7 minute read
Health & Wellbeing
By Dan Goater
dan@westdorsetmag.co.uk A globe-trotting yoga teacher who won Channel 4’s reality TV show Shipwrecked is now sharing her passion for the exercise with the people of Portland. Victoria Boast spent three years in Shanghai learning yoga, eventually qualifying with both the UK and US Yoga Alliances to teach classes on both sides of the Atlantic. As an early adopter of what many now call the ‘hustle culture’, when Vicky is not busy teaching yoga, she crafts and sells her own leather goods and works part-time as a commercial officer for the MoD. “I really like being my own boss,” says Vicky, owner and operator of Sida Yoga. “Working nine to five is great for the security and reliable income it brings, but I really like the feeling of knowing that I earn every pound I make. “If I work a 15-hour day then I know I will be rewarded for 15 hours of effort. “Lots of people had to adapt to working that way – keeping lots of plates spinning – during the covid lockdown but I was already kind of used to it, maybe that helped me adapt a bit faster.” Victoria leads yoga sessions for people of all ability levels on Portland four times a week as well as virtual one-to-one and group sessions online. “I think with times being tight now people look at their budgets for things like the gym or yoga as an expense to be cut, but it’s probably the last thing you should cut. “Yoga is so good for your mental and physical wellbeing – it’s important to keep that up, especially when times are tough.” Victoria’s interest in yoga blossomed when she was living in China between 2012 and 2015. “Because my previous job was listed as ‘journalist’ I was not allowed to work on my visa while I was out there with my partner Paul,” she said. “Rather than just living a ‘desperate housewife’ type lifestyle I decided to improve myself. I took courses in yoga and eventually clocked up 200 hours so I could qualify as a starter level instructor. “I wanted to set myself apart a bit, so I’ve now clocked up more than 800 hours and am now considered a senior yoga teacher. “While I was in China I also took business courses and leather-crafting classes, so I now also make and sell my own leather goods, although that really is just a side business right at the moment.” Never one for standing still (unless it’s in a yoga position) Victoria got an early taste for travel after she successfully applied to appear on Channel 4 reality show Shipwrecked in 2009. The show saw two teams – the Tigers and the Sharks – competing to see who could build the biggest ‘tribe’ to share a £100,000 prize total. Victoria spent three months living on a remote archipelago near Aitutaki in the Cook Islands and was on the winning team, the Tigers. Victoria said: “I think a lot of people on that show wanted to go on to become models or presenters, but I really just applied to go on there just for the experience. I think overall I much prefer being on Portland than Tiger Island!” n For more information on Victoria’s yoga classes visit sidayoga.com
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GLOBE-TROTTER: Yoga instructor Victoria Boast now hosts classes on Portland. Inset: Victoria on Channel 4’s Shipwrecked in 2009
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Walking West Dorset
WEST LULWORTH
Park on the street near the church, which has some lovely stained glass. Then head east down the road behind the church until you come to the junction with the B3070 which takes you north eastwards along pavements. At the end of the village there’s a footpath behind a hedge to the right of the road. This takes you past the houses of Lulworth Camp, behind razor wire, and then the camp entrance guarded by two tanks. Beyond the camp is a cross roads. Turn left and head west along the byway past Burngate Farm and continue along it for a mile and a half, uphill then down. Pause often to enjoy the views. When you get to the junction at Daggers Gate, turn left, south, and head down the road a short way to the entrance to a holiday camp. Join the footpath that goes down some steps, then right and left heading south downhill, then up through a wood to a junction of paths. Take the marked path heading uphill to the south east where you enter Access Land on which you can wander at will. You might like to climb the tumulus, Hambury Tout, which gives fantastic views in all directions. Then head down to join the Coast Path which has cobbles and steps that are much easier than the grass. Cross the car park at the bottom and follow the signs to visit Stair Hole which has several holes through which the tide gushes. There are notice boards giving explanations of the local geology. Take the footpath wending its way down to Lulworth Cove, which you might like to walk around if the tide is right. Then walk up through the village back to your car, having walked over five miles.
Weymouth & Portland walks
UPWEY
Park near the church, which is interesting both inside and out. There are lots of ancient wall paintings. It’s on a ley line of Churches that usually have a colony of honeybees in them. When I visited in August it had two! Light a candle and then walk north west up the lane and footpath alongside the beginning of the River Wey until you get to a road. Turn right and walk south east until you come to a junction where you turn left and join a bridleway that leads up a coombe for over half a mile to the boundary on the South Dorset Ridgeway. There are wonderful views in all directions. Turn right and head south east along the Ridgeway for about 500 yards, then turn right and head south down the Jubilee Trail for three quarters of a mile to Elwell and The Ship Inn. Turn right and head west north west along a footpath which has a different style of stiles: stone slabs to step over. After three quarters of a mile you’ll be back at the Church, where you can check if your candle is still burning. You can also visit the nearby famous wishing well. You’ll have walked getting on for four miles.
How to protect your home from care costs
By Chris Tennant, of Oakwood Wills
Nobody likes to think about getting old, but it is certainly worth thinking about if you value your home. That is because your house could very well be sold by the local council to pay for your care fees. As an example, let’s say you own a home jointly with your partner and you live there until one of you dies. The surviving partner continues to live in the house until they must go into a care home run by the local authority. At that point, the local authority will assess the surviving partner for care fees. If their capital and savings are worth more than £23,250, they will have to fund their own care. Councils place a charge on the property, which is paid when the house is sold. Alternatively, you may be required to sell the house immediately to raise the cash. Money raised from the sale of the house will fund your care until your savings get down to £23,250. That won’t leave much of an inheritance for your family and loved ones. There are two solutions to the problem available to you. One is a will trust which protects 50% of the value of your home from care costs. The second is a living trust which shields 100% of the property. Both are relatively inexpensive to put into place. Every trust is administered by trustees, the trustees can be the partners or surviving partner and children. The situation won’t get better over time. The UK’s fastest-growing age group comprises those aged over 85. Councils will face even more pressure on budgets, leaving them with little choice but to continue to sell people’s homes. The main thing to remember with trusts is that because you do not own the assets held in the trust in your own name, it is more difficult for those assets to be taken away from you or from the beneficiaries of the trust. To protect your home, contact Chris on 07832 331594.
