New Class Alert! Highbury

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Calling all yogis — especially my North London friends: I am very pleased to announce that I will be joining the Bikram Highbury & Islington yoga community as a teacher.⠀

Come learn to do this…

⠀

My regular classes @BikramHighbury will be on Tuesdays: 6.30am and 6.15pm. 

If you’re already a regular practitioner, come on down and refresh your practice with a change of scene. If you’re new to yoga, join us. Bikram classes are suitable for all levels from total novices to advanced.

I look forward to seeing you soon!

For a peek at the studio, check out its video

Bikram Yoga A to Z: Q for Quit

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The essential practice of Bikram, or any yoga, is simple: never quit.

We all have moments, days, or even weeks sometimes, when we think “I want to quit.” Yoga is too hard. Life is too busy. We have jobs, partners, kids, debts, commitments, houses, pets and our sanity to look after.

Sometimes yoga feels like one more line on a never-ending to do list. In those moments it can be tempting to quit. But yoga teaches us that quitting is not a solution. If we quit yoga when the going gets tough we are putting down the one tool that can help us hack through the jungle of stress and strife and come out smiling on the other side.

Yoga is where we hone our minds and bodies. It is where we return to ourselves. It is where we learn to breathe, be in the moment, and let go of external things. Yoga is also where we find community. Even if we dash in and out of the studio, we spend 90 minutes in a room with people who share positive energy and affirm the power of our practice.

Quitting is a temporary fix, like getting drunk after a bad week. But you wake up with a hangover, and feel worse than before.

If you are truly struggling for time and energy to practice yoga, it is better to modify, adjust, reschedule, or practice at home. Don’t quit on the one thing that will, over time, build a stronger mind, body, and spirit.

Have you ever quit yoga? What did it feel like?

Top Five Bikram Don’ts

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There are a lot of things you SHOULD do in a 90-minute Bikram class. Remembering all of them (the breathing! the grip! the meditation!) can be a bit overwhelming. If you struggle to remember everything you are supposed to do just remember five things you SHOULDN’T do.

1. Talk
This rule is easy to forget if you’re new or, on the other hand, if you’ve been practicing so long you’re friends with everyone in your class and fancy a chat. Practice the discipline of being silent from the moment you step into the studio until the moment you leave. It will enhance your concentration and clarity, and it is a basic courtesy to your fellow yogis.

2. Eat before class
Meals and hot yoga don’t mix. At best, you’ll feel uncomfortable and sluggish, at worst you might find yourself dashing out to the toilet. If you’re very hungry and worried about low blood sugar pre-hydrate with coconut water, or have a very light snack such as a few slices of fruit or a rice cake with nut-butter.

3. Breathe through your mouth
The breathe is what moves you through the postures. If you start panting, you throw off your body’s rhythm and risk breathlessness. If you feel like you can’t get enough air breathing correctly in and out through your nose, ease off the postures until you return to equilibrium.

4. Move too fast
Regulars often get in the habit of anticipating postures instead of following the dialogue, while novices can make the mistake of pushing too far in poses or not relaxing completely in savasana. I say it all the time in class: Follow the dialogue. Whether it is your first or 500th class you get maximum benefit when you follow the teacher’s instructions and move mindfully, without haste.

5. Compare yourself to others
Bikram yoga is not a competition sport. One of the quickest ways to get distracted is to compare yourself to people around you. As soon as you start thinking in terms of ‘better’ or ‘worse’ your ego gets involved. Whether the result is getting discouraged, feeling smug, or something in-between, your mind has left the yoga and you’re only getting half the benefit of your practice. Focus on your own body and practice and let everyone else worry about themselves!

Share your top Bikram ‘Don’t’ in the comments!

Yoga For Strong Ankles

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Ankle sprains, twists and even breaks are common injuries. Running around on wet, slick winter streets calls for balance and poise and when we slip weak, tight or imbalanced ankles can easily give way.

Yoga is a great way to strengthen ankles, build flexibility and improve balance to avoid mishaps. Bikram yoga teaches us to be aware of the position of our joints and cultivate balanced muscles.

A common ankle problem is that they tend to be tight in the front. Cyclists, runners, and basketball players, for example, overwork their shins causing the muscles in the front of the ankle and the top of the foot to tighten.

Balancing poses like Standing Head to Knee and Standing Bow Pulling Pose teach you to spread the weight throughout the foot so you stand evenly, not throwing your weight too far forward or back or right or left. This helps build muscle and joint strength and train your body to move in correct alignment.

Eagle Pose (Garudasana) is another excellent pose for strong ankles because the ankles work differently. Your standing leg learns to be strong and fluid, while the top leg gets a stretch along the inside of the ankle.

If you have any ankle weakness or injuries, be sure to move carefully in the postures, pay close attention to alignment, and let the teacher know!