Link to the monk who sold his Ferrari

I only wrote I feel a book worm blog coming on a day or two ago. I was sitting in Waterstones (my favourite bookshop chain!) gentley stroking the cover. I suppose I was anticipating enlightenment.

I made awfully short work of the book because it is written like a conversation between the monk who stole his Ferrari and the author. Chatty. Quick.

I'm not sure why the corny nature of the dialogue did not wind me up. For example:

Author: I think an example might help me

Guru: can it be personal?

Author: sure, I'd love to know some of your innermost thoughts

Guru: Actually, I was thinking about yours

Commentary: We both started to giggle like a couple of kids in a school yard

its not my usual cup of tea. But it didn't bug me. Perhaps because I am aware of many of the principles they were talking about, I agree with them and enjoyed the way they were presented.

What I like is the practical nature of the tips..... oh the structure! So easy to remember!

There is no need to write notes because the end of each section you have a handy summary. I suppose if you were short of time you could just read those pages?

In probably each of my other book worm blogs I mention that good business self help books can be summarised in five bullet points - if they are good. And it's unfortunate that they go on and on often repeating these five bullet points!

My Psychiatric father has given me a 'better' book now though so soon I'm on to another bookworm blog already....this one is actually scientific too (which many of my Yogq Quotees will appreciate!)

But first to stare at a rose! (Read it to get it....!)

Happy new year everyone!

Can you believe it's 2015?

New year can be far more significant than just a different number at the end of a date, more empty resolutions...

...you can have a whole new you if you pop along to Yoga Quota the new yoga studio/charity in Oxford. Every time you come you also help someone else discover yoga.

So getting personal benefit reducing stress, increasing health, toning etc while helping others!

Mahatma Gandhi said:

Eka pada bhujasana

Or.... Elephants trunk in UK-laymans terms.

Why do the pose?

Gets you a core of steel and makes you feel like you're flying!

Mentally too it makes you have a one pointed focus on your foot.

How to do it

1) sit upright with your legs straight out

2) bend your right knee into your chest squeeze it in there!

3) bring both your hands to the inside of your right knee

4) begin to snuggle you right tricep (or even shoulder!) under your knee

5) once it's under there, pull your right foot into you and press your hands into the floor

6) ease your face forward staring down your left foot

7) crunch that stomache! And eventually you can lift that left leg.

You'll feel like your swinging! Yey! Do it the other side too for even toning!

Modifications:

When I started I couldn't loop my leg behind my shoulder so I just crunched it into my chest.

Some people start with their hands on blocks. I think it means that you can lift your foot up without so much of a crunch (because it's lower down) so you get the feel of progression faster.

Preparatory poses

1) Double leg lifts (for the crunch)

2) Reclined pigeon (for the hamstring)

3) Cradling your leg (for the flexibility to bet it behind you)

Remember it's not about the asana for most people. It's about the journey. So if you're not there don't give up! If it's for the physical benefits in your camp remember that the prep poses are also going towards the same end. If it's more of a spiritual journey for you, and you're not there- then that's actually a blessing because you have something to work on! Yey!

Today, I enjoyed a long coastal walk on the gorgeous, fossil-strewn, pebble beaches of South Wales.

Yoga-ing all the way!

I couldn't resist even though my in-laws probably got a little bored of the stop and drop yoga.

Have you followed @beachyogagirl on Instagram? Well she is the blonde Florida bombshell version of my little Welsh lady humbly handstanding on a pebbly beach!

I've been following her for a while actually, and really enjoy her progress (not that she was bad when she started!) but she is epic now. Also she has battled depression, she used to be overweight and has used yoga to help both. She's pretty inspirational. I love her honesty- like when her dog died she just bared it all and is very human.

Warning!!! I have mentioned yoga Instagram people before on this blog and I warn you it can get addictive watching their awe inspiring practice. You can waste a lot of time and feel disheartened if you don't hold on strong to the Yoga Quota advice not to get competitive and to just enjoy the journey from wherever you've started!