From Perfectionism to Compassion: My Journey Through Fertility, Pain & Yoga

I was always in a rush.

And everything I did had to be done to perfection.

For a long time, that was my operating mode. Yoga first started to make its way into my life when I was juggling a demanding career as an Engineer with a passion for long-distance running and swimming.

At the time, I viewed yoga as a tool for maintenance. The postures and breathing exercises I learned provided the relief and balance I desperately needed to maintain a high-stress work and fitness schedule. But a few health setbacks soon saw me turning more and more to the practise, learning that yoga offered so much more than just a physical stretch.

Yoga for Fertility: Slowing Down to Conceive

As life marched on, I married and prepared for children, only to hit a wall. I found my fertility was severely compromised by my high-stress lifestyle.

This was the moment the "rush" had to stop.

Diving deeper into a more gentle and nurturing yoga practice, in conjunction with the support of an amazing acupuncturist, I was able to decrease my stress levels. It wasn't about "achieving" a pose anymore; it was about re-tuning my body to its natural cycle for conception.

Navigating Pregnancy with an Inguinal Hernia

Pregnancy presented its own unique set of challenges. I suffered through an unexpected fall injury at 32 weeks that left me with an inguinal hernia - a condition that made carrying a baby extremely painful.

Once again, I turned to yoga for support. Through specific breathwork and mindful movement, I was able to endure the chronic pain, allowing me to reach full term and welcome a beautiful, healthy baby boy into my life.

The Postpartum Wake-Up Call

With the rigours of motherhood becoming a reality, my pelvic pain soon returned.

I remember lying in my hospital bed after hernia surgery, and a moment of clarity washed over me. I realised exactly what I needed to do: continue my yoga studies.

Initially, this was simply for my own personal journey and recovery. But living in a remote community, I found that many others were seeking yoga classes. I quickly realised how much I loved teaching yoga and that my own experiences of pain, recovery, and resilience were my inspiration to empower others.

Seeking Compassion Over Perfection

Since then, I have learnt to become more flexible - not just in my body, but with how I incorporate yoga into my family lifestyle.

I have found that the more I am open to surrendering to the flow of life’s cycles, the more things seem to fall into place with ease. With a combination of dedication and faith, things tend to work out.

Now? I am only sometimes in a rush. And I do my utmost to seek compassion over perfection.

Your Bright Beginning

I’ve certainly got a long way still to go on my journey. I will forever be a student of yoga. But in the meantime, I seek to light the spark that can ignite the fire in others to overcome their own personal obstacles in life.

As an old story ends, you might just find yourself on the way to your very own Bright Beginning.

Navigating Pelvic Pain? You Don't Have to Do It Alone.

My experience with an inguinal hernia and the return of pelvic pain postpartum taught me a pivotal lesson: pain is a signal, not a sentence.

I know how isolating it can feel when simple movements hurt, or when you are told that discomfort is just "part of pregnancy." But I also know that with the right support, you can find ease and confidence again.

If you are currently navigating Pelvic Girdle Pain (PGP) during pregnancy, or trying to rebuild your core stability postpartum, I am here to support you.

We can work together through:

• Private 1:1 Yoga & Movement Education: To create space in your body and learn movement patterns and other practices that reduce pain.

• Gentle Bowen Therapy: To reset tension patterns and support your nervous system.

You don't have to push through the pain to be a "perfect" parent. Let’s find your balance, together.