editor's blog

It's enormously encouraging - if not long overdue - to find so much meaty media coverage on the benefits of yoga and meditation.

Last weekend was no exception, with a mini-booklet in The Observer on mindfulness meditation - why we should do it, and well explained, well presented techniques to get started.

In The Guardian on Saturday, psychologist Oliver James penned a convincing piece by on the 'overwhelming' evidence on how yoga and meditation can help adults and children in so many different ways - from combating stress and depression, to reducing ADHD in children, and, for expectant mothers, increasing the likelihood of a straightforward birth.

James points out that the cost of making these practices available nationwide, via the health and education systems, pales into insignificance compared with the drugs bill currently used to tackle them.

Alas such is the world of Big Business and pharmaceuticals that drugs are always likely to be pushed into our hands over equally (in many cases, more) powerful natural defences such as yoga.

At least, with the benefits of a yoga and meditation practice increasingly acknowledged by the scientific community, the media, and society at large, people are becoming well informed in this issues; and we all know that knowledge equals power.

On this occasion, that has to be a Very Good Thing Indeed.

Lucia Cockcroft, editor

Traditionally, January is the time of year when yoga teachers knuckle down to some marketing - as well as, perhaps, re-committing to their practice!

For most of us, the 'M' word doesn't come easy. After all, most yoga teachers train to teach because they love the simpe act of imparting knowledge, and sharing their love and knowledge of the discpline with others.

This said, like it or not, marketing is a crucial part of making a living as a yoga teacher.

The words 'business' and 'yoga' hardly sit easily together, but the fact is, we all live in the real world. Yoga teachers are self-employed business people: they have to eat and live, along with everyone else.

Marketing doesn't need to be as scary as the word perhaps sounds.

For some sound pieces of advice, you could invest in a book by Tamara Machavariani called Seven Steps to Yoga Teacher Marketing; or read her short piece on the subject here.

Ultimately, most teacher will probably say the best form of marketing is word of mouth. Yet this takes times (months or years); new teachers are likely to need to invest in some local marketing.

This could mean an ad in a local paper or online, a taster morning, networking with friends of friends, or simply placing a board with class list on the street outside your studio.

As Machavariani says in her piece, always keep in mind your target audience, and the nub of the message you want to communicate. Ultimately you're likely to learn from your mistakes, as much as by your successes.

Soon after I first qualified, I spent more money than I care to think about on hundreds of flyers. I spent days posting them through people's doors, but only received two enquiries as a result.

Despite one of these becoming one of my most loyal students, I wouldn't go down this route again (I find local advertising far more targetted and effective). But others will disagree.  Find what works over time.

As a last word: don't forget the online yoga directories out there, including our own, which you'll find here: http://www.yoga-abode.com/directory

The Yoga Abode team wish you a prosperous, as well as healthy and happy, new year!

Lucia Cockcroft, editor

As Christmas arrives, and the year draws to a close, it's traditional - and natural - to take a reflective look back at the last 12 months.

For many - with the economy faltering and the weather challenging - it's been a difficult time. Others will have lost, or cared for, loved ones.

However 2010 has been for you, you may like to set a sankalpa for 2011, whether it's a New Year's resolution (though keep it to one or two small, significant, realistic resolutions) or a wider intention relating to your job, or a friendship.

Use your yoga and meditation practice to seal that salkalpa, or intention - to commit to a change, however small, that is likely to boost your  wellbeing (and therefore that of those around you) and quality of life - from whatever perspective feels right.

For the YA team, with the launch of sister company YA Retreats it's been an eventful year, not without its challenges. We look forward to 2011 with anticipation, thanks and excitement.

The YA team will be back in mid-January with more news, stories and tips. In the meantime, bounce into 2011 with some healthy eating tips http://www.yoga-abode.com/ybites/bounce_into_2011

Happy Christmas, and all good wishes for a happy, healthy New Year.

Namaste,

Lucia Cockcroft

Going through a few yoga moves on the plane has always struck me as a sound idea, to stretch and move the body, and relieve in-flight tedium.

Perhaps the greatest challenge would be to rise above strange looks from fellow passengers, but ho hum.

According to a story in The Guardian, Madonna had the same idea, when the plane she was on was held at Stansted for a few hours. Read the full story here:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/lifeandstyle/2010/dec/20/yoga-in-plane-aisle

Maybe some of those poor passengers currently snow-stranded at Gatwick or Heathrow could throw caution to the wind and move through a few Sun Salutations, or simply put their legs up a wall.

If it's good enough for Madonna....

Lucia Cockcroft, editor

If you cringe at the idea of Christmas shopping on one of the busiest Saturdays of the year, here's a worthy, fun alternative.

Participants are needed for a Sun Salutation flashmob tomorrow (Saturday December 18) in aid of the Africa Yoga Project. The event is also being mirrored in Los Angeles and Nairobi.

To be held at Covent Garden at 12pm, those taking part just need to have a working knowledge of Sun Salutations, for a viral campaign that will go out on Youtube and Vimeo. The campaign will be part of a general awareness drive for the charity. 

Under the project, Kenyan yoga teachers are using yoga to help disaffected youths undergo a transformation through yoga. The aim is now to roll out the programme to include Kenya's Rift Valley.

To take part, head to The Africa Centre, 38 King St, Covent Garden, London, WE2E 8JT, for 12pm on Saturday December 18.

Please bring a yoga mat, comfortable, warm clothes - as filming will be outside - and a bolttle of water.  Finally, contact Ilana Lorraine on 07886 037970 if you are running late.

It sounds like a hugely worthwhile cause and a brilliant antidote to the runaway commercialism of this time of year.

Lucia Cockcroft