When to adjust, when not to, and how to protect student wellbeing An in-depth look at ethical touch in yoga classes, exploring consent, injury prevention, and why alignment should never override autonomy. There is something beautifully human about hands-on adjustments in yoga. A steady palm at the sacrum. A light grounding of the heel. A gentle lift through the sternum. Touch can communicate in a way language sometimes cannot. And yet. Touch is never neutral. It carries histo

I am not a naturally flexible person. That might sound like a strange thing to say as someone who has been practising yoga for over twenty years, and before that trained as a dancer. People often assume flexibility is a given in those worlds, that it arrives early and sticks around obediently. That has never been my experience. Any flexibility I have has been earned slowly, deliberately, and with a lot of ongoing effort. Even now, I would still consider myself relatively infl

A bad shift, a flat tyre and an unexpected refusal to take payment show how kindness, when it isn’t performative, still ripples decades later. About 20 years ago, while doing my master’s degree, I worked as temporary wait staff at high-end events. It was badly paid, physically demanding, and often grim but perfect for fitting around my unpredictable uni schedule. Temporary workers are invisible until they’re in the way, and management frequently treated us as if a little auth

What lineage, colonial history, and personal integrity have taught me as a yoga teacher If you’ve taken one of my classes in person recently, you may have noticed something quietly missing at the end. I no longer close the practice with namaste . That change wasn’t sudden or flippant. It came after a lot of reflection, study, listening, and a willingness to sit with some discomfort. So let’s start at the beginning, with what the word actually means. Namaste  (pronounced nah-m

Thoughts on Gestation, Lineage, and the Maternal Subject There’s something I’ve been trying to articulate for nearly four years, and I still struggle to find the right words. When I became pregnant, the truth of not being in control revealed itself with startling clarity. My mind and my body felt like distant continents. My body was astonishing. It knew how to grow a person, as naturally as my lungs draw breath and my heart carries on beating without instruction. My womb simp

The crown chakra, known in yoga philosophy as Sahasrara , is located at the top of the head and is associated with awareness, clarity, and connection to the bigger picture of life. While the language of chakras comes from ancient yogic traditions, the experiences linked to a balanced crown chakra — calm focus, perspective, and mental spaciousness — are deeply relevant to modern life and increasingly supported by science. Rather than being abstract or mystical, Sahasrara can b

In a world that pushes us to chase the next milestone—the next promotion, the next project, the next perfect version of ourselves— santosha  can feel almost radical. Rooted in Patanjali’s Niyamas , santosha is often translated as contentment , but it’s much more than simply “being happy with what you have.” It is a practice of deep acceptance, inner ease, and peaceful presence, even when circumstances are imperfect. Santosha doesn’t ask us to pretend life is always smooth. In

If you have ADHD, you’ve probably been told a hundred times to “just focus,” “slow down,” or “calm your mind.”But here’s the truth most people miss: Your brain isn’t designed to start with stillness — it thrives when the body moves first. That’s why yoga can be such a powerful tool for people with ADHD. Not because it forces you to sit quietly, but because it gives your brain exactly what it’s craving: stimulation, structure, sensation, and a way to regulate energy before try

One of the most humbling parts of practicing yoga is remembering that we are always  students. No matter how many hours we’ve taught, how many trainings we’ve completed, or how familiar the poses feel, this practice continues to reveal new layers the more we show up for it. Over the years, I’ve come to recognise a few principles that keep me aligned, grounded, and growing. These are the five non-negotiables I return to again and again — not because they’re rules, but because

Dandasana is one of those poses that looks deceptively simple — almost like you’re “just sitting on the floor.” But if you’ve ever tried to do it with true alignment and engagement, you know it’s so much more  than that. This foundational posture is the basis of all seated asana, and mastering it can transform both your practice and your posture. It asks for strength, awareness, and alignment… gently reminding us that the simplest shapes often teach us the most. Let’s break i

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as a mum in my 40s, it’s that “balance” is less about having everything perfectly organised and more about finding tiny moments of steadiness in the beautiful chaos. Between raising kids, running a household, and carving out space for my own passions, life can get messy fast — so I’ve learned to protect my sanity with a few simple habits. Here are the five things that help me stay grounded, energised, and (mostly) calm. 1. I prioritise mornin

An honest look at anxiety, motherhood, and the surprising liberation of stepping away from alcohol.