Student of the Month - February 2026 - Howard
🌟🧘♀️STUDENT OF THE MONTH🧘♀️🌟
🌟February 2026 Student of the month is……. Howard Davis!
Howard is one of those students who quietly challenges the stereotype of who yoga is “for” and expands your idea of what a “yoga student” looks like. Retired, active, and arriving by bicycle, he comes fully prepared; mat, blocks, belt, everything on board and approaches his practice with genuine commitment. Always in his trademark corduroys, he’s unapologetically himself, which I absolutely love.
As Howard has shared, he originally came to yoga through an Age UK (formerly Age Concern UK) class that I later took on. It was a good class, offering important movement and connection, though it was largely practised seated in chairs. I’m a strong believer that when we can do things standing, it’s so valuable to do them standing. Weight-bearing, balance, and strength matter deeply as we age. That’s why it’s been such a joy to hear Howard say how much he now enjoys the warrior poses, strong standing postures that build confidence, stability, and a sense of capability. What’s equally important is that the class always works at individual capacity. Some people continue to use chairs, others explore standing options, and everyone is supported in finding what’s right for them. That mix allows people to feel safe while also being invited to grow, and it creates an atmosphere where everyone feels included and genuinely enjoys working together.
What stands out most in Howard’s journey is how much his proprioception has developed over time. Proprioception - our internal sense of where the body is in space - is something we rely on constantly, yet often don’t think about until it starts to fade. As we get older, it becomes essential for balance, coordination, confidence and ease in movement. Watching Howard become more grounded, more responsive, and more at ease in his body has been remarkable to observe.
He brings focus, curiosity, and a great sense of humour (as you’ll see from his answers!) into the room, reminding us that taking your practice seriously doesn’t mean losing your warmth. Howard is a wonderful example of how yoga supports not just strength and flexibility, but awareness - the kind that keeps us connected, capable, and moving well at every stage of life.
Tell us a little about yourself….
My name is Howard Davis. I am a mainly, but not entirely, retired lecturer. My wife and I came to West Coker in 2007 from Southampton, where we had been living and bringing up our two children; we now have two grandchildren. We both love living in this place.
How long have you been practicing yoga?
Hard to remember precisely. There was a class organised in the village by Age Concern. My wife joined the class, she had done yoga before, and I (to her surprise) went along. This was about 2010. This class closed and we were offered the opportunity, in about 2020, to join Lisa’s “gentle yoga”. So I have been practising yoga for about 15 years.
What made you start yoga?
Curiosity, I suppose.
What’s your favourite pose?
That’s a tricky one, most are challenging but satisfying. I like the standing up ones best, like the Warrior poses. They are physically demanding, their great challenge for me is balancing. On the other hand, I find some of the crossed leg poses difficult.
What’s your favourite prop?
Not sure there is one. On the contrary, I have a particular on-going animosity towards the belt; it is about time the beastly thing stopped having a mind of its own.
How has practicing yoga benefitted your life?
It is a sense of well-being that follows a class. The class is on a Monday morning, and it is always the case that after it one feels well set up for the week.
What makes you keep practicing?
The sense of well-being mentioned above. But there is also a pleasure from being part of the class. It is demanding and encouraging but at the same time friendly, welcoming and sensitive to individual strength and weaknesses.
Anything else you’d like to add?
I would like to praise the teacher but (a) this would seem like unspeakable crawling and (b) that is not the purpose of this questionnaire.
Thank you Howard for sharing your yoga journey with us!
Howard enjoying Virabhadrāsana 2
Howard cycles to class with his yoga kit
Another favourite - Virabhadrāsana 1