It seems very appropriate to start this blog dedicating my first post to my darling daughter Valentina.
In the year that has seen me step away from the corporate world and focus on my passion and health, she has been right by my side, egging me on when I needed a boost of confidence and reminding me always of how proud she is of me.
We are each other’s number one fans.
But as with all family relationships things were not always smooth and simple. Teenage hormones and school pressures for her and over the top work pressures for me meant that we had a couple of years that were so difficult to negotiate. And in amongst all our many storms we had our yoga mats.
Going to class with Valentina, being quiet, focused and present gave us a little spell of calm. I often remember rolling over in spinal twists and seeing her sprawled out, all arms and legs before me so peaceful. Just perfect in her stillness. It was so important to me to see her enjoying all that yoga could help her her to find. And I hoped important to Valentina too.
As it turned out, she continued to love
yoga to bits and was the one who was going to train to become a teacher. I went along to the open day at The Yoga Institute with her. But then Paris Fashion Week popped up and her work took her in another direction. I decided in a moment of Now Or Never to do the training myself. And I have never looked back.
I find it so important to be able to offer mums and daughters yoga practices that they can do together. No phones. No social media. No laptops. Just quiet, peace and presence. It’s quite magical to enjoy yoga together, just mama and daughter, and be able to just leave all the many issues of the week on the other side of the door. I will always remember these sessions with Valentina so fondly. And I’m very happy to say we still practice together a few times each week and then catch up properly for breakfast even though she’s all grown up now. We are closer than ever and I am constantly in awe of what a beautiful soul she is.
Proud mama? For sure. Did yoga keep our relationship in a protected bubble? Definitely.
theyogastylist 