This month’s Yoga Manchester People features Yasmin who is a regular student at Thursday evening classes at Withington with Paul Jones.
Q1. Tell us a bit about yourself (tell us some things about where you’re from, where you live, hobbies, family and pets, what you do for a living)
My name is Yasmine and I’m from a village in Norfolk called Ormesby, I grew up surrounded by fields and spent my childhood loving nature, playing in straw bales, picking fresh peas and coming home when the sun went down.
I now live in Didsbury and have two beautiful daughters Isabel (15) and Penelope (3) and a hairy son Simon (3) the Cocker Spaniel.
I am a Florist but due to having another baby and so having much less time I am continuing with my Career in Property Management currently working at Philip James on Burton Road in Didsbury.
My personal interests/hobbies are Environmental matters, Animal welfare, Yoga, Quality time with my family meaning Simon too, Floristry, Gardening, Travelling, Music and 1930/1940 Musicals.
Q2. What are you currently listening to? Tell us about it (What’s in your CD player, on Spotify or who’s your favourite musician/band, perhaps your current, favourite radio station or the sound coming from someone’s phone on the back of the 86 bus?)
Ha well in my car at the minute I have a random mixture;
Suzanne Vega, The Police, Stevie Wonder, Childrens French (which I’m learning with Penny) KT Tunstall, New Order and a Meditation CD.
My other half is a Guitarist for Peter Hook and the light which I really enjoy as I have always love Joy Division and go to see them play whenever possible.
Fleetwood Mac, Suzanne Vega, The Vere, The Police are some of my favourites that have kept me company since I was in high School.
Q3. What brought you to yoga and how long have you been practising? (Tell us about your first class, or what brought you to it, or how your practice has changed)
I have been practicing Yoga on and off for 17 years.
My first taste of Yoga was actually a DVD by Penelope who used to be on breakfast TV, I remember feeling such a sense of calm for once that I became addicted to the DVD and used the same one for a few years. My first actual class was around 3 years later and it was in a cold damp room in a church in Salford I only went a handful of times as it didn’t quite fit with me.
My main Yoga practice over the years has been at home and I started to use a different DVD Jane Middleton which I again became addicted to and it worked well for me.
I then Stumbled upon Paul Jones at Withington Church around 6 years ago and I can honestly say it changed me both physically and mentally for the better. After Paul left I went back to my trusted DVD’s but then tried a class at Cavendish School which was taught my Ethna and again I was blown away and literally wanted to cry during the first class as she is just so good and welcoming, sadly she left and again I felt like the search was on again and then as if by magic a friend through the class advised she was going to a class by Paul at Withington Church, when I realised it was Paul Jones I returned and can’t express how please I am to have such a great Instructor back into my life!
I practised Pregnancy Yoga with Janine at Chorlton Irish Club for my entire second pregnancy and can honestly say I do not know how I would have got through without it! Not to mention what an amazing teach Janine is, I have her to thank for some amazing new friends for both me and Penny and through using meditation I had Penny with no drugs and refused being induced and actually went home to walk my lovely dog as I had belief in me and Penny that I was strong enough and that she was healthy enough to come when she was ready. I’m going on a bit here but just to add my waters broke to Break Out by Swing Out Sister! Ha!
I would say I found yoga because in my early 20’s I just felt like there was not enough meaning to well anything really and being in love with nature I just needed a deeper connection to everything and to be able to allow myself head space to relax and to get to know my body.
Q4. What is your yoga super power? (Tell us about a posture or feature of your yoga practice that you’re really good at, or that you enjoy the most)
At the moment I would say my only super power is ensuring I arrive and push myself at each class!
Q5. If you could be a character in a well-known film, who would you be and why? (You might need to give a brief explanation of what the film is about, if it’s an obscure one)
Marie Anntoinette from the film Marie Anntoinette in 2006
Why, well I feel she was misunderstood in reality as she was young and unaware of the damage she caused but then also an amazing mum who just wanted the simple things in life.
I have visited her private estate in Versailles which is the most beautiful country cottage and surrounding out houses for her chickens etc… that still has the orginal walls so you can envision how quaint it once was. Marie chose to live in her own separate modest farm on the outskirts of the Palace grounds to try and live simply and peacefully with her daughter.
I have a great love for Paris.
Q6. Where in Manchester (or where in the world) is heaven? (This might be a museum or park you like to visit, a restaurant you frequent, an area of the city that has fond memories or Leo’s Fish Bar at 2am on a Saturday morning)
Marie Anntoinettes Estate in Versailles
Thailand
Q7. If you could go back in time to see something or change something, what would it be?
I would want to change inhumane farming and testing on all animals.
Thanks for reading and asking!