Yoga With Charmaine

Dear reader,

Thank you so much for visiting my little corner of the internet. Your interest means the world to me, even though it’s just “me” sharing my journey.

As this is my first blog post, I’d like to reintroduce myself. I’m 25 years old and currently live in Hull, UK, though I grew up in the coastal town of Hornsea. I hold a First Class Honours degree in Criminology, and I’m the proud owner of a 12-year-old toy poodle named Sooty. I share my life with my boyfriend, Danny, and my sister Nicola, affectionately known as Pooc. There’s more to my story, but we’ll save that for future posts.

I started this blog not just to promote my yoga classes but also to document my journey through something both exciting and challenging—my Yoga Teacher Training. I’m halfway through my 200-hour training program and have led about 13 classes so far. The experience is humbling, and I often find myself grappling with imposter syndrome. But I’m learning to embrace change, as this path is something I’ve chosen and deeply desire.

Currently, I work in the Criminal Justice System, a field I’ve been in for nearly two years since graduating. During this time, I’ve faced significant challenges, including a six-month break due to undiagnosed and untreated C-PTSD, exacerbated by incidents at work. Completing EMDR therapy has been a crucial step in my healing journey, and now I’m fully committed to building my yoga practice, even though it can be exhausting.

For my first post, I want to share a reflection from my yoga course that has been particularly resonant for me, especially during times of struggle:

“Pain is not an indicator to push harder or quit; Pain is the signal that something needs to change; Your quest is to find out what needs to change”.

This concept has guided me through many personal and professional challenges. It reminds me to pause, reassess, and adjust my approach rather than simply pushing through discomfort.

Reflection Prompts:

What are your physical actions when struggling?

• Withdrawing from life and friendships.
• Engaging in self-sabotaging behaviours like binge drinking or restrictive eating.
• Avoiding movement, despite loving it.

How do you react in challenging dialogues?

• Rapid breathing leading to panic.
• Tense facial muscles causing migraines.

What poses do you struggle with?

• Balances, especially due to dizziness on my left side.
• Maintaining strength and integrity when tired.

What are your beliefs about struggle and accomplishments?

• I used to believe that one must struggle without asking for help to claim true ownership of their accomplishments.
• I feared appearing weak.
• I’ve learned that another person’s accomplishments do not diminish my own.

What would be a more effective way to work through a complex pose?

• Deepen the breath.
• Focus on the challenge at hand.
• Maintain a confident inner dialogue.
• Back off when necessary and stay true to oneself.

Thank you for reading and for being part of this journey with me. Your presence here means more than you know. Until next time, stay grounded, breathe deeply, and embrace each moment with grace.

Namaste,

Charmaine