There's no time to rush...
In this article I’m going to be exploring the idea of ‘retreat.’ By going on my own personal retreat journey and developing a DIY retreat I hope to share some insights into the real reasons we retreat. Are retreats essentially self-indulgent mini-breaks? Or do they offer us a space to reconnect with ourselves, the present moment and with what matters most? Join me as I journey within… without going anywhere! Pressing Pause It seems rather strange to retreat from life when it’
Life is all about how you handle Plan B...
I recently discovered an unpublished article from July 2017. I wrote it the night before the first- of two- quite complex knee surgeries. Hindsight is a wonderful thing as I can now see how much I have learnt from the experience. In fact, I am truly grateful for that year on crutches, not simply because of the wonders it has worked on my knees but also for the way it changed me personally. The surgery forced me to physically and mentally slow down and enabled me to see all th
Juicing (and juggling normal life!)
The last time I embarked on a juice cleanse I was at a retreat in a remote part of Cambodia. We woke up with sun salutations, replaced meal times with massages and spent our afternoons strolling along beautiful beaches or reading in a hammock. It was the perfect place to press pause on my usual eating patterns and by the end of the week, I was really starting to listen to the signs and signals my body was giving me: eating when hungry, stopping when full. It sounds so simple
Why I Quit Vipassana...
A lesson in flexibility (not failure!!) I lasted a grand total of 26 hours at a 10-day silent meditation retreat. Which is surprising because I rarely ever quit. I’ve pushed through a 100-mile bike ride on two dodgy knees, endured a week-long juice fast and experienced tireless rejection as an actress. And yet I couldn’t conquer sitting in silence. I trained for Vipassana like I trained for the marathon: I meditated every morning, preparing my mind and body for the challenge
Sitting in Silence...
For 10 day whole days I will be sitting in silence, without internet, a mobile or a book. Why? Because I have signed up for a Vipassana meditation retreat... During a Vipassana students observe a noble silence that prohibits communication- whether by speech, gestures, sign language or written text- and meditate from 4am to 9pm each day. Now believe it or not but this is a beginners course, introducing novices to a pre-Buddhist meditation technique that was revived and popular
Adventure Yogi
March has been a pretty hectic month: I’m in the process of moving house, setting up a business whilst still juggling my regular yoga classes and PA work. So a 3-night escape to East Sussex countryside couldn’t have come sooner! Nourishment for the mind, body…and belly! Offering uninterrupted views of the South Downs, the remote retreat is situated on a charming little farm between Tunbridge Wells, Mayfield and Burwash. It’s a working farm so I was welcomed with that wonderfu
Tias Little: Yoga of the Subtle Body
Tias Little's 5-day immersion into yoga of the subtle body has transformed my approach and attitude towards practicing yoga. Over the past year my knowledge and understanding of yoga has vastly but it's practical application has somewhat plateaued. Primarily because I've been trying to micromanage my yoga practice in the same way I try to organise my life. The focus has been on control- with both breath and body- leaving no room for release or a sense of Shavasana. The dharma
New Year, New Lens
At the turn of the year we often find ourselves evaluating and examining the previous year’s progress. We focus on what we don’t have and wh
Everything is Energy: Reiki Level 1
I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from Vagabond Temple’s Reiki course. I knew it had something to do with energy but it all seemed a bit ‘H
The Significance of Shavasana
Shavasana is the crown jewel of yoga asana and is the most difficult pose to understand- physically, mentally and spiritually. We end our practice in this lying down position because this is moment when we let go of all of the technique. Throughout the practice we may focus on balancing muscular energy, controlling the mind and slowing down the breath but in shavasana, we drop all of this. It’s quite a wonder that at the end of each and every practice, yoga dismantles its own
Finding Yin in Yang
Teaching at Vagabond Temple has taught me so much about my self and my understanding of yoga. I’ve had the opportunity to teach a variety of students from all over the globe, with classes varying from fast flowing vinyasas to restful restoratives. The freedom to play around with time has been incredibly liberating, as I can really slow my classes down, planning 2-hour sequences starting and ending with a 15-minute shavasana! Yet the greatest lesson I have learnt is that I am
Mindful Meals
I went into Vagabond Temple’s 7-day detox programme hoping to reboot my digestive system and recalibrate my hunger But these were merely sur
Detox Diary
Here's how I got on with Vagabond Temple's 7-day detox programme... Day 1: Today is the ‘warm-up’ before embarking on a 5-day juice fast. It prevents you from diving into the detox ‘deep-end’, as it eases the body into a fasted state by limiting the diet to simple fruits and vegetables. This in itself is a welcome detox as I have spent the past 26 hours subsisting on processed plane food, which has left me feeling bloated and heavy. So I am keen to press the reset button on m
Welcome to Vagabond Temple!
I’ve only been at Vagabond Temple for two days and yet I already feel right at home. Arriving on Sunday afternoon jet-lagged and nervous, I
B. Yoga
If you ever find yourself in Basel (for business or for leisure) then I would really recommend trying out a class at B. Yoga Basel. The studios international teaching team offer a variety of classes taught in multiple languages, to ensure that there really is something for everyone in this urban shala. Hidden right in the heart of the city, this secluded yoga studio offers breathing space away from the 'busy' narrative of modern day living. The two 5th floor studios look out
