It’s a funny thing – space is all around us – the universe is mostly space, yet we can feel crowded in. There’s something about modern living that makes many of us a little claustrophobic, even when not in confined spaces. Mostly I believe it is a ‘pressing down’ of too much stuff, like we are literally carrying the weight … Read More
Slow and simple and ham sandwiches
It’s what these last few days of the year hopefully are – slow and simple. Languorous, lazy, light. It’s Thursday as I write this but it could be a Wednesday or Friday or another day wedged between Christmas and New Year, when the ham is getting close to the bone but there is still enough for sandwiches (if you can … Read More
The 20% theory to overcome stress
I have a new theory to overcoming stress. I say theory because I’m still trying to practise it, and I use ‘overcome’ when really I mean ‘cope with’ or ‘reduce’, because I don’t think we can ever get rid of stress completely. But hey its a theory so I’ve got to aim high right! Short and sweet – do 20% … Read More
Zen and the Art of French Braiding
I’ve always wanted to use an eclectic, if slightly pompous sounding title for a blog post and Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a classic best-selling book. I’ve officially become a Dance Mum, or a hairdresser, or probably just a shadow of both, but as we head into dance eisteddfod season this year I seem to have grown … Read More
A recipe for balance
Is it just me or is cooking getting more complicated than ever these days? Is nutrition getting even more confusing? Ingredients more exotic? Techniques more bizarre? Healthy eating more nutty? You can now cook in a water bath (is there another kind of bath) which is simply? a method for baking custards, cheesecakes and the like in a pan of … Read More
Sleep, food, family, friends and even exercise
This is not one of those New Year posts with all the tips for getting healthy in 2016 (drink water, eat less, meditate – all good, but kinda obvious). It is about leading a healthy life – which perhaps requires some re-definition, or make that re-invention, of what healthy really means. Or as I’m calling the changes I want to … Read More
Ho, Ho, Yin
Ho, Ho, Ho – the familiar Santa Clause catchphrase of good cheer as that jolly old fellow St Nick laughs and his little round belly shakes like a bowl full of jelly. It brings a smile and Christmas cheer, of course, but I’d like to propose a new refrain. Ho, Ho, Yin – a good natured laugh, a cheeky old … Read More
Unblocking creativity
Even if you haven’t tried it you probably know that colouring in (for adults) is the latest craze in finding calm and creativity – I’m also here to tell you it unblocks writers block. Well I’m here to write that, so that’s something. Yep, if your creative drain is blocked and the words won’t flow, let the colours. Regular readers … Read More
Be the warrior hero in your own life
The Warrior (Virabhadrasana) series can say a lot about your yoga and your life. Not that yoga is a competition or life a battle that we need to fight (and win), but that real strength is found through focus and balance and standing firm for what you believe in. For women especially, the Warrior poses can be strong asanas—we women … Read More
My faults (in 50 words or less)
This is hard to do – confine my faults to 50 words or less – abbreviate a long list of shortcomings lest I bore you even more, or go completely to town on myself. I’ve wasted 35 words already (make that 40)! Can I start again? You can count from NOW. I yell – my worst trait Over-dramatisation *the hypen … Read More
Of planets, moons and birthdays
Have you looked up lately? Venus and Jupiter have been hanging out together, apparently closer than they’ve been since something like 2BC and you can spot them up there, just over the horizon, even though they are xxxxxxxxx miles away. (Venus and Jupiter are actually about 670,130,000km apart, even though they’ve been looking only half-a-moon diameter apart. Our closet planetary … Read More
Fast or slow?
This is not an erotic question! Would it drive you crazier if things went ‘too’ fast, or ‘too’ slow? Would you worry that you’d miss out on more of life if things went too slow, or if they went too fast? Is there such a thing as a perfect speed, or is the best we can hope for some sort … Read More
