February 2021
RITUAL.
My daily walks have progressed a little and now some of them are runs! I have wanted to get into running for years but for a long time living right in the middle of town I never really made it happen. A lovely friend of mine gave me some great tips and inspired me to get on with it. I now live a few minutes away from some fields so here I can run on grass as well as pass a lot less people which is preferable for me at this stage..!
They’re not very long right now but perfect to fit into a daily ritual. I have also noticed my mind shift into a much more positive space - the exercise, fresh air and countryside are a magical combination - which is needed right now!
NOURISH.
Making this oat bread has been a game changer for me, it’s easy and quick! You will want half of the weight to be oats- so this is for 500g of ingredients. You can easily make a bigger loaf, for example 600g ingredients=300g oats…
250g rolled oats/ gluten free rolled oats
80g ground flax seeds
50g psyllium husk
flax seeds, sunflower seeds, pumpkins seeds and sesame seeds & a pinch of sea salt
500ml water
Weigh the oats and pour into a large mixing bowl. Weigh the ground flax, psyllium husk and add in an even-ish amount of all of the seeds until you hit 250g. Add these to the oats and a little salt. Mix the dry ingredients well (very important!). Add the water in slowly and mix, let it sit for a couple of mins, then shape it into a loaf and place on a baking tray. Cook at 180 degree for 90 mins.
SELF PRACTICE.
As I mentioned above, running/ intentional walking- when I say intentional I mean I have a route planned out and aim to keep the pace up! A deep home yoga session has been perfect to get into when I get home. I have often been doing this in the mornings, timing it before lunch. So then I can relax, eat, then get on with whatever work/study I need to do!
If I’m to be honest, during the coldest months much of my yoga practice was reading about it rather than doing it… my mat just wasn’t calling me. However, I have found myself back on it regularly this month, challenging myself and finding those deep spaces that have been a little neglected. I’m looking forward to begin teaching again in person. You can see what classes I have coming up here.
Also, I’m very much dreaming about yoga retreats this year- if and when possible of course!. If you have any suggestions I would love to hear from you :)
SELF STUDY.
The Truth of Yoga, by Daniel Simpson. I highly highly recommend this book for a brilliantly structured breakdown of all and everything to do with yoga. Have you been wondering what on earth the Bhagavad Gita has to do with your asana class? You might be pleased to hear that you are not alone, and that this book may be a way for you to begin piecing it together. I think there has been a distinct lack of yoga books that bridge the gap between yogic academia and books that are written for the complete beginner, or specifically focused on postures. I would encourage all students who are interested in diving a little deeper below the surface of their regular classes and especially for teachers to read. It is broken down into lots of short essays on each topic so it is very easy to digest too!
I have also been enrolled on Yoga Campus’ online course ‘A Comprehensive History of Yoga: Research and Scholarship’. I’m about midway through now and have learnt a lot in such a short space of time. In fact, it has been a lot to take in, so I’ve been busy this month. I recommend taking a look at what is coming up at Yoga Campus, they are connected with some brilliant teachers for classes, courses and workshops.