Introducing Gill, one of our Strength for Life members
Hi, I’m Gill and I have just had my 70th birthday. I live on the Llyn Peninsula looking out over the sea to the Wicklow Mountains in Ireland. Living near a lovely sandy beach I like to swim in the sea whenever I can and I also have a kayak which is great to explore the local coastline.
Due to osteoarthritis I had a new knee 6 years ago, a new hip 2 years ago, my second new knee a few weeks ago and I am waiting for my second new hip!
When did you start your yoga journey and how often do you practice yoga?
I first did yoga in the 1980s but then didn’t take it up again until I moved to to Wales 15 years ago and there was a yoga teacher who held classes in my local village hall. I had to stop going to classes when I had my first knee replacement and after that the teacher stopped the local classes. My sister, Sarah, introduced me to Emma’s yoga one day when she was staying with me and I haven’t looked back since then. I'm not very good at doing practice on my own as there is always something else to do and I prefer the live, online classes.
What's your favourite class, etc.
I love all the classes as they are always different and Emma keeps me on my toes. I like the Wednesday morning technique class when we focus on something and I can use what I’ve learnt it in other lessons. I often struggle with some moves due to the osteoarthritis but Emma will always suggest something alternative.
Why yoga / core classes help you?
I do yoga to keep myself fit. I did yoga right up to the evening before my hip and last knee operation and it really helped me with recovery, the physios and hospital staff all commented on how fit I was and I was up walking very quickly.
What's your least favourite yoga pose/core drill and why?
Recently, I have found any of the standing postures hard as my knee was so painful. I would start a lesson in pain but by the end, with some gentle movement, things would always feel a bit better.
Yoga Goals / Plans for the future
I love walking in the mountains and yoga has helped me to walk in the hills while waiting for my new joints, I am trying to do all the Hewitts/Nuttalls (mountains over 2,000 ft/610m in Wales). At the moment I am fairly restricted on what I can do, but I’m working hard now to recover and I’m hoping to get back into the mountains soon.
At the moment I’m not doing much yoga, I try to do some twists and upper body stretches and I have physio exercises to do, post-op. Hopefully, as I recover, I will be able to do more and join the online yoga classes again even if it’s just for part of it.
Last meal on death row? / Your fav meal basically!
I’ve been vegetarian for over 25 years. I love lots of small plates of food that I can pick at followed by a home made fruit salad and maybe a piece of chocolate to finish.
