Yoga ~ where it began....
I have been told a few times now that ‘yoga finds you,’ at the start of my journey I would never have imagined the influence yoga would play in my life at the time yoga found me, however, now, I completely ‘get it’ – yoga really does change your life.
Let me take you back to the first time I tried yoga ~ at the age of 23 I walked into yoga class, I was apprehensive, as I imagine most people are when trying something new, especially when everyone in that room appears to know what they are doing! I sat down on the yoga mat and for the next 20 minutes practised, what I now know is, alternate nostril breath.
At the time, I had no idea what I was doing and why I was doing it, I walked out of the class vowing never to ‘practice’ yoga again, jumped back on the trusty treadmill and pounded out the miles. Fast forward 13 years, yoga stepped into my life again, this time I believe yoga found me.
My Dad sadly passed away after a long battle with various illnesses, he was and is my hero, the kindest, softest, gentleman I have the pleasure to call my Dad. Anyone who has had to cope with grief knows no matter how inevitable the end is, when it comes you are never prepared, my world was torn apart.
I have a strong belief that there is no such thing as a coincidence and Helen Pull (my own magical yoga teacher) was brought into my life at this time to bring me yoga, to teach me how to cope with the grief, to live life to the full and to live life for the now. From my first lesson with Helen (which took a bit of convincing) I described yoga practice as my ‘reset button’. No matter how 'bad' my day was, no matter how I was feeling, yoga brought me back to me. I can honestly say, without yoga, my Earth Angel Helen and support from my beautiful family and friends, I am not sure how I would have got through this chapter of my life.
Naively, I initially thought that yoga was all about the postures, being able to do a headstand or balance on one arm, the first thing I learnt it was just as much if not more about the breath. I realise now it is so much more than both of these things, it is a way of life, something that touches your mind, body and soul!
Finding your passion is the best feeling in the world and I am so grateful that I have, knowing that this was it for me I knew I had to train to teach yoga, I embarked on my search to find the right yoga school.
A Google search brought me to Sam Rao Yoga Teacher Training School (again, no coincidence, this was the right man and the right course for me). When I applied to the school I was asked the question why I wanted to teach yoga, I responded that I want to give one person the pleasure that yoga has given to me ~ it feels incredible when I hear from students that I have done this.
Benefits to yoga are endless (you can find just a few if you click here) It does, absolutely, make the body stronger and more flexible but yoga also helps with mental wellbeing, to me, it is just as much as what happens off the mat as what happens on the mat. Any body can practice yoga and every person will find their own benefits to the practice.
I love to share my passion with others, whatever the reason you come to the mat, thank you for letting me be a part of your journey.
Namaste x