Follow your passion.....

Where would I be if I hadn't taken a leap of faith, following my heart, my passion down along the path of yoga teaching? More than likely I would be in the same old office job, daydreaming the days away waiting for the clock to tick to 5pm. But how did I start along this path I hear you ask?

Everybody has a story. What I have learnt over the years is that you need to embrace your story, own it, you cannot change your past but you can look forward to the future while living in the present moment. It is up to us to OWN our story, to embrace it as part of yourself. So here is my story...

When I was a teenager I loved sports, I was good at running and playing hockey and netball. It made me feel like one of the popular girls. But I wasn't. Like so many teenagers I felt uncomfortable in my own skin. At 5'2" I felt short and fat, I felt that I wasn't pretty enough, boys didn't like me and I felt that people thought I was strange. So I began a love/ hate relationship with food and started to obsessively weigh myself. If I look back at my diaries from the age of 15 through to 18 you can see at the top of every page is my weight. Eight stone twelve pounds one day, nine stone two pounds another day. I had a distorted image of myself, what I saw in the mirror was not the reality.

I had an amazing childhood with parents who were so supportive, I attended a great school, I had my own horses, my parents would drive me miles every weekends for competitions. For that I am so so grateful. But I wasn't happy in myself. I would dream of being a sun-kissed California girl never happy living in the present moment. Fast forward a few years and a few pounds added and I was living with my soulmate Matt in Bristol, happy in my relationship, my family and home life but still lacking confidence in myself. It didn't matter what anyone else told me I never felt pretty enough. I was never over weight, I understand this now. My issue was the distorted view I had of myself.

One day while looking online at health and workout videos something just clicked for me. I made a choice to live life with no regrets and beginning with my own fitness I took the plunge towards living a healthier lifestyle. I educated myself on nutrition and I started to take care of myself from the inside out. I took responsibility for my health and my life. I began to workout and run again... and then I found yoga. I had always dipped in and out of yoga throughout my life but for some reason at this point it my life I was truly drawn to it. I remember walking into my first class at my local leisure centre and being so so afraid. I faced the fear and I have not looked back.

Yoga to me is so much more than the physical practice. It is about leading your life from your heart centre. Letting go of what no longer serves you, making space for the new. Living your life with no regrets! Diving into an adventure without a second thought. Just think, what is the one beautiful thing that you want your life to be? Take hold of that thought and every single day take a baby step towards that goal. Yoga has allowed me to let go of the body image demons that I haunted me for years. Enjoy food again without the fear of the number on the scale.

This year I DREAMED BIG! I left my home for three weeks to Devon where I took my yoga teacher training. It was the most blessed, beautiful, sunny three weeks and along with way I was lucky to meet some wonderful souls who I know will forever be my friends for life. I hit the ground running when I got back home, teaching my very first yoga class to Matt (of course!). I was so excited to be able to spread the light, my knowledge and my passion to everyone. I wish to share my passion with you, and maybe inspire you along your own path... because who knows what is right around the corner? Have faith and dream big!

Love & light,
Jayne