I have been dipping in and out of Yoga for about 20 years, trying different styles, teachers and venues and fitting it in with working life. It’s only in the last few years where I have really delved deeper into my understanding of Yoga. Yoga is so much more than a form of exercise, it’s a mindset, a way of life and can be so beneficial in helping to relieve stress, tension and forms of depression.
At the start of April 2020, when the UK was plunged into lockdown due to the Covid 19 pandemic, I found myself practicing Yoga every day. I was lucky enough to have amazing teachers, Vicky Richings and Sara Wellham who carried on teaching Yoga on Zoom so that us students could practice from home. In between these ‘live’ online classes I also started to work on my own home practice and that is where my journey properly began.
I was working full time in the corporate world as a buyer for a television shopping channel but not really feeling fulfilled. I felt myself tied to a desk in my spare room for up to 10 hours a day and I was feeling suffocated. I wanted to step away from corporate life and focus on something that I loved and to share my knowledge of Yoga with others. During the pandemic, I looked into ways of studying to become a Yoga teacher that allowed me to be flexible with my studies whilst working full time as I couldn’t afford to give up work at this point. After researching many courses knowing that I wouldn’t be able to study in person, I found the BSY Level 4 Hatha Yoga Teacher course, which was all online.
The syllabus sounded perfect, you could study at your own pace, submitting your essays as and when you were able to, within a 1-2 year period. I jumped at the chance and made sure that I worked hard in the evenings after work ensuring that I submitted one essay a week. I had to submit 9 assignments and a final assignment based on everything I had learned so far. I also had to write and teach a 45-minute Yoga class, where my Yoga teacher and mentor Sara Wellham was able to assess and sign me off. I passed the course with a Distinction and have never felt prouder, all that hard work and long hours had paid off!
This was in February 2022, 10 months after I took the plunge and enrolled on the course. I was made redundant that same month and took the opportunity to just get on and teach! I found the perfect venue, a Parish Hall close to where I live, built a website www.breatheyoga.me and started to promote my classes. I also got in touch with some local gyms and yoga studios who have offered me permanent classes every week. I have been so lucky to have been given these opportunities and I absolutely love teaching, seeing the happy faces on the mat each week turning up to my classes and giving me such lovely feedback, I never knew how much of a success it would be.
I want to make Yoga accessible to everyone of all abilities and ages. I want to share this wonderful practice and help people to realise that Yoga isn’t just about flexibility, balance, and strength. The poses are one thing but there is so much more to Yoga.
Thank you for reading! Feel free to get in touch if you have any questions.
