Recently, I spent 10 days studying Buddhist meditation with nuns from the Tibetan tradition in a monastery just outside Kathmandu. Yes, I was also confused about the fact there are nuns in a monastery but it is the 21st Century after all. These wonderful women taught me many things, not just through their words but... Continue Reading →
A Mountain Pilgrimage
Wake before dawn. The sun has not yet risen on another year, but last night’s music still hangs in the air. Don a jumper for the first time in weeks and straddle the bicycle you can rent for just 40p. Say hello to the cook walking her cow. Say hello to three children riding one... Continue Reading →
What do mountains, meditation and magic mushrooms have in common?
“We begin to let go only when we see the pain that's caused by holding on” - Mark Coleman I came to India for the following reasons: to meditate, to spend time alone in nature, and to practice yoga. Feeling like I had adequately addressed the first objective, for now, I decided to move onto... Continue Reading →
Everyday Mindfulness: A Month of Zen
What image springs to mind when you think of yoga? Probably a young, skinny woman contorting into strange shapes suspended in Lycra, right? It's moved on from the wacky new-age hippy stereotype and now it's totally cool for ‘regular’ and ‘respectable’ people to sport power suit by day and Lululemon by night. Personally, I think... Continue Reading →
Why do we practice yoga? A modern take on the eight limbs
My first yoga class was at a gym when I was 15. I’ll be honest, I came out thinking ‘well, that wasn’t really exercise and that lady was a bit too hippy-dippy for my liking. Maybe I’ll try pilates. Or Kickboxing.’ When I was at university a friend invited me along to another class -... Continue Reading →