Yoga is more than just a great way to exercise; it has become a huge part of my daily life. That is not to say that spend my days meditating and contemplating the meaning of existence (who has the time for that??!!). I am a full-time working mum with a busy life (and I also happen to enjoy wine, coffee & chocolate!), and yoga is a key part of my life that enables me to get by with a bit more of a balance, calm, a focused mind (most of the time) and of course a healthy body. Yoga makes everything possible. I grew up in a sunny part of Australia where the beach was a way of life and when I left for London 16 years ago I didn't anticipate becoming a Londoner and yet...I am still here, living and working in this wonderful city, with a family, a career and teaching yoga!
Yoga was always something I was drawn to as a teenager but it wasn't until I came to London that I started taking it more seriously. I started taking classes and developed a regular practice, but wasn't until I became pregnant with my first daughter that things really shifted and yoga became something more for me. Not only did it prepare me for labour, both physically and mentally, it also connected me with a group if like-minded local women who become my friends throughout this life-altering journey of parenthood. The post-natal yoga classes with my baby became a crucial lifeline and a highlight of my week whilst I was on my first maternity leave, and even when my baby was older, I still took her along to the mum and toddler yoga groups. It was very natural for all of us and a great way to get my body back into shape whilst staying connected with my baby and maintaining crucial social interactions.
I then continued with the whole cycle again with my second daughter; the pre & post-natal yoga classes plus my go-to pregnancy yoga DVD’s, and I still go to classes with my toddler now...BUT...the whole point in this story is, that whilst I continued working and doing all the things a mum and a wife and a friend and a daughter etc has to do in life...YOGA was (is), MY TIME, JUST FOR ME. My family fully support my yoga and they get all know that when I roll out my mat, whether it's just to do a few sun salutes or to do a full session, it is my time to connect, breathe, centre myself, stretch and become whole again. I have found over the years that the more hectic my life becomes, the more yoga I do. Now I can't imagine a day going by without some time (even if it's just 15mins before I go to bed) on my mat. It keeps me fit. It centres me. It gives me clarity and helps me to be a great mum, a great wife, a better person all round.
After falling more and more in love with yoga gradually over the years, I feel like I have come home. When I decided to do my yoga teacher training last year it felt completely right. It was tough but I loved it. Yoga is so much more that what most people see and do on the mat. It is a way of life, it is a philosophy, it is a science and to some a religion. I adored the philosophical studies and the more I read (and continue to read) about the history and life teachings of yoga, the more I love it. Like millions of people across the globe, I am completely hooked on yoga and love the fact that it is a lifelong journey of discovery. It is so multi-layered that I know I will forever be the student and I adore that about yoga, you can never know everything as there is so so much more to learn. We will always be students. So without getting too deep here, yoga is awesome, and like so many teachers it has become such a huge part of me that I just want to share it with as many people as I can. Hence the reason I became a teacher and am loving every minute of it. The juggling act is hard sometimes but so worth it when I see the smiles on my students faces after a class. I just wish that everyone could experience the feeling that yoga can give you - both for your body and for your mind.
So that gives you a little bit of insight into my 'yoga' life and I look forward to continuing this journey with you. If it hasn't already, a regular yoga practice will change your life (for the better), I guarantee it.
Namaste
Kate
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