Inspiration

Where can we find inspiration? Everyone is different, some use others such as celebrities, family or friends, some use quotes, vlogs, blogs and some inspired them self to make a change or improve their lifestyle. Someone that inspires me every day is my amazing Nan! She has always been fit and heathy and is definitely an inspiration! Her fitness journey started naturally and tells me “it’s never too late to get started”. Nan has always enjoyed walking, running and cycling, which was the way she used to get about, it was not thought to be ‘fitness’. By copying her brothers, she taught herself to swim, following them down to the sand pit and jumping into the water. Swimming has always been a big part of my family’s life. Nan took her 5 children swimming so they could learn to swim safely, they then progressed to competitive swimming, starting them off on their fitness journey. In her late thirties Nan started teaching swimming and continued to do so for 33 years. At 50 she qualified as an Aerobics Instructor and continued teaching until she was 81! Now at 84 she tells me “the day is not complete without a long walk or swim, I do something every day” today she was up and walking at 6:30am and said, “it’s worth the effort for the feel good afterwards, sets you up for the day”. She enjoys filling her time with activity such as Yoga and Pilates, power walking, swimming and gardening, growing tomatoes, beans, radish and rhubarb. Telling me to “eat healthy but there is nothing wrong with having a treat” she had just baked some cranberry muffins and fruit scones. She has had many adventures, including cycling most of Europe, Kenya, Cuba and Germany where she completed a 3-week tour. Ran a half marathon, started skiing at 50 and got hooked regularly skiing until 70, at 70 climbed the 3 Peeks in 36 hours to raise money for the railway children charity and at 80 zip wired in Mexico she told me it was “good fun”. Nan you truly are Incredible!

Who inspires you and why?

Massage Relaxation

The mind has the power to relax the whole body. This relaxation will help you to relax your body but keep your mind focussed realising any tension. This is the perfect practice before going to sleep or after a workout. I have also included a practice to help unblock the chakras.

Massage Relaxation; Start by laying in a comfortable position. If you are laying on your back, you can place a pillow under your head for more comfort and bend your knees if you need to support your lower back. Bring your awareness to your body. Scan your body. How does your physical body feel?  Notice areas of tension, tenderness or discomfort. Allow those areas to soften and adjust your position if needed. Take 5 or more deeper breaths. Use the exhale to let go. Stay here as long as you need. Then allow your breath to flow naturally. Bring your awareness to your feet visualise you are receiving a massage, massaging the souls of your feet. Feel your feet relax and soften. Bring your awareness to your lower legs visualise you are receiving a massage, massaging your lower legs. Feel your lower legs relax and soften. Bring your awareness to your … massaging your … Feel your… relax and soften.

  • Upper legs
  • Back
  • Shoulders
  • Arms
  • Hands
  • Neck

Feel your whole body relax and soften. If there are any areas in your body, where you hold more tension, spend longer in that area.

Active Massage; If you wish to practice an active relaxation, start standing in a relaxed Mountain pose “Tadasana”. Feet parallel, hip width apart or together. Stand tall lifting and lengthening through your body. Relax your shoulders and rest your arms at your side. Close your eyes and connect with your body, noticing how you feel. With your hand in a fist, create rolling movements using your knuckles to massage down your arm to your hand and then do the same with the other arm. Lightly pat away any tension in your upper body, staring at your shoulders, working towards your collar bones, moving down your chest to your ribs and belly. Now use your thumbs to massage your lower back. When you are ready again with your hands in a fist, create circular movements down your legs. Go down as low as you feel comfortable. Finish by massaging your head by using your fingertips. Gently tap, so it feels as if raindrops are falling, cleansing your body and mind.

Charka Massage; We can also use a hand Massage to help balance the chakras, do this massage on both hands. Use pressure on shown points, using your thumb to gently massage in a clockwise motion. Start with the base Chakra (red) working towards the crown chakra (violet). If there is pain or discomfort add slightly more pressure on this point to help unblock that chakra.

My Journey to Teaching

I definitely didn’t wake up one day and think I’m going to be a Yoga, Pilates and Barre fitness instructor. I wanted a career on the stage, performing in musical theatre. When I was 16 mum encouraged to get my first teaching qualification in Level 2 Exercise to music. I have always been confident, even at a young age and mum knew I would be able to lead a group of people in an exercise class. I found the practical easy, picking steps up quickly and choreographing my own routines, however I’m dyslectic and really struggled to complete the anatomy and physiology theory paper. On my 3rd attempt I was given a reader and at long last I PASSED! I just needed a little help. I then started collage and studied Musical Theatre. Whilst in college I started lifeguarding for a local sport centre where my dad taught swimming. I didn’t mind the job, but I knew it was not what I wanted for the rest of my life. Throughout collage teachers would say, “what is your goal Adriana, you need to prepare for uni” I knew in my heart Uni was not for me. I started to feel quite lost and experienced a knock in my confidence after an unhealthy relationship. I didn’t feel myself and was unsure who I was supposed to be. I took a break and went travelling. I worked 2 ski seasons in the French Alps. There’s something about the mountains that’s so peaceful and beautiful. I met some amazing people from all over the world, who are still in my life today. Between seasons I had my favourite adventure with my sister Charlotte. We travelled to Bali for a holiday of a lifetime. Bali is a very spiritual place with lovely people. We had so many incredible experiences including scuba diving, snorkelling, surfing, seeing wild dolphins, visiting temples and even meeting the locals for a cooking lesson. I felt happy and regained my confidence, I was once again, full of energy and felt blessed to have these opportunities and experiences.  As part of the same summer, I went to Greece, which has a special place in my family’s hearts. We return to a little island named Poros every year. I feel I have spiritual connection with the island and the people. It was at the end of the summer, I decided to progress my teaching and get a Level 3 Pilates qualification. My mum had started her own business and I would be able to teach for her. I was able to start teaching Pilates straight after qualifying and then with my ETM and ballet training, I was able to start running barre classes for mum and other studios. I loved teaching and it was suggested I train as a Yoga teacher but I was not sure, it had never really interested me and the spiritual side scared me. In the summer of 2018 I started my Yoga journey. I learnt that Yoga is not a religion but a beautiful lifestyle, the spirt was nothing to be scared of but something to embrace and the physical practice (asana) was only one part of the practice created to help balance and understand the physical body. I felt as if light was shining down on me, filling me with purpose and guiding me into this new world of Yoga. I was ready to share the knowledge I had with the world and start working on my own practice. I started teaching more classes and found my lifeguarding shifts where clashing with my dream to teach full time. So decided to stop lifeguarding and to build a teaching career, this felt great. Doors started opening for me with other studios and I soon realised this is what I want to do full time. At the time, I didn’t have enough classes to earn a living and unless you know someone to introduce you, it’s not easy getting your name on the cover list to teach at new gyms or studios. I found out that the Fitness Industry is not always welcoming even-though we should be working together to build a network. I am currently teaching swimming, Yoga, Pilates and Barre Pilates, as well as managing a Yoga studio. I now earn enough to support myself.

I work every day although it does not feel like working! I still have time to improve my own practice and plan what I need for classes. I enjoy going to classes to continue to grow as a teacher and a person. I have an interest in crystals and wish to learn more about this Yogi world.

What have I learnt so far? That everything happens for a reason even if at the time you don’t see it and with each experience we become stronger and wiser. We are all on a path and the universe will guide us if we let it. Do the things that make you happy and stay connected with the people you love.

My next trip is to Thailand. I look forward to sharing my travelling journey with you.