International Women's Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.

This year’s campaign theme is #ChooseToChallenge. When we challenge stereotypes, bias and inequality we create change and help build a more inclusive world.

While we’re maybe not directly challenging gender bias and inequality with our celebration here of the women of MCY, we are definitely challenging the common social media portrayal of the type of women who practise yoga.

These images can be really misleading, giving a false impression of what’s required or the kind of person you need to be to enjoy all of the benefits of yoga: you need to be really bendy; it’s for tall, skinny, blonde girls; you’re too old (or young) to do yoga.

The women who practise yoga with us here at MCY are all real women who live messy, complicated lives. And we decided to celebrate International Women's Day by celebrating them.

Here’s their real yoga stories, in their own words…

Sam Boyd

“Over the years taking yoga classes has helped keep me fit but more importantly it's my time in the week to switch off and find peace.

Life comes with its health challenges too and I’ve suffered badly with endometriosis resulting in a few operations and last year a full hysterectomy. Yoga has helped me heal both on and off the mat and I feel stronger and more energised.

Finding a community like MCY with a great group of teachers and a warm friendly environment where no-one judges you, even when you can't quite manage that jump through(!) means it’s a joy to practise.”

Kathryn Bradley

“I come to yoga for peace of mind and also to be kind to my body.

I’m probably one of the least advanced in my class (Ashtanga half primary) but I’m amazed how welcome I feel. Judi treats the whole class with equity – some need a different kind of support but we all feel we get what we need. I almost feel like I am getting one to one tuition even though the class is quite busy.

Sometimes I walk in with all the worries of the day and feel quite stressed but, because of the way the class is structured,  I become focused on the moves and quickly stop overthinking and feeling anxious. That evening’s sleep is the best of the week!

I’m very happy with how my yoga has progressed and I think that is because I feel free to fail and know I won’t be judged. I’m doing postures now I never thought possible at the beginning. I’ve still got a few moves I’d like to achieve but that isn’t really my goal.

I’ve found a safe space at MCY and that’s why I keep coming back – lockdown couldn’t even keep me away and the online classes have really kept me going!”

Kay Guccione

“I went along with a friend in 2006, and I have been practicing Ashtanga two or three times a week for 14 years now. I consider it to be a practice that’s now embedded as part of my life.

That said, I still have days where I would rather not bother — too much on at work, hectic travel, or just because I’m feeling particularly hungry and would rather get my dinner. When this happens, and it’s a thing that Ashtanga has taught me, I just 'show up’. No expectations of ‘great’ or ‘perfect’ practice, no need to worry about performance or progress; I literally just show up in my jumble sale style PE kit, breathe deeply, and take part.

Some days I surprise myself. Some days I actually am as knackered as I thought I was. But it’s all OK, and I never regret getting on to the mat!

I have applied this thinking to other areas of my life now too, and, taking the bad days with this good, have just shown up. This has paid dividends in my sport (triathlon) and in my work which involves a lot of writing. Showing up to do something, taking the pressure off yourself, approaching it with self-compassion and being aware of how I am feeling is a fantastic life skill to know and practice.”

Sarah Bell

“I came to yoga around the time I turned 40 and, like many, I came to it partly as a physical practice, an antidote to the lack of movement in my day to day routine, and partly as a de-stressing magic cure.

Of course, it is both and neither and also so much more! 

Yoga has changed me. The change was gradual and profound but I do remember when I became aware of the shift that had happened within me. That led me to my new yoga community in the summer of 2019 - the early morning MCY Mysore room with Rose Ann.

There is something special about driving into the city centre as it comes to life in the morning, walking in with others wrapped up against the cold and the rain and into that space. I love seeing the range of practices in the room and that is the joy of Mysore style class. There are often a couple of us working on something similar and that can be reassuring.

But there is nowhere to hide - I'll be at the back of the room 'faffing about' to delay and avoid my various backbend preps but Rose Ann will spot me and I'm back on it. "Did you do three Sarah? Aye, well just do another three so I can see!”.

Community is a wonderful added bonus - that feeling, that energy from being in the studio and with fellow practitioners, the shared experience, the relationship with teachers, the shared intention.

Although I had been doing other classes online, I wasn't sure how Mysore would work but actually it does - hearing the names, I can almost imagine I'm back in the studio. And Rose Ann still spots if I'm faffing about!”

Tina Goldie

“I started yoga in 2012 as I’d been struggling with anxiety and it had been suggested to me that yoga could help. Also for my whole life, even as a kid, I had been so inflexible and stiff and at that point I couldn’t even touch my toes or sit comfortably cross legged!

While at the start it can feel like you’re competing with others in the class with being able to do certain poses, at some point you realise that actually your practice is about yourself even if you are in a class of 20. You come and meet yourself on the mat, on that particular day, in whatever mood you’re in, and because in Ashtanga the sequence is always the same you can see how your body and breath move and respond to the practice.

Some days you flow though easily and lightly, other days it can feel like you’re fighting though to the end, but I’ve never regretted turning up and getting on my mat.

While the journey is definitely a physical one, I’ve found that practicing has given me a better insight into myself and each time I practice I become more self aware of how I’m feeling on that day. On days that are hard, I try and give myself some grace as I know that it will pass and the next asana or the next time on the mat will be better, a message which has translated very well into other aspects of my life.

I’m astonished at all the things my body can now do, and how much more comfortable I feel in my own skin.”

Susan Adam

“My first yoga class was a very long time ago and it was tough! I’d had some surgery and needed to move my body and make it stronger. I didn’t think it would be so hard but I loved it from the very start!

My good friend Michael encouraged (almost dragged) me along to my first Mysore style class and I thought I wouldn’t be good enough. But duh! It wasn’t like that at all. Little did I know that practising in that room would be my now wonderful teacher Rose Ann and long time yoga buddies. My love for yoga was truly ignited.

I started going to MCY just before the move from Glassford Street and temporarily in the Corinthian. It didn’t matter where we were because MCY was about community, the people and I quickly felt part of that yoga family.

I’ve missed being in the room with my friends, practising and having chai and can’t wait to be back. We’ve done really well I think keeping connected online - I can’t imagine what this year would have been like without that connection.”

Ali Marshall

“My first yoga class was at a Ladies night at the local Council run gym. My friend had done some yoga classes and workshops before and suggested we go along and take some classes. I thought why not, I might enjoy it!

Well, the Step class was hysterical (I think I’ve just given away my age!) but it was the Hatha yoga class that I loved. Yoga made a huge impression on me - it helped me unwind and switch off from my work stress. When I stopped going to the gym, I added a second yoga class each week and got a copy of David Swenson’s yoga short forms and started doing a wee bit of home practice so I could do more and it was amazing how slowly things in my practice started to change and I could do things I hadn’t been able to when I started.

After few years I had the opportunity to do five days of morning Mysore style practice with David Keil. I wasn’t sure about the whole assisted self practice style of class. I liked the discipline of a led class and what if I forgot the postures???

I LOVED it and I soon found myself doing a few early morning Mysore style classes. Who knew I could get up at silly o’clock every morning?

For me it gives me time to disconnect and switch my mind off from everything else and focus on my practice and my breath before dealing with my day. If you told me when I started on my yoga journey I would be doing some of the postures I’m doing now, I would have told you, you were bonkers! It’s amazing what practise, support and encouragement from your teachers and peers can help you achieve.”

Karen Glen

“My first class at MCY was over five years ago, after not having been to a yoga class in about 15 years. I went to my first class simply wanting to improve my flexibility for running, so I thought some stretching might be useful!

I fell in love in the first class with the sense of peace and stillness that came from being on the mat. I was so stiff and inflexible but I still loved how it made me feel.

One of the things I love most about MCY is I’m not the most dedicated practitioner, my practice ebbs and flows with life, and yet I am always met where I am without judgment. I feel comfortable and accepted, which is something I really appreciate.

So I guess I keep returning to the mat because I always leave it feeling enriched.”

International Women’s Day has taken place for well over a century, with the first IWD gathering in 1911 supported by over a million people. I couldn’t believe it when I read on the IWD website that still, none of us will see gender parity in our lifetimes! According to the World Economic Forum, gender parity will not be attained for almost a century.

Today, IWD belongs to all groups collectively everywhere. International Women's Day is powered by the collective efforts of all.

“…we are far more united and have far more in common than that which divides us.”

Jo Cox in her Maiden Speech To Parliament

If you’d like to celebrate International Women’s Day with us by sharing your own real yoga story below in the comments, we’d love to hear it!

#ChooseToChallenge  #IWD2021

Judi X

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