editor's blog

I was heartened to see a big piece in The Guardian on the pluses of yoga in later life. 

The usual media depiction of a yoga practitioner is of a lithe young thing in her twenties, hanging out in a headstand or effortlessly contorted into a shape that, for most people, is intimidating and frankly unachievable/dangerous. 

So it's great to find a balanced, straightforward article on how 'normal' people of whatever age - especially those who are no longer in their twenties! - can reap the benefits.

Which include: strengthening of bones, increased joint mobility, softening of the arteries, lessening of depression and anxiety, and better posture (as well as significant improvement in the dreaded dowager's hump). 

Sensibly, the author, Green & Black's founder Josephine Fairley, suggests that regular brisk walking and yoga may well 'form a prescrption for lifelong fitness'.

What could be cheaper, and simpler, than a pair of good walking trainers, a yoga mat, and an open-hearted intention to keep moving - mindfully and regularly?

You can read the full article here. 

Lucia Cockcroft, editor

Runners and other athletes have long practised yoga to improve their strength, flexibility and mental focus. Until now, there's been far less emphasis on meditation for runners.

It is often said that people who run or jog enter a 'Zen-like', or meditative state, while pounding the street - returning from their exercise session feeling mentally calmer and more alert, as well as more physically alive. 

Running also demands paying attention to the breath, while staying tuned into our surroundings - and these skills also apply to the basic principles of meditation.

A new book, Running with the Mind of Meditation by Tibetan Lama and marathon runner Sakyong Mipham, makes many parallels between the two disciplines.

According to The Guardian, the launch of the book in the States is being accompanied by meditation workshops for runners.

One athlete, Blessie Selvig, has also tauight meditation to runners. She says: 'The feedback I've had is that meditation makes the running experience different. It's more relaxed, clear, pain-free and insightful'.

Admirably, the author is hoping that be talking about meditation in the context of running, he will reach a new audience.

Running with the Mind of Meditaiton is available from bookshops, and from Amazon, priced at around £10.

Lucia Cockcroft, editor

Only a few years ago, the yoga scene in London far lagged behind other cities of a similar size and outward-facing vibe: New York, San Francisco and Shanghai, for example. 

With the likes of new kids on the yoga block, Evolve, Islington Life Centre and Indaba, it's wonderful to see this changing fast. 

Embody Wellness is the latest studio and wellbeing centre to enter the London stage. The 'centre for integrated and holistic wellbeing' is located in the Vanuxhall riverside development, St George Wharf. 

There's a double-height reception area, three treatment rooms and a spacious yoga and pilates studio hosting 45 classes a week. 

As well as physiotherapy, massage and naturopathy, ayurvedic medicine and consultations will be on the treatment menu. 

Until now, South London has been notably short on dedicated yoga studios, so it's great to see Embody Wellness start to fill this gap. 

The studio is currently offering the first class free: check out www.embodywellness.co.uk

Lucia Cockcroft, editor

It is a powerful experience to sit in silence with 3,000 human beings. But when the practice is led by one of the world's greatest living Spiritual leaders, the poignancy of the occasion is beyond language.

Thich Nhat Hanh - Vietnamese Buddhist monk, prolific author and human rights activist - is currently in the UK leading a series of talks, meditations and retreats.

Last night, the YA team were privileged to have second-row seats for his sell-out evening at London's Festival Hall.

The evening began with a series of songs and chants led by the monks and nuns of Plum Village, Thây's France-based Buddhist community.

Admittedly it took a little effort to shake off habitual English reserve and find our 'inner child'; we, the audience, were asked to sing along, and join in with the simple hand gestures.

The experience was moving in its simplicity and pure intention.

When the lithe 86-year old Thây, as he is often known, then appeared silently on the stage, and took up his seat on a cushion, a reverential hush descended on the audience.

After a 20-minute meditation on the breath - during which the sense of stillness and peace in the Festival Hall was almost tangible – the Zen master spoke for over two hours on the nature of finding peace in the present moment, through simple mindfulness and breath-awareness exercises.

He spoke movingly (in wonderful English) on the transformative role of compassion; on the necessity of practice, and self-awareness - and also on the need to live and work fully in the community (or Sangha).

Thây sat in almost complete stillness and poise for the entire evening, his body only moving gently to move through a series of hand gestures (or mudras) while his choir of monks and nuns sang a spine-tingling chant, accompanied by violin and guitar.

The practice of meditation is sometimes criticised for its tendency towards self-indulgence or 'naval gazing'. Yet Thây has employed his meditation practice not only to cope with his own far-reaching life difficulties – but to help others in a very real way.

His is known for his work with refugees, boat people, political prisoners and hungry families in Vietnam, and throughout the Third World, and has published 85 titles (poems, prose, books and prayers) – virtually one for every year of his life.

In September 2001, just a few days after the suicide terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, Thây addressed the issues of non-violence and forgiveness in a memorable speech at Riverside Church in New York City.

In September of 2003 he addressed members of the US Congress, leading them through a two-day retreat.

I am sure there was not one person who came away from the South Bank last night without feeling changed in some way. I will remember last night with wonder, humility and thanks, for the rest of my life.

Thich Nhat Hanh is also leading a peace meditation in Trafalgar Square from 2.30pm on Saturday 31st March, 2012, followed by an Easter retreat at Nottingham University. For information on his life and work, or for details about spending time at his community in France, see www.plumvillage.org

We are an increasingly health-conscious bunch, if new research (and anecdotal evidence) is to be believed.

A new survey commissioned by Health and Fitness Travel has found that 85% of Brits are willing to try a health and fitness holiday to improve their wellbeing.

The Body Holiday survey found that 85% of people are likely to try new forms of exercise or body treatment on holiday, to open their minds to new experiences.

Paul Joseph, Co-founder of Health and Fitness Travel, comments: 'A health and fitness holiday can be a great way to reset the body, learn a new approach and develop good habits to bring home.

'Ditching waist-expanding getaways for active and healthy holidays combines the fun of travel with fitness focussed activities such as yoga and hiking.'

All of which is dubious news for the traditional beach holiday, but resoundingly good news for the rapidly expanding retreats industry.

Speaking from personal experience, through our sister company, YA Retreats, (which runs affordable retreats to Morocco, SW France and Suffolk) we have found that beginners to yoga are increasingly booking onto yoga holidays and retreats.

This is especially true if they are located somewhere sunny, with Spa treatments and a touch of luxury!

It's not only new activites that entice people away on wellbeing holidays. With their nurturing balance of 'alone-time' and the potential to also meet like-minded people, retreats are especially appealing for those holidaying alone.

Lucia Cockcroft, editor