Yoga is good for you!

Did you see The Sunday Times this weekend? In the 'Style' magazine there was a four-page feature flagged as: 'Is yoga doing you more harm than good?' Apparently William J Broad, the New York Times senior science writer, has a book coming out: The Science of Yoga: The Risks and the Rewards, which the ST claims 'has set the fitness community alight'. Really? Can't say I'd noticed.

My initial reaction was not very yogic. Oh no, I thought, not more sloppy, uniformed journalism. I was prepared to be infuriated - but actually it was a very rational article, the conclusion of which was that the harm only arises if:

1. you have a poorly qualified teacher, and
2. you don't listen to the instructions and, importantly, your body. 

Couldn't have put it better myself. As one who has done the British Wheel of Yoga 500-hour teaching diploma it rankles when I see adverts for courses that claim to turn people into a yoga teacher over a weekend. And yes, we teachers can preach precautions and prohibitions until we're blue in the face, but ultimately responsibility must lie with the students themselves.

This makes an interesting juxtaposition to the news that San Francisco airport has opened a yoga room for passengers to chill in while waiting for their flights: read the full story here. Speaking has someone who hates the whole dreary business of flying, I welcome this - not that I'm ever likely to fly to SFO to try it, of course!

And relax.

Modest success

The latest issue of Freelance Market News has arrived and I'm pleased to see that my modest contribution to 'Drop us a line' has been chosen as Star Letter. £10 coming my way, thank you very much. Thus inspired, I've just dashed off a quick entry to the limerick competition from January's issue, on the theme of celebrity.
Fingers crossed!

Little bit of politics

I've just had a conversation on the doorstep with one of our local councillors. I was quite impressed that he was actually willing to pound the streets to garner the opinions of those he represents. Anyway, the burning question of the day concerns a proposal to convert a former pub at the end of our road into a Co-op store.

This pub seems to have some sort of curse on it, because it has undergone a name change and several changes of landlord, but somehow no one seems to be able to make a go of it. It is one of those unprepossessing square brick-built buildings surrounded by a raggedy car park and some half-hearted flower beds. (I'm not really selling this, am I!)

In better days

We have had some good nights there over the years - live music, quiz nights and so on - but it never had much of an atmosphere and some of the regulars always gave the impression that they were only there because the heating had gone off at home...

Part of me thinks that anything would be better than the derelict building we have at present. But we already have a lovely corner shop and, within walking distance, a Tesco Express (doesn't everyone?) and a huge Asda.

So I'm against this proposed change, even though I am a supporter of the Co-op movement.

But I hope someone takes over the building soon and does something lovely with it. If I win the Lottery I might see if I can get planning permission to turn it into a yoga studio. A girl can dream.