Here's a little about me
Born in 1966
Grateful to be living a healthy life
- and sort of enjoying my changing
face and body (Lie)
ha ha ha : )
My fitness career started 32 years ago,
when I taught aerobic classes in Melton Mowbray.
It was a shared business named
'The Hot Spot'
Classes were busy, and great fun!
...I used to have quite a spotty face
at that time and my
'then'
boyfriend, said
'Why don't you just call it spot-ties'
.. I wonder??
I stopped teaching after I married and
started a family; choosing to be a
full time Mum. My class members
asked me when, or if I'd return.
I told them if I ever returned to
teaching fitness... it would be
to teach Yoga.
'Yoga?' They questioned
... Then fell about laughing!
Yoga wasn't a local thing at that time
and certainly not accessible in a
small market town
Thing is - during the following years I
began to suffer from really bad back pain.
I got to the point where I wouldn't stand
if I could sit and I wouldn't sit if I
could lay down.
I was diagnosed with a spinal disease
called Ankylosing Spondylitis. and was
pretty distraught to be honest, as I'd
always been into fitness, but was
finding I was doing less and less due to the constant
pain I was experiencing.
I become more and more sedentary
with a fear of what was happening,
and whatever it was, was slowly
getting worse. I started to feel
miserable and
negative. I became overweight and
untoned.
Around that time, my daughter was also diagnosed with a serious eye condition.
It was a big shock and a big change
to our lives. As a family, we traveled
to London once, and often
twice a week for many years.
Ellie had 10 operations in all. It was
stressful and worrying and possibly
due to the worry and stress of
not only Ellie's condition, but the effect
it was having on our son Seb, too.
Meanwhile my pain continued to
get worse.
To cut a very long story short, doctors at Moorfields Eye Hospital
saved Ellie from losing her sight altogether, which
brought on a massive
feeling
of wanting to 'give back' somehow
to society.
So I attended a selection day and
was chosen to train
as a listener for Samaritans, giving
some of my time
working from their local office in
Grantham; which two years later,
led me to enquire, train and qualify
as a Life Coach or Personal
Performance Coach
Meanwhile, I became obsessed with
how I'd end up with the 'disease' I had,
and pain I felt.
I had private specialist appointments
and lot's of medical intervention
including wearing elasticated belts and
painful spinal and hip injections. Neither worked for me.
I was advised NOT to practice Yoga
because I was also told I was
hyper mobile which was confusing, as
it's a full contradiction to the disease
I was diagnosed
Note: My advice on NO YOGA was
shared with a positive intent
- however my Dr. clearly didn't realise
there are different styles of Yoga
which help us in different ways,
Plus he was
definitely not a Yogi
I became frustrated, as even the
supposedly 'life changing' injections
didn't appear to work.
Anyway ...One day I had a bit of a
strange thought.
I thought 'If I were an animal ...I would get eaten!' Literally!
So ... I made the decision to do
something, and that something
was to start practicing Yoga
(I was past caring at this
stage) and it was sheer luck,
mixed with ignorance, that I joined
a 'Yang' style of Yoga.
(A 'Yang' style of yoga helps
create strength)
It made sense that our bodies
need movement and core stability to live a
normal physical life.
My Coach training was centred around personal growth, personal
responsibility and taking small steps forward. So I put that learning
into practice.
At the beginning it was uncomfortable
as I was both stiff AND weak
- especially in my hips.
Very gradually, I started to feel different
and most importantly
'stronger', both physically and mentally.
I realised that not only physically
I was challenged, but the worry about our daughter also had
its effects on me - mentally.
Twelve months after 'throwing myself in'
and committing to my body,
my pain began to disappear. It was
like magic ...it really was.
(When your pain disappears you
struggle to remember what the
pain felt like).
For a few years I had regular 90 minute
MRI scans however in 2017
my results showed that the 'disease'
I had been repeatedly diagnosed;
showed no
markers at all!
... Now there are many variables I realise.
Do I have it now?
Did I have it at all? Was I repeatedly misdiagnosed? Did the disease
burn itself out? Do I still have it,
but it doesn't present itself due to my practice? I have no idea?
As you might imagine - I was thrilled
and sold on the practice of Yoga.
So I continue to practice Yoga daily and continue to
be pain free : )
Result!!
I made the decision to use my previous teaching experience and
knowledge, upgrade it, add my Personal
Development/Life Coaching learning and insight, and train to
become
the Yoga teacher I said I would be. Yay!
I booked a hall before I left,
(For my first Yoga Class on my return),
and then travelled to India alone, and
lived and breathed Ashtanga 'Yang'
Yoga for five weeks; residing in a little
green wooden shed by the sea
with 23 lovely souls - all complete
stranger (But not for long).
There, I gained my accreditation with
Yoga Alliance which is the foundation
and start of my ongoing Yoga learning.
I continue to Read, View, Challenge, Critique, Listen and Practice every
day and it's a privilege to share
my learning with you
I remain humble knowing there are
many others who know so much more
than myself about this incredible
practice. I am a lifetime student,
just the same as anyone else
My daughter Eleanor continues to battle on. Now 29 and in her 23rd year
of living with her condition. She still
visits QMC in Nottingham
and Moorfields Eye Hospital in London.
Ellie has monthly invasive treatments
and continual medication.
She manages a restaurant in Leeds and
does it brilliantly.
My son Seb, meanwhile is training for
his first Ironman ace.
He's a machine and doesn't seem to
get puffed out!
Three years ago, I moved to the Northern Beaches in Sydney, where I had the
opportunity to work with some
incredible Yogis.
I've learned from many other instructors and indulged in Yoga retreats
and a rather impressive Buddhist day
I even pumped into one of my
Yoga teachers from India whilst attending
a class in Sydney!
Life is marketplace of learning
Disclaimer
My back pain success story is unique to me. At no point can, or should I,
recommend this to you. Please use
your own diligence and with that,
I recommend that you visit your
practitioner or specialist should you have recently developed joint or muscular pain,
before embarking on your Yoga journey.
Thankfully, there is a lot of positivity
around the practice of Yoga today.
It is now frequently recommended by doctors, Physiotherapists and
Mental Health Experts .
I have found that my own practice has changed over time, to something
much deeper; to the point where I have sat
on my mat and been very honest with
myself and what I want from
my life and my own happiness.
If you commit to your practice, the way
you think will change, your
actions will change and possibly your
life will change too.
Embrace Change
Change is the only thing we can
be sure of.
Resilience is taught on our mats
Your Yoga practice will support you more than you might currently think
I'm Plant based and cook everything
from scratch. It's all about the veg for me! I'm literally like a compost bin. I love being out and about with my little dog Derek. I enjoy painting & writing and consider myself a 'creative'. A massive lover of the outdoors and nature. . Lastly, I'll freely admit I'm obsessed with my hair! : )
.... I'm looking forward to meeting you
Manda's Yoga classes are fantastic. I'm a complete beginner and Manda's patient, Informative style has
helped me make progress after only few weeks. Like many my age (48) I have various injuries and weaknesses. Manda has given me knowledgeable and practical advice to ensure my body is protected during the unfamiliar movements.
My posture has improved noticeably and long term intermittent hip pain has reduced significantly.
Her classes are good fun too!!
Sasha, 48 Years of age
Melton Mowbray
I love, love, loved my Thursday evening classes in Narrabean. Not only was it my favourite time of the week, but after an hours worth of Yin Yoga, I slept like a sloth!
Manda's classes are professional yet friendly and also fun - but not silly. I would recommend her to anyone who needs to relax more. Brilliant teacher. Love her
Claire 52 Years of age.
Narrabean, Northern Beaches
