R . E . S . P . E . C . T .

At the end of my yoga classes, I always invite those present to join me in saying Namaste. There are many ways to interpret this word, but I usually explain it as 'The divine light in me honours the divine light in you.' It is, I explain, a gesture of mutual respect.

I try to show respect to everyone on and off my yoga mat. It's not always easy. Some people are, shall we say, challenging. However, if someone is difficult I tell myself that maybe she's having a bad day. Perhaps she was up all night with a fractious child or maybe she has bad feet. I do believe that it's important to take what we learn on our mats into the world beyond.

You might like to consider whether you always receive respect from the people for whom you work.

Creative contacts

I am privileged to know and work with some very creative people, not only in a yoga context, but also in my other job as a writer. Sometimes these worlds collide.

My forthcoming book Stripped-back Yoga is in the final stages of production and I've spent the last few days sorting out the cover. I'm delighted to say that I've been lucky enough to work on this with artist and author Malcolm Parnell and he has created an image specially for me. The big reveal isn't far away!

Money makes the world go round

I'm a fan of The Pantaloons theatre company. At the end of their performances, they always say thank you to us, the audience, and ask us to buy some merchandise because this magically turns t-shirts into petrol for their van.

There is sometimes a feeling that we yoga teachers should work for love: for the sheer joy of sharing the knowledge and spreading the word. Perhaps that's true, but it doesn't wash with the staff in Morrisons, who always ask for money in return for my bag of food. The fact of the matter is that we need paying for our labours (most of us, anyway). That said, I've never come across a yoga teacher who won't step in at short notice to help out a friend or run a session at a charity do for nothing.

The thorny question of what to charge for covering someone else's classes came up in conversation with a fellow teacher this morning. My advice to her was that it's perfectly reasonable to ask for the appropriate fee for the job; that way the situation is clear and there are no nasty surprises for anyone. This might mean losing out on work occasionally, but so be it.

Go back to the yamas, specifically asteya, which is usually translated as non-stealing. If you undersell yourself, you are giving the other party the opportunity to steal from you, albeit unknowingly and possibly unwillingly.

Asteya pratishthayam sarva ratna upasthanam 

To one established in non-stealing, all wealth comes.

Little bit of politics

Every organisation has to have committees and people in charge. Compliance and transparency are essential, especially in charities. Today, though, I'm finding it hard to reconcile the administrative unrest caused by political matters in certain quarters of the yoga profession with what I'm trying to teach.

I did my teaching diploma with the British Wheel of Yoga: 500 hours of study for what I still believe is the best qualification around. Yes, you can pop along to some places and do a couple of weekends, learn a few Sanskrit words and a clutch of basic postures, and then call yourself a yoga teacher - but why would you, when you can do it properly through the BWY? I'm still a member. I've been to many events and training sessions run by the Wheel and met some wonderful and inspiring people along the way.

It saddens me, therefore, that the organisation seems to be in such disarray. The election of managing officers is underway at the moment. Ballot papers were despatched, but then had to recalled because of a mistake. A few days ago, I receive a replacement election pack, but this, too, is likely to be deemed redundant, because of the resignation of various key players over matters that need not be explored here.

I am grateful there are people who are willing to put themselves forward for what is often the thankless task of committee work, and I hope that those in the BWY who are embroiled in disputes about the direction the organisation should be going find a way to resolve whatever lies behind this unrest to the satisfaction of everyone involved