Something about Mary                                                                                                                                    

For me practicing yoga is like untying knots in a piece of string, not just the knots of tension in the body but the easing of a tangled mind.

Apparently I first practiced Yoga as a foetus, I don’t remember much about that. My earliest memories of Yoga are of practicing sun salutations with my mum at about the age of 5, and of her talking me through Yoga Nidra (relaxation) when I couldn’t get to sleep at night. Yoga is great for children and I will be eternally grateful to my Mum for introducing me to yoga at such an early age.  In my teenage years I had what I now refer to as a Yogic rebellion, like many teenagers I regarded anything my parents did as being pretty naff, (how wrong I was) I returned to yoga when I was 20 after visiting India for the first time.  I remember feeling as though something was missing, especially on days when I had little to do. I’d spend hours feeling bored and uncomfortable with myself, convincing myself that maybe if I had something really yummy to eat then I’d feel better… that didn’t work, perhaps if I pampered myself and had a soak in a hot bath? .. Still I felt like I was longing for something.

I eventually found that "something" one rainy Sunday afternoon in an old 1970’s Yoga book hidden away on a shelf. After spending an hour or so working through the various postures, I had discovered within myself, a feeling of calm and stillness I had not felt since my childhood. Any problems I had just seemed irrelevant and it was not long before I had enrolled in to weekly classes. The class soon became the highlight of my week. After a while one class a week became two. It was at this time also  that I became interested in meditation and in the teachings of the Buddha. Soon I was practice daily before going to work. I had been working as a Swimming teacher since I was 18, and had  begun using very simple yoga techniques to help people who were afraid of water, I was amazed by the difference it made. When I mentioned this to my Yoga teacher  she paused for a moment in thought and then suggested that maybe I should pursue it further.

Having completed my teacher training, I have now been teaching Yoga for 7 years, I have never felt such a feeling of contentment as when I’m teaching and practicing Yoga, I look forward to new people joining my classes and seeing the effect that yoga has on their lives. My Mum finds it hard I think not to say I told you so, she now comes every week to one of my classes.

I now practice Hatha yoga, Yin yoga  Vinni yoga and Ashtanga Vinyassa yoga. I have been lucky enough to have worked with  John Scott, Liz Lark, Mike Nevitt, Sarah Powers, Donna Farhi and many other fantastic teachers, who have inspired me, whose knowledge of yoga has enriched my practice and to whom I offer my thanks. I would also like to thank my parents Susan and Richard Freeman and all the members of my classes from whom I continue to learn so much.