Field Notes: July

My monthly round-up of reading, listening and practice. And, a Bodyscapes book launch invitation.

July began with a visit by Donna Farhi to Cambridge - it was a great four day intensive just for yoga teachers and we got to not only practice together but to share peer-to-peer conversations about the ups and downs of teaching. July also rolled out in intense heat which you will have noticed inspired the latest editions of Field Notes. It’s cooler now although everywhere is parched and I find myself missing the sound of lawn mowers.

READING & LISTENING

I forayed deep into a rabbit hole exploring how contemplative somatic practices connect us to the mystery of the animate world around us (it’s also part of some research for a second book- you heard it here first!). I’ve enjoyed Tyson Yunkaporta being interviewed on various podcasts - try this one with Josh Shrei of the Emerald podcast, and if you haven’t read Sand Talk, I highly recommend.

Do also check out the Wonder Cabinet for thoughtful podcasts, the one with Robert MacFarlane is of interest if you are pondering the “rights” of nature, be that rivers or forests, mountains or oceans.

In other reading, I do have a novel on the go which is structured around multiple perspectives of one event which at this level I am really enjoying, but I have a big bugbear about an overuse of similes (in any book) that for the most part are not adding anything to the narrative. They are so numerous that I have taken to circling them as I go through so I can do count up at the end! If I haven’t spoilt it for you, the book is Falling Animals by Sheila Armstrong.

MUSIC FOR SLOW PRACTICE ON HOT DAYS

I’m sharing an updated playlist here called Liquid Calm which I’ve been using as a backdrop to my somatic movement sequences, for merging into stillness, and for Restorative yoga practice. It helps me connect with the slow fluids of my body like CSF, fat and marrow, and it’s a mellow antidote to the heat.

MY PRACTICE

I’ve been taking regular classes with Amy Matthews online and savouring enquiries that evoke a profound sensing of my body in motion (even when it is still). I’m also practicing more Feldenkrais sequences which I find get to parts of my body that no asana ever has. However, more often than not, I find the rolling around leads me into familiar yoga shapes so, regardless of how much I take asana out of my practice, my practice leads me back there anyway!

I’ve also been exploring alternate nostril breath and how it relates to the assymetric patterns of breathing I notice when I organise my body into sidebends and twists.

BODYSCAPES BOOK UPDATE

Did you know there is a Companion Library that comes with the book? Readers have access to recorded practices, Pinterest boards, Spotify playlists and pointers to further reading; all organised chapter by chapter.

You can pre-order the written version of Bodyscapes or the audio version. And the actual publication date is 3 November.

If you’d like to join a free online book launch on 5 December, we’ll explore one of the chapters together, you can sign up here.

ONE THING I’M CARRYING FORWARD

Co-teacher practice! During the Donna Farhi intensive, we gathered in groups to figure out how we could continue supporting each other once we all went our separate ways. Our group has set up a co-teacher practice that happens once a month on Zoom. It’s an open invitation where we can show up and practice together with a little bit of chat time at the end. There is something extra special about a self-practice in the company of others, even when we are not in the same room.

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So, that’s it for my July round-up. Hopefully, I can report back to you on rainfall over this coming month!

Sending warm wishes to you until next time,

Beverley

PS - for somatic practitioners who can get to Cambridge, don’t forget, the early bird discounts are available until end August for the autumn series of in-person courses : Authentic Movement, Movement Observations & Analysis, and Somatic Movement Sequencing.