Louise
My story revolves around islands and sea. Little did I know how much island life & the water would influence me, having started my life in Nottingham, which is quite a trek from any coast-line.
For many years I lived unconnected to myself, following the path of years of conditioning - uni, career, marriage, wife & mother - all the traditional labels that had to be ticked in order to fit in with social expectations & accepted life planning.
This external striving for acknowledgement & recognition inevitably took its toll on my body and health. My kidneys gave me all the warning signs that something was amiss, but I pressed on, disregarding the underlying issues and merely addressing the symptoms. How ironic that the organs linked to water and flow were screaming for me to listen, to head for the sea and STOP. But for many years I charged ahead at full pace, not even slowing down to take a breath....
I married into a huge Mediterranean family, on a tiny island with a very different culture. This is where I found the sea, my saviour, my healing escape when island family life became too much. I discovered how the power of water helps us feel connection, oneness, and I began to understand water's natural healing qualities.
I practiced yoga regularly during my 20s and 30s as a means to maintain flexibility. As a child I loved movement & competed as an elite gymnast, which is why in adulthood I was drawn to some challenging yogi stretching. It suited my competitive ego perfectly at this time.
I'm not completely sure of the precise moment when I felt something was missing in my life - but the combination of screaming kidneys and a snapped Achilles tendon brought everything to a grinding halt and my life was forced to slow down. Suddenly I could see, feel and acknowledge my reality, one which no longer required endless striving & hustling.
The true discovery of Self, however, only really began in earnest when after searching for alternatives, I fell upon Kundalini Yoga. What a life-changer the year-long teacher training course turned out to be!
Why Immortelle?
Corsica is the Mediterranean home of my former partner. It is also the home of Immortelle, the distinctive and aromatic flower that grows profusely along the coast and the inspiration for the name of my yoga business.
It has many healing properties, particularly for the skin, and its unique scent encapsulates the essence of Corsica.
Immortelle is just like the teachings of Yoga & Ayurveda.....everlasting. An incredible flower that never dies, its beautiful scent surviving the seasons, going on and on....
Qualification
I have practiced Yoga for over 20 years, starting with Hatha and now sharing the sacred teachings of Kundalini Yoga.
I graduated from a year-long Kundalini Teacher Training course in November 2017. KRI (Kundalini Research Institute) Level 1. And I am deepening my practice further as I work towards Level 2.
