Hello there, so a little about me. I am Natasha, I am 38 years old & live in Stirling, Scotland. I am a yoga teacher & run my own studio Shambhala Yoga with my partner.
Things I am passionate include about yoga, healthy living, learning new things (currently learning how to play the Ukulele), travelling, the sun, hillwalking & generally being out in nature feeling free.
I also love living life to the full & want to help empower women to do the same.
Do you question the life your leading? where you are going? Do you know that there is more to you, than the life your living right now?
These were some of the thoughts & feelings that ran around my mind for most of my life up until 3 years ago when I began to realise that I held the power to transform my life into how I wanted to it be.
Wondering how this came about? then read on...
To be honest I have lived a colourful life to say the least with many stories to tell, particularly around my dark nights of the soul “a term used to describe what one could call a deep sense of meaninglessness where nothing makes sense anymore, there’s no purpose to anything and the meaning that you had given your life collapses”.
Throughout my teenage years & early adulthood I always felt a bit lost and struggled to find my identity in life. I seemed to just drift from one thing to another, jobs, relationships & never feeling truly satisfied with my path in life.
As I approached my 30th birthday in 2011, seeking something more I decided to study social care which led me to complete a degree in Social Work.
Working in the social care sector I enjoyed supporting people to live their lives to their full potential and knew that I was beginning to move my life in the right direction. However there was still something missing.
One thing I was always sure of was my dreams of travelling around the world. So, after finishing my degree in 2016 I decided to pack my bags & left on a one-way ticket with my partner across the world. This experience of a lifetime was the turning point in my life which led me into an ever-evolving path of self-discovery & self-healing through the practice of Yoga.
Travelling to countries renowned for yoga such as Nepal, India, Thailand and Bali, I experienced first-hand the healing benefits of yoga & other alternative therapies.
As someone who used to live for the gym almost 7 days a week, I had previously viewed yoga as just a physical exercise to stretch and increase flexibility. However, my whole perspective changed as I began to feel the transformative effects of the practice. I don’t recall a pinnacle moment, but I do remember the uplifting feeling & sense of peace yoga gave me as I finally learned to become present in my body, something I had subconsciously avoided for many years was. Keen to learn more about this fascinating practice I completed my Yoga Teacher Training in India in 2018.
When I returned home from travelling, I had the vision of sharing the healing tools of yoga to empower people to rediscover themselves.
So I went back to work in social work, but quickly realised it no longer aligned with my values especially my ability to be free. So, I took the gamble and left my job to focus on the yoga studio that I set up with my partner at the start of 2019.
With my newfound freedom I was able to delve deeper into self-healing which was not without its challenges as I began to face my demons. This meant finding new ways of dealing with my anxiety, lack of confidence, lack of self worth & other emotions/feelings that I had tried to supress for a most of my life.
The path I am on now has certainly forced me to face my fears in many ways, particularly teaching group classes which always triggers my self-limiting beliefs (mean girl voice), however I am learning to see these experiences as challenges to overcome in order for me to become grow stronger & learn to be my authentic self.
I love teaching & learning about yoga and as cliché as it may sound yoga is a way of life for me. The philosophical element of yoga has been one of the most important part of my transformation as it teaches you to believe in yourself and to step out of your subconscious mind and start to live consciously, no longer a slave to the mind.
I have used my time in lock down as a period for reflection, self study & self care which has included lots of yoga, breathwork & an intense detox of the body to try & self- heal health conditions.
But like life, it’s not an easy journey & yoga doesn’t offer quick fixes, you must be willing to do the work. My mantra is “my body is my home”. I live in it & treat it like a temple which means looking after myself holistically (physically, emotionally & mentally).
As my practice evolves, I am excited for what the future holds & I want to share the health & wellbeing tools & techniques I have discovered with like-minded women to empower them to live happier and healthier lifestyles.
If you are open to the possibilities of yoga then it becomes so much more than a physical practice. It opens the doorway to becoming whole again & the opportunity of connecting to your body, mind & soul.
The style of yoga I teach is for everyone & focuses on mindful awareness of the body and breath.
With this awareness you will feel empowered, confident & ready to make changes to improve your life & create a life aligned with your souls’ purpose.
So, if you are lacking in self-belief, confidence & self-worth & looking to make changes then I would love for you to join me on a journey of self-healing through the practice of yoga. Let go of all the self-limiting doubts & trust the process.
Your self-care is a priority, treat your body like temple, come home to yourself & put your crown back on. You are a QUEEN step into your power.
