The Story of Love Yoga Online
About Us- Love Yoga Online
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Gemma's Story and the birth of Love Yoga Online
I'm Gemma Ford, I'm a yoga teacher and I'm training to be a life coach. I'm passionate about being the very best version of myself, continuously renewing, learning and sharing my experiences; the triumphs and the challenges.
I studied Psychology at Exeter University because I wanted to understand how our minds work, our motivations, our ups and downs, ways to feel better. After completing my degree I became facinated by eastern philosophies, ideas and texts. I had been practicing yoga since school and where ever i was I would find a way to fit my practice into my life.
My background in Psychology landed me a career in online marketing in London - it was a fast paced work life complete with full and busy social life. My office was right next door to an incredible Sivananda yoga centre which is now an ashram in Putney. I could sneak into classes after work and would pop in at lunch time just be in the tranquil environment. Then out of the blue an opportunity came up to study in India to become a yoga teacher. I thought it would be impossible and made every excuse under the sun at first. I had a good job. I couldn't take time off. I had bills to pay, friends and a life, what a ridiculous idea!
And then I thought to myself; you hear, read and watch programmes about adventurers and inspirational people who live fabulous lives and follow their dreams. Could I be one of those people? I had never been enamoured with the normal treadmill of life from school, to university, to job, to house and so on. I wanted vibrant colours, extreme experiences, stories to tell and most of all to walk my very own path completely unique and special to me.
It dawned on me that in order to bring my adventure, and life changing experiences into my life, I would have to actively take that step, make that decision and do something about it.
So I quit my job left London and followed my heart to India and became the yoga teacher I had always secretly wanted to be. India was wonderful, terrible, amazing, fantastic, extreme, noisy, silent - everything - it was life changing. It helped me to overcome very the limiting social anxiety issues that I had been dealing with. When I arrived back in the UK I moved to Cornwall to live with the love of my life. It was a fresh new start in a beautiful place. Our new beginning.
I started teaching yoga locally in Cornwall and have been teaching ever since: corporate classes in offices, 121 classes, small groups, people on holiday in cornwall, yoga on the beach, in hotels overlooking the sea, as part of a holistic ayurvedic spa retreats. In that time I have done further training and am constantly developing and learning in my yoga practice and in life.
Pretty soon I developed the idea of creating an online yoga community, I was missing my community in London and I had looked online myself for yoga teaching and inspiration. My passion for yoga combined with my online marketing experience felt like a perfect combination, joining all my loves and skills and passions in one place.
The main driving force for LYO is to draw together inspirational people and resources that motivate, inspire and encourage me everyday. I am so excited to share this with you, and hear all about your personal stories and inspirations. Being a part of LYO feels like being in a big group of friends with similar interests, issues and passions in life. I am so excited to meet you!
Love Yoga Online - Inspire, Connect, Evolve
Let's do this together!
Love Gemma xx
