Today – 21 June 2019 – is International Yoga Day, a chance for people across the globe to celebrate both the internal and external positive effects of the practice. Here at Barefoot, we felt instead of searching around the world for more reasons to celebrate yoga, all the inspiration we needed was right here. Within these very walls. In the awe-inspiring stories we hear from local yogis each and every day.
A couple of weeks back, Claire told us about her recent experience starting yoga, and how it has helped her find balance and light in her life, particularly on the days when it was harder to seek out.
Here’s what Claire told us:
“I came here because my boss advised me to practise mindfulness, and suggested I enrolled on a course or got some books, but I chose yoga. I work for Macmillan Cancer Support with palliative/end of life cancer patients across Birmingham Hospitals and have been feeling very upset about sad patient cases.
Doing yoga this month straight after work before I drive home has really helped me – especially today’s class – it was so light, happy, free and positive by the way Sophie spoke and her uplifting music.
It made me feel empowered and uplifted, I feel I have found my old self again when it was getting lost in work. I am now a lighter me both for myself and my patients.
“Throughout school and university they teach us intelligence and how to make a living but no one teaches us how to be kind to ourselves or what peace is. What you are doing for people is priceless. Thank you so much.”
Thank you Claire for your inspiring words. Hearing stories like this, seeing how happy and restful everyone leaves the studios, we have more than enough reason to celebrate yoga on days such as today, and every day that follows.
Have a great weekend everyone,
Faye and the Barefoot team x
Cover photo by @Simon Crisp