For about 12-18 months, I harboured a vision: taking Yoga off the mat and into mainstream politics. Recently, in October 2018, this vision became real – I lead an evening Reception in Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh. The title was “Yoga: Mental Health & Wellbeing.” It was a first for our Parliament, and I’m sure it will not be the last.
What was it about?
The purpose of the event was sharing with our politicians the benefit that yoga in all its many forms can have for all minds and bodies. Sharing the link between yoga and mental health. I wanted to enable the politicians that represent people across Scotland to be better informed about what Yoga is and how it can help us all. The evening included a breathing meditation, Chair Yoga interactive demonstration, healing sounds and key note speakers sharing their inspiring life journeys and the part Yoga has played.
Where did this come from?
Inclusivity is an important value to me, and completing my Curvy Yoga training in 2015 gave me another valuable tool in my ‘toolkit’ in being able to help make yoga accessible to more people. Equipped with my own “post two c-sections curvy body,” in 2017 I co-created a Yoga Charity calendar celebrating the diversity of yoga and teachers from across Scotland and helping to raise funds to support mental health work at the same time.
These inspiring images and mental health quotes spurred me on to want to share on a bigger, wider scale, and there the idea came to approach Parliament. The amazing calendar images also became part of the event – they were shown on plasma screens throughout the evening. During this journey SAMH, the Scottish Association for Mental Health charity launched the Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport. It provides a way to help break down the barriers for people with mental health challenges to be able to access exercise. As a Yoga teacher and mental health advocate I am proud to be a Charter Signatory and SAMH’s support helped make this event possible.
Who was there?
Sponsored by my own Member of Scottish Parliament for my locality, we had the Scottish Minister for Mental Health open the event, followed by powerful, heartfelt personal stories from people who have experienced great benefit from having yoga in their lives and on their mental health.
These people included Agnes Houston, MBE & Churchill Fellow, sharing her incredible story of living with early onset Dementia and 13 years on finding her yoga practices of breathing and balance postures helping her through the effects of living with dementia such as hallucinations and respiratory difficulties.
John Arthur shared how from a challenging upbringing on a housing estate surrounded by drugs, alcohol and abuse, yoga has helped him through mental health difficulties to recovery and he is now a community activist sharing yoga with diverse groups such as veterans, people with PTSD, and the young in the care system and addiction recovery.
The SAMH charity are also the advisors to the Government on mental health policy and they talked about the Mental Health Charter for Physical Activity and Sport and how it is helping spread awareness and break down the barriers for people with mental health challenges access exercise. They are blown away and delighted to have seen so many Yoga instructors and organisations become signatories of the Charter, now making up the largest group and are helping make a difference.
What’s next…?
This event has established a good platform from which further awareness can be launched to share and celebrate the many benefits of yoga including supporting our mental health and awareness.
The event received good coverage ranging from radio interviews to newspaper and magazines covering the story. I’ve also been approached by a few members of Parliament and other sporting organisations to talk about ideas to share Yoga further, integrating it into activities supporting mental health.
The door is open… and for all of us as yoga practitioners to keep expanding on what we love doing most – sharing the benefits of yoga.
What did I learn?
I have realised when you work toward bringing about something that you feel strongly passionate about – it’s as if it creates a life of its own. I was amazed how seemingly big obstacles to this ‘thing’ actually happening kept being resolved as I moved forward. People and organisations came along at just the right time often when I was feeling uncertain. I take heart from this experience and love the path I am on and in which body positivity/Curvy Yoga continues to play an important part.
—
Lindsey Porter is an Akhanda Hatha and Curvy qualified yoga teacher based in Scotland. She is passionate about sharing the benefits yoga can bring to all minds and bodies. As well as 12 years+ teaching experience, Lindsey is a Tutor for the Yoga Scotland Foundation course, co-founder of a successful international yoga podcast series, listened to in over 70 countries, author of articles published in the Huffington Post, Yoga and OM Yoga magazines. She is a Mental Health Charter Signatory, active supporter and fundraiser for SAMH a Scottish Mental Health charity. Find Lindsey on her website, Facebook page, Facebook group, Twitter & Instagram.