Sometimes I wonder if, when I moved from London to Cambridge last September, I was on the brink of wonderful things that I left behind. Don’t get me wrong. Moving away from London was the best thing we could have done, all the signs were there. But I do wonder about the yoga business I sold and left behind. I had ideas for that business bubbling underneath the surface that I could never quite catch. Plans slipped through my fingers unformed. I guess it wasn’t the right time. Or the right place.
But now, nine months later, all those ideas are spilling out. I have notes, to-do lists, journal entries, planners filled with stuff. I don’t know where to begin. But that in itself brings a smile to my face. 
And I’m trying to put fear of failure to one side, because I can do this. I have the skills, the enthusiasm and most of all the inspiration. Which brings me onto my yoga heroes. Those yogis and yoginis who have inspired me to the point where I am today and continue to inspire me every single day in my writing, my practice, my teaching, my thoughts. Who are these wonderful people? In no particular order…
1. Darren Main. If I had to read just one book on yoga in a lifetime Darren’s “Yoga and the Path of the Urban Mystic” would be it. It is the single most practical and down to earth book on yoga I have ever read. It doesn’t have a single yoga pose or sequence in it. Instead it just focuses on living your life well without beating yourself up. I turn to this (and his “Spiritual Journeys along the Yellow Brick Road“) again and again.
2. My teachers. I am so privileged to have learned from world renowned teachers but those that stand out the most are my first regular teacher, Tara Fraser (co-director of Yoga Junction), who showed me that even people with bad backs can be yoga teachers, James Bradford who taught me to be a badass teacher mixing discipline with a very British sense of humour (and introduced me to Darren Main) and Fiona Agombar who taught me everything I needed to know about Yoga and Chronic Fatigue.
3. Kimberly Wilson. When I first read “Hip Tranquil Chick” I had just set up my own business whilst working full time in law. If you’ve read Kimberly’s blog you’ll know she used to do the same. She gave me hope that I could still do this, and wear glitter and kitten heels, drink cocktails and have fun. When I read her take on Asteya (the “non-stealing” Yama):-
Staying in a job that you know is a dead end when you dream of launching an online baby boutique is a form of stealing from yourself.
I knew what I had to do! I’ve just started reading her latest book “Tranquilista” and am already filled with inspiration. If you don’t read her blog, why not? Plus have you seen her range of TranquiliT clothing? Now if only I didn’t have to pay US customs tax when I ordered….
4. Mama and Papa Yogini for being awesome, for introducing me to yoga in the first place, for always being willing to discuss bizarre Yogic philosophy when nobody else will and for never being disappointed in my lack of “career”!
5. Yoga bloggers the world over. You guys know who you are, and you inspire me every day. (A special shout out to Emma who, I have to admit, in a pinch I do steal class sequences off when I’ve run out of ideas! Thanks Emma!)
There is inspiration everywhere we turn if only we look for it with open eyes and open hearts. And that is why, dear readers, there will be lots of new stuff happening on The Suburban Yogini and its sister teaching site Exploring Yoga over the next few months.
I just need to cultivate some patience.
Who are your heroes (yoga and otherwise)? Who or what inspires your days?
I am still very much taking comments as to things you’d like to see more or less of on the blog. Leave a comment here or drop me an email at suburbanyogini@gmail.com today and you will still be eligible for two weeks free membership of My Yoga Online!
Finally, I have listened to your comments thus far and some of you want a Q&A section so I’ve set up a Formspring account. Click the link and ask me anything anonymously and I’ll put the best ones up on the blog over the next few weeks!
Have wonderful weekends
