011 – Revive Yourself – Yogi Katarina Rayburn – Why She Started Yoga, How It Has Helped Her In Every Aspect Of Her Life, Being A Vegan & Much More

Apart from the years when I was ill, being someone from a sporting background meant I had always been physically fit and strong. Playing sports, sprinting, lifting weights, doing bodyweight exercises combined with a nutritious diet had allowed me to gain and maintain a physique I was proud of. Whenever there was a mention of yoga I used to scoff and think it was generally for girls who wanted to stretch and who didn’t want to work out properly. However, the deeper you go into holistic living the more your mind opens and your perspective begins to change, and for the last few years yoga had become something I was keen to try. Well roughly 14 months ago I walked into my first yoga studio, and learnt just how wrong I had previously been. To say it was hard was an understatement. Whilst others were supple and able to bend and hold poses with ease, my body was incredibly stiff and shook with discomfort. However when the session was over I had really enjoyed it. The combination of stretching, strength, balance, fluidity and mindfulness had drawn me in. Since then I have been regularly attending yoga sessions and although I am better, to say there is still a lot of work to do would be an understatement. However with all things in life, when you are taught by someone who you enjoy learning off you are more likely to carry on practising. This is where Katarina comes in as her classes have the perfect balance of being challenging, fun and mindful. Katarina wasn’t always a yoga instructor however. What most people wouldn’t know about her is she is a former actress and also holds a degree in physics. However one day a friend took her to a yoga class and everything changed for her. She loved it so much she went off to practice in India and the rest they say is history. In todays interview we discussed her journey to becoming a yogi, how yoga can help with mental health, how yoga has helped her deal with problems in everyday life, what you can do if you want to start yoga but you’ve been too nervous, why Katarina became a vegan and much more. You can find Katarina and her book here: http://katarinarayburnyoga.com/ If you have been thinking of doing yoga and haven't got round to it yet, or if you're someone who wants a full round approach to healthy living then this episode is just for you. Enjoy the show and don’t forget to share it to your friends and family, as well as writing a comment, or a review on iTunes. To Your Health & Happiness Ryan