My Wellbeing Journey - The Story So Far....

Some of my earliest memories centre around my grandparents and the daily rituals and practices that they undertook. Their use of food, herbs and spices as medicine (honey or garlic, the cure all for everything!) their approach to movement and mobility and their connection to nature and it’s rhythms and flows.

Originating from the Fiji Islands in the South Pacific, their way of life was so deeply rooted in the wisdom of the natural world, and although they seemed so out of synch with life in the west at the time (rising with the dawn, heading off to bed at 5pm in winter!) I now recognise a lot of those rituals and practices as being not a million miles away from the teachings of Ayurveda. Ancient teachings and practices that we’re now really beginning to recognise the value of in our ‘modern’ world.

My interest in practising as a Holistic Therapist didn’t really surface until I was in my early twenties, when I discovered the benefits of Aromatherapy. This led me to study for a diploma in Therapeutic Massage, Anatomy & Physiology in 2000.

As someone who’s always been aware not only of the physical, but the mental benefits of movement and exercise, once I had that anatomy and physiology knowledge under my belt, my desire to learn more and share those benefits grew, as did my CV!

I qualified to teach as a Studio Instructor - Body Combat, Body Pump, Zumba to name a few, and I qualified in Pre and Post-Natal exercise as well as Advanced Nutrition.

Yoga, of course, has played a huge part in my life, personally and professionally. My passion originally sparked by Geri Halliwell’s ‘Geri Body Yoga’ in 2001 (thanks Geri!). I practised and participated regularly in Yoga until I trained to teach in 2011. My love affair with Yoga is a deep one - I don’t foresee it will ever end!

Most recently my interest in Ayurveda, the ‘sister science’ of Yoga, has led me to further study and accreditation in this field.

Teaching and sharing has been such an absolute pleasure for me all of these years. I do still sometimes have to pinch myself that this is my ‘job’!

The world of wellness is vast and ever changing. And although I’ve acquired a huge amount of knowledge over my time in the industry, I don’t think I will ever reach a point of not wanting to learn more.

Personally, my own health and fitness practices have changed so much since I first started out. Those high impact, results driven ways that once energised me, have been replaced with a need for a deeper kind of ‘nourishment’. What ‘wellbeing’ means to me now that I’m in my mid forties and actually, since the birth of my daughter in 2014, is completely different to what it once was.

That’s not to say that someone of my age and circumstance shouldn’t enjoy high impact exercise, just to highlight that fact that as we evolve and change what ‘wellbeing’ means to us does too.

With this in mind, I always take a very fluid approach when dealing with my clients, my participants and myself! What works for and feels right for someone won’t necessarily be the same for someone else. And what works for and feels right for someone one day, may not the next.

Our health and wellbeing needs are ever changing and evolving, as are we.

Coming back to the start of this story, and what feels like coming back to the start of a circle for me. My grandparents and their wonderful, nature-led health systems, and my shift into more holistic practices such as Ayurveda. It’s been a bit like a home-coming for me, but by no means the end of the journey I’m sure.