1) What lead you to yoga and how did you hear about LANO?
I have always been an active person but I had slipped into some bad habits and this had started to affect my health. After putting the kids to bed in the evening, me and my partner would routinely sit on the sofa and eat badly. It was only when I stopped breastfeeding and then suddenly put on weight very quickly that I noticed the damage I was doing. This was a bit of a wake up call.
As my son, Finley, is disabled I HAVE to be fit and healthy to look after him as his needs are very physically demanding. As he gets bigger, its vital that I’m able to keep up with his needs so this was a massive motivation for me to make a change (as well as the fact that I didn’t like the way I looked). I love dancing so I took up some adult dance classes but I found that these were either not intense enough or not regular enough. I’ve always been interested in yoga, so I thought this was the perfect time to give it a go. I did a bit of research into local yoga classes and to be honest I was a bit intimidated by LANO at first as it seemed very ‘hard core’, I was worried I would be out of my depth. As soon as I walked in I was greeted with a warm and reassuring welcome, I was made to feel very valued and I was looked after. I have found the schedule brilliant as well as it means I can fit in sessions around my family’s needs as there is always something running.
LANO Yoga feels so safe, there is no judgement, no pressure or competitiveness, everyone is doing what is right for them in their own time and this is recognised and celebrated here.
2) What changes if any has yoga brought into your life?
I never realised how holistic yoga is! Obviously my physical health has improved but I couldn’t have imagined how much better I feel emotionally. LANO Yoga feels so safe, there is no judgement, no pressure or competitiveness, everyone is doing what is right for them in their own time and this is recognised and celebrated here. This approach has been unbelievably powerful for my self-esteem and provided me with the tools to be ok with not being perfect.
I never realised how holistic yoga is! Obviously my physical health has improved but I couldn’t have imagined how much better I feel emotionally. LANO Yoga feels so safe, there is no judgement, no pressure or competitiveness, everyone is doing what is right for them in their own time and this is recognised and celebrated here. This approach has been unbelievably powerful for my self-esteem and provided me with the tools to be ok with not being perfect.
It is also a bit of escapism, while I’m at LANO I’m not thinking about all the hundreds of things I should be doing or making mental lists, so I feel refreshed when I get home, no matter what family related chaos awaits me! It’s like being reset, most problems can be sorted by being turned off and back on again. I am always calmer and more patient after yoga, I feel I am nicer to be around and so a better mummy. It’s hard to put into words but I can feel the difference in me if I have been unable to do yoga for a while. So instead of sitting on the sofa in the evening I’m now filling my time with yoga as much as possible and I’m feeling more in control and more proactive.
I am always calmer and more patient after yoga, I feel I am nicer to be around and so a better mummy. It’s hard to put into words but I can feel the difference in me if I have been unable to do yoga for a while.
3) How has having a subsidised membership affected your life?
Due to my sons disability I am unable to work as much as I would like. Not only do I need to be available to take him to therapy sessions and hospital appointments, but also he cannot access after school or school holiday childcare facilities. This means I can only work for limited hours during the school term, and puts a huge strain on our financial situation. We have to prioritise our spending and we have had to make many sacrifices. There is no way that I could afford a full price membership due to this so I can not express how grateful I am to have been offered a subsidised membership. This has it made possible for me to continue to Look After Number One ?.
Everyone has something in their life that has challenged them at some point so we all need to support and raise each other up and I have learnt that this ethos is a big part of LANO yoga. Having a child with a disability has been a huge challenge for me, but it has also introduced me to a wave of wonderful people who will do amazing things to support others. I am so grateful to have the support from Karl, Neil and the team at LANO yoga. I cannot express enough how much I appreciate the opportunity they have given me and the difference it has made.
Everyone has something in their life that has challenged them at some point so we all need to support and raise each other up and I have learnt that this ethos is a big part of LANO yoga.
