YOGA
CHANGED
MY LIFE
Yoga helped Julie Simpson face
big decisions and changes in her
life with greater confidence
Why did you start yoga
I really only started yoga because the volume of running in my job
was starting to take its toll on my not-so-young body. I needed
more flexibility in my training and wanted to diversify and grow my
business. I had no idea I was going to love yoga for the way it made
me breathe better and reduce my anxiety levels.
Favourite yoga haunts
I’ve not had much opportunity to indulge in retreats and workshops
as my last 10 years have been busy with raising three young children
and growing my business. However, I love doing yoga outdoors given
any opportunity – in the forest, the beach or in my back garden.
I have a clear picture of the studio I want to build, surrounded by
green space and forest and with a panoramic view to indulge in (not
unlike the setting of my teacher training in Aberfoyle).
How has yoga changed your life
Since my training I’m way more confident and relaxed than I’ve ever
been in my life. I’ve always been the person that was highly strung
and needed long runs to help me relax. Yoga has helped me see
the person I am and to be brave enough to make big changes in
my life. I’d longed for a third child and after my teacher training I
was able to bring the subject up. I don’t think my last child would’ve
been otherwise! And without yoga I don’t think I’d have coped with a
difficult divorce over the last two years, stayed okay for my kids and
remained positive about the future of my business.
om beginnings
Best yoga moments
I couldn’t believe the response to my first class when around 25
locals turned up. For me the gratitude from students at the end of
a class always reminds me how fortunate I am to have gone along
this path. I also teach yoga at Maggies Centres in the Glasgow area
and feel overwhelmed with being able to support and help people
undergoing treatment for cancer and beyond. Together with Julie
Robinson (Jumbled Up Productions) we created a 30-min DVD to
raise funds for Maggies Lanarkshire. I wouldn’t have dreamed I could
put myself in front of a camera and it’s great to hear how the DVD
has been changing lives. Teaching my last ante-natal yoga class two
days before my last son was born was also quite humbling.Anything else
I am a reiki level two practitioner
and find yoga and reiki work well
together in my classes. I can feel
the reiki energy flowing through
me as I teach. Yoga has taken not
only my personal development
to another place but my business
too. I run workshops on ‘yoga and
weight management’ where I use
my CBT experience and nutrition
background to help people change
their lifestyle and thought patterns.NAME: Julie Simpson
AGE: 44
OCCUPATION: Owner of Absolute
Wellness
YOGA YEARS: 7 + (as a teacher)