My journey into yoga began with a desire to maintain my flexibility. My first class was a Hatha yoga class at Holmes Place. It offered exactly what I was looking for, a lovely stretch and a relaxed, calm feeling at the end. I attended regularly and enjoyed the balance it brought to my mind and body.

Eventually I gathered the courage to try an Ashtanga class. It was a beginners class where we were taught two sun salutations followed by a set sequence of postures. It was challenging!, far more than I was expecting and it quickly highlighted how much strength and stamina I still needed to build. I continued attending both Hatha and Ashtanga classes, although if I’m honest, I only stepped into the Ashtanga room on days when my mind felt strong enough to carry me through.

Some time later, a Bikram yoga studio opened up near me, offering an introductory deal of 20 days for £20. Curious, I signed up and I absolutely loved it. The heat, 105 F suited me perfectly. (Anyone who knows me knows heat works well for my constitution!) After those 20 days I felt incredibly strong, lean and mentally unstoppable. Unfortunately work kept getting in the way, so I returned to Hatha and Ashtanga practice whenever I was back in the UK.

After moving from North London to South London, I met Colin. A teacher who would profoundly shape my path. I still remember my very first class with him. It was an Ashtanga based class, and I was determined to get my legs higher than his! Yet something about his teaching felt different. I couldn’t quite put my finger on it at the time, but I knew I wanted to keep coming back. I attended Colin’s classes two or three times a week for several years as his teaching subtly evolved, moving from dynamic Ashtanga towards a deeper focus on breath, awareness and mindfulness. It was during this time that I experienced something completely new. One Friday morning, after a class focused on backbends, I felt physically energised but emotionally overwhelmed. As I sat in my car, an intense wave of grief washed over me, as if I’d just received devastating news. I cried uncontrollably all the way to work. It felt strangely relieving, yet confusing. The same thing happened the following Friday. Before my next class, I spoke to Colin and told him I thought I might have to stop attending, as I couldn’t understand why I was crying after every session. Thankfully, he took the time to explain how yoga can release deeply held emotions and stored energy from the body. Suddenly, everything made sense. Years of suppressed emotions were finally finding space to surface and be released. I spent many classes quietly crying on my mat, wondering if it would ever stop. But that experience marked a profound shift in my relationship with myself and my practice. It was what led me to begin my foundation training and eventually my teacher training with Colin.

During my teacher training, I was having some health issues. My GP’s recommendation was a low dose of antibiotics for the rest of my life! This was something I was deeply uncomfortable with. We agreed on a compromise: I was given four weeks to try a holistic approach before committing to medication. I booked a yoga therapy session with Colin. Together we explored my lifestyle, constitution and pulse. I was given a personalised yoga practice incorporating mantra and visualisation, alongside an Ayurvedic approach to my diet. I committed to the practice daily. The results were life changing. Not only did my symptoms resolve, but my GP was astonished that I had not experienced another episode, something that remains true to this day.

Experiencing first-hand how yoga therapy can empower healing and long-term wellbeing inspired me to deepen my studies further. I went on to complete my advanced yoga therapy training with Colin, and this work continues to shape everything I offer.