Giving a focus when she had cancer, and helping her children through their own personal journeys, Hedge Hornbeam discovered the power of yoga in her 30s and its impact was powerful…

Tell me a bit about you…

I am a mammy to three demanding children, partner, crazy cat lady and full time yoga instructor! I’m 35 but I feel like I’m 20.

How did you first get into yoga?

I used to be a professional dancer when I was younger. When I had an accident and my future career went up in smoke (well actually in bits of metal in my body) someone suggested yoga in my recovery and I tinkered from there on in. I was 16 at the time and yoga was ‘a bit hippy’ then. I started to take it seriously when I had cancer and the practice gave me something to focus on.

What attracted you to it?

If you asked me this five years ago I would have said “it looks cool.” Now my answer is, every morning my self wants to be yoga.

How often do you practice and for how long?

I practice every single day! Some days when I have no classes I practice two to three hours a day.  When I have classes I still do my personal practice then another eight hours of teaching!

What’s your favourite thing about yoga?

I can’t give you one thing that is the best thing. I feel complete, I feel at peace, I feel physically fit and it’s given me a whole new outlook on life.

Do you have a favourite pose?

This is a hard question! I love all inversions, looking at things from a different perspective physically can drastically change your mental outlook on what’s going on.

What do you get out of it physically?

Physically it changes bodies amazingly, my body is toned, strong and capable of much more than I ever thought it was.

Are there mental benefits?

Honestly the mental benefits are huge and far too many to list. Yoga gives a peace that is infectious. I have clients that suffer from anxiety and depression and finding their Qi has released them from the guilt that comes with their conditions. Personally yoga gave me the purpose and mental ability to deal with recurring cancer. I had aggressive chemo just over 18 months ago and I genuinely believe that yoga got me through. It’s taught me to deal with what is given to me and to make the best of every situation.

Do the children enjoy yoga?

Haha my littlest (who’s nine) loves it and wants to teach like mummy does, my middly (twelve) doesn’t quite understand why I don’t just go for a run, but my eldest (fourteen) has benefited massively from yoga.

What do they get from it/what do you get from it as a family?

Well my eldest is autistic and through meditation practice can even talk to people he doesn’t know (which is a massive thing). He also has growth problems which has caused his spine to twist and collapse on itself, he does some very gentle poses to help him deal with the pain, he doesn’t want to take lots of painkillers but the poses (for now) are helping with the management of that. As a family unit we all have a slightly different outlook on life thanks to yoga. We all appreciate each other and always tell each other this.  It is not just about personal Qi it’s about the whole, the five of us together make the Qi.

What would you say to anyone who wants to try it but feels a bit intimidated?

Yoga is a humble being. Every person on this planet can try yoga, there is not one person who is not fit/slim/well enough to try it. I teach at a retirement community and if a 94 year old woman who thought it was only done by stoners (her words) is now calling me up for extra sessions, anyone can do it. Yoga is universally accessible. All you need is your body, and your body is capable of amazing things!

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