Sunrise Yoga

Denise Walton talks about how she founded her business

Over the last twenty years or so, there has been a huge surge in the popularity of yoga. These days, it's possible to enrol in yoga classes in fitness centres just about everywhere. It has become common for local governments and businesses to promote the practice at public events such as "International Yoga Day." Meanwhile, interest in private yoga instruction has also grown tremendously. As a result of these factors, at present there is a huge demand for trained yoga teachers.

I began practicing yoga when I was in my twenties. In Sanskrit, the word "yoga" means "union" and refers to the relationship between the body and the mind. In other words, yoga is not just exercise. It is, of course, a great way to strengthen the muscles, improve flexibility and control your breathing. However, it also teaches discipline and mental strength. Initially, I signed up for classes at a gym near my job and began going a few times per week. Two months later, I moved on to a home practice and began waking up early to do yoga before work.

Five years on, I made the decision to obtain a yoga qualification. At that point I was doing yoga every day, and when I wasn't practicing I was often reading or thinking about it. I applied for a leave of absence at work and travelled to India to study at an ashram. It came as a shock to my family at the time, especially given that I was coming up for a promotion. I can't say that I wasn't satisfied with my career up to that point, which was in sales. I had strong relationships with my colleagues and supervisors. Moreover, I was earning a good salary. Still, I just couldn't shake the feeling that I might be more fulfilled by working as a yoga teacher.

In my time at the ashram, I developed a deeper understanding of yoga. This, of course, was one of my goals. I also learned a lot about myself and my relationship to the practice. Meanwhile, the opportunity to meet people from around the world who shared my interest was extremely valuable. I knew that I wanted set up a private studio once I returned home, but I had doubts about my ability to run a business. When I voiced my concerns, my classmates encouraged me and gave me advice. Buoyed by their support, when I did come back to England I took the plunge and founded the first yoga centre in my town. I named the business Sunrise Yoga because, years prior, it was at sunrise that I dedicated time to the activity.

At Sunrise Yoga, we currently have more than eighty students. The business employs three full-time staff members, and I am in the middle of scouting out a space so that we can open up a second location. That's all to say, so far, the venture has proven a success. Anyone who runs a business will tell you how stressful life is when you first set up shop. In my case, this was no different. That first year I hardly slept at all. However, I can say with confidence that the decision to transition away from corporate life towards pursuing my passion was definitely the right one.

There are so many things I love about my new career, chief among them my day-to-day routine. The relationships I have with my students also bring me a lot of happiness. My oldest student, Martina, is eighty-two years old. When she masters a new posture, or when I can see the strength she has built up through yoga, I know in my heart of hearts that I have found my dream job. My advice to anyone thinking about making a career change would be to just go for it. You'll never know what you're missing if you don't give it a try! And if you're in the neighbourhood and want to drop by for a yoga class with us, you'll be very welcome. Prospective students are entitled to two complementary classes.