Thoughts & Reflections

Off the Mat

Yoga isn't just what happens on the mat. These are thoughts on the mind, the body, and what it means to be human.

A round mirror lying in golden grass, reflecting the sky and clouds

8 February 2026

The True Self in Yoga: Who Are You Beneath the Layers?

We spend most of our lives wearing masks we didn’t even know we’d put on. How yoga and therapy both help you uncover who you really are beneath the conditioning.

Vivien sitting on a yoga mat in The Yoga Den studio

1 January 2023

Why I Still Teach in a Studio (When Everyone’s Gone Digital)

Online yoga is convenient. You can do it in your pants, your dog can join in, and you don’t have to find parking. But here’s why I still teach in person.

The Yoga Den studio preparing to reopen after lockdown

16 July 2020

Reopening After Lockdown

Making The Yoga Den safe for your return. How I prepared the studio for reopening after having COVID-19 myself.

Storm clouds and lightning over a calm sea

16 March 2020

COVID-19 Closure

I’ve always been a rebel. Being a rebel means I didn’t wait to be told to close – I made my own choice of what I felt was right.

9 January 2019

Letting Go of Fear

Fear is part of our survival system. But not all fears are helpful. Yoga helps us let go of the ones that hold us back from living freely.

Vivien's ankle in a sparkly purple plaster cast

21 December 2018

Surrender

I was teaching a yoga class just a while ago. Now I’m in an ambulance for the first time. How breaking my ankle taught me about letting go.

15 May 2015

How ‘Living Yoga’ Is Evolving For Me

What I’ve learnt most from yoga has nothing to do with my body or how flexible I’ve become. What I’ve learnt goes far deeper.

31 October 2013

The Power of Pranayama

I used to suffer from adult asthma. Since becoming a serious yoga practitioner, my asthma is gone and I have greater lung capacity than expected for my age.

17 May 2013

Meditation and Me

I first became interested in meditation during a difficult period of my life. What started as concentration practice became something that changed everything.

Clock approaching midnight with festive lights

7 December 2012

Why Wait ’Til Midnight?

Why do we need to wait for New Year to make a resolution we know we won’t keep? Let’s make it now.

4 June 2012

Pranayama Workshop

A lovely afternoon of breathing together, sharing experiences, learning and laughing. A review of our Pranayama workshop at The Yoga Den.

16 February 2012

Yoga or Hibernation?

The winter months are some of the hardest to keep up your practice. Here are some ideas to get yourself back on the mat when hibernation calls.

Restorative yoga practice at The Yoga Den

11 November 2011

Yoga For Lower Back Pain

Research proves yoga is more effective for lower back pain than conventional GP treatments. Something yogis have known for thousands of years.

Colorful arrangement of fresh fruits, vegetables, and wholesome foods

10 November 2011

The Yogic Eating Workshop

A really successful and enjoyable afternoon sharing knowledge about how different foods affect our minds and emotions.

24 October 2011

The Yoga Den Charity Day

A fabulous day raising money for the British Lung Foundation. We raised £315 and shared lovely yoga sessions together.

The Yoga Den surrounded by garden greenery

24 August 2011

Changing of the Seasons

The nights are drawing in, mornings getting cooler. How we can embrace the changing seasons and look after ourselves through autumn and winter.

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