So where does that leave yoga? There’s no denying it. Globally, Pilates is everywhere right now. Studios, socials, subscriptions, reformers, results-driven language. I know some of you here teach Pilates and many of you practise both. Some of you may have quietly shifted your focus. Pilates offers strength, structure, and clarity. It meets modern needs well; busy lives, bodies that want support, people who want to feel results. Yoga, on the other hand, doesn’t compete on trends. It was never designed to. Yoga works more slowly, more subtly. It doesn’t just ask How does your body move? Instead, it asks How are you living? How are you responding? What’s shaping you beneath the surface? That doesn’t make one better than the other. They simply answer different questions. For some, Pilates is exactly what their body needs right now. For others, yoga becomes more meaningful later, often in seasons of change, uncertainty, or reflection. Perhaps yoga’s role isn’t to chase popularity… but to remain steady when trends come and go. So I’m curious, not to divide, but to listen: - If you practise both, what does each give you? - If you teach both, how do they show up differently through you? - And if yoga feels quieter right now—what might that be inviting us to remember?

Checking my emails and came across this webinar. Whilst it's from a fitness perspective, I think adherence to exercise, or in our case, yoga practice is fascinating. Dr Paul Bedford has been around for what seems forever and is a leader in this field on retention and adherence. In case you're wondering, it's free! https://fitpro85787.acemlnc.com/lt.php?x=4lZy~GDDKqTN7sB-_QxIVhOh~3FUuNQhkhdkY8c7JnOd6X_6zEy7xeFv1HApikA0_ueglPXEIFSb7636yt~FVfF02I2hj_Lzkes

There’s a big trend right now towards slow flow yoga. On the surface, it sounds more mindful, more nourishing, more nervous-system friendly. But often what’s being called slow is still quite effort-heavy. From what I’ve seen, it’s long holds, strong shapes and either very little movement, or there is no focus on the breath. There appears to be less pace… but not necessarily less strain. From my perspective, real slowing down doesn’t come from holding poses longer; it comes from slowing the breath. When the breath slows, the body follows. When the breath softens, the nervous system settles. When the breath leads, effort naturally reorganises itself. If we slow the sequence but keep gripping the breath, we haven’t truly slowed down; we’ve just changed the tempo, not the state. This matters whether you’re teaching yoga or practising it. For teachers, it’s a gentle invitation to reflect: • Are we slowing the breath before we slow the movement? • Are students being given permission to move through poses rather than hold them? • Are we watching for breath-holding, tension in the jaw, fixed effort? And for practitioners: • Does “slow” in your body feel calm… or controlled? • Are you staying because it’s helpful, or because you think you should? • What happens if you let the breath set the pace instead of the pose? Slow yoga is being accompanied by the breath rather than challenged by the shape. Sometimes the most nourishing practice isn’t about staying longer; it’s about letting go sooner. Slower breath. Softer effort. That’s often where the real downshift happens

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1876382026000107 This research looked at how and why yoga improves emotional well-being, not just whether it does, but what changes inside people that help them feel better. It was a secondary analysis of a randomized 12-week yoga trial in adults who identified as stressed. KEY FINDINGS 1. Yoga practice was linked to increases in self-compassion. People who practiced more yoga tended to become more compassionate toward themselves over times 2. Greater self-compassion was associated with improved emotional well-being: Particularly stronger sense of inner peace and greater meaning in life — two core aspects of flourishing. 3. Interoceptive awareness (body awareness) also mattered: Trusting bodily sensations and being better at regulating attention toward internal experience were linked with increases in peace and life meaning. 4. Yoga “dose” (how much people practiced) mattered for self-compassion: More practice was associated with larger increases in self-compassion, though not directly with the body-awareness scores or well-being outcomes. WHAT THIS MEANS Yoga may improve emotional well-being not just by movement, but by strengthening how people relate to themselves and their internal experiences. The findings support the idea that attending to compassion and body awareness is a powerful mechanism, not just a nice “side effect.” FOR YOGA TEACHERS 1. Weave in self-compassion cues intentionally. Use language that invites kind, non-judgmental attitude toward experience, for example: “Notice where you are today with curiosity, not judgement.” “If the body feels tight or tired, offer it kindness.”This reinforces the internal shift shown to be linked with peace and meaning. 2. Highlight interoceptive awareness. Guide students to tune into bodily sensations with balanced attention (not forcing, not avoiding). Frame body sensations as information, sensations that can be explored with trust. 3. Support attention regulation across practice. Use breath cues and mindful pauses to strengthen students’ ability to regulate attention toward internal states, a key component tied to well-being gains. 4. Structure classes to reinforce reflective practice. Close with reflective questions or journaling prompts like: “What did you notice internally today?” “Where did kindness show up in your practice?”These help bridge the physical and emotional layers. 5. Encourage regular, consistent practice. The study saw links between amount practiced and self-compassion gains suggesting consistency matters more than intensity.

Ayurveda and yoga were never meant to be separate systems. In the tradition of Krishnamacharya, yoga is not fixed or formulaic; it is adapted to the individual, shaped by season, life stage, energy, and the quality of mind present. Ayurveda gives us the language to recognise these patterns. Yoga gives us the means to respond. This live session is designed for yoga teachers and dedicated practitioners who want to move beyond surface-level dosha theory and learn to apply Ayurvedic principles intelligently in real-world teaching situations. 🗓 Sunday 18 January 2026 ⏰ 3:00–4:30pm (UK)📍 Live online Yoga Teachers Club members receive discounted access: • FREE for PRO Members • Discounted for ESSENTIAL Members • Open to non-members and serious practitioners Message me for your discount code.