I’m delighted to announce that I’ve added yet another string to my healthy lifestyle bow by qualifying as a Yoga instructor.
Back in February, I embarked on a four-week long course at the world-renowned Lotus Oasis on Patnem Beach in South Goa, finished off with a 10-day holiday there with my husband – and thankfully getting home before lockdown began!
Having practised Yoga for some time, and after attending a Lotus Oasis retreat two years previously, I found that it helped significantly with easing the pain of my Rheumatoid Arthritis. I realised Yoga isn’t just for ‘bendy bananas’ and that everyone can benefit from it in some way, so I wanted to be able to help people, especially with movement and mobility issues like myself.
There was no question about where I would take the training – India is where Yoga originated over 5,000 years ago and the place where you can really understand the soul and spirituality of it. For me, this was just as important as learning about the physical side.
It was a gruelling schedule, starting at 6.30am with meditation and Pranayama breathing techniques, followed by a two-hour Yoga session, anatomy and philosophy classes, the art of teaching and then finishing off with another two-hour yoga before dinner at 7pm.
Compared to attending classes, you really get to understand how the mind and body works and the proper way to perfect poses (known as asanas). Even for someone like me, who isn’t naturally flexible, knowing the right way to do something has so many more benefits. It will take years to perfect, but I have the spirit and want to achieve that level of perfection!
I’m now qualified to teach Pranayama, Hatha, Vinyassa and Ashtanga Yoga and have already started providing 1-2-1 Zoom sessions. As the lockdown eases, I will be hosting classes especially for cyclists and people with mobility issues and looking at securing a venue for more regular sessions – I will keep you posted!
As for my own ongoing Yoga development, I’m aiming to go on a further meditation course in London later this year and take another online Pranayama course before completing the more advanced 300 hours teacher training.