Dear Friends in Yoga,

I know the cold months of the winter lockdown have presented each of us various challenges. I do hope that as the spring bulbs shoot up, the days lengthen and the Covid numbers come down there is a sense of spring positivity breaking or at least on the horizon. 

During the hibernation period my partner Tom and I decided to move to Cornwall where my family is at the end of March. Lockdown has been a time of reflection and reassessment for all of us. For me, like many of you, my family are incredibly important. So with my parents getting older I have been feeling a deep desire to be just around the corner to spend time in a bubble with them. From Edinburgh I could fly to India faster than I could drive to Cornwall and I have found the distance a real struggle during lockdown.

My community at Meadowlark means the world to me and because of our virtual yoga shala, I will not be leaving you really. Here are the details of my continued offerings and commitments...

In our traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Mysore program here at Meadowlark we observe the “moon days”.  This means on the full and new moons we invite our community to take rest from our more regular practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga. 

There are a variety of reasons for observing the rest days, and for many who practice daily (6 days per week) the extra rest and observation of fluctuations in one’s energy over periods of time is welcomed. 

During these days we invite our community to focus on other areas of practice, including and not limited to prāṇāyāma, meditation, chanting, gentler āsana practice like yin yoga or Matthew Sweeney’s Chandra sequence.  It also invites you to observe the attachment you may have to your ‘normal’ practice.

After advice from Hamish Hendry of Ashtanga Yoga London (who follows the Panchang Hindu Calendar for their Moon day scheduling) and carefully observing our sunrise times here in...

Exploring Yoga Sūtras 2.15 and beyond…. Suffering, its causes and how to avoid future suffering.

As we still find ourselves moving through these unpredictable times, days can feel challenging. I find myself observing difficult situations that arise frequently and how I react to those situations - be it disappointment, frustration, annoyance or fear. I feel things go wrong when I act from a place of misunderstanding - things go better when I take a breath, step back and attempt to engage elegantly with whatever is going on.

Read on to discover more about suffering from the context of the Yoga Sutra, the causes of suffering and how to avoid future suffering. 

YS 2.15 - For those with discrimination, suffering is to be found everywhere due to change (pariṇāma), pain (tāpa) and habit (saṃskāra) and also because the mind is in constant flux due to the guṇa. 

(Trans. D.Charlton, R. Roy) 

Duḥkha: the essential concern

Duḥkha is one of the main concerns of Indian...

For many, being at home, and having access to a multitude of online yoga classes has opened up, and made starting yoga more accessible.  For some of us it might have left us a bit ??? about what style/ teacher/ format is right for you.

At Meadowlark Yoga, our Mysore program is a key element of what makes up our daily offering with 4 hours per morning, and evening options also.  What’s a Mysore style class? Read more HERE

When we work with beginners in our Mysore community, we like to work in small groups, so there is lots of personal attention, and care can be given individually.  This means that we can cater for lots of different levels, bodies and abilities.  There is no change for us working online, we keep our groups small, foster community and relationships with each other and are committed to help you grow a lifelong yoga practice. This is why we invite "videos ON" during Mysore classes!  Community and connection is...

Given that we are daily reminded of the reasons to be careful and cower in our homes, we at MLY feel it is the right time to celebrate the benefits of online yoga practice.

1. Practice in your PJs. Obviously, this is the best thing to come out of 2020.

2. All the learning. All manner of learning instantly and affordably available on your iPhone. It's almost too much. I think I just finished a course on quantum sound healing?

3. The moment. If ever there was a year when you must NOT plan ahead, this is that year. The only place we can really be is here and now!

As we bauble along toward the holidays, friends, let's always remember that happiness is a choice. Now more than ever, that slippery slope of anxiety can easily catch us unawares during those inescapable moments of uncertainty.

Our message to you, and to ourselves, is that regularly reaching out to friends for support can offer lifelines of stability when things start to feel especially dark. There is also a treasure of...

As the days become increasingly shorter it can sometimes be hard to find the motivation to practice. I have personally been finding it tricky this year to emerge from my cosy bed early on these dark mornings. Also - finding ourselves in the Zoom world, as amazing as it is, I can appreciate how it can be challenging to log on - we can get so wrapped up in things and we’re at risk of screen burnout. Some days can be a lot easier than others and that really is understanding that our yoga practice is just that…. It is PRACTICE, not performance. We need to give ourselves an internal break and not give ourselves a hard time when things feel obstructed or interrupted. 

I have been including some concepts from the Yoga Sūtra in my classes this season - mainly around the Antarāya, their symptoms and the remedies to alleviate them. I thought it would be nice to write a little about it for you to consider and hopefully give some food for thought over the winter months. Here...

Written by Emma Isokivi, our Mysore director, for ideas about how to have a successful practice in the colder months of home practice ahead. Geared towards an Ashtanga/ Mysore student but lots of take-away ideas for any yoga practitioner. 

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There’s no denying that many of us are feeling the change in the season and temperature, especially for those who are jumping onto our mats in the early mornings.  As we continue to practice at home because of Covid regulations, it’s extra important that we find ways to navigate this season so that we don’t slowly creep into rigamortis over winter. 

Firstly, acknowledge that it can be harder. It’s darker, colder and many of us are practicing at home for the first time ever in our yogic lives. 

In Ayurveda we call this the “vata” season, drier, windy, rougher, colder in its Autumn nature. 

We are all in this together, and having a community to help support stoking your fire...

 Thanks to Victoria Vettese for the video.

Thank you!

Your positive response to our 5 Point Protocol means we are able to continue offering in-person classes.

The five points are as follows:

1. Pre-book online. 
2. Wear a mask upon entry and throughout communal spaces (you can take the mask off when you're on your mat - make sure to bring your own mat).
3. Use the hand sanitiser upon entry and throughout the building.
4. Be fever-free: we are taking temperatures at reception.
5. Keep 2m apart at all times.

Please also observe our mask + mat policy:

No mask, no mat, no class.

Everyone who wishes to practice in-studio at Meadowlark needs to wear a mask and must bring their own mat. By signing up for class you agree to this policy. We will have to turn away anyone who is not prepared to wear a mask. We have no choice but to turn away those who do not bring their own mat to practice. Anyone affected by this policy will have their in-studio class booking converted to an...

Mysore updates: 11th March 2021

Due to Government Covid restrictions our Mysore program operates online with our well established program that has been running via Zoom since March 20th 2020. 

We appreciate change and transitions have a variety of challenges to them, but know that we, as a teaching team, are committed to providing community, focus, enthusiasm and steadiness for your practice alongside keeping everyone as safe as possible.  Keep your practice consistent as we navigate this next part of our Covid journey is key and we look forward to seeing you all on the mat in 2D or eventually 3D! 

Our ZOOM for all Mysore offerings is: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/6447661797 Passcode: yama  

ALL BOOKINGS HERE

Mysore weekly Schedule: 

MORNING

• Monday- Thursday: