It All Started When... Reviewed

“It all started when...
”
Melissa Buxton
In my childhood I did ballet and dancing running very active only child , every day after school I was
dancing and at the weekend. I was always prancing around the living room at home, making up dances and
practicing handstands! I was deemed too tall for the Royal Academy of ballet tryouts, ending 14 years of
ballet disappointed.
I think it all started to go a wrong when I was in Sixth Form no longer participating in school physical
education and then out into the world of work. I didn’t have time to eat properly because I was so busy and I
didn’t really know how to cook properly for myself. I must point out here that it wasn’t for want of trying on
my mother’s part, I just wasn’t interested in learning. On top of that, I used to get very lonely, especially as
my friends moved away. Comfort eating became the norm for me. I was lucky I didn’t gain weight I just felt
very physically tired.
I hurt my back in the nineties when I was pregnant at twenty one newlywed. Lycra thong back leotards and
shiny Lycra cycle shorts in sweaty step classes were just not my bag anymore. I felt very connected to
having a good pregnancy and birth. The mid 90s was seeing a resurgence in more natural births using
natural methods. The gym I was artfully dodging with the dreaded direct debit tie in was offering pregnancy
yoga. I left my office in Leamington walked down the main parade to the gym , my thoughts were they are
going to burn joss sticks at least I’ll be able to snooze and at least it’s not blooming step reebok .
A fellow coworker I knew had agreed to come and we’d had a master plan to hide at the back of the class .
When we arrived a very happy non kaftan wearing instructor welcomed us the mats were set out in a circle
so no hiding . From that night I was hooked , I moved better, slept better and found an outlet to be calm in . I
practiced yoga anywhere I could throughout my twenties mostly pregnant ,mostly on a kitchen floor in
snatched children’s afternoon nap moments . All I needed was a mat . Sometimes a dvd or just my own
made up routine to a cd the children watched joined in and it felt fun.
I hit my 30s now having had five children and the investment banking career kicked in. Yoga became a
travel yoga mat in a hotel room using my laptop following some great people like Kino Ashtanga on
YouTube. It also became very social lots of School mums meeting for yoga and coffee, our teacher decided
to travel to India for a few months. A friend with a big swish house offered to host in her absence , I was
thrust forward as the bravest one to keep the mums in order. I loved it all my little routines started to make
sense I saw where I could adjust people to make them stronger than they believed they were .
Yoga to me is a way of life now. It has helped me achieve balance between my mind, my body and my
spirit. It has educated me about what my body is for and how I must look after it. Yoga has contributed to
my level of self-confidence and self-belief. Ref. XxxxMy life now has perspective. It’s extremely helpful
for my recent bipolar diagnosis.xxx A relaxed environment
Similarly, a calm or quiet workplace may help someone with bipolar feel more relaxed. Depending on the
individual, this may mean seeking out a company with a more laidback culture, a role that involves working
in a quiet environment, or both. Most bipolar books or websites state a yoga teacher is the best occupation.
So a happy coincidence!
I decided a long time ago that I wanted to do teacher training. I embarked on a foundation course with the
British Wheel of Yoga. I know that I can help people to become more aware, more mindful and to look after
themselves better, to appreciate themselves, to find courage, to let go of the little things and embrace the big
things.
Yoga is not about touching your toes. It is what you learn on the way down.”– Jigar Gor
I believe I have main qualities of a good yoga teacher as I’ve often put myself last working in a mysgontic
environment in banking. After all “Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” I think a
yoga teacher should be reachable. I’ve met yoga teachers who are ethereal. They waft into class and out
again like minor celebrities… I’m not like that. I’m me… and I don’t waft anywhere, nor do I own a kaftan
or regularly paint henna tattoos on my hands. I don’t exude a ‘more-yogi-than-thou’ attitude.
I think a good yoga teacher is attentive to the needs of their students, is encouraging, can relate to their
students… and most of all, lives in the real world.
My plan is to earn a living mainly as a yoga teacher I have a great home studio space and take inspiration
from my countryside surroundings.
Reference
1. West, M (2023) Medical News Today “ Jobs for people with bipolar disorder”
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/jobs-for-people-with-bipolar#best-jobs
.
2. Yoga is not about touching your toes. It is what you learn on the way down.”– Jigar Gor
3. A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda, 1896-1977. – The Bhagavad Gita. (The Bhagavad Gita is an
ancient scripture that narrates part of the story of Hinduism.) .”Yoga is the journey of the self, through
the self, to the self.” verse (BG 6.20)

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