New yoga challenge for a new year

I've just signed up with Yoga Journal to take part in the 2012 21-day Challenge. I did this year's challenge with slightly less commitment than it warranted, so next January, when it all kicks off in earnest, I'm going to try to meet the adventure with an open mind and a good heart.

Flexibility in body and mind

The email acknowledging my enrolment has promised that on 9th January I'll begin to receive daily newsletters outlining that day's practice, with a video link, a Challenge practice tip, information about that week's meditation, and a link to a delicious and healthy vegetarian recipe. 

There's no charge to take part and I'm hoping to refresh my personal practice and pick up some ideas for my teaching. What's not to like!

Congratulations!

Two posts in one day! But I wanted to announce that Clive has passed his OU degree - he is now a BSc(Open). Not bad for someone who left school with no qualifications. I've got an OU degree, so I really know what a slog it's been. It's definitely not an easy option because you get all the work and none of the social life of a conventional university.

I'm a big fan of lifelong learning. As a yoga teacher I am obliged to do a certain number of hours of continuing professional development (CPD) or in-service training to satisfy the British Wheel of Yoga, and now that I'm also on the Register of Exercise Professionals I have picked up a CPD obligation there, too. But I don't mind. I like going on courses and attending workshops because I never know who I'm going to meet or what tips and wrinkles I might pick up.

Even the once-every-three-years first aid certificate course has its charms, and although I'm happy to say I've never had to perform CPR, it's nice to know that I've got the knowledge tucked away somewhere, just in case.

Nightmare!

It’s one o’clock in the morning and I can’t sleep. Actually, that’s not quite true; I was asleep but woke myself up trying to scream. I don’t often get bad dreams, but this was a real corker. I’ll spare you the details – there are few things more boring than the ramblings generated by someone else’s fevered mind – but now I’m wide awake, and the only thing for it is to get up, make a drink and wait for my mind to settle.

Aargh!

Maybe I’ll use the content of this nightmare as the inspiration for a short story. It’s a shame to waste it! Perhaps my subconscious will put the meat on the bones when I drop off to sleep again. Actually, perhaps I should be writing it now, before it fades away…

I’ll got back to bed in a while and use my yoga breathing to ease myself back to the land of Nod, focusing on my exhalation as an aid to relaxation or working with an easy mantra.

When all else fails I count backwards from 150; I rarely make it to zero.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

We had the big Christmas Lights Switch-on on Thursday, launched by Neil and Christine Hamilton, stars of this year’s pantomime. Joe’s band The Divisional were there to do a couple of songs, which was, he said, an interesting experience. He’s played outdoors before, but never in such cold. 

Then this morning I’ve been carol singing in the library (not just me: that would be weird. I was with some friends from the choir I belong to) and then on the church steps in the town centre. I say on the steps advisedly. Apparently there was a HUGE form to fill in if we wanted to stand on the pavement. I’m sure there’s a very good reason for this (sigh).

This mini performance was a nice warm-up for our forthcoming concert in two weeks’ time. We sang out loud and proud, notwithstanding the enthusiastic accordion duo across the way who were determined not to be drowned out – and as the final notes of our plucky sopranos’ descant faded away, strains of ‘The Birdy Song’ could clearly be heard above the shoppers’ applause. We laughed: 'tis, after all, the season to be jolly.