Yoga with Norman

On Monday 27 July, I went to the funeral and celebration of Nirlipta Tuli. He died on 18 July after having been unwell for many years.

Nirlipta was an amazing man. A highly talented teacher who (alongside his wife and teaching partner, Uma Dinsmore-Tuli) influenced, informed and inspired countless people over the years. His speciality was Yoga Nidra. He was also a visionary artist (painting many beautiful yantras), a family man (he and Uma were together for more than 30 years and they have three children) and a brave human being.

Nirlipta and Uma definitely walked the talk. They challenged abusive teachers (at times at considerable personal and financial cost to themselves). They were not afraid to put their heads above the parapet. They spoke out against the genocide in Gaza. They spoke up for human rights and human dignity against the forces of power (corporations, patriarchy, capitalism). Uma continues to speak up and challenge power.

Teachers are people with a particular position of responsibility. Some teachers fail to connect the dots. Some teachers look down rather than up (such as blaming migrants instead of billionaires). Some teachers disappear into rabbit holes. This was definitely not true for Nirlipta (nor Uma). Nirlipta had a courageous heart. He was grounded, insightful, kind. A wonderful example to all of us.

Many are the ways we perceive death. For Nirlipta, it was a returning to the source. For novelist Terry Pratchett, “just think of it as leaving early to avoid the rush”. For me, death is the clarion call for us to wake up. Life being short and death being certain (ignoring the nonsense spouted by some tech overlords).

What are we going to do with this precious existence? Keep quiet and hope for the best and prioritise income stream? Or be inspired by someone like Nirlipta? Speaking up. Being active. Clearly seeing. Engaging as fully as is possible in this life. Knowing that the con is capitalism. Knowing that democracy is controlled and restricted. Knowing that there is much more to life than crumbs from the tables of the wealthy elite. Knowing that tolerance, kindness and decency are more powerful forces than toxic divisions. Knowing that awareness, community and practice are pathways towards liberation. Knowing that nothing exists independently and that everything connects.

A fund has been set up to support his family – for more details, email [email protected]

At the celebrations and inspired by Uma’s words, I wrote this poem.
I am a sea of knowledge;
A bend in the river;
A sparkle in a child’e eye;
The bark on a tree.

I am microbes in the soil,
A green leafy vegetable,
Stardust and sunshine,
Moonshine and mountains.

I am everything and nothing.

Yin yoga workshop at The Shala, south London.
Saturday 22 August, 2.00pm - 5.00pm, £45

For more information and to book, click here: https://momence.com/Vahni-%40-The-Shala-/Yin-Yoga-Workshop/119541061

Yin yoga gives us the space to slow down and stay with our experiences rather than always rushing and striving to achieve. In yin yoga, we create shapes where we can experience the awareness of intelligence: body mind heart. Shapes where we stay for several minutes; aspiring to balance neither too neutral nor too striving. Shapes where we can soften and grow.

One space left on Yin Yoga Nine-Day Advanced Teacher Training with Norman Blair.

In-person at Zolder Studio/London N22; cost £975
Thursday 10 – Friday 18 September 2026
10.00am-5.00pm (shorter day on day 4 and last day)

Numbers on course are limited to ten. This small group experience can be a significant factor in encouraging the process of learning. Training hours (60 in total) are eligible for Yoga Alliance continuing education.

More details here: https://www.yogawithnorman.co.uk/yoga-training/nine-day-yin-yoga-training

For booking please contact [email protected].
A prior training in Yin yoga is a pre-requisite for joining the training. If you would like to join the training and finances are an obstacle, we are happy to discuss.

Norman is one of the most experienced Yin yoga teachers in the UK; he has been running Yin yoga trainings since 2013 and his book ‘Brightening Our Inner Skies: Yin and Yoga’ was published in 2016.

In the words of previous participants:

“This experience exceeded all expectations…I feel like I have gained something invaluable…Norman and Maitripushpa have created something so special it is difficult to describe.”

“Feel I’ve learned such a lot from these nine days…Have loved it…Being in your beautiful home is very calming.”

“I have learnt so much, the course offered much more than I anticipated…Just so nice to be taught by someone as warm, real, knowledgeable, authentic and funny. I feel that he just met us all where we were.”

“Norman is such a warm teacher and his passion is evident. Good opportunities for questions and the sessions with him were just wonderful.”

In the last few months, Europe (and elsewhere) have baked and roasted, boiled and fried (choose your own verb). Temperature records smashed. Sweltering heatwaves. Wildfires. Droughts. Babies and older people most at risk; everyone impacted in different ways (for me, it has been a struggle to keep going and I have significantly lessened what I am doing). Next year is reliably predicted to be even hotter. It has been so hot recently in Japan that they coined a new word for it: kokushobi – “cruelly hot day”.

Of course, there are many factors, many causes, many responses. What is clear is that human activity has had a substantial impact. Burning fossil fuels. Cutting down trees. Pillaging for profit (which just goes to a small number of people). Worshipping the markets. It is also clear that more recycling and eating less meat and minimising flights are cosmetic alterations to this vast cruise liner that seems to be sinking. We need much more than changing the pattern of deck chairs.

How some yoga and meditation teachers stay silent about this climate crisis (and the ongoing genocide in Gaza) staggers me. Dumbfounds me. Talk about see nothing, say nothing, do nothing. Heads deep in the sands of delusion and denial, focused on maximising their personal income streams and/or too scared to rock the boat.

I am inspired by the bravery of those who do speak up. Such as Charlotte Bolton, a yoga teacher in Somerset. She recently wrote:
“We have become dangerously dismembered… practice is not a private interior event – it is a relationship with breath, with body, with the people around you, with the earth beneath you.”

Let us be clear: we are not the billionaires and the fossil fuel corporations that have actively accelerated this apocalypse. We are the many; they are few (which is why they put so much effort into dividing and separating us). This is about transforming how we live and how we relate to each other and to this world.

I have just compiled 'Insightful Words' – a document of quotes that I collected over the years. More than 46,000 words; more than 600 quotes from more than 400 people.

A well-known meditation teacher said:
“It’s like a TicTok of spiritual, political and philosophical classics.”

If you would like a PDF, please email me at [email protected]

Everyone attending a class/workshop/course with me gets a printed copy as a gift.

If you would like ten copies, I am asking for a donation of £50 to cover printing and postage costs (for addresses in Europe, it is £60; for elsewhere it is £70).

For more information, email [email protected]

Retreat with Norman and Maitripushpa and Jo Hamilton Yoga at Namaste Barn - six days of Yin yoga and meditation in the Devon countryside from 5pm Thursday 7 August, departing midday on Tuesday 12 August.

Double Room single occupancy £1,250
Double Room share £995 per person
Twin/triple room £950 per person
Camping/camper van £700
Cost includes delicious vegetarian/vegan meals, accommodation and all teaching sessions.

This retreat is for anyone who is interested in Yin yoga and mediation and wants to spend time in the beautiful Devon countryside. Two yoga classes each day, and two meditation classes taught by the highly talented teacher Maitripushpa Bois.

Norman and Maitripushpa are highly experienced teachers who have taught many retreats over many years. Namaste Barn is a well known retreat centre and Norman and Maitripushpa have taught this August retreat many times. Just a few hours from London by train.

Come for a break and to replenish and rejuvenate, and take time for yourself.

Fore more information and to book, click here:
https://www.yogawithnorman.co.uk/devon
and email: [email protected]

Devon Yoga and Meditation Retreat — Yoga With Norman Come for five days of yoga, meditation and just being in the beautiful countryside of Devon with Norman and Maitripushpa. With daily yin yoga classes and mediation this retreat in the UK will restore, inspire and engage.

Practise Yin yoga with Norman and The Reset Rooms, this Saturday, 2pm, £50 /£35 for members.

For more details and to book click here:
https://theresetrooms.com/experiences/yin-yoga-workshop/

From the Reset Rooms: "A special 150-minute Yin Yoga workshop with one of the most respected yin teachers in the world. With over 23 years of practice and a teaching style that is both deeply knowledgable and genuinely warm. If you've never tried yin, this is an exceptional introduction, and if you already practise, you'll know exactly why 150 minutes with Norman is worth clearing your afternoon for"

Practise Yin yoga online with Norman this coming Friday 24 July
Online via zoom and West London Buddhist Centre
6.30pm - 8.30pm, £20/£10

To book click here: https://www.yogawithnorman.co.uk/bookings