Thank You to My Yoga Teachers
“Yoga is a light, which once lit will never dim. The better your practice, the brighter your flame.”
It feels amazing to be reconnecting on social media after such a long absence. I've recently set up my accounts again, and it's been beautiful to find and connect with the teachers who've shaped my practice over the years. When I was a young dance student, we never filmed our sessions or used social media - it simply wasn't part of our world.
This is a long overdue thank you note to my greatest passion, and to all of you who've guided me along the way. You deserve this recognition and so much more.
Mary Madhavi
In my teens, I was influenced by Mary Mahdavi, who taught me how deeply the mind impacts the body. I witnessed again and again how people transformed when emotions were released — how bodies softened, opened, and changed. Her work inspired me profoundly, and her teachings continue to ripple through my own practice and classes today. Mary introduced me to something I'd never experienced before - yoga that was for everyone.
She focused so much on community and making yoga accessible for people with disabilities (MS, arthritis, cancer), teaching us restorative yoga, yoga nidra, meditation, and philosophy. We'd do charity events together, and honestly, it was incredible seeing how yoga could reach and help so many different people.
During the pandemic, Mary did something incredible. She moved her YogaMobility classes online and was recognised as one of Cardiff's Covid-19 heroes. After over 40 years of experience and being internationally renowned, she could have easily stepped back, but instead she made sure her community in Roath, Cardiff still had their practice.
Mary taught me that yoga isn't just about what happens on your mat - it's about showing up for others, creating space for everyone, and building something bigger than yourself. That sense of community she created? I carry that with me always.
Thank you for showing me my true strength. Not just physical strength, though that's been transformative too, but more importantly, mental strength. You've shown me that I am so much more than what others might think of me, and that I can rise above any obstacle that comes through my path. That's an incredible gift.
Thank you for helping me to walk through life with grace and passion. To love what I do and love the life that I share with those around me.
Thank you for teaching me what it's like to appreciate the small things in life. This has only helped me to appreciate the big things even more. You've shown me to appreciate not just the life around me, but also to give myself the appreciation that I deserve. And more importantly, to give others the appreciation that they deserve as well.
And lastly, thank you for allowing me to breathe. As simple as it sounds, breathing is the one thing that I carry around most with me off the mat. Deep breaths are what get me through each day. Throughout tough situations, emotional battles, and stressful times, I always know to come back to my yoga, to come back to my breath.
I can only hope that those around me feel the same way as I do about this practice. Yoga has truly transformed my life in the best way imaginable. It is such a gift and a great privilege to be able to experience it. Thanks to you, my wonderful teachers, I've grown as a person, proved to myself the true strength I have, become more aware, and have ultimately started living a better life.
With endless gratitude and love, Kate xxx
