Yoga for the Soul, by Wellness with Olive

"The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind & the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life.”

- B.K.S. Iyengar

The joy of creating and maintaining a happy, balanced and centred lifestyle is something I set out to do on a daily basis. There are many different ways one can achieve this, whether by choosing to have a balanced diet for your body and it’s needs, dedicating time in your day for a meditation or yoga practice, or simply by journaling all the moments you are grateful for. Taking time for yourself, no matter how small it may be, doesn’t only help you to grow as a person but it will help inspire and teach those around you to grow also.

Being a Yoga Teacher and Naturopath I regularly watch people’s lives achieve balance when they allow themselves to be deserving of self-love and self-care. It can take time and dedication, but once you find yourself on this journey and start to see all the positive changes in your life, you will always wonder why you didn’t start earlier.

I started my journey by training to be a Naturopath five years ago. I knew there was always a deep connection with food and our minds.   I wanted to learn, in-depth, how we can heal physically and emotionally by adapting our diets. This then led me down the most beautiful, life-changing path I have ever been on: the journey of yoga.

Each one of us is beautifully unique and my intention through teaching yoga has always been to help people find a real sense of equilibrium and empowerment within their mind, body, and soul. I believe that having both a healthy mind and body are deeply connected, and holding space for others to find this balance, harmony and overall wellness within their lives is of great importance to me.

Yoga is a constant journey of learning; learning as a student and learning as a teacher. The education that yoga provides makes it the most rewarding and honest aspect of my life. Yoga doesn’t judge, it doesn’t lay out any expectations, or leave you comparing yourself to others. It doesn’t matter how you find yourself connected with yoga - maybe it’s to exercise more, or perhaps you want to wear that pair of yoga pants that have been collecting dust in the back of your wardrobe. Whatever your reason is for finding your practice, yoga will always lead you on to something far higher and more profound. There are so many lessons to learn, but I find that yoga teaches us how to be and stay present in each moment through the connection of movement and breath work. You do not have to be a specific ‘type’ of person to practice; you simply have to just be.

Mindfulness can be daunting as there are so many different avenues to explore. I can guarantee that by making the active choice to try something new, you will grow and find balance in the manic, fast-paced world in which we reside.

The purity and strength I find through teaching and practicing yoga truly inspires me and awakens me daily to the change we can make to ourselves and society as a whole, simply by elevating our state of relaxation and gratitude.

My ethos on life is to support, empower and ultimately inspire one another to live the best life we can. Working with one-on-one work clients has taught me how to help them feel safe and grounded in what can sometimes be a vulnerable experience.

To help others, we must first help ourselves. Self-care cannot be valued enough, so set some time aside and try these simple activities:

1. Roll out your yoga mat, sit calmly and breathe.
2. Open up a new journal and set your intentions for the day.
3. Try that new recipe you’ve been looking forward to making.
4. Run a bath, light some candles and enjoy the silence.
5. Practice savasana: Lie on your back, comfortably open your arms and legs with the palms facing the ceiling. Close your eyes.

Do something today that is solely for your wellbeing - dedicate time to you and let your body, mind, and soul reap the rewards.

Olive teaches weekly yoga classes at Yoga Life Studio, Eastbourne, in addition to private one-on-one sessions.

Find more information at www.wellnesswitholive.com, plus daily affirmations at https://www.instagram.com/wellnesswitholive/