Student Stories: Julia & Carwyn’s Yoga Journey

Welcome to Student Stories. This time, we are introducing our favourite yoga couple, Julia & Carwyn…

Julia & Carwyn’s yoga journey

Hiya! I’m Julia, and my husband Carwyn and I attend yoga classes together.

We began practising yoga in January 2020, which proved to be an ideal time to get started. At first, we gave it a go because our desk-based jobs had left us both with aches and pains from spending so much time sitting down.

Tired of feeling far older than we should have done, we chose to try yoga and happened to discover Osk’s studio classes by chance.

Soon afterwards, lockdown began, and the virtual sessions helped me stay active and sane – they were an excellent resource. Yoga has shown me just how much it can ease the lower back pain I sometimes get, while also providing a brilliant opportunity to switch off and create time and space for myself.

Yoga with Osk

I have also realised that you do not have to excel at something to take pleasure in it! I am extremely competitive, so doing something I am not naturally good at – and enjoying it! – has taught me a valuable lesson.

Osk is an excellent teacher: she is incredibly patient and, unlike other exercise classes I have taken, never makes you feel that you are not doing enough or pressures you beyond your limits.

I really appreciate that she provides lots of variations and consistently encourages everyone to select the option that feels right for them on that particular day.

Quite often, one hour with Osk is all it takes for me to put a hectic, stressful week out of my mind!

Favourite yoga poses and wellbeing

My favourite yoga pose is probably Warrior II. I love how it makes you feel powerful and strong, yet remains challenging at the same time.

Carwyn particularly likes the twists and stretches, as they make a real difference to his back after a day spent sitting at his desk.

I love that yoga has become such an important part of our wellbeing and something we enjoy sharing. My mantra is always ‘be kind’, and yoga helps me set aside the time and space to be kind to myself.

Carwyn’s is “don’t be afraid to fail”, and we are both enjoying being open to the yoga experience!