Hi Reader,
How has your week been?
Mine was a little strange. I finished one of my regular weekly tasks much faster than expected and thought, “Wow, I can get so much done this week!”
But somehow, that extra time filled up with all sorts of little tasks and things I hadn’t planned to do. One thing led to another, and by the end of the week, I wondered where all that time had gone. I had been busy, yet didn’t feel particularly productive or satisfied.
It made me think about how easily we fall into familiar patterns, even when we know perfectly well what we’re doing.
And that brings me to something else I’ve been thinking about this week: how much we can know about looking after ourselves and still struggle to put that knowledge into practice.
And I’m including myself here!
After all these years of studying and teaching Yoga and Ayurveda, I know perfectly well how important regular meals, daily routines and taking breaks are.
Yet when I get absorbed in my work, I still forget to eat lunch. I carry on because I want to finish something, and before I know it, another hour has passed.
I recognise the pattern. I know what would help. And I still carry on with it.
I see something similar when working with women individually. They often know a great deal about healthy eating, exercise and looking after themselves. They’ve tried different approaches, and some have helped. Yet they may still struggle with their energy, digestion or sleep.
Sometimes we’re so caught up in getting through the day that we overlook how our habits affect the way we feel. We might notice we’re exhausted by late afternoon without connecting it to the lunch we missed or the breaks we never took.
Another perspective can be incredibly useful. Someone who looks at the whole picture with us and helps us recognise what we might be overlooking.
And perhaps recognising a pattern is only the beginning. The next part is learning how to respond differently when it happens again.
This Week's Blog Post/Podcast
One pattern you might have noticed is that a workout which usually leaves you feeling energised sometimes makes you feel even more exhausted. Or perhaps you're tired in the evening, yet struggle to switch off?
Autumn can change how our body responds to activity, and sometimes a little more rest is exactly what we need.
This week’s article explores why restorative yoga is particularly helpful in autumn and introduces three of my favourite poses.
And you can practise along! I’ve included individual setup videos for all three poses, plus a complete 30-minute guided practice. All you need are a few blankets, cushions and a little time.
Even 10 minutes can make a difference.
Explore the 3 Restorative Yoga Poses
From my Practice this Week...
Due to scoliosis my shoulders are forever tight, and hours on the laptop don't help either, so my focus this week was on those.
My absolute favourite at the moment is:
- lying on my tummy,
- upper arms on yoga blocks (the brick type),
- elbows bent with hands back towards the shoulders and then
- relax the chest into the space between the blocks.
This is heaven, for my shoulders at least.
From my Kitchen this Week...
Although I actually should have breakfast, most times I haven't and then I think, 'Oh, I really should eat' but I really am not hungry.
It's not that I am without any nourishment, I have my soaked and peeled almonds in the morning, a couple of walnuts and a teaspoon of Chyavanprash. This does give my body something substantial to work with.
So this week I decided to listen to my body, and leave breakfast when I'm not feeling like it without doubting it.
So my first proper meal has been lunch - proper lunch - and then dinner and my body felt really good with it, this means no energy dips, not hangry situations and also no pushing back lunch.
And it made me think: how do we know when a routine is supporting us and when it needs adjusting?
Coming Up
When you know you need to slow down, but struggle to do it.
Perhaps you recognise this: you’ve had a long day, you’re exhausted, and all you want is a little time to yourself.
You finally sit down, but your mind just carries on. You remember something you haven’t finished, think about tomorrow, or find yourself scrolling long after you intended to go to bed.
And the next morning, you wake up feeling as though you could have done with a few more hours of sleep.
Our daily habits have a considerable influence on how we feel at the beginning and end of the day.
In When Rest Isn’t Enough, we’ll look at how your mornings and evenings are currently structured and work on creating a rhythm that fits your life.
Across two live sessions, we’ll explore what helps you get going in the morning, how to build useful pauses into your day, and how to make the transition into the evening so that you can settle more easily at night.
The aim is to help you feel more in charge of how your day begins and ends, so you can enjoy your evenings and start the next morning feeling ready for the day.
You'll also have WhatsApp support between sessions, so you can try things out in your everyday life, ask questions and work out what actually fits your circumstances.
If you've been considering Back to Rhythm and wondering whether it's right for you, When Rest Isn't Enough is also a great opportunity to experience how I teach and how we can bring Yoga and Ayurveda into everyday life.
Two live sessions: 5 & 12 November, 7.30–8.30 pm (UK)
Find Out More About When Rest Isn’t Enough
On the Yoga Mat
A Little Time for Yourself Before Christmas
The final half-term of yoga classes for 2026 is coming up!
I know, the thought of "I'll start again in January" can be very tempting right now. Christmas preparations, parties, shopping and all the other things that seem to fill our diaries at this time of year.
And before we know it, looking after ourselves slips further down the list.
What keeps me settled is having a regular space to move, breathe and reconnect with myself; it's so valuable, especially as life gets busier.
Whether you're looking to build strength, release tension or sleep better, there's a class to support you. And wouldn't it be lovely to arrive at Christmas feeling you've taken some time for yourself along the way?
Book Your Yoga Classes
🌿 Pause & Reflect
Is there something you already know helps you feel better, yet you keep forgetting to do?
Perhaps it’s taking a proper lunch break, going to bed a little earlier or making time to move your body.
This week, see if you can notice when that familiar pattern appears.
What usually happens just before it? And what could you do differently next time?
If this Sunday Read might be helpful for someone, you’re very welcome to share it with someone who might enjoy it.
💭 If you have a question, or there’s something you’d love me to explore in a future Sunday Read, you’re always welcome to let me know.
Here's to noticing what helps us feel well — and making a little more room for it in our days.