When I was 20 years old I had a head injury that almost ended my life. In some ways it made me appreciate how fragile and precious life is and it also made me start thinking more about the impact I was having on others and the planet. While I have consistently done things that are harmful and upsetting to others I am working to become more aware and mindful of the choices I am making, in order to be kinder and more considerate. I am grateful for all the people that have inspired me to change and demonstrated that transformation is possible.
Ten years ago our son was born, after his birth I feel I became much more aware of the suffering of others, many things that were already in the back of mind made their way to the front and stayed there. I knew I was consuming products that were harming animals, people and ecosystems—for his sake and for the sake of the children of the future I knew I wanted to stop knowingly funding abusive practices and industries. Shortly after he was born I began practising Yoga, three years later I started teaching.
Yoga is more than a practice of physical postures; it is a path to awakening our hearts and minds, and altering our actions. My teaching is grounded in a deep aspiration: to help build a world where all sentient beings—human and animal alike—are free from suffering, abuse, and exploitation. This is not just a personal goal but a universal one, rooted in the core teachings of yoga and the values we all hold dear—kindness, honesty, progress, and self-reflection.
The practice of yoga invites us to see beyond ourselves, to cultivate awareness of how our thoughts, words, and actions ripple outwards. It encourages us to let go of traits that cause harm—stubbornness, ignorance, violence, and selfishness—and to instead nurture the qualities that lead to greater compassion, understanding, and peace.
Avoiding exploitation of all other sentient beings is one of the ways I try to live this teaching, aligning my life with the principle of non-violence (ahimsa). It is a step towards reducing suffering in the world and rejecting violence and abuse. This, for me, is what it means to live with integrity and act compassionately.
Every day I try to consider just how precious life is and I reflect on this advice from the Dalai Lama:
"Every day, think as you wake up: Today I am fortunate to be alive. I have a precious human life; I am not going to waste it. I will use my energy to develop myself, to expand my heart to others, and to work towards enlightenment for the benefit of all beings. I will think kind thoughts, avoid anger, and seek to benefit others as much as I can."
These words remind me to stay grounded in my intention to live with kindness and to be of service to others. Yoga is a practice that helps us to continually return to this place of openness, where we can pause and reflect on the impact we are having on the world. It teaches us to be gentle with ourselves and others, to be awake to the ways we might cause harm, and to choose instead to nurture peace.
My role as a teacher is to hold space for others to explore this path of self-awareness and compassion. I hope to offer a practice that not only supports people in their own lives but encourages them to recognise their deep connection to all living beings. In doing so, we can begin to cultivate a world where we live in harmony with one another, with nature, and with the animals we share this planet with.
Participation in exploitation and violence is indicative of our inability to think because it replaces reasoned problem-solving and kindness with impulsive, selfish, destructive actions.
Through reflection, awareness, and a commitment to non-harm, we can learn to look beyond ourselves and each contribute to a future where all beings are free from suffering. Yoga offers us the tools to transform our inner world, and through this inner transformation, we can help to create the conditions for outer change—a world where compassion, kindness, and peace can flourish for all.