Guest Post – Get on your bike!

Note from Sasha:  I met Pippa in Prague in 2006.  She moved to London in 2007 and really inspired me to get out there and DO stuff.  She is one of the most active Londoners I know – language courses, sports, exhibitions and gigs.  The perfect HPL guest writer!  Anyway, like many Londonders, I have a bike (traditional ladies bike with wicker basket from Brixton Cycles – I absolutely love it) but am too much of a wuss to cycle to work.  In this first HPL guest post, Pippa argues why more Londoners should get on their bikes.  (If you’re a keen cyclist – also check out Nandos Bike Club).

Having grown up in a city spread over the foothills of a mountain, cycling had never been something I found particularly enjoyable (give me a billycart anyday). When I moved to London, on my daily bus commute I used to peer through the forest of armpits and out the window at the seemingly death-defying cyclists whizzing by and think ‘crazies’.  So when my work introduced the cycle to work scheme, it was really only the thought of saving money that motivated me to get off the bus and get a bike. I was also motivated by the fact that riding would chop about 20 minutes off my commute.  Yes, twenty extra minutes of snoozing = motivational.

I made a deal with myself before I bought the bike. I thought getting on a bike every morning would be a bit of a struggle.  And what would I do about showers and work clothes?  And what about all those cars and –gulp- buses?  The deal was, I had to make myself cycle three days a week, and I could reward myself with bus trips on the other two days.  I really wasn’t sure I’d keep this deal with myself, and thought I might need to send someone round to rough me up and ‘remind’ me to get back on my bike.

But oh my goodness I LOVE cycling!  I love it so much that if I need to leave my beloved bi-wheeled beast behind (eg on those rare occasions I have a half-pint of low-alcohol beer on the way home) (Note from Sasha:  I have never known Pip to drink anything low on alcohol in my life...!)  I actually head back into work over the weekend to pick it up, just to ensure my Monday morning wake-up burst of energisation (is that a word? It makes sense to me).  These days a bus trip to work is not something I would consider a ‘reward’.

I love it so much I rode through winter (even some of the snow days).  I love it so much I have become a ride-to-work evangelist.  I love it so much I agreed to write a guest blog hoping to convert many more people to my cause. I now ride past people waiting at bus stops, smile to myself, and think ‘crazies’!

Why do I love it so much?  Well, now my bike is paid off, my commute is pretty much free (apart from the fun accessories and regular services I see as an investment), I feel wonderful getting a short burst of exercise at the beginning and end of a largely sedentary working day, I love discovering the nuances of back-street London, random shops, quirky bars, peaceful and suprising green spaces.

I have also discovered London is (largely) flat, and if I keep to a leisurely pace for 9 months of the year I can cycle in my work clothes. Many workplaces have bike racks or lockers and even showers if you work up a sweat, and there are so many people cycle-commuting these days, you can band together and ask for facilities many workplaces will supply or ‘discover’ showers and changing facilities on the premises. And if not, (can I say this here?) disabled toilets offer space, privacy, mirrors and the ability to at least have a bird bath if showers are not available on your work premises. 

I suppose the opposite of working up a sweat is cycling through the rain.  I have heard the statistic, that if you cycle commute every work day for a year, both directions, on average you will only get rained on twelve times.  This is an unsubstantiated statistic, but in my experience I do find it somewhat believable.  I figure my options are a) get wet (earn kudos), b) leave bike at home (done that once or twice), c) invest in waterproof trousers (I’m still considering this). And on the way home with a steaming bath and perhaps a glass of warming vino beckoning, it doesn’t really matter, does it?

So what are the dodgy bits? I find Black cab and white van drivers can sometimes be scary (I’m referring to the vehicle colours here), but it just takes a bit of time to find the right balance of caution/confidence on the roads.  I also wish that those who cycle through red lights would stop, and think about what the implications for the rest of us who do obey the rules but sometimes get treated like we don’t. 

And pedestrians. Riding past hundreds of harried city pedestrians at peak hour is a bit like Frogger. These people are ‘obviously’ in a hurry, but pose a danger to themselves as well as to cyclists as they step off the pavement, or cross roads of stationary traffic only to pop out in front of a cyclist whizzing down the bike lane. 

But overall cycling positives far outweigh the dodgy bits. So let me evangalise a bit more.  Spring has just sprung, the leaves are budding, the snow has finally stopped, the clocks have just changed and there are months of bright long evenings stretching ahead of us.  So why not invest in an alternative transportation and hopefully be as surprised as I was at just what cycling can do for your mood, your wallet, your wobbly thighs and your mental health?

• Transport For London offer 14 brilliant, detailed and free cycling maps of London, which show signed cycling routes, quieter routes recommended by other cyclists ,greenways through parks and along canals, off-carriage way alternatives to busy roads and stations with cycle parking 
• Many London borough councils offer free or subsidised 1:1 cycling lessons to help build up confidence cycling on roads.  Some also offer guided ‘commutes’ during the summer months –contact your local borough council. 
• A number of small firms offer onsite bike servicing. Why not get a group of cycling friends together for a sociable day of snacks, chats and bike services?  Janis at havebike.co.uk also offers bike maintenance workshops to give you more confidence keeping your bike in good condition.

Beating Stress in London PART II – The Yoga Instructor

As you may know, I’m doing a series of posts on coping with stress in London, because I think London can be a stressful place to live.  Previously, the wonderful Helen Perkes talked about stress from a psychotherapist’s point of view, but today I asked Dylan Ayaloo, instructor at the place I do yoga, Hot Power Yoga in Clapham, to talk about ways a yogi deals with stress. 

I’ve talked about How Power Yoga before, and I do find it really helps me – loosens my body, slows me down.  I’d be lying if I said I didn’t also want rock-hard abs and a toned body, but when I practice regularly I find it really calming.  I should point out however, that I’ve not actually found any time to practice in weeks, oops, so I also asked Dylan to suggest ways in which busy people who can’t find time to practice can de-stress the yogic way.  Here’s what he suggested:

Dylan Ayaloo, Yoga Instructor at Hot Power Yoga (www.hotpoweryoga.co.uk)

1. Practice yoga at least 2 times a week.  We store tension and stress in the body as a result of our lifestyles. Yoga helps release the tension and toxins in the body while creating a balance of strength and flexibility giving rise to a natural state of well being. 

The breathing technique we use at Hot Power Yoga is called ujjaii breathing. The breath builds heat from within, allowing the body to sweat and release toxins.  Its an audible breath which anchors the mind to the present moment. This allows the practitioner to release any attachments to the worries of the mind, anxieties, stresses and any to-do’s lists which all exist either in the past or the future.

We store stresses and tension in all parts of our bodies, mainly shoulders, neck and lower back. The sequence taught at HPY is an intelligent, time tested and highly effective sequence which takes the body through a journey of releasing tension and stress. Each pose builds onto the next, opens, stretches and strengthens the body in a safe manner. While the sequence is not fixed, a regular practitioner will know enough of the structure of the sequence to bring the practice onto their mat at home or when they’re travelling. This is one of our goals, to teach independence so our students can take this practice anywhere.

If you’re caught in a busy cycle and have very little time to do yoga, simply rolling out the mat for 15-20 mins to do a few sun salutations before you start your day – this will have a profound effect on your day. Some people find it more conducive in their bodies to practice in the morning before they start their days, while others prefer to practice in the evenings when the body is less stiff. There is no fixed formula, it is really about connecting with your body and listening to what your body needs. If for some reason you’re too busy for a few days to even roll the mat out for a short practice at home, then we recommend that you at least stick to your daily meditations.

2. Meditate daily – at least 5 mins in the morning and 5 minutes at night. Use a simple method of following the flow of breath in and out, not trying to block out or stop thoughts but simply noticing them as they arise and letting them go. 

3. Keep your mind focused on the present moment.  Stress is a projection of the mind of what may be in the future, we go through what-ifs in the mind and identify with thoughts of what hasn’t happened yet. Stay on task and keep the mind focused on the very thing you’re doing in this moment, to every fine detail of this moment, live each moment fully in the now and here, and stress will not have a place to exist.

NOTE FROM SASHA:  All photos used with kind permission from HPY’s facebook page.  HPY offers free taster classes for newbies – please say you read about it on The Happiness Project London.  And let me know how you get on!

The Perfect Sunday – Brockwell Park, The Lido Cafe and Piaf

1. Get out of bed slowly, cook some eggs, shower, buy the papers, walk to Brockwell park.  Take a nurofen, ahem.

2.  Walk past tennis courts.  Admire view of the City and say something about how lovely London is in the sun.  Decide to play more tennis this year.  Remember how you said that last year too.  Oops.

3.  Walk to Brockwell Hall and trip over several small people.  Smile because its a lovely crisp sunny day and the self-inflicted cobwebs are slowly dispersing. 

4.  Admire view of Battersea Power station, London Eye and similar. 

5.  Go to Brockwell Lido.  Decide that you’ll definitely go swimming there this summer when its hot.  Remember you said that last year too.  Oops.  Go to The Lido Cafe* and order a coffee.  Pick up leaflet and consider going back for £7 deal for burger, chips and a beer.  Mmmmmmmm burgers…

6.  Walk back past The Prince Regent and take a better picture of the cool “ghost” advert for furniture.

7.  Head to Dulwich Village. Get a table at Piaf.  Roast lamb, gravy, roast potatoes, yorkshire pudding and vegetables.  Glass of red.  Perfect.

* The Lido Cafe does a burger, chips and beer for £7 on Wednesdays.  On Thursdays from 8pm there are various events including music from Franks Casket and the Fruitful Earth on 11 March, comedy from The Late Night Gimp Fight and Friends on 18 March, and a flamenco show with Flamenco Olivar on 25 March.

Nando’s Bike Club

Why did the chicken cross the road?
Because he belonged to the NBC.

Created by my friend Max, the NBC combines two very serious pastimes – cycling in and around London; and eating in Nandos.  With 78 members so far, the NBC is a way to join like-minded people on cycling trips along scenic routes, trying to incorporate higbrow cultural and educational enlightenment, and peri peri chicken, on the way. 

I’ll leave the full description to the NBC (emphasis and photos added):

“The Nando’s Bike Club is an elite and extremely serious members club.

We were established in 2004 with the worthy aim of uniting people, cycles and Nando’s restaurants. The NBC travels to many destinations, always eating at a Nando’s along the way and ideally stopping by a place of interest to learn something. Ultimately, our mission is to nourish stomachs, muscles and minds.

Only the trip leader will know our route or destination so the rest of the coup has developed a unique blend of faith and courage making us a force to be reckoned with – chickens we are not.

Previous locations have included Richmond Park, Hatfield, High Wycombe, Harlow, Harrow, Hornchurch, Enfield, Ealing Common^, Kingston on Thames, Kentish Town [just a quick stop – nothing ordered], Greenwich, Uxbridge, Epsom, Staines, Stroud Green [our official HQ]. St. Albans, Lea Valley*, Malden, Merton, Orpington, Bluewater, Bromley, Bushey*, Beckton and Barnes. Although trips are based around London, we also plan more adventurous overnight outings – Cambridge, Chatham, Canterbury, Crawley, Colchester, Maidstone, Tonbridge*, Oxford, Poole, Epping Forest*, Brighton, Basingstoke and Sheerness (Isle of Sheppey)* have all been roasted. We put our money where our beaks are; on the Brighton Run, we managed to consume an unprecedented two Nando’s in one day [FYI: Crawley and Brighton]. Have a look at our photos before you decide whether you are willing to commit to such an noble organisation.

Your formal acceptance into the Club (transforming you from Fledgling to Chick) will be subject to you planning – and leading – an appropriate route for the meeting. Please take care to utilise less travelled, more scenic routes where appropriate, avoiding dirt tracks (out of consideration for our road bike users).

It goes without saying that Nando’s should be the ultimate focus of your route. Our members do like to learn as they cycle, so any educational slant you can bring would be appreciated.

In addition, the ability to create chicken and bicycle-related puns is a bonus.

*Unfortunately there was no Nando’s at this destination – Nando’s was therefore consumed at another location along the way
^Alas, we arrived to early so this historic Nando’s (first in the UK!) wasn’t yet open for poultry consumption.”

So, if you’re into cycling and chicken, the NBC  – “Burning Rubber and Poultry“ –  might be your best bet.  They even met Eric Parker, Nando’s co-founder:

Check out the Facebook group for more information, details of the latest trips, and photos, contact the Roosters and join the next trip!

Creation Dance, Urban Groovz, London/Edinburgh/Oxford

I LOVE hip hop and street dance – really good beats and great way to exercise.  I’ve been to Pineapple dance studios in Covent Garden which looked like it had great classes, but I ended up going for Urban Groovz, a street dance class by Creation Dance (http://www.creationdance.co.uk/) which took place near my flat in Clapham North arts studios.  The teacher gave us a new dance routine each week which we practiced and then danced to with a hip hop dance track.  Some of the moves were great (and widely copied after a few too many glasses of vino at the weekend) and it felt good to nail some of the routines, but one problem was that as it was quite complicated, there was a lot of stopping and starting, which meant that I didnt really work up a sweat enough.  Next, I  want to try ballet at the Clapham Manor Centre and another hip hop class at Pineapple Studios.

In the meantime, The Herbaliser are doing a set at Plan B in Brixton on Friday 4 December – I’m definitely planning to go along.

Yoga class – Hot Power Yoga, Clapham North

As a busy person who worries about everything, always, I really like this class. 

I’ve tried ashtanga which was great but a little dull, and I’ve tried Bikram in a 40 degree room full of sweaty groaning people and almost died.  This is a nice mix of both. 

Hot Power Yoga is athletic yoga in a warm room around 30 degrees so you relax in the heat, sweat a little and your muscles get pretty flexible (but you don’t come out pale and gasping as I did in Bikram, shudder…).  The class is also really small with between 4 and 8 other people in it (update: it isn’t now – there’s about 40 people there!) , so it feels intimate – you get to know the others there and the teacher knows your name. 

I go to the gym so I like a good workout and physically, it’s tough enough that you sweat and your muscles hurt, and you should check out the shoulder muscles on the people that go regularly, wow! It also makes me so much more flexible and supple. However, its not just about getting a good body (although I’d like this too please).  They have a holistic approach – much of the teaching revolves around you leaving your worries and your busy day at the door, and spending your practice concentrating on YOU.  It makes me forget my latest to do list and worries, and for that one hour I don’t think about anything else other than how my body feels – which I find is a great stress relief. 

There’s also enough “hippie” vibes to keep me happy – a few ohms, Indian chanting and incence, and sometimes the teachers will read inspiring words to you while you practice.  Stretching out while your teacher reads from Kahlil Gibran – what’s not to love?

UPDATE:  Hot Power Yoga is doing free taster passes for newbies – check out their website above and call first to book in.  Make sure you mention that you read about them on the HPL blog.

UPDATE 2 April 2011: Photos from the HPY facebook page. Just went to my first yoga class in a month and it always impresses me how relaxed it makes me. Its 1.5 hours a week devoted entirely to yourself and your body, and the practice is complicated enough that it empties my mind for the only time of the week. I was also impressed with the feeling of community they’ve got going – the energy in the class, the retreats and socialness of it all. If you’re looking for a yoga class in SW London then its highly recommended.