My Yoga Blog

My Yoga Blog gives insights and thoughts on yoga practice, philosophy, meditation, wellbeing, creating habits that serve you and the yoga community.

This month our 'Spotlight on...' is on the wonderful yogi Sarah Meredith.

Name: Sarah Meredith

Age: 49

Occupation: Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist

How do you know Jordanna?

When I first moved to Bury, I went to a Zumba class Jordanna ran, which I loved. A few years later our paths crossed again when our sons played basketball for the same team and we cheered them on together. More recently when Jordanna discovered yoga, a lifelong interest of mine, I discovered her yoga classes and now we’re good friends.

Which of her classes do you go to and how long have you been going to her classes?

I started in a beginners’ class as I hadn’t practised yoga for a while and wanted to get back into it gradually. That was 2 years ago. After a few months I moved to the Thursday evening intermediate class which is just the right amount of challenge for me and a great bunch of yogis.

1. Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got into yoga?

I first came across yoga in my late teens, back when yoga was quite ‘lentils and tie-dye fabric’. In those early days I think I was pretty open minded and inquisitive, and was drawn in by the incense sticks; it all spoke to my ‘inner hippy’. I always liked the way it made me feel – stretched and strong – but at that point didn’t really appreciate or understand the wider benefits. At university I found it made me feel calm and strong, at a time when my life was hectic and heady - full of excitement, new people, new experiences and I was trying to do everything. I’ve always returned to yoga throughout my adult life when I’ve been lucky enough to find a teacher that suits me. For me, having a teacher you feel comfortable with and can be open and honest with is key.

2. Yoga Journey: What motivated you to (re)start practicing yoga?

I hadn’t practised yoga since our move from Norfolk to Bury in 2014. My husband started researching new ways to help improve his own health and discovered a good yoga class in town. I left him to it to start with and listened enviously to how it was going. Eventually he agreed I could join him in the classes. Over lockdown this turned into family yoga sessions in our garden. Those were special times (I love outdoor yoga) in weird times (how did we all get through lockdown?). A little while after COVID our yoga instructor moved away and for a while I was yoga-less. But then I discovered Jordanna was setting up new classes and the rest is history!

How has yoga positively impacted your life?

For me yoga has always been a stabilising force, and a chance to meet new people with similar outlooks. I think I’ve always known instinctively that it’s good for my mind and body, but it’s only in the past few years that I’ve I realised just how important it is to me.

3. Do you have a favourite yoga pose? Why?

I love sun salutations – a series of poses that warm up the whole body and literally salute the warmth and power of the natural world. I also love the dancer pose is it combines balance and stretch and makes me feel strong but delicate. In my mind’s eye I look elegant in this pose (the reality is very different I’m sure!) But there are lots of poses I love – eagle pose for loosening my laptop-tightened shoulders, plough for digestion, warriors for feeling powerful. I really like the yoga squat and often topple over doing it which always makes me giggle. Sitting in a low squat reminds me of being a child which is a happy, free feeling.

Least favourite yoga pose? Why?

I dislike the Goddess pose as I never feel I can get my knees to do the right thing, and not sure a knocked-kneed Goddess quite does it! And I seem to find Dolphin pose disproportionately uncomfortable, so not a fan of that either!

4. Off the Mat: Aside from yoga, what are your other interests or hobbies?

I love walking, especially on the coast, and swimming (indoors). When I have time, I also enjoy reading - fact and fiction books. I love spending time with my husband and two teenage kids - cooking, listening to music, and travelling. As a family we also try to grow fruit and vegetables which I partly love and partly loath (if/when it fails!)

5. Mind-Body Connection: How does yoga influence your mental and emotional well-being? Have you noticed any changes in your mindset since starting yoga?

Yoga is particularly powerful for me when life is very busy and stressful. It helps me to find a calmer, quieter mind and to focus on things I can control, rather than being distracted or perturbed by things I can’t. Yoga makes me feel more anchored and mentally stronger in turbulent times. In tranquil times yoga helps me to reflect, appreciate the good things in life and grow those things.

6. Community Involvement:

Jordanna’s classes are all very welcoming and chit chat is encouraged, so you quickly get to know people. I loved the dance parties Jordanna put on about a year ago – great fun and a perfect way to let your hair down on a Friday night! Laughing and dancing is really good for you 😁

7. Wellness Practices: Do you have any other wellness practices that complement your yoga routine?

I swim regularly which I love. I don’t wear a fitness watch; instead, focusing on counting my lengths and thinking about how my body feels as I glide through the water helps me to stay in the moment and gives mindfulness benefits as well as the physical benefits of swimming. Also getting outside in the fresh air as often as possible is really important to me. And in times of stress I try to remember that a few minutes of deep breathing is always beneficial.

8. Personal Growth: Can you share a specific instance where yoga played a significant role in your personal growth?

Being part of the Thursday night yoga community helped me through two surgeries last year. The first surgery was planned and more of an inconvenience (and physical pain) than a worry, but it was great having the support of the group nonetheless. The second came much later in the year; it was emergency surgery that came completely out of the blue with significant health worries for the future, and many different scans and tests. My fellow yogis have been amazing with their messages of support, gifts and visits. Yoga itself has helped me to keep a positive mindset and focus on things I can control, rather that worry about those I can’t. And as I can’t yet return to yoga classes in person, I’m building up a repertoire of single yoga poses I can do safely at home. This serves as a good distraction as well as keeping me vaguely ‘in shape’ and makes me excited about getting back to in-person yoga later this year.

9. Favourite Quotes or Mantras: Do you have any favourite yoga-related quotes or mantras that inspire you?

• Harness the good, let go of the bad
• Today anything can happen
• Notice the small things
• I am kind, I am patient, I am open to all possibilities

10. Advice for Others: What advice would you give to someone who is just starting their yoga journey?

✅ Give it time – yoga is a journey and not an end point, keep an open mind.

✅ Don’t feel that you have to be able to stretch or visualise/meditate to ‘do yoga’. The benefits come from trying to stretch, or to focus the mind. That’s why we talk about ‘practising’ yoga – it’s the act of doing it that counts.

✅ Everyone’s body is different and everyone’s experience of yoga is different. Feel at ease with this and don’t compare what happens on your mat to what happens on anyone else’s mat – it’s not relevant.

✅ It may well feel different each time you do it, and that’s ok

✅ And enjoy getting to know yourself a bit better (or maybe a lot better!) through yoga.

11. How do you stay motivated to continue your yoga practice?

I love yoga and I miss it when I can’t practise. But I’m learning different ways of doing bits of yoga when circumstances get in the way of attending classes.

12. Community Connection: How do you connect with others in the yoga community?

Our yoga class WhatsApp is great for this!

13. Future Goals: Do you have any specific goals or aspirations related to your yoga practice? How do you see your yoga journey evolving in the future?

I like to think I will always prioritise yoga as a fundamental part of who I am, and of my approach to living well. I hope that over the next few years as other demands on my time decrease, I will be able to spend more time each week practising yoga. And in the long term…I have always pictured myself in my later years as that older woman who practises yoga every day in her seventies, eighties and nineties, as a protective, life enhancing and enjoyable part of daily life. Let’s hope I can make that happen!