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Practising at Home: Seven Weeks of Returning to the Roots

Woman practising a yoga balance pose on a green mat outdoors, surrounded by trees and greenery at a home in Kerala

A quiet morning yoga practice at home in Kerala, surrounded by nature.

Over the past seven weeks, I’ve been back in Kerala, staying at my parents’ home — a place that carries the quiet rhythms of childhood, family, and nature.

Practising yoga here feels different. The ground beneath the mat is uneven, the air is alive with birds and rustling leaves, and time moves a little more slowly. There’s no studio polish — just breath, movement, and presence.

This simple rooftop practice became a daily reminder that yoga doesn’t need perfect conditions. It asks only for attention, patience, and an openness to meet ourselves where we are. Being here has gently deepened my relationship with practice — not as something to perform, but as something to return to.

Sometimes, the most meaningful practice happens at home — in familiar spaces, surrounded by green, guided by breath.

This time at home has been a quiet teacher. If you’re looking to reconnect with your own practice — wherever you are — I’d love to support you through classes and mindful movement.

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Temple Stillness & a Nourishing South Indian Thali

Traditional South Indian vegetarian thali served on a banana leaf with white rice, sambar, rasam, dal, vegetable dishes, pickles, papad, and payasam in small metal bowls.
A traditional South Indian vegetarian thali served on a fresh banana leaf at Chithra Restaurant.

My visit to the Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple in Thiruvattar felt like stepping into history — the mossy stone steps, intricate wooden detailing, and calm surroundings gave the space a timeless presence.

After the darshan, my brother, sister, and I headed to Chithra Restaurant for a classic South Indian vegetarian thali. Served on a fresh banana leaf, the meal included comforting sambar, rasam, dal, avial, poriyal, pickles, crunchy papad, and a little payasam to finish.

It was a warm, homely meal — simple, nourishing, and grounding — the perfect way to complete a day rooted in devotion, connection, and quiet joy.

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Celebrating Onam with a Traditional Sadya at Chill at Chillies

Smitha enjoying a traditional 23-dish Onam sadya thali at Chill at Chillies, a Kerala restaurant.

A joyful Onam celebration in early September with a 23-dish sadya thali at Chill at Chillies.

In early September, my heart felt so full — and not just from the food! 💛

I had the joy of celebrating Onam, Kerala’s harvest festival, with a traditional sadya thali at a wonderful local restaurant called Chill at Chillies. It’s on the Hatfield road, in St Albans.

Served on a banana leaf, this thali had 23 different items, each one prepared with so much care and flavor. From comforting curries and crunchy pickles to payasam for sweetness at the end, every bite reminded me of home and tradition.

For me, festivals like Onam are not only about the food but also about connection, gratitude, and abundance. The sadya is such a beautiful symbol of togetherness, sharing, and the joy of community.

It was so special to pause and honor this celebration — and of course, to savor every dish with a big smile! 🌿

✨ Happy Onam to all who celebrated. May this season bring you joy, prosperity, and peace.

With love and gratitude,

Smitha

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Bettina Finding Balance and Renewal with Plow Pose (Halasana)

Yoga student Bettina practicing Plow Pose (Halasana) during a restorative yoga session in welwyn garden city.

Bettina demonstrating Plow Pose (Halasana), a posture that rejuvenates the spine and calms the mind.

At Smitha Yoga, we believe yoga is not just about movement — it’s about creating space for balance, renewal, and presence.

In this photo, our dear friend and practitioner Bettina is demonstrating Halasana, also known as Plow Pose. This posture is deeply restorative, helping to:

✨ Stretch and lengthen the spine

✨ Relieve tension in the shoulders and back

✨ Calm the nervous system and quiet the mind

✨ Stimulate circulation and digestion

When practiced mindfully, Halasana encourages us to look inward, cultivating stillness and grounding.

🧘 “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.”

Our classes are designed for every body — whether you’re just beginning or looking to deepen your practice. We invite you to join us in discovering the power of mindful movement and breath.

Come roll out your mat with us.

🙏 Book a Class Today

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Practicing in Kerala – A Return to My Roots

Rooted in Tradition, Growing with Yoga

Smitha practicing an advanced seated yoga pose outdoors on a purple mat at her family home in Kerala, India.

Each winter, I return to my parents’ home in Kerala, India — a place filled with peace, tradition, and the natural beauty that first inspired my yoga journey. Surrounded by greenery and quiet, I reconnect with the roots of yoga and the rhythms of daily practice.

This photo captures a moment of joy and presence on the mat, reminding me that yoga is not just about the poses — it’s about grounding ourselves, wherever we are.

At Smitha Yoga in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, I bring this spirit of connection and tradition into every class I teach. Whether in Kerala or here in Hertfordshire, yoga is my way of sharing calm, strength, and community.

Join me this season at Smitha Yoga, and discover how yoga can connect you to your body, your breath, and your roots.

Smitha 🙏

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Using Props to Deepen Your Yoga Practice

A yoga student practicing a supported Forward Fold using a chair during class at Smitha Yoga in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire.

In yoga, props are not just for beginners—they are powerful tools to help us explore poses safely and mindfully. Here, Pat demonstrates Uttanasana (Standing Forward Fold) using a chair for support.

The chair provides stability, eases tension in the hamstrings and back, and allows the spine to lengthen with greater awareness. This gentle variation makes the pose accessible for everyone, regardless of flexibility or experience.

At my studio, i believe in meeting each student where they are. With mindful guidance and creative use of props, every posture can be adapted to support your unique body and journey.

Smitha. 🙏

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Evening Balance in Kerala

Smitha holding Warrior III pose at sunset in Trivandrum, Kerala, barefoot on red sand tiles, with palm trees and still water in the background.

This photo was taken in Trivandrum, Kerala, just before sunset during the Christmas period last year.

It was one of those quiet, golden evenings — the kind you only get near the water in South India. The warm breeze, the smell of salt in the air, the silhouettes of the palm trees… I remember feeling still and open, like the horizon itself.

I stepped onto the tiles by the beach and moved into Warrior III (Virabhadrasana III) — a balancing posture that always reminds me to stay both strong and soft. My foot grounding down into the earth, my heart reaching forward, and the sky holding it all.

This moment wasn’t planned. I didn’t set up a mat or think about alignment too much. I just moved — naturally, without instruction, without goal. It reminded me why I started practising yoga in the first place: not for performance, but for connection.

And this is something I try to bring into all my classes — the idea that yoga is not about achieving shapes. It’s about finding ourselves within them.

I’m so grateful for these small, unfiltered moments. They stay with me long after the sun sets.

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Van, Canal, Paratha: Practising Presence Outdoors

My VW camper van parked beside the Berkhamsted canal, with a little table set for lunch and narrowboats moored quietly on the opposite bank.

Last Sunday, we parked up by the canal in Berkhamsted with our VW camper, looking for a gentle day to unwind and reconnect. I had made aloo paratha that morning using potatoes I’d harvested from my allotment — there’s something so special about cooking with food you’ve grown yourself.

We gently reheated them in the van and enjoyed them with yoghurt and pickle, sitting quietly by the water’s edge. A simple, nourishing meal, made even more meaningful by the calm surroundings and the effort that went into growing and preparing it.

After lunch, we took a slow walk along the canal towpath. The water was still, the narrowboats moved silently, and the trees hung over the path like they were reminding us to pause.

It’s in moments like this that I’m reminded yoga isn’t just movement on the mat — it’s how we choose to live. To grow our own food, to cook mindfully, to eat slowly, to walk without rushing. It’s all part of the same practice.

I’ll be sharing the recipe for the allotment aloo paratha in a future post, so keep an eye out if you’d like to bring a little bit of that Sunday peace into your own kitchen.

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Georgina’s Next Chapter: From Crow Pose to Courage

A woman in Crow Pose balancing on a yoga mat, using a soft Pilates ball between her feet for core activation, in a bright yellow yoga studio.


Georgina practicing Crow Pose with the aid of a Pilates ball for focused muscle engagement before heading off on her world travels.

This is Georgina, one of my long-time students — she’s been coming to yoga with me for over five years now. We’ve shared many classes, many laughs, and a steady journey of growth on and off the mat.

In this photo, she’s working on Crow Pose (Bakasana), with a soft Pilates ball placed between her feet. It’s a technique I sometimes use to help students engage the right muscles — it encourages active lift through the core, legs, and inner thighs, rather than collapsing into the arms.

We also played with Side Crow, using the same principle.

These moments felt extra special, because Georgina is about to set off on an exciting new adventure: she’s leaving her corporate 9–5 job to travel the world. She told me that yoga played a big part in giving her the courage to make that leap — a reminder that yoga is not just a physical practice, but a source of deep clarity and confidence.

Although I’ll miss seeing her each week, I couldn’t be happier for her. We’ve already made loose plans to meet in Kerala while I’m visiting family — a full-circle moment if ever there was one.

✨ New Wednesday Slot Available

With Georgina heading off, I now have a regular Wednesday evening space available. If you’ve been waiting for a slot or thinking of returning to practice, this could be the perfect time. Just get in touch.

With love and deep gratitude,

Smitha x

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From Plot to Pickle: Growing Mooli on the Allotment

Woman holding fresh purple Indian vegetable (mollie) in allotment garden, with jar of homemade pickle on table.

This spring I’ve been growing mooli, a type of radish that’s used often in Asian cooking, it’s been thriving — and I’m so pleased with the results!

Harvesting it felt like such a quiet joy, and as soon as I picked a few, I knew I wanted to turn them into something special. So I made a small batch of spicy homemade pickle — something I grew up eating, and still love deeply.

For me, this whole process feels like an extension of yoga — tending to something with patience, connecting with the seasons, and using my hands with intention. Just like time on the mat, growing and preparing food can be a moving meditation.

I’ll be posting the full recipe for the pickle soon, so check back if you’re curious to try it yourself 🌿

With love, Smitha