“Since attending my first class aged 18, I have always come back to yoga. Amidst studying and living abroad, amidst crazy jobs and London lifestyle, amidst grief and loss, amidst heady new love and the ensuing heartbreak, amidst adventures to far flung destinations and returning back home: Yoga.”
Making the shift from my “normal” life in London – good job, supportive friends and family – was a big step. Not long after my 30th birthday, whilst sitting in an interview for a trendy London ad agency I was asked the question “Where do you see yourself in 5 years time?” The immediate thought that popped into my head was:
“ON A BEACH TEACHING YOGA”.
Ah. Having rushed around like a mad thing in the vibrancy of London for 10 years I was feeling distinctly stuck in the mud and uninspired. It was time to make a change. Not to run away from, but to run towards.
I wanted to live fully. To breathe. To feel. To experience my emotions. To challenge myself outside of the box.
I’m a Virgo…
So I’m not going to pretend that any of this was spontaneous. There was much decision making, planning and organising before April 2016 when I finally found myself boarding a plane bound for the hot, steamy and abundant nature of Costa Rica to complete my first yoga teacher training.
It was an awe inspiring and humbling experience. With both my spirit and my curly hair set free from several weighty layers of shackles, I headed to Europe. Or more precisely, the small surf town of:
Ericeira, on the rugged coast of Portugal.
Here I stumbled upon the wonderful oasis of Casa Paço D’Ilhas Guesthouse: the people, idealism, and spirit of living a true inspiration to the new life I was hoping to create for myself.
I began teaching, teaching teaching. Everyday for the next 6 months, then falling into a routine after that. Acknowledging that a “one size fits all” practice is in no way relevant to yoga, I love adapting my classes to different abilities, helping students to enjoy the physical and spiritual effects of yoga at each stage of their own practice, whether they can do a handstand in their sleep or haven’t touched their toes in years.
I carry my very dog eared copy of B.K.S. Iyengar’s Light on Life with me wherever I go. I am inspired by his guidance on how to live a yogic life within regular society, rather than as a hermit in a cave. Bringing yogic philosophy to embrace the daily challenges we face and 100% accepting that we are human, and that sometimes life seems VERY HARD!
Since landing in Portugal, trips to mother India and Sri Lanka have led me further into my own yogic journey, helping me to surpass my ego and teaching me a thing or two along the way.
And of course I can’t forget… SURF!
Am I waiting for Roxy to call with a sponsorship deal? No. Do I love every moment of being in the ocean from thunderous wipeouts to dancing on clean, perfect azure waves? YES.
Being close to nature, inviting the mind to focus on one task, and the ethereal bliss of a sunset surf are all things I can relate back to yogic philosophy. Learning to surf is a long game, a test of patience and ego with one of the greatest feelings of success when it all goes to plan. Can you see why I like it?
On paper…
- Yoga Alliance Certified 200hr YTT with Ella Luckett, Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica (2016)
- CHhA UK Certified Ayurvedic Yoga Massage Institute Diploma Training with James Winstanley, Goa, India (2017)
- Weekend workshop of yoga, pranyama and the myth of Ganesha with Todd Tesen, Lisbon, Portugal (2018)
- Prenatal Yoga teacher training with Sandra Varas, Lisbon, Portugal (2019)
- Bachelor of Arts in French & Classical Studies, University of Exeter, UK (2006)
An overwhelming THANK YOU to all of my teachers…
Elizabeth Peck; Joyce McMiken; Leone Roberts; Ella Luckett; Nicole Hudson; Todd Tesen; Lisa Andersson Rhodiner, Nazareno Grisolia, Lisanne Eshuis; James Winstanley; Sandra Varas.