The Unabridged Story

Without yoga, qigong, and meditation. I am not too sure where I'd even be, or who I’d be, right now; eternally grateful to all the family, friends, and teachers who supported this journey and showed me ‘the way’. Pulling me out of dark times to find my own path.

The first time I came to yoga, I was 15 years old. I attended an Iyengar class with my mum at our local village hall. And I have to say, I struggled! Up until this point, I was in all the after-school clubs, playing tennis, swimming, music, theatre, and dance. All around athletic and a busy social life. But who knew I was stiff as a board, and I couldn’t even touch my toes. Plus, if you didn’t know, in Iyengar, you hold each pose for a total of forever. As an overactive teenager, it wreaked havoc on my mind, and something changed; the precise movement, the weaving in of philosophy, it sparked my curiosity.

At the time, there wasn’t a boutique studio on every corner, and the Iyengar yoga class clashed with my other hobbies and social time. Plus, it was my mum’s time to escape from the rest of us. So I began practicing online. My aunt gave me her login details to Yoga Glo (shh, don’t tell them). Little did I know, I started practicing with some of the most amazing internationally recognised teachers from the comfort of my own home. Picking up a daily practice, and it soon became a ritual. Over the years, I’ve racked up over 1,000 classes on the glo. And that wasn’t the only place I was consuming online yoga content. Obsessive personality? No….

Yoga helped me navigate my early 20s. It was always remarked upon how clear, ‘zen’, and mature I was. And I put this all down to my practice of yoga and meditation. Working in the mean world of retail and fashion was not for the faint of heart.

Once I moved out of my familial home and into London, I ventured to every studio and gym, discovering the plethora of amazing teachers we have here.

It was at Triyoga that I met James Rafael, who brought Qigong into my world and a second huge change in my practice. I was a hand balancing machine, practicing rocket and ashtanga every day until it was fully havoc on my weak hamstrings and wrists. Hamstring tendinopathy (yogi bum) and carpal tunnel. I needed something else to support me while I rested, and Qigong did just that and more.

Lockdown happened, and I was thrown back to practicing exclusively online and at home. It was then that I decided to join a teacher training at my favourite studio, Triyoga, with the amazing teachers Erika Tourrell and Lisa Sanfalipo. Although incredibly challenging alongisde navigating covid, work, teacher training. We all know how isolating this time was. We got through the haze and I was suddenly a qualified teacher.

I practiced teaching with friends and family, honestly I think it was pretty bad. I am not a natural public speaker and lean towards the shy and quiet side. But it didn’t take long to break out and realise my love and passion for sharing a practice that has been so life changing for me, with others.

Starting with an online class on Friday mornings, followed by a community class at Carnegie Library, and local art & yoga workshops with my good friend Alice.

It took me a good for years, a lot of graft and connections to start working with some amazing studios and gyms. Not forgetting about how aerial brought out the fun and strength aspect in my life.

The story continues but now teaching is my life and I wouldn’t change a thing. The people I’ve met, the experiences I’ve had have been life changing and I couldn’t have asked for more.