Yoga Pathways

Part One: Mum’s Revolutionary Yoga

In the groovy 70s, yoga wasn’t the sleek, studio-led practice we see today—it was an act of delightful rebellion. My mum, a true original, forged her own path long before the age of designer yoga leggings and Instagram influencers. With nothing more than a well-thumbed yoga book for guidance, she could do things that, to my young eyes, looked like circus tricks. I always wanted to be nearby when she was practicing. You could guarantee that we’d all join in—sticking out our tongues as far as we could for Lion’s Pose and roaring, or watching as she effortlessly balanced upside down on her head as we, her little audience, gathered around, utterly mesmerised.

I had no idea that my mum was unconventional. She was just my mum. She did yoga, baked homemade brown bread, and in our house, it was brown pasta and brown rice only— and this was the 70s. She was stylish and quirky, both in her wardrobe and her ways. One photo captures her perfectly: Mum on a sun-drenched deck chair in Israel, confidently executing Plow Pose. A cigarette dangles casually from her lips, a sandwich in hand—yoga as art, as mischief, and as an unconscious yet profound statement of living life on one’s own terms.

Part Two: Today’s Modern Practice

Decades later, my own yoga practice looks quite different, yet I still find myself channeling Mum’s spirit in unexpected ways. Gone are the days, for me, of yoga practice dictated solely by a dog-eared book surrounded by 4 small children. Today’s sessions focus on precise alignment, eco-friendly mats, and the occasional selfie moment. While my practice might lack the colourful accessories—a cigarette or sandwich—of Mum’s era, the underlying spirit of freedom and self-expression remains.

Bridging Then and Now

The contrast between Mum’s yoga days and today’s structured classes is striking, yet both share a common heartbeat. Mum’s fearless exploration—without instructors, studios, or social media—was a raw celebration of individuality. In today’s world, the focus has shifted toward technique and aesthetics, but at its core, yoga is still a journey of self-discovery. It’s about bending not just our bodies but also our perceptions.

So as I reflect on these two snapshots in time—Mum’s audacious Plow Pose on a deck chair and my own mid-life attempt at the same—I’m reminded of the power of staying true to one’s practice. Whether flipping through the pages of a vintage yoga book or attending a perfectly curated class, the heart of yoga beats on: ever flexible, forever evolving.

So here’s to the trailblazers—cigarettes, sandwiches, and all—and to finding our own way to bend, breathe, and break the rules just a little.