Meet Reigate's Very own Victoria

Meet Very Yoga Reigate’s studio co-owner; Victoria. I managed to get some time to catch up with Victoria earlier this year, learn a bit more about her and the studio in Reigate below:

How did you get into the world of Yoga?

I used to run regularly and while training for the marathon we used to do a long run on a Sunday and then go to a Bikram class in the evening in Purley - I got addicted to the heat and the way it stretched my body. It definitely helped me whilst I was training for the marathon and managed to run it in 4 hours and 8 seconds...after that i'll never stopped going to Bikram but also discovered flow and yin which complimented the Bikram perfectly. 

How long have you been teaching yoga?

I trained a very long time ago but never actually taught until I opened the studio in 2018 - I now teach Yoga, Mat Pilates and Reformer Pilates (at the moment I teach very little yoga as I'm always needed in the Pilates studio - I miss teaching yoga as much!)

Why did you open VYR and what is the inspiration behind the studio?

We opened Very Yoga to bring some different styles of yoga to Reigate - including warm, Bkiram and be more approachable and fun compared to some of the other more traditional yoga studios. We also wanted to build a community within Reigate using yoga as a shared interest. I love seeing people connect and form lifelong friends and have made so many friends within the local community which I love. 

What is your favourite type of yoga/pilates?

I started with Bikram and it will always have a place in my heart, I love Vinyasa Flow as well and as I dabble more and more in Yin I realise being a busy mum of two I need this style in my life as well to find some space and time to stop (harder said than done!) I also love Reformer Pilates - it is very fashionable at the moment but it has real depth to it and science behind it. It is perfect  for building strength in every single muscle in the body.

What do you love about being a studio owner?

I love meeting new people and working with dynamic people. I'm all about people and always have, I love bringing people together and allowing spaces for people to mix and interact. I also love being able to help in the local community when I can raising money for charity, offering/ running free classes and bringing people together for support.

What are your biggest challenges as a studio owner? 

Continuing to build on classes and numbers, moving with trends and staying relative, staying on top of the boring stuff (accounts, payments) and dealing with organisations who are not people or small business focused (Reigate Council, VOA to name just two!)

I love working with you & Stefan and your approach is true yoga; you are calm and collective at all times, how do you keep these traits whilst dealing with the real life aspects of running your own business?

We've always been good under pressure and if things go wrong our mantra is always 'pivot' - if one thing doesn't work keep working through your options until you run out. I think that's what make people run good businesses the ability to never give up and keep trying different options. It's got us through many a difficult situation - we even have it up  on the wall in our house to always remind us to keep moving forwards! 

I understand that you guys had to adapt to quite a few things during and through COVID times, how did you deal with these challenges?

COVID was a challenge! We also found out during COVID that our landlord was applying to turn our studio into flats so we had to pivot. We used COVID to our advantage to look at different options for what the move would look like for the studio and suss out new venues. Whilst everything was building back up after COVID we opened the new studio and have never looked back.

Following on from the last question; what is your advice for any new teacher getting into the yoga industry alongside any new yoga studio owner?

Go and attend classes - I get approached by lots of new teachers who I'm sure are great but it helps to see you in the studio and put a name to face. You'll also get used to studios and how they work which will make it easier to teach in. Stay close to the people you trained with, see where they teach and offer to cover for them if needed then you get your foot in the door. It also helps when you teach to be conscience and dynamic - make sure you get to know clients names, follow studios procedures and offer to help if needed,

I've been in the industry for nearly 13 years now & I've experienced all different types of studio owners and there approaches, and as I've said; I love working with VYR! What keeps you engaged and motivated in running a successful business? 

We all have moments in every occupation where we question what we do but little successes in the business give me a new lease of life and make me want to drive forwards and keep moving. It might be as small as some good feedback or teaching a well received class - it all gets me back on track! I also love that I've been able to build my business with my growing family and seeing them being part of the business is amazing. It also helps I can be flexible and work around them which keeps me motivated to keep going.

If you could describe three words that yoga means to you, what would they be?

Space, Movement, Breath

Meet the Student - Chris

INTRO

Welcome to '“Meet the Student”, in this post we meet Chris, a Classic Hot Yoga (26&2) Method enthusiast who has experienced amazing transformation both physically and mentally, and was kind enough to give his time to run through why he loves yoga, hot yoga and my classes @ Sadhana Yoga & Wellbeing in Clapham:

MEET CHRIS

How long have you been practicing hot yoga for? (If there is a difference in tie between the both do provide it and then I can distinguish in the blog). For quite a few years - with some big gaps due to work pressures. I'm determined not to have a gap again.

What was the reason that you wanted to hot yoga?
Health and weight-loss - and to have a focussed discipline and practice in my life.

How has hot yoga helped you?
As well as the health-benefits, it's so rewarding to have the regular reliable enjoyment and stress-reduction that comes from attending classes.

What is your favourite thing about hot yoga?
The heat! I love to be hot - and I just imagine any anxiety I've brought to class being soothed by my breathing and dissolving in my sweat...

What changes have you seen in yourself since you started practicing hot yoga?
Since I upped my class frequency, I've lost plenty of weight, which has been revitalising.

What would you say to a total newbie that wants to try hot yoga but might not be sure what to expect?
Your first classes may feel intense - but you don't have to be. Just pace yourself and take breaks. If you stay in the room for 90 minutes and stayed present to yourself, you've completed a class.

Is there any advise you can give to yoga students / others that are doing hot yoga that can help them improve there practice further? (ie what we spoke about diet/food etc I think would be great here).
Try and get your diet and class attendance working together - I'm less hungry when I'm attending classes regularly. I feel lifted for the rest of the day. Talk to teachers about your practice - every time I've had an ache or pain, it was due to an incorrect posture, not the yoga itself. Since I've added electrolyte tablets to my water, I don't get dizzy after class any more.

How long have you been coming to Suraj's classes for?
I got into a routine of going to this studio since summer 2021.

What is your favourite thing about Suraj's classes?
Suraj is so closely enagaged with the whole process - the postures, individual class members, and the group as a whole.

What are the 3 things you would say that describe Suraj as a teacher? (We can even add this to the testimonial too). Suraj is an excellent teacher - deeply supportive of people's development and very down to earth. As a teacher, he's a great choice for a newbie who's anxious about making a start. He's just as good for yoga practitioners who want to engage in a deeper more wholistic approach to yoga and well-being.

OUTRO

A big thanks to Chris for providing an insight to his journey of yoga. If you are interested in starting yoga with me feel free to reach out or check my London & Greater London schedule here

Being Kind To Yourself When Practicing Your Yoga

Being kind

Living in a day and age where we are expected to be superhuman, robotic and always available is a very difficult requirement for anyone. And this can and has led to a lot of mental health issues for today's world.

And that expectation is taken with you to your mat, the expectation that every class must be the best, and you must always be on form, but that isn't always the case nor should you expect it to be. Like life, your yoga comes with its ups and downs, and it is a relationship with yourself, and like all relationships, there are changes and waves, which is something we must all expect as yogis and yoginis but something we do not always know how to.

Throughout 6 years of practicing, observing teachers & students, talking to fellow practitioners and researching the art of yoga, one thing I have learnt is that your practise will always fluctuate and the most important thing you can do is be kind to yourself, and when your class isn't as strong as you may have wanted to be that day, The key is to let it happen, accept it and use every second of your time on the mat as a lesson, good or bad the most important thing to do is turn up and do what you can at that moment.

You are always changing, growing and testing yourself and during those changes, your body will have something to say about it, and sometimes that is the best standing bow pulling pose you have ever done, and something that is just the worst rabbit, but being kind to yourself when practicing your yoga is not only important for your soul, it is essential to your growth.

This Easter; be good to yourself whilst you find some time for yoga. But also remember to be good to those around you and as you get deeper into your practise, acceptance of yourself and those around you will come hand in hand.

Thanks for reading.