"My story revolves around islands and sea. Little did I know how much island life & the water would influence me, having started my life in Nottingham, which is quite a trek from any coast-line. But for many years I was living unconnected to myself, following the path of year...
"My story revolves around islands and sea. Little did I know how much island life & the water would influence me, having started my life in Nottingham, which is quite a trek from any coast-line. But for many years I was living unconnected to myself, following the path of years of conditioning - uni, career, marriage, wife & mother - all the traditional labels that had to be ticked in order to experience so-called success.
This external striving for acknowledgement & recognition inevitably took its toll on my body and health. My kidneys gave me all the warning signs that something was amiss but I battled on, ignoring the causes, simply treating the symptoms. How ironic that the organs linked to water and flow were screaming for me to listen, to head for the sea and STOP. But for many years I didn't....
I married a Corsican, which means I married into a huge Mediterranean family on a tiny island with a very different culture. This is where I found the sea; my saviour, my healing escape. I discovered how the power of water helps us feel connection, oneness, and I began to explore its natural healing qualities.
I had always practiced yoga during my 20s and 30s as a means to maintain flexibility. As a child I had competed as an elite gymnast, having always loved movement and so some challenging yogi stretching suited my competitive ego perfectly at this time.
I'm not completely sure of the precise moment when I felt something was missing in my life - but the combination of screaming kidneys and a snapped Achilles tendon brought everything to a grinding halt and my life was forced to slow. Suddenly I could see, feel and acknowledge. However, the true discovery of Self only really began in earnest when after searching for alternatives, I fell upon Kundalini Yoga. What a life-changer the year-long teacher training course with I-Sky turned out to be! A light was lit showing me the way. All struggles and obstacles disappeared as my path, my destiny, shone brightly. The world of Watsu - healing bodywork in warm water - came into my life effortlessly. Today I am a fully qualified Watsu Practitioner. And then, almost miraculously, the Indian Ocean, my second island of influence, Sri Lanka, appeared in my life. My first visit to Sri Lanka on retreat was in 2016, and the connection was instant. I have returned on multiple occasions, several times a year ever since. I am deeply in love with this healing, spiritual place and its natural ability to enhance the yoga experience. Sri Lanka brings us deeply back to the roots of yoga so this powerful, spiritual science and practice may be honoured in its entirety. I now work in partnership with Ayurvedic Therapist and Yoga Instructor, Ranjan de Alwis, a local Sri Lankan based in Galle, to create healing retreats in Sri Lanka throughout the year."
