Penny Jane Fuller

“When the breath wanders, the mind also is unsteady. But when the breath is calmed, the mind too will be still, and the yogi achieves long life. Therefore one should learn to control the breath.” - Hatha Yoga Pradipika, 15th Century Adherents of yoga have long known the importance of manipulating the breath in order to achieve altered states of mood and consciousness. Although some of the teachings on the subject can be complex, the basics are easy to pick up: As a general ru

“The human body is not an instrument to be used, but a realm of ones being to be experienced, explored and thereby educated.” - Thomas Hanna Having engaged in, and benefitted from, traditional yoga practices for many years, it has been exciting for me to discover that mixing ancient yogic knowledge about the body with recent discoveries in neuroscience can create a potent recipe for self healing and psycho-spiritual awakening. Pioneered by Integrative Therapist James Knight,

The image of someone sitting cross-legged chanting the Om (Aum) mantra has long been associated with yoga. Indeed, many classes begin and end with this sacred sound. But why? What is the meaning and purpose of it? Here are a few facts that might help to explain: Om is an ancient Sanskrit word originally cognised by holy men or seers deep in meditation. It is understood to be the vibration of unity as it contains every sound on the sound spectrum, just as white light contains

A couple of hour's drive from where I live is a place called Mam Tor, or Mother Mountain. Once home to a Pre-Christian goddess cult called the Brigantes, the Tor and surrounding area are littered with remnants of a time when Nature was God and God was considered both male and female. Back in the 1970s, a 3000 year old stone carving presumed to be the head of the goddess Brigid was found by the well in the local village of Castleton. A few miles further along at Baslow lies a

From 'Hands of Light' by Barbara Ann Brennan: Sit comfortably, preferably with your back straight. Pay attention to your breathing. Breathe in and breathe out. With each in breath, breathe in the future and all its potent possibilities. As you breathe out, breathe out the past and all that went with it. Simply breathe in the future and breathe out the past. For what you breathe in is the future and what you breathe out is the past. Let the past go. Breathe in the future and a

Feeling sluggish after the excesses of Christmas? Wanting to get in shape, but not drawn to the gym? Then here are seven good reasons why taking up yoga could be your New Year Resolution for 2017: 1. Yoga offers something for everyone, without exception. Regardless of age, body shape or level of fitness, there will be some form of practice that suits you. If a general class seems out of reach for whatever reason, it is always possible to have private instruction from a teache

Who hasn't been told that yawning is rude? To be on the receiving end of a yawn is an affront. To be the one delivering the yawn is an embarrassment. Like with most innate, natural processes, polite society tells us that yawning is something to be done quietly, unobtrusively and preferably privately... But what can be more satisfying than a full blown yawn, particularly one accompanied by a good old stre-e-e-e-etch? Animals do it all the time, notably when they make the trans

“What lies before us and what lies behind us is nothing compared to what lies within us.” - Ralph Waldo Emerson Inside every woman lies the most extraordinary resource: her menstrual cycle. It holds the keys to her wellbeing and the answers to the deepest questions she can ask about herself. But I appreciate that this is not generally how menstruation is viewed. So I invite all women of menstruating years (with a regular cycle) to engage in an informal experiment: attend the

Struggling to stay healthy and vital this winter? If so, these simple yoga and health tips may help you get back on track: ASANA (Posture): Regular, daily yoga exercise will contribute towards a healthy immune system by increasing blood flow and helping to combat free radicals (unstable oxygen molecules created by environmental toxins that damage the immune response). A few rounds of Sun Salutation are a good place to start when practicing at home. To target immunity specific

Inspired by the wealth of wisdom that arises when women gather together, I thought I would share some of the ideas that have been co-authored during the annual 'Invitation To Rest' yoga sessions I've held in recent winters. Over-activity has reached such epidemic proportions in the industrialized world that it is time we take time out to consider how best to make our lives more restful. Here are a few simple suggestions: Be in a good routine, eating, sleeping and rising at si