If you attended our evening of chanting in February you would have tried Rebecca’s lovely spicy masala chai - a fragrant spiced Indian tea.

There have been quite a few requests for the recipe so we thought we would publish it as a blog so everyone has a chance to try it.

INGREDIENTS (all quantities are very approximate):

SPICES - freshly grated ginger (4 cm piece), cinnamon stick or scroll, cardamom pods (5 or 6 appox), cloves (5 or 6), bay leaf, black pepper (very small amount), garam masala (teaspoon) 

OTHER INGREDIENTS - black tea (couple of teaspoons or tea bags), honey (2 desert spoons), 2 cups of milk

METHOD: Heat all the spices together in 2.5 cups of water and simmer for a few minutes. Then add black tea , honey and milk and simmer together for a short while. Strain to drink. Enjoy hot!

On some days in February it can feel like we are heading into spring … and on others it definitely feels like the middle of winter!

Yoga is a great boost if you need a bit of extra energy to help you through February. If you really need extra energy our Saturday afternoon restorative classes are ideal. These classes are quietly peaceful and restful. See our class timetable for more information.

At the beginning of March we are running a beginner backbend day. Bakbending poses are hard working poses but they make you feel both mentally uplifted and physically energised. Learn how to approach backbends and get these benefits in this yoga day. See our workshop listings for more information.

We close for Christmas and the New Year on Saturday 20 December and will reopen for regular classes on Monday 5 January. We are running a special post pudding workshop on the 28th and 29th December - see our workshops information for more details.

We would like to wish you a happy and peaceful Christmas and New Year.

Thank you for your support this year and we hope to see you on a yoga mat in 2026!

IYISL yoga teacher Priscila Diniz would like you to join her at a fundraising yoga workshop at IYISL on 26 October from 1-4pm. The workshop is raising funds for children in Gaza who are in desperate conditions. All proceeds will go to Unicef.

Please give whatever help you can to this important cause. You can make a donation on the JustGiving page.

https://www.justgiving.com/page/gazafundraiser-yoga?utm_medium=FA&utm_source=CL

At IYISL we have been running a teachers’ led self practice session for a while. We are now adding a Tuesday early morning led self practice session to our timetable for experienced students who are keen to develop their own practice.

Yoga self practice is practicing asana by yourself with self awareness and adjusting your pose without a teacher’s instructions. Self practice is an important part of developing your yoga practice. It will help you access poses you find challenging and also help you start to work at a deeper level which has great physical and mental benefits.

Most people find starting their own self practice is challenging. Apart from finding the time , space and focus and an element of self discipline for practice, it is difficult at first to know what poses to practice for best effect and in what order.

Led self practice is a way of helping with these issues. The teacher leads by setting the programme, showing the poses if needed and doing the poses with the students. Otherwise the practice is done quietly with no instructions or adjustments. It is a chance for you to find your own way into the asana.

A big thank you to everyone who attended and supported our Kathak dance performance - a reflection on dance, yoga, healing and community. I know everyone there felt touched by and really appreciated Vipul Bhatti’s heartfelt performance.

We often get asked which class to choose by new students so here is some information about the different class levels so you can choose the best class for you.

Iyengar Yoga students the world over start their yoga class by singing the Invocation to Lord Patanjali. This explains why its important.