiling.

Bow pose (Dhanurasana)

Lie on your stomach. Bend your knees and reach back to grab your feet just below the toes. Keep your knees and feet in a line, about six inches apart. Gently kick back and up. The power in this posture comes from your legs, which should stay parallel as they pull your arms and shoulders back. Tilt forward onto your stomach and lift your head. Remember, where your eyes go, your body will follow. Breathe in and out through your nose through the posture.

Wheel pose

Advanced posture: Wheel pose

I recently did a step-by-step blog on wheel pose which is a fantastic heart opener that works your whole body. Read the post here.

How do you cultivate an open heart? Share your thoughts in the comments!

 

 

#YWP October Newsletter

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food for yoga, London life, London yoga teacher, mindful life, mindfulness, yoga advice, yoga newsletter, yoga practice, yoga studios, yoga tips, Yoga With Paul

The best of the past month’s blog posts and more! 

yoga-with-paul-newsletter-oct-2016