Yoga Tools For Busy Women.

When I began yoga I didn’t feel like I was on a journey. It felt like a means to an end. A little stress relief, a little body re-shaping.

When I had children, yoga became a life raft, a place to escape to for some much needed space.

When I lost my little girl, Sophia, at 32 weeks pregnant. it saved me. I was deep in grief, blame and self hatred.

13 years later my yoga practice is more valuable to me than any diamond or possession I own.

My personal combination of using hypnotherapy and reiki techniques and adding them to my meditations and yoga practice has led to a level of self-acceptance and love that I wouldn’t have known was possible.

I didn’t know I would be able to outrun the fear and anxiety that has plagued my life and find more joy, love and laughter than I knew was inside of me.

I have found deep respect for my strengths and admiration for my ability to accept and move around my shortcomings.

I want everyone to feel this level of peace, joy and freedom.

I created Temple Lane to support those in need of starting or continuing their own journey of the self, by the self, to the self… through Yoga (and Hypnotherapy and Reiki!) .

Crafting an Intentional Life: Strategies for Mindful Living and Authentic Joy

When I lost my baby girl in 2010, I was living a life that had been paved out for me by society. School, University, travel, career, marriage and then babies. The career was corporate, I had no energy to pursue any interests even if i knew what they were and the things that lit me up were my loved ones and kids. I was a good little spender, a great consumer,, I read and watched TV in my spare time for relaxation.

I never realised it, but I was scared all the time. Scared of doing it wrong, getting it wrong, being all wrong on the outside and yes on the inside. My inner critic was harsh with me… I had it all, what was there to complain about?

Fulfilment, joy are quite wily - you think you are going to get them when you buy a new car get a promotion, have the next child…. and they seem to get further away, despite the initial elation.

Have you ever noticed how harshly we can treat ourselves? We often hold ourselves to impossible standards of perfectionism, expecting to eat right, be kind, create success, keep a spotless home, raise well-behaved children, maintain a passionate marriage, and accomplish a myriad of tasks—all at once. These unrealistic expectations leave little room for off days, tired moments, bad moods, and unforeseen challenges that derail us from our goals.

In our pursuit of perfection, we forget the importance of joy, inner peace, and freedom. We construct a mental prison and unwittingly lock ourselves inside. Countless nights I’ve awoken to the sound of my internal critic at her most vicious, tying my thoughts into painful knots. This relentless negative voice is all too familiar for many of us.

Three years ago, I stumbled upon a book about self-compassion. Since then, I’ve dedicated myself to practicing its principles and transforming my inner dialogue through various methods. Hypnotherapy, in particular, accelerated my progress, but the inner critic remained cunning and persistent. She wielded tools of shame and guilt, attacking relentlessly. However, my inner cheerleader grew stronger.

Today, I find myself soothing and encouraging after facing challenges instead of tearing myself apart. How did this transformation happen? Surprisingly, it’s simpler than you might think. Like any significant change, it starts with awareness and focus on the issue.

When the critic strikes, I now let my inner cheerleader take over. “That must have been really hard for you. You will do better next time. We learn from our mistakes. You are loved. I love you. Everyone has big feelings and emotions because we are human. We can’t be perfect all the time. You are allowed to rest.”

Accompanying these affirmations, I use physical gestures to comfort myself: placing a hand over my heart, on my solar plexus, or on my belly. These actions create a sense of being soothed, protected, and loved.

You might wonder, does practicing self-compassion make me selfish, guilt-free, and unfiltered? Quite the opposite. Just like having a coach who encourages rather than berates, self-compassion motivates me to do more good and loving things. I feel peaceful and joyful inside. I can make mistakes and repair them, and I honestly feel like I make fewer mistakes, allowing me more freedom to create, fail, and try again—or succeed and savor that success.

Who knew that being kinder to myself would unlock such profound changes? Embracing self-compassion has been a game-changer, transforming my life from the inside out.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.

It all begins with an idea.