YOU Magazine | 17
found e in the sun Broga classes – boys’-only yoga – after she began to question whether local males would feel comfortable coming to her mixed sessions. It’s proven to be a hit. While the first year of development has been positive, she has had to reassess the market and adapt her schedule along the way. “We’ve done a lot of class changes,” she says. “Probably the most interesting thing for me has been that the more physical classes have actually not been as popular as I thought they would be. I felt that people are quite drawn to yoga because of the physical practice, so I pitched that, but they’ve been pared back and there’s a bit more space for some spirituality in there, which is perfect, that’s what yoga ‘is’.” She’s also been taken aback by the self-doubt that creeps into some people’s minds and works hard to build confidence, self-esteem and belief in everyone’s abilities. For this reason, some people choose to go privately where Katie can nurture them in a one-to-one environment. “I have to remind people that, 90 per cent of you are here with two arms and two legs, and, you know, a full beating
Needy pregnant golden labrador Bear may not make yoga very easy, but she certainly makes for some photogenic and amusing moments. The chocolate dog (above centre) is a springer spaniel/labrador x called Vedder.
heart,” she says. “That in itself is all you really need to start here in this particular class. Some still haven’t stepped over the threshold, but are curious. “If you can get yourself dressed; you can do yoga! People really doubt their physical abilities and I think it might be that social media aspect where all everybody ever sees is people doing splits!” Katie is the first to see past the image side of yoga and to the real heart and core of the practice. After all, the day she stumbled into a yoga studio changed her life. Growing up on a farm in Norwich, East Anglia, Katie had big plans to be a professional dancer. Training classically for 15 years, she soon moved into contemporary dance and was working towards a degree programme. But, when she was 17, a horse riding accident made her reassess everything. Competing in a show jumping event, she got the approach wrong and the horse landed on top of her. Thankfully, she wasn’t too badly injured, but during her rehabilitation period nothing was really hitting the mark in allowing
her hip to release. Years later, Katie came across a yoga studio, which, she says after a series of sessions, released her hip and allowed more space for movement. “After learning more about the practice, I soon realised that not all the tension held in here was physical, explaining why physiotherapists and chiropractors couldn’t physically help my progress any further. There were a lot of emotions that had been stored in there and yoga held the space to release these,” she says. “I think everyone goes through something during their teenage years, it’s traumatic in one sense or another.” Katie went on to become a licensed dance teacher (IDTA), and completed a degree in Sports Conditioning, Rehabilitation and Massage (BSc Hons), both of which mean her teaching style has an in-depth approach to the body’s movement and alignment. She soon found herself on a plane bound for New Zealand, and, alongside some travel, she worked with Southern Rugby as a fitness coach for a season and in the dairy industry. continued over page