I recently shared my teaching journey during an evening yoga class.
Now whilst I have always been a firm believer in life happening for you and things being written in the stars (to some degree) to was an emotional reflection on the last 16 years and I wanted to bring that to you.
Student Osteopath
I started my studies at Oxford Brookes in 2010. I loved Oxford – and it will always have a piece of my heart. Our degree was intense, we were in every day and from the get go placed in student led clinics. It was great, it was hands on and it was well taught. I learnt from some fantastic Osteopaths and despite having originally pictured myself in the professional sports world I came to appreciate the ‘day to day’ of helping people move and feel better.
I joined the hockey club and this because a huge part of my uni experience. I went headfirst into the training / fitness – really loving that side of things. I captained the 2nd team in may 2nd year and *side story incoming* it is here I met Izzie who I now co-host Retreats with (the universe doing its thing there).
Striving to be as healthy and supple as possible for hockey I tried out a local Yoga Studio. I honestly couldn’t get enough. But, I was on a student budget so dropping £100 a month to practice wasn’t on the cards. The owner of the studio offered up the opportunity to become a ‘helping yogi’. In exchange for cleaning mats and signing people in I practiced. And practiced. And practice.
Encouraged and supported by the studio owners (to whom I will be forever grateful) I did my first Yoga Teacher Training in Morocco, the summer before my fourth and final year. I went away thinking if teaching wasn’t for me then it would be a cool experience in its self. Turned out teaching was for me and I got straight to it as soon as I was home. I see a lot of people now attend online (or very short in person) teacher trainings almost as a side thought to opening a studio. It appears the passion and interest doesn’t come first, rather the appeal of a full studio and booming business?
That meant I left university in 2014, after a minor graduation set back I was an Osteopath and Yoga Teacher.
Starting with Saint Lucia
My first postgraduate gig was at The Body Holiday Saint Lucia. Needless to say this opportunity set the bar quite high for all future work and holidays.
Every chapter of life is important right? However for me maybe time spent at The Body Holiday in both 2014 and 2016 has had the biggest impact on where I am now…
I met incredible people and absorbed their stories. Friends and future clients. I taught beginners and experts in the same studio. I taught English speaking guests along side those for whom English wasn’t their first language. I really think I grew here. I had some though times to – that’s life right, flat fires and legal dramas – all part of the learning process.
We will be here all day if I let myself wonder too far down memory lane but work life took me to; Soneva in the Maldives, AMAN in Turks and Caicos, Anantara in Sri Lanka, Six Senses in the Douro Valley, Whistler, Necker Island, DMaris Turkey, Bakers Bay in The Bahamas. I lucked out, big time.
Landing in London
The beaches were beautiful and the mountains magic but there is only so long I wanted to be away before settling. Me and my now husband set up camp in London, living with a mutual university friend.
Again for fear of repeating myself I loved it. I spent most of my time working at Bodyism in Nottinghill and The Lanesborough Hotel. Two rather super spots. That said I had many days at the start where classes were quiet and I was waiting for PT business to build but I just banked the hours and appreciated life in the city. Namely attending other peoples classes, learning from these great teachers and absorbing what I could.
Being in London was great I did more training both locally and internationally. It was in this season I started teaching Pilates. I love how they compliment each other and I can not imagine I world where I would ever teach one without the other.
We all know what happened in 2020
Midst living both abroad and in London I always tried my best to get home monthly where possible. In those trips home I always taught. I rented church halls, I borrowed gardens in summer, I carried a big bag of odd mats and blocks to wherever would have me.
When the pandemic hit we got out of London and came home. Thankfully I already had an online platform but we got straight onto zoom. 6 years later we are still rocking with those four weekly classes and a really amazing handful of you that were with me from the start are still here and I can not stress what that means to me.
Life / Lytham
In 2023 I viewed a house, made an offer and told my husband we were moving home. In that order.
It has been one of the best decisions we have made. In all honestly I was worried work here wouldn’t be the same or as fulfilling.
I took over an unused room at The Grand Hotel and called that our studio for a few months before winter kicked in and we realised yoga and cold toes are not a match made in heaven. The owners of the hotel very generously offered up their basement. With their great vision our BEAUTIFUL Studio was born.
And then my baby was born. LIFE = LIFEING. Prior to him arriving I thought what better time to become a Mummy MOT Practitioner. This was first and foremost for my own post partum recovery but helping other has been so rewarding and a part of my business that I hope grown in coming years.
It’s been busy that is for sure, when Willibobs came along I really didn’t pause for long. But that’s owning your own business isn’t it? I would not have it any other way. I love being a Mum. But I really love being a working Mum and I really love our classes, our Retreats and all other branches of my business.
If we haven’t already connected or you are sat wondering if I can help you then please do not be a stranger. I am always at the end of an email or text.
Jess x
