Opening out

I went to a Pilates class last night run by my friend Katrina, who is also a yoga teacher (so honestly it's pretty far removed from the Pilates if you are a sort of Body Control Pilates type - but it's exactly the sort of Pilates I like - we use Ujjayi breath - very un-Pilates!!). I find I have to go to Pilates every couple of weeks for so to just check in with my alignment again. Alignment and physiology are so important to my yoga practice.

Katrina was talking about the changing of the seasons - I know she finds this time of year as depressing as I do. She said we all have a tendency to close in on ourselves, to want to hug ourselves - whether that be actually or metaphorically. So to counteract this we did an "opening out" practice. Lots of chest/shoulder/hip openers. Lots of grounding. Lots of strength.

And it felt gooooood!! :)

The Changing of the Seasons

The first signs of winter have begun to show themselves here in the UK. It's still only October but the mornings and evenings are darker, the leaves are turning and there is a hint of unmistakable chill in the air. Not to mention the long grey featureless days of nothingness which are so typical of East Anglia from about October to March every year.

I won't lie to you, I find the winter months extraordinarily difficult. I suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder and without my lamp that simulates sunrise I honestly don't think I could even get out of bed in the mornings. It can be truly beautiful in England at this time of year but I always approach autumn with a feeling of dread knowing that the days will get shorter, colder, drearier. It would help of course if we had had any semblance of summer in this country over the last few years but....

To counteract the onslaught (and for me it truly is an onslaught) of winter, I allow my yoga practice to change, to slow down, to become more introspective. I focus on poses that ground me, that keep me in the here and now and that warm me. Lots of Ujjayi breath, lots of standing and balance. It helps, it is as close to hibernation as I can get. :)

My yoga changes with the seasons, with my body, with my mood. And thank goodness it does because until I can afford to retire to the Gold Coast it is all I have!

Not a Real Update!

I haven't updated. I keep meaning to and I will, I will! In the meantime shadow kitty would like to wish you all a happy weekend :)

I got a job!

Yes that's right. Tuesday was a very good day because I got offered the job I was interviewed for on Monday! And miracle of miracles, it was, out of all the gazillion jobs I applied for, the one I wanted the most. Which goes to show if make enough affirmations, something will happen :)

It is working as office manager for a charity called Inspire who basically promote art and music and performance as holistic healing for people with chronic illness and disability. Yesterday they had a ton of kids with Downs Syndrome in making rock music. :) They also work with people with Alzheimers, Parkinsons, Chronic Fatigue, depression and even Fibro - so you see it's right up my street. Maybe I can get them all doing yoga too! The hours are pretty flexible (so hopefully I can fit yoga teaching in around it pretty well, when I start up again) and best of all it is just an eight minute drive away!

I haz teh happy :)

=

I am going to spend some time flitting around various yoga classes in Cambridge, working out what I like, what I don't, leaving my resume wherever it may need to be left and seeing what come of it all. I have a couple of masterclasses coming up with my teacher in the next few months also.

I went to a good class on Monday night - the first flow class I've been to in a while. Although someone came in ten minutes late and then left before savasana. Seriously?? I wouldn't never allow that! Maybe I am too strict? :/

Also I have been working on Eka Pada Rajakopotasana. It's something I have been practicing against the wall for some time. Well earlier this week I managed it without a wall!!! Only for a few breaths and my head is a looooooong way away from the sole of my foot but yay for balance!!!

So yeah, all good stuff!

First post from Cambridge!

It's been a crazy few days but I can say in good faith that we are moved in! Himself and I are like machines when it comes to moving house, neither of us can stand living out of boxes so we just unpack and unpack and unpack. Plus of course Himself has to work tomorrow so his office has to be set up. I have still to unpack books and sort out my yoga space but other than that I think we're done. Himself has even hung pictures on the walls and everything! We're both feeling very at home, both in the house and in Cambridge itself which has got to be a good thing.

In the front door and up the stairs

Our bedroom

Spare bedroom (not quite ready for guests yet though!)

Third bedroom which will be my yoga space when I've finished it! I have practiced in here a couple of times and it felt goooood!

Me doing laundry, living area to the left, Himself's office space behind me.

Through into the kitchen (me contemplating cooking!)

Through into the conservatory (various bikes!)

And saving the best til last, check out the view from the back of the house!!!

Yup, nothing but fields, we are as much on the edge of Cambridge as we can be, practically the middle of nowhere. Silence, beautiful sunsets and no people! Awesome :)

Tomorrow I have another job interview (still haven't heard anything about the last one but then I haven't heard I don't have the job so who knows?!) and am going to my first Cambridge yoga class. I have a ton of yoga contacts here in Cambridge who I'm going to hook up with over the next few weeks and get my yoga resume out to various teachers and studios and see what happens. Then on Tuesday I have another interview.

So fingers crossed for everything please :)