Bridget Luff, Yoga Alchemist- February Edition
Oh Bridget, she is this beautiful woman with magic spells inside her pockets and a big soft smile that softens your entire being right away. She knows the ways of the Priestess and her teachings come along so fresh and sincere, that they take your fear and embrace you completely. She had me the first class I practiced with her when she asked us in the class to introduce ourselves with a sound or a word that described how we were feeling... Wow! this simple act of magic, made some kind of spell and all the class came together and we were brought to a sacred place of truth, sincerity and acknowledgement. A beautiful collective act of embracing us all where we were at, in that particular instant. Gorgeous lovely witch you are, I feel I loved you since the very first instant we met. Maybe I was a witch in training for you in another parallel world?... Here Bridget, she invites us in her world for a bit:
1. Tell us 3 things about you?
- I lived in South Africa until I was 21 and have lived in Europe since (hence my accent).
- I used to be painfully shy as a child and teenager and now have a job where I have to speak in front of people all the time! We humans are funny that way huh?
- I am an eternal student and am always studying some new thing. My close friends tease me about it and roll their eyes up when I chatter on about whatever course I am on.
2. What is the best advice you have ever been given?
To do what I love in this life, and not just do what sounds good to others. My family have always encouraged me to follow my dreams and passions. I am very appreciative of this, and have made mistakes and gotten side-tracked but they have given me so much support to work out what I am doing in my life.
3. What is your favourite song?
Probably something by Nina Simone... depends on my mood... her music, voice and soul blasts through my heart.
4. Can you tell us a beautiful story about your life?
It's not really a story but a hazy and beautiful memory ... about 10 years ago my (now) husband David and I went on our first holiday together. We were theatre students and on a tight budget so we decided to drive to South of Spain and stay in a family house where we could stay for free. It was midsummer and there was a crazy heatwave in France and Spain. On the first day the aircon in the car broke. The next day the music system. But we kept on going in the heat, putting wet towels on our head and singing out loud, stopping next to rivers to rest, stealing apples and eating cheese on baguettes. It was very dream-like! We ended up wilting in the heat so we changed plans and went camping around the Basque country. We spent a few weeks driving around Spain, France and the UK camping in a child's tent, eating cous cous, and drinking red wine. Our tent was held together with gaffer tape (as were my shoes) but we didn't care, we were happy and in love. On the way home we bought so much cheap delicious wine in Rioja and Bordeaux that it weighed too much and burst one of the car tires!
I love traveling this way. Following the flow and being outside of your comfort zone helps you learn a lot about yourself ... and the person with you.
5. Share with us one of your favourite recipes
I love breakfast, it is my favourite meal of the day and I especially love Turkish breakfasts. I often make my own version of menemen - which is kind of like a messy omelette. And I actually eat this any time of day.
Pop a frying pan (preferably cast iron) on a medium heat and coat with some good olive oil. Add some freshly chopped up tomatoes and onions and cook 'til they are dead' (i.e. all mushy). Then add 2 eggs (per person) into the pan. Now what you want is for the eggs to be lightly scrambled, with the veg kind of mixed up in them. So stir a bit here and there til its all just cooked. At some stage sprinkle some feta cheese in and perhaps a few chilli flakes. Don't let the egg get all rubbery. You have to keep an eye on it and be pretty intuitive. If you stir too much or too little it doesn't work quite right, it has taken me a while to get the knack of it, and still the Turkish cafes in Stoke Newington do it way better.
Add salt and pepper as you please. Traditionally you can eat it out of the pan with some fresh Turkish bread. When I am cold and hungry it is what I crave. Add salt and pepper as you please. Traditionally you can eat it out of the pan with some fresh Turkish bread. When I am cold and hungry it is what I crave.
6. Share with us one of your favourite books and why?
Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami. I love all of Murakami's work but this is the first one I read. My husband lent it to me when we first met, and I fell head over heels in love. With the book, the author and the person who lent it to me.