Kate's Story.

Meg Thompson
Jun 20, 2017
2 min read

"18 months ago I was struggling with depression. I had suffered a series of personal and professional setbacks in my life and I felt like I had lost direction. I felt paralysed, stuck in a black hole that I couldn't see a way out of. I knew yoga was recommended to help with the symptoms of depression so I began trying different classes, but I couldn't find one that felt right (a goldilocks syndrome perhaps!), but I knew if I was going to stick with it, it needed to feel right. Then I found Yoga with Meg. Right from the first class Meg was fantastic. Warm, friendly and welcoming, she put (a rather nervous and embarrassed) me at ease straight away. It didn't matter that I was a beginner. The way Meg leads the class, explaining every step and assisting each individual made the class accessible and inclusive. The mixed ability class really works, because she offers more demanding poses if you want to give it a go, but I've never felt like a failure if I stick to the basics. I had been apprehensive that as a plus size woman, yoga wasn't for me, that my tummy and boobs would get in the way, but I have NEVER felt out of place in any of the classes. It doesn't matter what size, age or gender you are. Everyone is welcome. I really love the balance Meg strikes between the physical and spiritual aspects of yoga. I had been to classes before, where it was treated almost like aerobics, and that did not appeal to me. In Meg's classes I quickly felt my flexibility improve and I could see a steady increase in strength. Learning different breathing exercises and meditation techniques were a huge help in my daily life, especially when dealing with regular panic attacks. The classes are also fun! Meg brings a great combination of encouragement, peacefulness and informality, which makes the classes feel supportive and social. I'm a pretty shy person, but I was able to meet people in a stress-free environment. I started taking weekly classes and yoga quickly became the highlight of my week. I looked forward to Thursday evenings and no matter how tired or stressed I feel before the class, I come out feeling amazing. Since the beginning of 2017 I've been going twice a week and my friends might even say I've become a yoga-bore! I absolutely love it. Yoga hasn't cured my depression - mental illness is a lot more complicated than that. However, I would honestly say that taking up yoga has been one of the most important factors in helping me deal with my depression. It is so much more than a form of exercise. It can help you in every part of your life and I really appreciate having Meg as my teacher. She is unfailingly supportive and utterly fabulous and if it weren't for her, I would never have stuck with yoga and discovered how much I love it. (Even if I still fall over a lot!) Kate"