Who are you?
Graceful Minds Yoga provide yoga wellbeing services into Schools across Warrington to support the emotional health and wellbeing agenda and I run private Adult Hatha Yoga Classes. I am qualified to teach from age 3 – 103. I deliver yoga into Pre Schools, Primary Schools and Secondary Schools.
How did the business come about?
My Partner died suddenly in 2016 leaving myself and my Daughter who was 18 months old at the time. My mental health deteriorated and my GP prescribed me anti depressants. I had practiced pregnancy yoga in 2015 so rather than taking the medication I wanted to explore yoga as I knew the benefits for mental health. That is when my journey started and my love of yoga. I can hand on heart say yoga changed my life. It got me through my darkest period of my life and still does today. My mental health has improved dramatically and yoga is my therapy.
As I was suddenly a single parent I had to change my job to allow me to look after my Daughter.
Mental health was on the rise, particularly in children, and always making news headlines. I had lived experience of the power of yoga for improving mental health so I had the idea of becoming a Children’s Yoga Teacher in 2018. To learn children coping techniques and life skills that they could use whenever they were faced with a difficult life event or emotion.
I became a Childrens Yoga Teacher in 2018 and launched my business in January 2019. I wished to expand my service offering and I became an Adult Hatha Yoga Teacher earlier this year 2020. I now offer classes at Warrington Sports Club for adults. During lockdown I have been delivering live online Bedtime Meditation sessions for Adults to support mental health.
How long has your business been in existence?
My business started in January 2019.
How many people do you employ?
I am a Sole Trader no staff currently just myself.
Tell us one interesting thing about you that people might not know?
I used to be an Irish Dancer as a child and made it into The Warrington Guardian on many occasions for winning competitions.
Why Warrington?
It is my home town I have lived here all my life.
What job or achievement makes you most proud?
When I see children still, relaxed and peaceful during meditation and relaxation that is my biggest reward. Their feedback at the end of a class always makes me proud. Words like, light, happy, took away my worries. It makes me very proud that I can share my skills with others and make a difference.
I was also proud to receive a certificate during lockdown as I’d been nominated as a BBC North West Tonight Everyday Hero.
Who are the people most important in life to you?
My Daughter and my family and friends.
What is your ‘get through lockdown tip’?
Self care – Find your therapy that makes you feel happy and do it every day. Make time for yourself to switch your mind off from the mental chatter and life. It could be exercise, reading, music, drawing, painting, walks, cooking, taking a bath etc.
Yoga, meditation and breath work are all amazing therapies to look after your wellbeing.
Like a 1:1 with Lisa?
Email: Lisa@gracefulmindsyoga.co.uk
