My Yoga Journey

As I grew older my surroundings, influences, family life and interests moved away from Ballet & Yoga.  I became a teenager, and my interests grew towards harmful endeavours, my mind and body shrinking my soul and living life ruled by ego; I was on self-destruct instead of self-discovery.

In yoga I had discovered the sun that lit up my life, that made me feel connected to my true self, but I was growing up, a huge part of me thought or I was quickly learning that the real world was tough, mean and happiness was a delusion.  Escaping from reality at any and every given chance was my coping mechanism to navigating through life’s ups & downs.

Into my mid 20’s and I had hit rock bottom, I turned to my grandmother for help, and she urged me to go back to Yoga (she practiced yoga everyday well into her 90’s, she always said it was the reason for her health and long life).   She gave me an old Yoga book with the basic asanas, I started practicing my own little routine & my body & mind became stronger again.  I was shocked at how much I had remembered and how my body instinctively knew how to move from one asana to the next.

Many more years went by and every time I had any kind of stresses or worries my grandmother would guide me back to my yoga practice. Surely enough each time I did practice, Yoga was there like and old friend to hold my hand and guide me back to the sun and the light.

Over the years I attended some in person classes, tried DVD’s and then eventually online Yoga (YouTube) etc, each time dropping in & out, never fully committing to a daily practice or routine.

Spring 2020 I am now 44 years old – Covid-19 hit the UK & we went into full lockdown, my physical and mental health took a massive nosedive, I spiralled down into a dark deep hole, gaining weight, drinking too much alcohol, feeling alone, depressed and lost.  I was unhappy in my relationship, and I was unhappy with myself and my life.  I changed my job, left my relationship and moved house all in a couple of months; in the attempt to gain happiness.  The temporary ‘happiness’ came but it wasn’t full capacity, I felt something was still missing.  I was still looking at the outside influences in my life not the inside (I still did not understand how to work on myself…. Not fully and not yet)!

I dug deep, took the time to understand and learn about myself, who I was and what I wanted.  I took steps to become healthier, eating better, drinking less, going out into the mountains & connecting with nature.  I started to practice yoga every morning, just 10 to 15 mins at first building up to 60 mins, feeling/craving more.

Yoga became my focus, I could feel myself becoming younger, I was reversing the years, my health improved massively, I was more confident, I lost 2 ½ stone in weight I walked taller with more energy, purpose and meaning. The benefits I felt physically and mentally blew me away, I was on the very first few miles of my path but didn’t fully realise it just yet.

I attended a local Yoga class, and the teacher was wonderful, her class felt fresh, energetic and welcoming. I felt like I finally belonged, I was doing what was meant for me.

That night when I got home, I made the decision I wanted/needed to be a Yoga teacher, that was where my path was guiding me. I looked online for local Yoga schools, but I had work commitments and couldn’t take the time off to attend a school fulltime.  I came across Kashish Yoga School in India & their class schedule was all online.  Also, more importantly I could pay instalments for my course fees.

I sent them a message straight away and enrolled on their 200hrs YTTC a few days later, I started in August 2021 and graduated in November 2021.  My time learning with Kashish has been amazing, I felt a huge shift in my life, my outlook, my confidence, I fell in love with myself, my body, my mind and found my soul reach out to me and thank me for the gifts and doors I was now opening.