Student of the Month - March 2025 - Elaine

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👩‍🎓🎓🌟STUDENT OF THE MONTH🌟🎓👩‍🎓

March 2025 ‘Student of the Month’ is….. Elaine Squire!

Elaine is a dedicated and accomplished practitioner who rarely misses either of her twice weekly classes. She has strength balanced with flexibility and practices with focus and attention. Elaine is a familiar face on the local roads in her Driving School car and we often enjoy observing the links between learning to drive and the Yoga Sûtras when we have our short yoga philosophy discussions at the start of the Level 2 classes. Thank you Elaine for inspiring your classmates with your beautiful practice and for all the driving advice you impart!

❓Tell us a little about yourself…………………

🧘‍♀️Elaine, 43, driving instructor

❓How long have you been practicing yoga?……………

🧘‍♀️I’ve been practising Iyengar yoga since 2007 after exploring all types of yoga classes for a few years earlier and not feeling quite right. Finding Anna Finch’s Iyengar classes in Yeovil after seeing a poster at Yeovil College where I worked was the start of something special.

The attention to detail in those early classes enabled me to focus and I think that was my way into meditative practise although I don’t think I knew it at the time.

❓What made you start yoga?…………….

🧘‍♀️For as long as I can remember, I’ve been afraid of developing a hunched back as my dear old mum has one.

❓How has practicing yoga benefitted your life?………………

🧘‍♀️Since Anna’s retirement, I’ve continued to practise under the tutelage of Lisa and feel I’ve grown stronger physically and spiritually with a keener interest in yoga philosophy. A few of the limbs keep me going in my job - pranayama can be practised anywhere and a good bit of viloma breath helps me get through any stressful situations in the car. Sitting down too much and feeling tense are hazards of being a driving instructor so I’m grateful that my yoga practise sorts everything out - both in my body and mind.

❓What’s your favourite pose?………….

🧘‍♀️Favourite asana can depend on my mood but I usually enjoy a balancing pose to challenge my dharana (concentration)! Pinchamyarasana and Virabhadrasana III are fun and make me feel strong and aligned. Some days I wobble but I’ve learnt that’s ok I do also love a good twist and how the breath can deepen it.

❓And your favourite prop?…….

🧘‍♀️Favourite prop is the blanket - a good softening base for prone poses and sometimes when I just need a little support.

❓What makes you keep practicing?……………….

🧘‍♀️A lot of my own teaching is inspired by Lisa’s - she encourages us to be at one with ourselves so I try to pass this on to my own learners. Controlling oneself behind the wheel and reading each bit of road as a moment enables my learners to stay safe.

❓Anything else you’d like to add?…………..

🧘‍♀️I’m so grateful to be part of the yoga community through Lisa’s classes, bonding with fellow yogis and enjoying workshops and the annual World Yoga Festival trip. Iyengar yoga truly enriches my life. I’m also grateful for my husband, Simon, who encourages my practise - he even built me a yoga hut in our garden so I have my own dedicated space I’m often fighting the cats for it though as it’s a very sunny spot

❤️Thank you Elaine for sharing your yoga journey with us!🙏