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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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A Morning of Stillness at Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple

Stone entrance of Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple with detailed carvings, a sculpted deities panel above the doorway, and trees surrounding the structure

Today I visited the serene Sree Adikesava Perumal Temple — a place where quiet devotion and timeless craftsmanship meet.

The broad granite steps lead up to an inner sanctum framed by exquisitely carved wooden beams and painted panels, while moss-covered sculptures and a canopy of tall trees lend the site a gentle, contemplative hush.

Moving through the temple grounds felt like stepping back into a living story of faith, art, and nature — simple, soulful, and utterly unforgettable.

As someone who teaches and practices yoga, spaces like these remind me how naturally the body softens and the breath deepens when we stand in the presence of stillness. The temple’s silence feels like its own form of meditation — grounding, spacious, and quietly uplifting.

May your day carry a little of this calm too.

✨🕉️

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A Taste of Home: Sattvic Tender Coconut Pudding From Trivandrum

“Traditional tender coconut pudding topped with Panjamritham served on a banana leaf plate.”

A gentle, soul-soothing dessert made from fresh tender coconut, offering a naturally light and hydrating sweetness. Paired with Panjamritham — a traditional blend of honey, jaggery, dates, ghee, and banana — this pudding becomes a beautiful balance of nourishment and indulgence.

Soft, cooling pudding + warm, rich Panjamritham = a sattvic treat that feels comforting without being heavy.

I enjoyed this beautiful dessert at Azad Restaurant in Trivandrum, sharing a calm, happy moment with my family while visiting home. Sometimes, food isn’t just taste — it’s connection, nostalgia, and a little reminder of where we come from.

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Walking Through Autumn’s Colours to My Yoga Studio

A peaceful autumn garden with colourful leaves, flowers, and a small pond leading to Smitha’s yoga studio.

The garden path to my yoga studio, glowing with the colours of autumn. 🍂

Every morning, as I walk through our garden to my yoga studio, I pause for a moment to breathe it all in — the crisp air, the earthy scent of the leaves, and the soft golden light that autumn brings.

The garden feels especially alive at this time of year. The trees glow in shades of amber and crimson, the grasses sway gently in the breeze, and the last flowers of summer offer their quiet goodbyes. Even the little pond reflects the season’s calm — still, grounded, and full of quiet beauty.

Autumn always reminds me to slow down, to let go, and to trust the natural cycles of change. Just as the trees release their leaves, we too can release what we no longer need — in our practice, in our breath, and in our hearts.

As I step along the path to the studio, I feel immense gratitude — for this space, for the practice of yoga, and for everyone who shares it with me. 🍁

Wishing you a peaceful, grounding autumn. May this season invite you to move with softness, awareness, and gratitude.

With love,

Smitha


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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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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.