"The heaviest weight at the gym is at the front door."

- Ed Latimore (Boxer)

As this newsletter goes out (tech-willing!), I should be on a plane to Goa - sleeping, drooling, dreaming? Feeling unsure about stopping class for three consecutive weeks, I considered teaching from India. However, I can't entirely rely on my internet connection, so I have decided against it!

But no fear, there is no break to the usual Saturday morning schedule - classes are still running with cover while I am away. If you carve out this time regularly, please continue to come and enjoy this shared space that exists for your practice.

The Hardest Part (is Showing Up)

I think it's a good time to reflect on one of the most important and challenging aspects of yoga practice: showing up.

I've been thinking about it lately because of my planned absence and after seeing students' faces through Zoom last week. During last week's class, I was thrilled to see new names (welcome, always welcome), old friends who returned after some time away, and regular attendees who come every week.

Whether you're a first-timer, an intermittent dabbler, or a regular, I can't express how happy I am to see you there. Of course, I'm delighted you would ever choose to join me, but it's more than that. Your presence means something significant.

Showing up Once

Taking steps to improve your well-being, even just once, is a big deal. It could be attending a yoga class or engaging in any other positive activity - making time for yourself is essential. However, it can be challenging for many of us to prioritise self-care amidst our busy schedules and responsibilities.

Trying something new can also be daunting, requiring us to overcome doubts and fears, make sacrifices, and embrace change. It takes effort and momentum to push past these barriers and choose what we know might be good for us.

But showing up somewhere somehow means we've listened to a part of us that whispers, "You're worth it."

Showing up Twice

You might think showing up once is the hardest part. In a way, it is, and it isn't.

Showing up twice or returning to something after a break isn't much easier. Equally challenging can be trying to make time again when you think you have none or being frustrated when you can't show up and really want to. Repetition accepts the challenges of a regular commitment to effort and maybe even boredom, plateaus and resistance. It may also cost you time and money.

We put faith in a process and an understanding that simply showing up is valuable. Little by little, showing up for yourself reveals its colours, bright and true. It leads to comfort and mastery, routine and revelation. It's maintenance; it's sanity; it's self-respect; it's resilience; it's connection; it's a long-term investment in health.

Showing up for You

The beauty of a live class is that it helps us show up when we need assistance. When you have a time and place and other people to be accountable to, the 'gym door' becomes a little easier to swing open.

So, on to cover for the next few weeks. Now, don't roll your eyes when you see the word, cover, and instantly rule out coming to class. Cover teachers are fantastic. They are helping you to show up consistently and helping out a fellow teacher. They show up themselves - bright, energetic, ready and there for you, despite a few possible dirty looks!

They might even finish the class on time (unlike some teachers 😛)

So let's get excited!

I've asked an incredible teacher to guide you. Penny teaches online, in person and 121. We trained together to become yoga teachers and have been buddies ever since, pouring and obsessing over our teaching methods and experiences for hours during our training and for years after. She is one of the most dedicated and thorough teachers I know, and I am very thankful to her for agreeing to stand in, in the interests of consistency.

I genuinely think you are in for a fabulous treat. Her unique offering and expertise include additional training in Yoga for Cancer, Yoga for Menopause and Pelvic Floor, and Restorative yoga.

And if you're still unsure, I'd like to suggest that any new teacher is a gift. There is always something to learn from every teacher and every class - I firmly believe this, even if what you learn is that it's never a bad idea to spend time on a bit of self-care. And you know, once upon a time, your favourite teacher was a new teacher you just happened to come across one day 🤩

I know it can be hard to show up once, twice or many times—the hardest yet the most transformative thing you can do.

Your teachers (human ones and, of course, the real teacher - yoga itself) are waiting for you.

And all things being well, my love letter next week will come to you from the home of yoga - India.

In the meantime, enjoy your practice.