Yoga with Norman

02/10/2026

On 2 October 2001, I taught my first yoga class at Holmes Place in Crouch End. Three weeks after 9/11. Before the so-called ‘war against terror’ (and what a disaster that has been). At a time when Donald Trump was just a bankrupt property developer who had a well-deserved reputation for being a sexual abuser. During these years in the UK, there have been nine different Prime Ministers, a pandemic, a huge financial crash and years of austerity with stagnating wages and increasing prices.

I have been teaching yoga full time ever since then. 25 years; more than 10,000 classes; more than 400 workshops – and of course I still make mistakes. Most definitely, I am not enlightened. During these 25 years, I have spent about five months in total on meditation retreats and about eight months on yoga trainings. Still not enlightened (though always learning). However, in these 25 years, there have been some positive shifts. Though I do feel awkward and anxious, I can also feel more calm and more ease than in the past. Though anger is certainly still here, I have become better at pausing. Considering: is this a good idea? Will this be harming or helpful? I have become more able to find gaps between stimulus and responses, less caught in reactive chains and more able to be present with moment-by-moment experiences.

The largest class I taught in these 25 years was about 120 people (that was at Buddhafield). At least a few times, no-one has turned up to class. Once someone said to me after a Yin workshop “that was like watching paint dry”. Someone else said to me after a class: “That was sick.” A studio where I had worked for more than 10 years abruptly sacked me saying that I was “getting ideas above my station”. A top studio where I taught turned out to be a poisoned chalice. People have told me about their heartbreaks, their hard times, their difficult diagnoses – and their joys, their births, their successes.

Challenges of teaching a long time include staying on the edge, avoiding complacency, ensuring that I also receive and am nourished, constantly evaluating how I teach, practising patience (not one of my strong points). Making sure that there is both support and ballast. Keeping feet firm on floor while looking up to the skies. Knowing the importance of acknowledging errors. And more.

I teach yoga because I believe in its potentially profound transformative qualities. I have doubts (this is healthy). However, I also have confidence that arises both from my own experiences and of those coming to classes. Shifts happen. Reflections are an important practice – because if we do not know where we are coming from, how do we know where we might be going?

Numerous changes and much water under many bridges…

01/10/2026

Yin Yoga with Norman at the Reset Rooms
This Saturday, 3 October, 2.00pm - 4.30pm, £50

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

This workshop could create space where there might be less drama and more ease;
A chance to slow down, take stock and spend two and half hours simply being;
Moments of stillness in worlds of much movement;
A long exhale that help us to be grounded and present.

From previous practitioners:
“Norman has a special ability to teach in such an inclusive way…His knowledge, experience and compassion all made this a truly special course and experience…”

“Brilliant…inclusive, respectful, funny…I’m calling it life changing to anyone who asks”

“Norman is a fantastic teacher and communicator…I particularly loved the inclusivity of Norman’s approach.”

“Very deep, nourishing, professional and fun. Challenging but safe and friendly. Loved it.”

28/09/2026

Important words from Martin Luther King: “He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it.”

Saturday 10 October is International Day for Palestine. There will be a massive march in London on that day: stop arming Israel and sanctions now. Meet at Victoria Embankment at midday.

28/09/2026

On 3 September 2003, I started teaching a weekly Yin yoga class on a Wednesday afternoon at the North London Buddhist Centre. To the best of my knowledge, this was the first weekly Yin yoga class in London. After seven years, I passed this Wednesday afternoon class onto Amanda Wright. She then taught it for seven years until she gave it to Maitripushpa Bois, who taught it for nine years.

This month because of scheduling changes at the North London Buddhist Centre, the class was taken off the timetable. After 23 years, this class is no more. 23 years ago, Yin yoga was very marginal (to put it mildly). Now Yin is yoga mainstream. There are more than 200 weekly Yin yoga classes just in London. To quote Bernie Clark (in words he got from someone else): “Yin is in.”

It has been amazing to watch over these years Yin’s evolving and spreading over these years. From small seeds can grow great oaks. A good lesson for all of us.

PS Maitripushpa will now teach this class independently as an online offering, still Wednesdays 3.00pm-4.30pm, starting 28 October. More details soon. A door closes, a door opens.

24/09/2026

Yin is in.. Saturday afternoon with Norman and West London Buddhist Centre
Saturday 26 September
2.00pm - 5.00pm, £45/£20 concession

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

17/09/2026

Yin Yoga on a Sunday afternoon
Sunday 20 September, 2.00pm - 4.30pm
Indaba Yoga, £40

For more information and to book, click here:
https://indabayoga.com/workshopsandcourses?mobile=false&options%5Bids%5D=7312&options%5Bsite_id%5D=11974&version=0

14/09/2026

Study Yin yoga with Norman Yogacampus
Minds, Meridians, Moments
Monday 5 to Friday 9 October 2026
Each day runs 10:00 to 17:00, cost £745

This five-day Yin yoga in person training course with Norman Blair gives participants space to study and to explore this increasingly popular yoga practice. Yin yoga can give us the space to slow down and to savour the experience of being in postures.

For more information and to book, click here:
https://www.yogacampus.com/courses/cpd-specialist-training-events/yin-yoga-teacher-training-minds-meridians-moments-in-person

In the words of previous participants:
Teaching was of a very high standard. Human and personalised. Real sense also of joining a community with pre and post course communication. Liked teaching style and honesty of NB plus other teachers. Good to have a mix of teaching style.

I am a yoga teacher with 1000+ hours of training behind me. I was on the course with non-teachers, new teachers and experienced teachers and the course was perfectly delivered for all of us. This is not easy and I congratulate and thank everyone who was involved.

Five days of immersion led by the very knowledgeable Norman have left me with the inspiration and skills to start teaching my own yin classes. Really generous handouts and an endless reading list for further study. Guest teachers all brought their own take on the practice for a really rounded approach.

Would you like a FREE Yin community class with Norman? Click here to request and we'll send it straight to your inbox (please check the junk/spam folder).

04/09/2026

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.