Yoga with Rhys

10 years ago today, I walked into Triyoga Soho (RIP) to begin my Anusara teacher training with Bridget Woods Kramer, not entirely sure what to expect or where it would lead me. Looking back, that course had a profound impact on my life, opening up incredible opportunities along the way. Over time, yoga became my focus, allowing me to transition from a career in corporate HR to teaching full-time.

During this journey, I rediscovered my love for Pilates and met some truly wonderful people. I’ve also been fortunate enough to travel to many places (and hopefully many more to come!). Here’s to the next 10 years!

International Yoga Day and managed to get to practice with Bridget on the Summer Solstice

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I recently completed the Nice Marathon, it didn’t quite go as planned. This was my first marathon post-lockdowns, and Nice was actually my last one before COVID took over the world. training was a little haphazard and life got in the way, then I got injured and that impacted my training more than I thought. I knew this race wasn’t going to be great but everything was booked and I decided to leave it until I was in Nice before deciding whether to run or not. Looking back I probably shouldn’t have run, but I did finish it, it wasn’t my best time but I’m so glad to have completed it. Probably my ego took over and got me to the start line but after that it took everything to just focus on my body and listen to it. Embodying the teachings of yoga definitely helped, as I nearly dropped out before we left Nice. The weather was glorious and perfect for running. Marathon 18 done, now let’s start training for Paris in April 2024. Will I run Nice again, probably as it’s such a beautiful route.

Finally adjusting to being back from a wonderful yoga retreat with Bridget in India. It may not have gone as expected, as sciatica decided to remind me of my limitations and so I was not able to do as much yoga as I wanted. I guess that was a lesson in non-attachment. It was great to be away with friends and have a laugh. A highlight was seeing the Dalai Lama when in McLeod Ganj and it was also great spending a few days in Delhi with Sonal. It always feels like home when going to India and can’t wait to return…

Found this great quote from Mr Iyengar and so apt at the moment

“The primary aim of yoga is to restore the mind to simplicity and peace, and free it from confusion and distress.”

It’s been a busy few months, but time to finally take a breather. A little while ago I decided to go back to the world of Pilates, as I thought it would be good a balance for yoga and also for runners, and get my mat Pilates qualification and also Reformer too. Today that course finished so now getting ready to start teaching some Reformer Pilates classes. It’s been an intense couper of months but there’s always been a laugh and with some great people too. It’s also pretty much 7 years since I qualified to be a yoga teacher too

This is an interesting take on Barbie

What 'Barbie' Teaches Us About Suffering Essential Buddhist teachings in the feminist blockbuster hit

This week we’ve been looking at standing poses with a focus on Anusara’s Inner and Outer Spirals. These are the third and fourth principles of alignment. We think of the Inner Spiral as an expanding spiral creating space in the back body and the Outer Spiral narrows the back. We’ve been playing to find the balance between the two and to challenge our balances.

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My running has been a little hit and miss with the heat recently, but this is one of my go to poses post run. The twist feels good and can help release any tension in the hip flexors.

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Recently I’ve started running again to start training for my next marathon later this year. I’m running the Nice Marathon in November, and this is my first marathon after covid. It was also my last marathon in 2019 just before the world went crazy.

To help build up some strength in my yoga practice recently I’ve been including a lot more Chair poses. In Sanskrit it’s known as utkatasana and translates as fierce pose. I’ve been finding this has been really good to help build some strength into the quads, glutes and hamstrings. Working through the Anusara Universal Principles of Alignment also really