Hi there. My name is Emily and I’m the Owner of Metta Yoga.
I thought you might like to know a little about me and my journey so far.
I did my first yoga class in my late teens. My sister took me along to a class taught by a freakishly flexible 60 odd year young woman. She was fantastic, but the class was slow and I got bored. So I never went back. I dabbled in Les Mills Body Balance classes at the local gym but that was about it.
At 26 years old, after around two years of suffering from Adrenal Fatigue and exhausted from trying a range of therapies including working with my GP, a rheumatologist, a dietician/nutritionist, osteopaths, a number of naturopaths, TCM, acupuncture, Bowen therapy, reiki etc, in 2010 my sister in law recommended I try the local Hot Yoga Studio, so I did, and fell in love with Yoga. I remember leaving the first class thinking “wow, is this what it’s like to breathe?!” I had no idea how short of breath I’d been for so long. Yoga was the first healing method I’d tried that actually felt like it was working. Whilst heated Yoga classes are not recommended for someone battling exhaustion these classes served their purpose at the time. They got me moving and enjoying the Vinyasa Flow. My body became stronger. I became calmer. I found a sense of self-worth and esteem. And I started to have wonderful spiritual experiences in my day to day life including premonitions, which I hadn’t experienced since I was a young teenager. I felt amazing. And I thought if I could feel this good from Yoga then others could too, and others should. I wanted to share my positive experiences with the world, so I booked myself in for Yoga Teacher Training. On reflection, I don’t believe I should have done Yoga Teacher Training after only practicing Yoga for 6 months because besides not having built up enough of a dedicated practice, boy did I have no idea what Yoga truly was all about! Our asana (physical practice) barely touches the surface of a Yogic lifestyle. Real Yoga incorporates a combination of Pranayama (Breathing), Moral Restraints, Moral Commitments, Meditation, studying Philosophy and so much more.
But my 6 month intensive training was so powerfully life altering and a huge time for personal growth and development. I loved every minute of it and couldn’t wait to share everything I’d learnt.
After graduating I juggled full time work and running around teaching at a variety of studios, and very quickly the practice turned from being something I did for me, to something I did for others. Every time I hopped onto my mat I was looking around the room at students looking at their alignment, mentally taking notes of the teacher’s sequences and teaching methods, and thinking about how I would next teach.
In January 2013 I opened Metta Yoga in Altona. I was so excited to open my own space where I could teach the way I wanted to teach and share my passion with the local community. I quickly learned how hard it was to run a business, work part time, keep up with cooking & chores at home, plus finding time for my husband, friends and family. By the end of 2013 I had completely lost my way. I had practically given up my own Yoga practice just to find the energy to get through my crazy 7 day working week, where some days I was working 14 hours between the two jobs. Yoga had become stressful!
By March 2014 I had slipped into depression and the worst fatigue I had ever experienced. I started seeing a highly recommended Kinesiologist & Sports Conditioning Specialist, who also works with a variety of healing methods including nutrition. He changed my life completely by converting me from vegetarian to paleo and from there everything started to improve, slowly but surely. By October 2014 I closed Metta Yoga so I could fully focus on my health and healing.
I took a lengthy break from teaching during 2015, where I only taught a handful of classes and used the time for healing and to discover Yoga for myself again. It was truly an amazing year, which included moving from Point Cook to Eltham, to an amazing home where I can feel so connected to nature and close to my friends and family again. I went to Bali for some serious restoration and to Australia’s Wanderlust Festival in Sydney for wonderful inspiration and I completed a 9 month Post Graduate Yoga Teacher Training with the amazing Ihana Yoga. It was a big year, filled with change, growth, health, happiness and gratitude. I’m feeling good. My health has improved thanks to a regular Yoga practice (for me!) again, and drastic lifestyle and diet changes.
So after this break I felt ready to share my love of Yoga again. However I have made a promise to myself to not overdo it again. And to just have a happy balance between practicing Yoga for me, sharing it with others and a relaxed, stress free lifestyle.
I’m not going to stand up at the front of a Yoga class and pretend to be a super flexible, strong Yogi! I struggle with day to day life. I still suffer with Fatigue and Anxiety. But Yoga, a strict clean diet, meditation and working closely with my kinesiologist are my ways of healing and finding more calm and balance in life.
I love a fluid Vinyasa Yoga practice, one that isn’t too fast and powerful, but slow and nourishing, yet still building strength. To truly nourish our bodies we shouldn’t be pushed beyond our limits, but be guided through a practice at a safe, nourishing speed that will allow us to slowly open up like a lotus flower in full bloom feeling strong, grounded & able.
Yoga is a great opportunity to come together as a community with like-minded souls and inspire one another. So I often attend Yoga festivals and extra training. It is my way to bring more yoga into my life, as often as possible.
I am here to help you along your own journey of healing, connecting, grounding, inspiring and being the person you were born to be. Discover your potential with Metta Yoga. Let’s help each other grow.
Namaste.
