Yoga came into my life at a time when my body and mind were asking for something more gentle, slower, and more supportive than my usual ways of moving and exercising.
I began practising yoga around 2015, while I was living in Sydney. At the time, my husband and I were trying to have a baby, and someone suggested that yoga might be a less impactful form of movement for my body. So, I decided to give it a try. Technically, it was my second yoga class — I had attended one in my early twenties and hadn’t enjoyed it at all, so I never went back.
This time was different.
I went along to a class at the gym where I was a member, not quite knowing what to expect. I was drawn in by the physical movements, but what really surprised me was the sense of peace — especially during Shavasana at the end of the class. It was a feeling I had never experienced before.
I noticed that other people seemed able to slow down and relax on their mats in a way that felt unfamiliar to me. Rather than feeling discouraged, I found myself deeply intrigued. I wanted some of that slowness, that ease. So, I went back to another class… and then another.
Looking back, I realise how fortunate I was. The yoga teachers I practised with at the beginning of my journey were all excellent — not only skilled, but genuinely kind and supportive people. They really inspired me. Since then, I’ve never really stopped practising.
Before long, I realised that yoga was about far more than physical postures alone. While I continued to enjoy the movement — and the physical benefits were undeniable — something deeper was unfolding. Over time, I became stronger and more flexible than I had ever been before. I found myself able to move in ways I never thought possible. And while I was always aware that this isn’t the true purpose of yoga, I found it joyful and expansive.
I loved the sense of flow, the spaciousness of the postures, and the way I consistently felt calmer and more grounded during and after class. Yoga became something I could return to — a place of steadiness — especially when life felt challenging.
Over the years, yoga has supported me through physical injury, long COVID, and difficult emotional periods. Through these experiences, I came to understand why yoga is called a practice. It’s not something to complete or perfect — it’s ongoing, adaptive, and ever‑changing, just like life itself.
As a physiotherapist, I naturally began to weave yoga into my work. I work with many people who already practise yoga and want to return to it after experiencing injury or pain, and I find this incredibly rewarding. I also love introducing yoga to people who are new to it and helping them discover how it can support their recovery and wellbeing.
I particularly enjoy using yoga as a form of recovery — exploring movement gently, analysing how the body moves, working with the breath, and learning more about yoga’s rich history and philosophy. Much of its wisdom feels remarkably relevant to modern life.
In 2005, I started working on pain management programmes at INPUT at St Thomas’ Hospital, where I saw clearly how well yoga complemented the Acceptance and Commitment Therapy framework that I use in my work. This connection continued to deepen over time, and in 2025 I travelled to Costa Rica to complete a 200‑hour yoga teacher training course. It was a truly special and transformative experience, both personally and professionally.
Today, I continue to practise yoga myself at least three times a week. I also use it regularly with clients on a one‑to‑one basis and teach a weekly class locally, upstairs in the Pavilion at North Sheen Recreation Ground.
The class is a friendly, supportive space created especially for people living with — or who have lived with — pain. It’s about moving gently, breathing with awareness, and finding a little more ease in both body and mind. I deeply enjoy spending time with people in this way, and I’ve met so many wonderful individuals through yoga along the way.
I’m excited to see where my yoga practice continues to take me, and I feel grateful to be able to share it with others.