Have you ever had a panic attack? That scary, intense feeling of panic can cause a range of symptoms including shortness of breath, heart palpitations, dizziness and muscle tension. Panic attacks are really common, with up to 35% of us having them at some point in our lives, and can be a reaction to periods of stress or illness. A little bit of fear is normal. It keeps us alert and actually makes us feel whole. The problem starts when this fear becomes persistent and starts t

Life is too short, we should all move more slowly. - Thich Nhat Hanh Being calm in life's fullness is certainly a challenge. But taking a moment out of your busy day to breathe with awareness and reconnect to your body, and simply feeling into whatever is there without any judgement, is easier than you think. Close your eyes for a minute now, and notice how your body feels. Notice if there is a call to 'not waste any time' or the need to 'push on'. Simply observe this, as it

I was once told that certain spiritual masters in Tibet used to set their teacups upside down before they went to bed each night as a reminder that all life was impermanent. And then, when they awoke each morning, they turned their teacups right side up again with the happy thought, ‘I'm still here!’ This simple gesture is a wonderful reminder to let go a little more now autumn has arrived, to celebrate every moment, and to have a sense of gratitude for the simple things in l

So you’ve become a regular yoga class goer, but the momentum is occasionally broken by family sickness or work commitments. You have the space at home for your yoga mat, but can’t seem to get down to it. I can hear myself saying to my two boys, ‘if you want to be good at something it requires practice and practice and practice!’ Easier said than done, right? But it’s true, a yoga practice is just that … a practice. So here are some tips to get you regularly downward dogging o

When it comes to making my New Year’s resolutions, let’s face it: mine just don’t stick. More often than not I abandon them within weeks and they fade away in the busyness of life. This is often because my resolve has been only made on an intellectual level, and not planted deeply enough in my subconscious mind. Changing habits is not easy, even when you know your behaviour is not good for your wellbeing. Let me share with you another way to avoid these nagging ‘should do’s’

Practicing yoga without studying yoga philosophy is like sailing without much wind. In a world that praises speed and busyness, we see a counterculture of SLOW on the rise, bringing along with it ideas like slow cooking, down shifting, and Restorative and Mindfulness Yoga. Quite often stress builds up because we have not allowed ourselves the nurturing space to relax and BE, on a regular weekly basis. When you create stillness within yourself, something starts to shift and yo