Enduring Winter

Is it just me or does the Sydney Winter seem colder than previous years and bitterly so? It probably doesn't help that we live in a Federation double-brick house without any air conditioning, working fireplaces or insulation. During the day it can be warmer outside than inside. The trouble is, all I want to do is hibernate, curl up in front of a fire, enjoy comforting foods, and do nothing.
So how do I fire myself up and get things done?

Family Fun

What is that saying in the film and television industry about children and animals? Never work with children or animals?

So, imagine what it would be like to teach a yoga class with children and animals.

Shavasana in September

Photo: Savasana by lululemon athletica.
Source: Flickr. Licensed under a CC BY 2.0 licence.

Shavasana^[1]—the pose that most people know as the ‘laying down’ pose at the end of a yoga class— seems so simple but is probably one of the most difficult poses to do.

Yoga for Snoring?!

Photo: Tiny Snores by pheezy.
Available under a CC BY-2.0 licence.

I've been trying out a new smartphone alarm application that monitors your sleep patterns and calculates the best time to wake you. This version also records noises in the night that might disturb your sleep. I knew that I snored but I didn't realise how loud I was!

The "Staring At The Screen All Day" Sequence

Are your eyes dry or itchy or both? Are they tired? Can you feel a muscle just above your eye twitching?

Your Body Knows Best

Raw sinuses. Chills. Headache. Lethargic. Do you think my body was trying to tell me something?

Learning to Relax

So, why did I feel the need to create a “I Really Need to Relax” sequence?

Hubby and I had been in Melbourne a week. The days were spent reacquainting ourselves with the city, visiting the newer areas of Docklands and South Wharf, discovering the changes in the suburb where we used to live, and attending the shows we had booked as part of the International Comedy Festival.

We arrived on a Sunday night. By Tuesday I was feeling lost—I didn't know what to do with myself. A week later, we're walking down the street and Hubby asks “Are you relaxing yet? Or have you forgotten how?”. And you know what? He was right-I had forgotten how to relax.

The “I Really Need to Relax” Sequence

This sequence is designed to remove physical tensions (particularly in the back and shoulders) and focus and relax the mind by coordinating the movements with the breath. If you have time, end with one or both of the following: alternate nostril breathing to calm and balance the body and mind, or yoga nidra to invoke deep relaxation.

There's No Place Like Home

There's no place like home, but sometimes, for business or for pleasure, there are times when you cannot be at home.

I'm currently working on a project where all my team is in Melbourne and I'm the only one in Sydney. Luckily, a lot of the work can be done from Sydney but, there are some tasks that can only be done in Melbourne.

As much as I love travelling, it is always unsettling, especially when Hubby cannot accompany me. Yet, it was only last week while I was in Melbourne that I became aware of the number of yogic and other complementary practices I use to help me unwind and centre.