Frequently asked questions...

Please do get in touch if you have a question that is not answered here:

Q: Don't you have to be really bendy to do yoga?

A: no, not at all. Yoga will help you to become more supple over time though.

Q Aren't I a bit old for all that now?

A. People have successfully taken up yoga for the first time in their 60s and 70s and beyond - it's never too late to start!

Q. I've got a problem with my ..... so will I be able to do it?

A. That depends. There are lots of different variations and adaptations that can be used to help people with specific issues. A good teacher should be able to provide alternatives or adaptations of postures to help people to work within their own capabilities. Please contact me in person if you have a specific issue that you would like to discuss further.

Q. I'm pregnant, is this class going to be ok for me?

A. Yoga is very good for people who are pregnant, and there are many benefits. It is generally recommended that ladies have an established practice prior to the pregnancy to maximise the benefits. I do not specialise in yoga for pregnancy, and would suggest that you contact a class that focuses specifically on this, unless you have a strong existing practice that you are comfortable with. If you are in your first trimestar, it is not recommended that you take up yoga for the first time during this period. I share a studio with a lovely teacher called Danielle, who teaches special yoga for pregnancy classes; you can reach her here: http://www.daniellenicholls.co.uk/fridayclasses.html

Q. Do I need my own mat?

A. Depending on the place that I'm running sessions at, sometimes I am able to provide mats, and sometimes I ask people to bring their own. Please check the details for the session you are attending. If you do need to bring something, it does not need to be a specific yoga mat, a thin camping roll mat will do fine as well.

Q. Do I need to be a member of the gym to come to your class?

A. No, the classes listed are open to members of the public (with the exception of the Tuesday lunchtime class at the BBC). The 6-7pm Thursday session at Dave's Gym is free to gym members, but it is also open to members of the public.

Q. I'm a guy - are there other guys in your class / are your classes for ladies only?

A. All of my classes are mixed. There is generally at least 1 man in each class and very often more.

Q. English is not my first language - I just understand basic English, will I be ok?

A. Generally, yes. I talk through poses, but I also demonstrate too, plus make 'hands on adjustments' when needed too - (helping people into position, or using touch to emphasise alignment). I have several students who do not have English as their first language - French, German, Italian, Polish and we manage fine. The language of yoga is Sanskrit, so even English speakers are often learning a new vocabulary too! You may find it helpful to familiarise yourself with the English names for the parts of the body, and check that you know your left from your right before you begin though!

Q. I love the smell of the incense you use - what is it and where can I get some?

A. I often burn cedarwood and rose, and sometimes black sandalwood before class. It comes from Adi-guru http://www.pure-incense.com/ You can get it on line, or at the annual yoga show in London in the Autumn.

Q. I'd like to get myself a mat for home practice, what would you recommend?

A. It depends on where you're at with your practice. If you're just starting out, even a camping roll mat will give you the padding and comfort to get you started. As you progress, you may well want something with a bit more grip though. Some of you may also be concerned to get a mat that is environmentally sound too. Yoga matters: http://www.yogamatters.com/pages/default.aspx the British Wheel of Yoga shop: http://www.bwy-shop.co.uk/ and Yoga mad: http://www.yogamad.com/ have good selections. You can buy mats on the highstreet in places like Argos, TK Max, even ASDA, but be careful that cheap mats aren't slippy. The cheap mats also tend not to offer the environmental benefits. The annual yoga show in London can be a good place to get a good deal on a mat, and plenty of choice - even cork mats!

Things to check for: 1) good grip - check it doesn't have a shiny surface, although some mats will improve their grip with use, or a wash. 2) no stretch - take a grip of the mat and check it doesn't stretch - I once made the mistake of buying a thicker mat that I thought looked comfy and would give good padding and comfort, which it does, but then stretches horribly, making warrior poses and down dogs very hard work!. 3) scratch test - ideally the surface shouldn't scratch easily. Some of the cheaper mats are not very robust and scratching them with a nail will lift ridges and blobs of of rubber very easily - these mats won't last long. (I'm not suggesting that you go into shops and start damaging their goods though!)

I'm currently using a mat at home by www.Yogarat.com . It's thicker than my old mat, which is good for comfort, but is heavier. It's reasonably non slip, although not as good as my old mat, especially once I start getting sweatier, but doesn't stretch. I like the flowers on it. So far it's wearing well, but it's early days yet.

I've also used mats by www.Yogamatters.com and they wear well and are reasonably grippy - good general practice mats.

I have a lighter weight mat which is not so grippy and the surface scratches more easily, but it's handy if I'm carrying a lot. This mat is called Purearth by Sunyata. I wouldn't recommend this as a regular practice mat.

Q. I'm enjoying your classes and want to do more home practice - can you recommend a good book?

A. There are literally hundreds of great yoga books. I've listed a few below that I hope you will find helpful, but it's by no means exhaustive. Please remember that the best way to learn is with a teacher, so that they can help you to modify poses to meet your own needs and ability, adjust you where necessary, and emphasise safe practice - so it's best to practice what you have learnt in class and are confident with, mindfully. I hope you will find the following list a useful starting point. You may also like to try Yoga Journal on-line for their home practice section.

• Light on Yoga - BKS Iyengar (Thorson) - an absolute classic text - lots of poses, good instructions and attention to detail - a very comprehensive book if your focus is on asana (postures) and pranayama (breath work)
• Yoga - An Illustrated Guide - Howard Kent - this is a great first book for introducing the many elements of yoga and meditation in a clear and simple way, although it only has a fairly basic range of asanas.
• Yin Yoga - Outline of a Quiet Practice - Paul Grilley - a good introduction to Yin practice written by a master. This is a slim book but covers the essentials of Yin Yoga well.
• Yoga: The Spirit and Practice of Moving into Stillness - Erich Schiffmann - Another good first book on yoga - thorough and comprehensive introduction to a range of yoga practices and background.
• How Yoga Works - Geshe Michael Roach and Christie McNally - a beautifully written story that incorporates a lot of the classic yoga sutras or teachings in an accessible and enjoyable story.
• Asana, Pranayama, Mudra, Bandha - Swami Satyananda Saraswati - this is a more traditional text, and probably more suited for students who are progressing with their practice. It does cover contraindications and details for each asana thoroughly, including benefits, awareness points etc. This also contains more information on Pranayama and Bandhas than some of the other books.
• The Handbook of Ayurveda, Dr Shantha Godagama - introductory book on the sister science of Ayurveda. Here you can learn more about your Dosha.

You can also have a look at http://www.yogamatters.com/product/1234/the-big-yoga-read.htm for a list of the top yoga books as nominated by yogis across the UK.

The translations of the classic texts I used during my own teacher training were these:

• The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali, translation and commentary by Sri Swami Satchidananda, Integral Yoga Publications, ISBN 0-932040-38-1
• The Bhagavad Gita, translation by W J Johnson, Oxford University Press ISBN 0-19-283581-5
• The Bhagavad Gita, a walkthrough for westerners, Jack Hawley, New World Library, ISBN 1-57731-147-7
• The Upanishads, translation by Patrick Olivelle, Oxford World Classics, Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-283576-9

Q I'd like to practice the salute to the sun at home, but I keep forgetting it between classes...

A. Try looking on the internet - search for Sun salute, or Surya Namaskar. You tube has lots of videos, covering a variety of styles and levels of difficulty, some with instruction. Yoga journal has a nice video here: http://www.yogajournal.com/livemag/lmcontent/5 with other variations for more experienced students. Although it's not exactly the version we do in class, it's pretty close.

Look here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xnSTcDzr4g&feature=related for an inspiring time lapse video of the London Yoga Show's 108 Sun Salutes for Charity...

Q How do I clean my yoga mat? Can I wash my yoga mat?

A Most yoga mats can be washed in a washing machine. I put mine through on a gentle wash, low temperature and with a gentle detergent. Yoga mats can hold quite a lot of water (and soap) so I generally give an extra rinse and then a fast spin. Even after this, they still hold quite a lot of water, so a good way to dry them is to lay a towel on the mat, roll both up together and then jump up and down on the sausage to sqeeze the water out! Doing this a few times soaks a towel but gets most of the water out of the mat, before hanging it up to dry.

Q. I liked the chanting we did in class - what is it and where can I hear it?

A. It was probably the Gayatri Mantra - the mother of mantras. There are lots of different recordings - try youtube to hear the variety.. Here are a few I like: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vx0Qzs1xqUg&feature=related

and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDnamSM3Z3s&feature=related

Q. I'm really enjoying my yoga practice and would really like to deepen my personal practice and learn more about the philosophy of yoga and some of the more advanced practices - I've heard that the British Wheel of Yoga do a foundation course - do you think this is a good idea for me?

A. Yes - it could well be. The British Wheel of Yoga is the main governing body for yoga in the uk, but there are other providers too. The Foundation course offers students an opportunity to deepen their personal practice and learn a lot of things that teachers may not get to cover in a general ability class. It can also be a stepping stone to continuing on to taking a teaching diploma. Click here http://www.bwy.org.uk/courses/search_results.htm for more information on foundation courses near to Cardiff.

You may also like to look at some of the short training programmes provided by Yoga Campus http://www.yogacampus.com/ Although they are based in London, they have some top visiting teachers from America as well as the UK, and offer short intensives focused on specific themes which may also appeal. Good luck with your ongoing studies!