Meet Dr Katherine Jones: Studio Space Yoga and Pilates

Dr Katherine Jones: veterinary medicine, yoga and Pilates

Hello! I’m Dr Katherine Jones - Katie for short - a veterinarian specialising in canine sports medicine and rehabilitation, working in Cardiff and Swansea, Wales. Originally from Sterling, Virginia, USA, I first came to love Cardiff during a holiday in 2014. When I had the chance to work in my specialist field while living in Cardiff - home of Doctor Who, dragons and castles - I packed three bags, brought my Golden Retriever, Roku, and moved here in December 2018.

As I began settling into life in Cardiff, I wanted to meet people locally while establishing a healthy routine. Studio Space appeared in a fortunate Google search, and I started attending classes in January. Then the COVID-19 lockdown began in March. Studio Space’s virtual yoga and Pilates sessions soon became part of my weekly lockdown routine, helping me stay healthy and grounded, especially while I was self-isolating from March to May.

Now that I have returned to work in the new normal we are all living through, Studio Space continues to offer a welcoming and safe escape. I cannot thank Team Studio Space enough for creating such a wonderful feeling of community, mindfulness and accessibility across every class. It has genuinely been one of the most positive parts of my 2020, and I am extremely grateful for it.

Why Katie practises yoga and Pilates

I had always hoped to try yoga. While living in the States, I trained in Jow Ga Kung Fu under Grandmaster Hoy K. Lee. However, after a shoulder injury and before my move to Wales, I had to put that training on hold while I recovered. Once I was established in Cardiff, I needed a way to rehabilitate my shoulder. Yoga felt like an ideal way to improve my flexibility, while Pilates offered a route back to rebuilding my strength.

The philosophy behind yoga also seemed perfectly suited to me, with similarities to the aspects of Kung Fu that I had enjoyed most. I particularly value the whole-body, whole-mind approach created by combining yoga and Pilates. For me, it is a perfect pairing.

Favourite posture and stretch

My favourite poses are cobra and upward dog. At first, because of my shoulder injury, I found them extremely challenging to achieve. With patience and consistent practice, though, they have become rewarding stretches that strengthen and open my body. They are my happy lockdown yoga and Pilates achievement!

A wellbeing toolkit built around food, Roku and connection

Oooo, good question. I am very aware of the two sides of who I am: veterinarian and writer. Keeping both in balance is important, particularly given my work in veterinary medicine, so I make sure I look after my whole self.

I love food. At weekends, I dedicate time to meal planning so that my meals remain colourful throughout the week, and I truly enjoy putting together a delicious plate of food - and sharing it. I am absolutely one of those people 😉 Cardiff is FULL of brilliant independent businesses selling fresh, sustainable ingredients, and discovering what a food-market hub the city is has been a real pleasure.

Then there is Roku. I could not have made this move without him. He inspires me, makes me smile, and constantly reminds me of the extraordinary strength of the human-animal bond - especially during this time of plague.

Zoom has also been essential for staying in touch with family and friends abroad. Yay for virtual Studio Space yoga and Pilates! I have also enjoyed Zoom theatre through wonderful groups including The Show Must Go Online and the Sun and Moon Theatre Read-a-thons. We are fortunate to have access to this technology, as it has provided artists and creatives with a valuable way to reach audiences throughout the pandemic.

A mantra for the journey

My favourite saying to live by is: “Enjoy the journey.” My mentor, Dr Cynthia Otto, shared it with me during my early days at veterinary school. It remains a helpful reminder that we can become so focused on rushing towards our destination that we lose sight of the process that carries us there. Embrace it all: the highs and lows, the diversions, and the roads less travelled. Every chapter on the way to where we hope to be matters just as much as the grand finale.

Find Katie and Roku on: Instagram