The lotus flower could not exist without the mud that nurtures its roots There are some teachings that seem to arrive just when we need them. No mud, no lotus is one of those for me. Popularised by the Vietnamese Zen master Thích Nhất Hạnh in his book of the same name, no mud, no lotus reminds us that the lotus flower, a symbol of purity, wisdom and awakening, cannot bloom without the mud from which it grows. The mud isn't something to escape or overcome – it's the very thing

February’s class theme is japa — a beautiful Sanskrit word that means ‘repetition’. Traditionally, japa refers to the meditative repetition of a mantra. In texts like the Yoga Sutras , mantra japa is described as a pathway to steadiness of the mind. Traditional mala beads consist of 108 beads, one for each repetition of a mantra We are, of course, familiar with the mantra Om, which we chant at the beginning and end of our classes. According to the teachings of Patanjali , r

November’s class theme is Becoming the Witness – a journey into self-awareness and the deeper layers of our being.

Brahmacharya: 'behaviour that leads to Brahman' or the divine. January sales: short-term satisfication. Which one will you choose?

We can all make a difference if we choose to live our lives authentically. Not sure how? Check out my five tips.