Student of the Month - February 2025 - Karen

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👩‍🎓🎓🌟STUDENT OF THE MONTH🌟🎓👩‍🎓

February 2025 ‘Student of the Month’ is……….. Karen Hayter!

Karen attends two classes a week and is committed to her practice. In the relatively short time I’ve had the pleasure to teach her it has been wonderful to watch her postures develop. She approaches each asana  with focus, self awareness and a healthy balance of courage and caution.  Karen has built her confidence to such an extent that she now practices headstand and shoulderstand and is happy to give anything a try, which is testament to her consistent attendance at classes. Well done Karen and a special thank you for all your help getting the hall ready before the class starts!

❓Tell us a little about yourself …………………

 🧘🏻My name is Karen and I’m 62. I was lucky enough to retire early from a career as a microbiologist working in NHS laboratories and in the private sector where I worked closely with the NHS, mostly teaching lab staff how to use new technology. My time now is spent looking after my husband, caring for my 90 year old mum and walking my beloved spaniel Tilly.

❓How long have you been practicing yoga?……………

🧘🏻I first tried yoga back in my 20’s but drifted away from it in favour of the 80’s crazy for aerobics. I revisited yoga a few times on holidays on my 30’s. Life then became more erratic as I travelled a lot for work and I couldn’t attend any regular classes. When I retired in my 50’s I looked for a yoga class but could not find a good teacher and along the way I discovered Pilates and loved it. My Pilates teacher was fantastic but had to give up teaching for family reasons. We then moved from Wiltshire to Yeovil so I was back to square one looking for an exercise class. Initially I looked for Pilates classes but I heard about Lisa and decided to give it a try. That was about 2 ½ years ago and I now do two classes a week and am hooked.

❓What made you start yoga?…………….

🧘🏻I can’t remember why I started yoga the first time around but when I retired, I felt I needed a regular exercise class that would stretch me (literally and figuratively!) but which was not high impact as some of my joints are already showing a bit of wear and tear. I also love the meditative aspect of yoga and the opportunity to shut out the rest of life for a couple of hours each week.

❓What’s your favourite pose?………….

🧘🏻I’m not sure I have an all-time favourite but I do like a good open twist and I am partial to a Ghomukasana (but I confess that’s largely due to pride that I can still do it….for which I apologise because that’s probably not very yoga-ish!)

❓And what’s your favourite prop?……

🧘🏻I suppose I have to say my blocks are the most useful prop as I do struggle with seated forward bends.

❓How has practicing yoga benefitted your life?………………

🧘🏻I feel like I am learning how to use my body properly and to keep it in working condition. I have recently been diagnosed with a hip problem which is bad enough (on the x-ray) to consider having a hip replacement. However, the mobility and functionality of the joint is too good at present to justify the inherent risks of joint replacement. The doctor told me the best thing I can do is to continue with my yoga and regular walking as they are keeping all my joints as healthy as they can be. 

I also have a very old whiplash injury which has plagued me for over 30 years, usually flaring up and causing neck and shoulder problems once or twice a year, even through my Pilates years. Since starting Lisa’s classes I haven’t felt the need to find a chiropractor, physio or osteopath for any neck or shoulder problems.

❓What makes you keep practicing?……………….

🧘🏻It might not sound very noble of me but one of the big drivers that keeps me practicing is my mum’s frailty. Mum is 90 and has many complex health conditions, she still does a bit of gardening and used to walk her dog until she was in her 80’s but her overall fitness and posture have suffered significantly, I’m sure in part due to a lack of all-round exercise.

❓Anything else you’d like to add?…………..

🧘🏻I have never been very good at any sports. I didn’t dislike sport but became despondent because I was never good enough to play team games. As an adult I tried the gym but got bored and didn’t like the macho atmosphere around the use of equipment. I tried jogging but the high impact was hard on my joints and cycling was not enjoyable because I wasn’t confident in traffic. Yoga is my ideal exercise. I’m not in competition with anyone, I can’t let anyone down except myself, I can take encouragement from my own gains, however small, and I can take it at my own pace. Lisa is brilliant at adapting postures for individual weaknesses, injuries etc and her meticulous descriptions on exactly how (and how NOT) to achieve any given posture are exactly what I need to get the most out for her classes.

❤️Well done Karen and thank you for sharing your yoga journey with us 🙏🏼

Karen enjoying Marichyasana 1

Karen’s favourite Ghomukāsana (arms)