2007 was the year my life changed forever.
It was the year I had my HUGE burnout breakdown and was diagnosed with an auto-immune issue called Fibromyalgia. This showed up for me as extreme and severe fatigue (think struggling to get out of bed, dragging my sorry self around the house and having to sleep each afternoon just to get through the day)
It also involved acute and relentless pain.
Pain that settled heavily in the joints, muscles and ligaments of my body and left not many parts untouched. It was excruciating and exhausting.
At it's worst I couldn't manage the most simplest of tasks like putting my hair in a ponytail, texting on my phone or brushing my teeth without pain. I couldn't work, or really do much at all.
From here I moved into a dark depression as life as I had known it was no more.
This intense period lasted about 2 years before slowly things started to shift.
At the time I was incorporating many modalities of healing + diet changes and supplements into my life which were all part of me moving forward.
But - I can truly say - that the BIGGEST change I made and which (I believe) had the most impact was changing the way I approached life and showed up in it. THIS was the true turning point for me.
+ I needed to let go of the roles of 'the martyr' and 'the people pleaser'.
+ I needed to let go of the masculine way of striving and pushing
+ I needed to reframe my relationship with pain
+ I needed to reconnect with my feminine essence
+ I needed to embrace the qualities of softness, surrender and receptivity.
+ I needed to bring more self love, self care, compassion, kindness and gentleness into my life
I needed to surrender all that I had known and step bravely into the unknown.
It wasn't an easy journey, and it didn't happen overnight, yet I made a heartfelt commitment to find a more feminine, gentle and loving way to live life. Every day I lovingly re-confirm that pledge.
9 years on and my health is still up and down.
Since the Fibromyalgia I had a beautiful baby (at almost 40) and suffered through Post Natal Depletion/Depression and ongoing hormonal problems.
Currently I am in a slump and am experiencing much pain, adrenal exhaustion and thyroid dysfunction.
I don't proclaim to have all the answers, for I (just like you) am doing this life thing one gentle day at a time and seeing what unfolds and where it takes me.
What I DO have though is many years behind me as a yogini and yoga teacher + some deep personal embodied insights and profound tools to share from my ongoing journey and a yearning desire to be of service.
It is this 'dark night of the soul' experience that ignites my passion to now share some of my beautiful offerings to the women of the world in the hope that I may ease their suffering a little and show them that truly there IS another way.
THIS is why I:
* LAUNCHED MY REPLENISH RETREATS FOR WOMEN AS A SPACE TO SIMPLY REST, RECONNECT AND JUST BE
* TEACH GENTLE FEMININE YOGA THAT IS NOURISHING NOT PUNISHING TO OUR BODY AND MIND
* LOVE SHARING THE GIFTS OF RESTORATIVE YOGA PRACTISES FOR WOMEN WHO ARE EXHAUSTED, STRESSED OR JUST DESIRE TO RECONNECT AND LOVE THEMSELVES A LITTLE MORE
* GET EXCITED TEACHING WOMEN HOW TO ALIGN THEIR LIFE AND BUSINESS WITH THEIR NATURAL FEMININE CYCLES (CAUSE THIS IS LIFE-CHANGING STUFF!)
* WANT TO INSPIRE A LOVE INFUSED SELF-CARE REVOLUTION WHERE EVERY WOMEN KNOWS AND EMBODIES HER INHERENT WORTH AND SENSE OF ENOUGHNESS
* LOVE OFFERING THE GIFTS OF MINDFULNESS, MEDITATION AND VISUALISATION PRACTISES AS A BEAUTIFUL TOOL FOR LIVING A PURPOSE-FILLED + PRESENT LIFE
* GET TURNED ON BY HELPING WOMEN RECONNECT WITH THEIR INNER 'WOMB' WISDOM AND INTUITION
And I could go on and on....
My own breakdown journey is part of my WHY.
The reason I show up here, day after day, sharing my gifts with you.
I want you to hear me when I share that I really do know what it is to feel lost, uncertain, scared, exhausted. To be so in the pain and suffering that you aren't sure there is a way out.
You are not alone sister.
I am here for you, through it all.
+++
I'd love to support you in any way I can.
That might look like you reaching out to share your truth vulnerably and receiving a loving and very personal reply from me via email, or from my heart to yours. It might be you connecting about my offerings or to work with me, or even coming on a yummy Replenish Retreat.
It might be as simple as you just knowing there there is someone else out there going through it too.
You are not alone.
So please reach out. Connect. Be brave. Show me your truth.
YOU are worth it - and you don't have to do it alone anymore!
With tender love,
Star xxxx
