Since I have been teaching the powerful practice that is Kundalini Yoga I am often asked to explain more about Mantra and chanting and why it feels so good. ‘Man’ = mind ‘Tra’ =Tool. A mantra is a tool for the mind. It is also a vibration. There is a rhythm in the...
Yoga & Spice Blog
Yoga, wellness & food inspired blog
Eating for your Mind/Body type all year round
If you have a tendency to suffer from inflammation issues, be it skin redness, heartburn, bleeding gums or joint pain you may notice how these worsen as summer approaches. That is because we are heating up, along with the world around us. In the winter our blood...
It’s a Practice
B K S Iyengar, one of the ‘fathers of modern yoga’ is famous for the saying ‘Practise and all is coming’. Like many students before me, and many on the journey, I initially understood these encouraging words as a promise that even the most challenging of postures...
The universe conspires
' It's three years since we moved to this idyllic spot between the North York Moors and the Yorskhire Coast. An extra-ordinary three years. We have had to work alongside the universe to keep the Yoga & Spice vision alive. We could not have anticipated COVID and...
Sunday nights in?
Can Yoga Nidra relieve the toll of lockdown for you? It's been a long winter. We count our blessings here at Valley View every day, we have a so much to do on site.....and we are surrounded by nature. Many are not so lucky; and perhaps you are running out of ideas to...
Lockdown 3 and beyond
We plan to offer small group retreats in 2021
Back to space
So my first blog after quite a silence goes back to the subject of space - which was covered in my first Yogandspice blog ever. And on the subject of space, our Yoga and Climbing breaks have just been featured in The Guardian...
Covid-19 Update
Regretfully, we have decided not to continue to host retreats for the remainder of 2020 due to Covid-19. However, please feel free to get in touch with us to arrange a personalised retreat.
Seasonal yoga for life
Adopting a seasonal yoga practice helps us to live a balanced life both on and of the mat. In ancient traditions, the body is seen as part of the natural world rather than separate from it. Both Chinese Traditional Medicine...
Filling our yoga studio – virtually
My immediate reaction to the idea of teaching on line was 'No way!' I am a natural technophobe. The idea of filling our yoga studio virtually filled me with horror. While I accept the need for on line PR, and booking information, working with the computer has never...
Space and quiet in our yoga studio
What do you say when the world is turned upside down overnight? When new, and very real, concerns, new rules and new behaviour patterns change much of the world as we know it. I am surprised how quiet the world is. And never is this more true than when I lay...
How can yoga help you?
It’s official... David Beckham, Jennifer Aniston, Russell Brand, Ryan Gosling and Lady Gaga - they are all doing it. Some pretty busy people make time for a yoga practice so they must rate it highly. But how can yoga help you? Flexibility, strength and fitnesss The...
What is Ama Pachana anyway?
From 20 -23 March we are very excited to be hosting our first Ayurvedic detox or Ama Pachana. If you are one of the many people wondering 'What is an Ama Pachana anyway?' then the best way to find out is to come along. You'll get a chance to use our spectacular new...
What do you eat on a yoga retreat?
What do you eat on a yoga retreat? One of the most common questions asked of retreat organisers is 'what do you eat on a yoga retreat?' And, depending on who is leading the retreat, and where you will be staying, the answer will differ. When you choose a yoga break...
The Guardian 10 of the best UK wellbeing retreats 2020
Yogandspice was noted for food, foraging and five hours of yoga in the Guardian 10 of the best UK and wellbeing retreats. And of course our spectacular location. We are in the North York Moors National Park, but within walking distance of the beach. We know this is a...
Top ten reasons to book a yoga retreat in the UK
Connect with the natural world on your retreat. Yoga encourages us to be aware of the impact of our choices on our own health and that of the planet. As a species we haven't done brilliantly so far. A retreat is an opportunity to live mindfully for a short period at...
My digital detox dilemma
Back in November I reached an all time high for daily screen time. An average of 4 hours 3 minutes every day for a week. But in that same period the Yogandspice Facebook reach, usually around 150, hit 2,638! This sums up my digital detox dilemma. And I don't think I...
Is JOMO on your agenda?
Have a joyful festive season ..........however you spend it. We all know about FOMO: the Fear of Missing Out. But what about JOMO? Can we find joy in missing out? FOMO stems from social media posts where we are all having a great time. And Christmas and New Year...
Take the coast road
Leeds or York to Whitby in comfort Last week-end I ditched the car and travelled 250 miles by public transport. The highlight was the Coastliner bus which runs from Leeds and York direct to Whitby, stopping at Ruswarp, one mile from Yoga & Spice at Valley View....
Are yoga retreats for beginners?
The short answer is yes - yoga is for everyone. And the variety of yoga retreats and yoga holidays available in the UK alone is increasing daily. It seems that people are looking to take time out to do something that will relieve some of the stresses of modern life....
Cook Chinese vegan food
Sichuan aubergine - traditionally vegan 'Cook Chinese in Yorkshire' was the name of a Facebook Group I set up when I returned from 10 years in China. I have just renamed it 'Cook Chinese vegan food'. http://Cook Chinese vegan food. I can hear the cries of disbelief....
Worms retreat too….
Or why we don't clean up for our guests Leave leaves for worms Our woodland at Valley View is a wildlife haven. We see barn owls at night, and deer at dawn. The local badger population love to raid the fat balls that we buy for our bird population. We just hope...
Yorkshire, yoga and the missing element
Yorkshire, yoga and the missing element In 2020 Yorkshire will enjoy The Dark Skies Festival in the North York Moors and Dales, Stargazing at Tan Hill, the highest pub in North Yorkshire and Underneath the Stars Music Festival in Barnsley, West Yorkshire. The skies...