I started yoga 15 years ago when I lived in Stockholm, Sweden. More ‘enlightened’ people had been telling me for years, when I was a very busy and exhausted employee, “you must do yoga”. I (embarrassingly now) used to reply “it’s too slow for me” which of course is exactly why I absolutely needed to do it!

I must admit though, learning a new activity in a new language wasn’t easy. I often found myself a posture or two behind the rest of the class while my brain took the time to do the vocabulary translation. Luckily yoga is an easy ‘language’ to learn, as it’s fundamentally made up of 84 basic postures or asanas and a flow and pattern starts to emerge with each Teacher or regular class.

In 2009 I had the opportunity to spend another cold, dark winter in Sweden or spend 3 months in Byron Bay, Australia deepening my yoga practice and understanding of the philosophy. Yep, you guessed right! The sunshine and warmth won but I had underestimated (i.e. not read the small print!) on how physically challenging it was going to be. We were drilled in doing yoga up to 6 hours a day, 7 days a week alongside learning anatomy, meditation and breathing techniques for 10 weeks. Even as I write this now, I can’t believe I survived it!! I had never put my body through such an intense regime. And, as it often seems to happen, I was the oldest student on the training. Suffice to say, I came home to Stockholm as spring (the most beautiful season in Sweden) arrived with the most ‘fittest’ body and flowing flexibility ever. And a new respect for any athlete who completes any type of physical training!

Why do I love yoga?
🧘‍♀️ it’s my sanity check; my time for me!

🧘‍♀️ it gives me balance and flexibility both mentally and physically

🧘‍♀️ it’s non-competing, pure SELF improvement

🧘‍♀️ there is no finish line, you are never THERE

🧘‍♀️ it gives me a sense of community and connection on a local and higher consciousness level

I personally couldn’t, and wouldn’t, want to imagine my life without yoga.

My mind, body and spirit are always in a better place post yoga class. I truly believe my vibrant energy and fantastic health are a massive output of my discipline and dedication to my yoga practice.

I am so grateful to my super experienced Iyengar yoga teacher Jacqueline Ospovat @ Iyengar yoga and my regular Monday night yoga buddies. We have been practising our yoga together every Monday night for about 4 years now, even on Zoom during the CV19 lockdown in Singapore. Our sense of community and connection is deep, purposeful and I really value it. As there is no finish line in yoga I intend to keep practicing well into my 90s too!

If you are “too busy and exhausted” to try yoga believe me, now really is the best time to start!

My inspiration 🤩
https://youtu.be/u76yQEdflVM