This week has been a really tough one, it ended with the much-awaited visit to the GP to get the results of the MRI I had in October to look at my lower back after the horrendous pain I had in August last year. 

It turns out at the age of 51, I have Lumbar Spondylosis.  Which in English, means a degeneration of the discs in the lower back.  I also have a bulging disc.  This condition is common and a lot of people have it, most people don't have any symptoms.  It can be managed, but not cured. 

The irony of this is that all of the information I was given by the GP on Friday about managing the condition/pain is what I have figured out by myself over the last year or so. 

Management includes, not loading the back heavily (I use machines to lift heavy to keep my legs strong).  Taking breaks if you are in pain (I don't take on cover classes, if it means I won't get my rest days between teaching).  Heat and cold (saunas, hot water bottles).  Keep moving (gentle yoga and walks on rest days).  Side sleepers advised to try and sleep on their back and if side sleeping to sleep with a pillow between your knees.  Severe pain: anti-inflammatories to be used.  I was given a sheet of exercises to do and I do these already as they relieve the symptoms.  A strong core and also doing regular lower back stretches before and after working out are also on the list. 

I consider myself very fortunate to have a job that ensures that I keep moving, but am very sad to say that I think I will not return to teaching Les Mills BodyPump (the classes were fun while I was doing them) and will continue with my Senior Strength classes and my yoga and BodyBalance.  I might try and get a core class somewhere too, as keeping a strong core is the key to managing lower back pain, those old bones of mine will benefit from the extra support. 

Building the Yoga practice that suits you.

I have been pinching myself for the last 2 months.  Am I ACTUALLY a Yoga Teacher?  Am I actually teaching Yoga.  FINALLY.  I have had some major realisations during this time.  Mainly that I have been a Yoga teacher for a good few years already.  Since I first watched myself doing Yoga during lockdown on video and then started correcting how I moved and then started giving my online clients tips with their hamstring stretches and then started teaching stretch classes, and then went for an audition (with real humans) to teach a stretch class, which turned into a job in the fitness industry and then and then and then.

Teaching Stretch classes for two years, twice a week, turned into teaching Les Mills Bodybalance and I was a little frustrated, as all of this seemed to be interfering with the overarching goal to get that Yoga Teacher qualification, but.. It turns out it was all a part of the process of becoming a Yoga Teacher.  As was the course and attainment of the piece of paper that allowed me to be insured and call it “Yoga”

Now that I have that bit of paper and am insured, it has opened quite a few doors and hence why I am pinching myself.  I am enjoying teaching yoga, embodying the Yoga Evangelist role that I have been living with for the past I don’t know how many years since I discovered yoga as a means to and end of being more flexible when I was a novice skydiver with a skinny and inflexible body. 

I feel incredibly humbled and grateful that I have a lovely community of people around me who enjoy my classes and give me lots of positive feedback on my teaching, approach and development.  They also feel so confident in my ability that they want to share it with other people, recommending me to others (such gratitude for this). 

In my travels around various gyms and places I teach, I tailor the classes to the abilities of the people, classes full of up to 20 people at a time, aiming to challenge that one person who can do it all and also include that one person who struggles with the basics and everything inbetween.  I know all of our bodies are different and of course, then we also have to deal with the noisy minds that we have, that berate us when we don’t look or move like someone else.

Now that I have that piece of paper and the insurance and the experience I have, I want to start to teach a style of yoga that truly resonates with me and that can challenge people.  I also understand that it may not be for everybody, so I will of course, continue to teach my classes, including everyone who comes along. 

My wish is to create a community around a vinyasa style practise.  It will be a strong practice, with some ashtanga influence, but with elements of yin to encompass the stretches and the focus of letting go towards the end of the practise.  So a warm-up, movement, breathing, then some strong vinyasa, moving to floor-based postures and relaxation. 

My vision is to do a monthly workshop, where a different sequence is used each time, we spend some time breaking the moves down, people getting individual attention where needed, questions are asked, modifications are offered and then a break for tea and fruit and then we put the sequence together in a formal flow.  I plan to record the flow, upload it to YouTube so that it can be practiced between monthly workshops. 

I am currently on the hunt for a venue to do this at and am also interested to hear from anyone who wants to know more about this and is interested to know more. 

I strongly believe that as a Yoga Teacher, it is important to find the style of Yoga that resonates with you.  I believe this is important as a yoga practitioner too, and hope to share my vision and my wish with others on this journey. 

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