14/08/2026
This Sunday I will be three quarters of a century young! Yoga does what it say's on the tin.
I first saw Yoga on the 15th May 1971 at a Crystal Palace Garden party where Pink Floyd were top of the bill. In the 80's I shared a house with a Yoga teacher and in early 90's my best friend told me how great it was.
Having tried various Yoga practices in the late 90's it was ok but nothing special until one day I tried Ashtanga Yoga and the rest is history. As soon as I did the first Sun Salutation I thought this is amazing my second thought is I have to teach this. Even to day when I start the practice the voice in my head says Wow!
During the first 4 years I practiced for on and a half hours, self practice 4 days a week and classes on the other 2 days.
I did my teachers training with Dave Swenson and studied with all the great teachers both here and in India. I felt I could not "talk the talk if I had not walked the walk"!
Having tried other practices why did I settle with Ashtanga? Very simply it was the moving meditation that made it different from other practices. Whilst we are doing all the bendy stretchy stuff we are listening to the Ujjayi victorious breathing because we are listening to breathe we cannot think of anything else we are meditating. It is as simple as that. Meditation is the moment between thoughts. Whilst practising this breath it is important that we let go. Letting go is simple we just smile. When we smile during the practice we release "feel good endorphins". I see many students frowning and scowling which will never encourage the body to let go and you will be frustrated by the physical part of the practice.
So why do Yoga? The answer is simple. It helps you manage your life a bit better. If think about it as soon as you get up your mind starts whirling away. You go to bed and it does not switch off, so if you can be awake and turn off the "monkey mind" that is worth it's weight in gold.
The most important part of the practice is what is happening on the inside. It is not about putting your body into a pretzel shape. The postures are done to occupy the mind. You must rember that you are only as bendy as you are at this moment in time, if you were meant to be more bendy you would be!!! In terms of the body the most important part is the "letting go" which is achived by the smile. If you frown and scowl you are sending the body the wrong message and it will never release.
Rember the Mantra Inhale.. Exhale..Smile..Breathe & Enjoy.
Yours in Yoga,
Les
