A story of spreading love and light from Rachel..
Rachel’s Story.
I spent twelve years working in financial recruitment and finally lost my job in May 2009 having just been headhunted to move to my new employer only seven months before.
So I had no redundancy package or much to show for what I had achieved however I did have Yoga, my final pay packet and a loving partner. I went on a series of interviews pretty swiftly and came very close to getting a job that would've been great for my career. Before the last interview though (it was the fifth one, these guys were thorough) I slammed on the breaks. Did I want to sell the tiny piece of soul I had left. Most definitely not.
So I backed off. Stopped the job search and took some time to face my fear and understand what it might be like to change my path. I hadn't been on the right one for years. My partner is sent from God. He surrounded me with love and support and allowed me to explore what my future might be. It didn't take long. I loved Yoga. Had been told I should be a teacher. So one day after spending a day with a friend who owns her own studio and then meeting another teacher trained in the same discipline as me I made my decision. Three days later I had booked myself onto a teaching training course in India and three months later I was there.
I trained in the Sivananda tradition and their training programme is based on the Gurukula system where you live with the teacher. So here I was, on an ashram, with 70 others, getting up at 4.50am, cold showers, sitting crossed legged on the floor for nine hours daily, sleeping in a dorm with 24 others, chanting, meditating, doing four hours of asana (yoga posture) practice a day and I loved it. I have never been so close to true happiness. I loved the chanting the most. All of my insecurities about myself, my body, my worthiness as human being just melted away. And then came the day that I was awarded my certificate. I just stared at it. I had changed my life. It all came into focus in that one instant. My face ached from grinning. All I can tell you is that I knew I had set myself free.
So I came back to Bristol, started teaching straight away in freezing cold halls and eleven months down the line I now teach six days a week. I have just finished running my first Yoga retreat weekend with a friend. I teach kids, teenagers, runners, cyclists, in gyms, in community centers, in living rooms, in studios, in chiropractors, teachers in schools and in Buddhist centers. My conversations almost always flip back to Yoga. When I was quite young I had this feeling that I could change the world. And now I am. In my own way.
All I can say is that someone up there likes me and I just took a little time to love myself enough to do it. It was hard. I just had faith. I often find myself crying when I chant to my students at the end of my classes (hoping that they can't see) - it's because I'm so happy and amazed that I am blessed enough to live the life I do.
Yoga allows me to help people, to heal and restore them. A greater gift I have never been given.
I spent twelve years working in financial recruitment and finally lost my job in May 2009 having just been headhunted to move to my new employer only seven months before.
So I had no redundancy package or much to show for what I had achieved however I did have Yoga, my final pay packet and a loving partner. I went on a series of interviews pretty swiftly and came very close to getting a job that would've been great for my career. Before the last interview though (it was the fifth one, these guys were thorough) I slammed on the breaks. Did I want to sell the tiny piece of soul I had left. Most definitely not.
So I backed off. Stopped the job search and took some time to face my fear and understand what it might be like to change my path. I hadn't been on the right one for years. My partner is sent from God. He surrounded me with love and support and allowed me to explore what my future might be. It didn't take long. I loved Yoga. Had been told I should be a teacher. So one day after spending a day with a friend who owns her own studio and then meeting another teacher trained in the same discipline as me I made my decision. Three days later I had booked myself onto a teaching training course in India and three months later I was there.
I trained in the Sivananda tradition and their training programme is based on the Gurukula system where you live with the teacher. So here I was, on an ashram, with 70 others, getting up at 4.50am, cold showers, sitting crossed legged on the floor for nine hours daily, sleeping in a dorm with 24 others, chanting, meditating, doing four hours of asana (yoga posture) practice a day and I loved it. I have never been so close to true happiness. I loved the chanting the most. All of my insecurities about myself, my body, my worthiness as human being just melted away. And then came the day that I was awarded my certificate. I just stared at it. I had changed my life. It all came into focus in that one instant. My face ached from grinning. All I can tell you is that I knew I had set myself free.
So I came back to Bristol, started teaching straight away in freezing cold halls and eleven months down the line I now teach six days a week. I have just finished running my first Yoga retreat weekend with a friend. I teach kids, teenagers, runners, cyclists, in gyms, in community centers, in living rooms, in studios, in chiropractors, teachers in schools and in Buddhist centers. My conversations almost always flip back to Yoga. When I was quite young I had this feeling that I could change the world. And now I am. In my own way.
All I can say is that someone up there likes me and I just took a little time to love myself enough to do it. It was hard. I just had faith. I often find myself crying when I chant to my students at the end of my classes (hoping that they can't see) - it's because I'm so happy and amazed that I am blessed enough to live the life I do.
Yoga allows me to help people, to heal and restore them. A greater gift I have never been given.
Thank you for sharing. I had one yoga class in November, during which a chakra opened, the energy was amazing and there has been much healing since. I look forward to getting more involved this new year. Yes, it is very healing and it is like nothing else. Love and Light!
ReplyDeletehow inspiring! sending you bucket loads of positive energy as you follow your journey in 2011 ;-) love, love, love and light
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