Meet Natalie. Natalie created Corbridge Yoga in 2021 with the help of the community who raised over £10,000 on a crowdfunding campaign. ✨ When did you start practising Yoga? My first class EVER was in 2013 when I was travelling in India. I went through many of the usual frustrations (why can’t I do what others can do!) but quickly realised that it didn’t matter as the incredible sense of calm that took over was far greater. ✨ Why did you start practising yoga? I was deeply interested in developing spiritually and was also into fitness in a big way. Physically, I noticed very quickly that my fitness improved dramatically when I started attending a class twice a week. Spiritually, Yoga was my entry point to meditation. Like most people I found it hard to be still and stay present when there was so much else I could be doing. Using Yoga as a movement meditation was life changing! ✨ Whats your favourite pose? It changes daily. Usually if we avoid or dislike a pose it’s because we need it. I try to honour this and then what ever I’m avoiding quickly becomes my favourite when I start to strengthen what was needed! For example I LOVE turbo dog at the moment as it helps me to access the muscles on my back and side ribs that I have been avoiding for so long! ✨ How do you feel after class? Down regulated. I can be having the hardest mental health day ever and I resist getting on the mat because the fight or flight branch of my nervous system is active. This means I cannot be rational. Instead I think unhelpful thoughts and get lost in a sea of overwhelm as a result. Then I finally get out of my own way and show up on the mat. EVERY-TIME I lie in savasana and think, what was all the fuss about?! Put simply- after class it feels like everything is right in the world again. Movement ➕deep breath 🟰Happy nervous system. ✨Why did you train to be a teacher? Very simply- I wanted to share the magick with as many people as possible. ✨Do you have any advice for someone that wants to try Yoga for the first time? Showing up is the hardest part. Please come as you are, what ever physical, emotional or spiritual state you’re in we want you to be authentically you. You WILL NOT be judged, no one cares if you’re “not flexible enough”, no one cares what you’re wearing and no one cares If you can’t do yoga poses perfectly, (WHO CAN!)