Lucy Murray Yoga Blog

Lots of you tell me that you come to yoga hoping to find flexibility. We all know that rigidity, or tension, has a way of outstaying its welcome after we repeatedly contract away from stressful experiences, for the most part unconsciously. When the body tightens, the breath can become compromised. And because the breath is stuck in a pattern associated with stress, the mind responds accordingly. If we think of breath as the direct link between mind and body, we…

Spine as Communicator: We've all seen it. Yoga on social media.Not just the impossibly perfect, lithe young body performing a stunning feat of acrobatics in the name of yoga. Or the athletic sequence that makes us tired just watching. It's the quick fixes that really catch my eye. "Tight jaw? Do these three exercises every day to resolve it." "How to train your shoulders to stay back with this one amazing solution." I'm not saying they're wrong, or that I don't get drawn into…

Stability and Freedom: People often imagine that a healthy spine is either strong or flexible. In reality, it needs to be both. Think of putting up a tent. The central pole provides structure, but on its own it would quickly fall over. The guy ropes keep it upright. If they're too loose, the tent collapses. If they're pulled impossibly tight, the whole structure loses its ability to respond to the wind. Our spine is a complex structure which works together with all the muscles,…

Share the Work Your Spine Was Never Meant to Do All the Work Have you ever noticed that when one part of the body becomes stiff, another part quietly takes over? It's something we see regularly in yoga classes. Perhaps the hips are a little reluctant to move, so the lower back bends a little further than it really wants to. Or the upper back has become rather fixed after years of sitting at a desk, so the neck ends up doing more than…

Perfect Posture? There Is No Such Thing as Perfect PostureWhen people first come to yoga, one of the questions I hear most often is, "Am I standing correctly?” It's a perfectly reasonable question, but perhaps not the most helpful one. Many of us have grown up believing there is a single "correct" posture – shoulders back, tummy in, chin up – and that if only we could hold ourselves in exactly the right position all day, our backs would never complain. The reality is…

Strong Knees, Supported Movement: Knees tend to get our attention only when they start to complain. But in practice, they’re rarely the real “problem”—they’re often the place where the effects of everything else show up.This month in class, we’ll take a slightly more thoughtful approach to knee health. Not by isolating the joint, but by looking at how it’s supported by the rest of the body - and how small, well-placed changes can make a genuine difference.Small changes can make a…

Yoga for inflammationI recently read about a study exploring the effects of a three-month yoga retreat on inflammation in the body. The retreat included daily physical postures, controlled breathing, seated meditation and chanting. By the end of the programme, levels of protective anti-inflammatory markers had increased, while harmful pro-inflammatory markers had decreased. Even more compelling, participants reported fewer physical complaints and a greater sense of mental and emotional wellbeing.We’re all familiar with acute inflammation — the body’s intelligent, protective response…

Establishing a Yoga Practice:Healthy Habits for the New YearAs a new year begins, many of us pause and reflect. We may not want dramatic change or strict resolutions, but we might feel a quiet wish to look after ourselves a little better — to move more easily, sleep more soundly, or feel calmer in everyday life. Yoga can be a supportive companion in this process. Not something to strive at or to perfect, but a steady and consistent practice that…

Be ready for life:As a yoga teacher, folks often tell me that they practise yoga to maintain or improve their flexibility and mobility – but they don’t often mention strength. This is surprising because strength is the foundation for moving with confidence and enjoying everyday activities without fear of injury. Flexibility and strength are two sides of the same coin. From getting out of a chair, to carrying the shopping, and playing with children and pets – strong muscles and…