How I found Yoga and why I love teaching beginners

I sometimes wonder what my life would look like now if a colleague hadn’t gifted me a month’s subscription to an online yoga studio. At the time, I was working in an office job that was doing very little for me. My lower back was constantly complaining from sitting at a desk, but it wasn’t just my body that was struggling. I felt increasingly disconnected from the work I was doing and my life and mood outside of the office was taking a bit of a battering too.

A colleague recommended that I try yoga to help and she even gave me a month’s free subscription to the online platform that she used. I wasn’t particularly bendy and I certainly didn’t know much about yoga beyond that there were physical poses.

But then I rolled out my mat and started following along with those first few classes… and I was hooked.

More than just stretching

I just fell in love. I would literally jump out of bed in the morning, excited to go downstairs and roll out my mat. What started as a way to move my body quickly became something I wanted to understand more deeply. I loved learning the poses – figuring out what worked for my body, discovering where I was strong and where I was definitely not as strong as I thought I was!

But the more I practised, the more curious I became about everything that sits beyond the physical practice. I started learning about the philosophy of yoga and reading about its vast and varied history. I discovered that what we often think of as yoga,  or the physical practice of asana we do on a mat, is just one part of a much bigger tradition.

And I loved that there was always something else to learn! Even now, several years later, I still feel like I’m scratching the surface.

Then I started noticing the changes

My back started to feel better. The achiness at the end of a long day started to ease. I became stronger and my flexibility and mobility noticeably improved.

And the mental changes! The quietness I would experience during my practice – it completely switched off all the noise and chatter. I began to notice how I felt after practising, too – a little bit calmer, more grounded and present, and a bit less snappy!

So, I became a teacher

I actually had no intention of actually being a yoga teacher – I couldn’t imagine myself doing that! I just wanted to learn more about yoga philosophy and maybe get a little bit more confident standing up in front of people and talking for my office job. But, I just loved teaching.

One of my favourite things now is that I get to watch people discover yoga for themselves – I remember being that person at the beginning. The excitement and pleasure of finally finding a practice that helped me.

So, if you’ve been thinking about trying yoga…

This is exactly why I’ve created my 6-week beginners course. It’s for anyone who is curious about yoga but perhaps feels a little nervous about walking into a regular class.

Over six weeks, we’ll explore the foundations of yoga in a friendly, supportive environment. We’ll learn the physical poses, explore breathing and relaxation, build strength and mobility, and start to discover some of the ideas and philosophy behind the practice.

The lovely thing I’ve seen from previous beginners’ courses is that many of those students have gone on to become regular students, continuing their yoga journey with me long after their six weeks have finished. It’s so wonderful because, while six weeks is a course, it can also be the beginning of something much bigger.

It certainly was for me!

6-week Yoga for Beginners Course
Starts Monday 21 September
Eastthorpe Hall, Mirfield
£60

Book your place