Lucy gave up her day job to help ease lockdown anxieties of Bognor Regis residents

Mum-of-two Lucy, aged 37, has seen an upsurge in people’s anxieties caused by the pandemic lockdown and knows that yoga can massively help with managing these stresses by enhancing a feeling of wellbeing.

Lucy, originally from Felpham, and who grew up in Bognor Regis and Chichester, has practiced yoga for 18 years and, after undertaking yoga teacher training, she started helping friends and family to learn the ancient art before turning to holding classes online as the series of lockdowns were imposed.

“While there is a very real physical effect of the coronavirus on our population, the mental health implications of the pandemic have been telling too,” she says.

Now, buoyed by a fantastic response from those she has helped, she has started Love the Journey Yoga from her home in Shoreham.

Lucy, who is a 300-hour registered teacher, said: “I’ve been passionate about yoga for many years and it is a dream to be able to start my own business helping people through its many benefits.

“The lockdown was tough on so many and through word of mouth I started to get more and more people approaching me who wanted to practice and I felt honoured to help.

“The numbers kept growing and then it was a case of making a big decision as to whether or not to try teaching yoga as a full-time career.

“I loved my job working within fundraising at Chestnut Tree House children’s hospice but after seven years with them I felt as if the time was right to go out on my own.”

Being from the Bognor Regis area means that more than half of Lucy’s existing clients are from this part of West Sussex but because of the popularity of her online classes, geography isn’t an issue.

Lucy says her passion for helping people connect with and accept themselves, whilst encouraging body confidence and peace of mind, means her job is very much a labour of love.

She explained: “I have personally felt the many physical and mental benefits of practising yoga and would like to make this practice accessible to as many people as possible.

“Love the Journey Yoga offers accessible and inclusive yoga classes, focusing on moving the body with an awareness of the breath to create flowing movements that energise the body and calm the mind.”

Classes offered range from beginner to intermediate, in a group setting or one to one, online or in-person.

Styles of yoga taught include Vinyasa, Hatha, Restorative, Yin, Pregnancy and Parent and Baby yoga and every class is tailored to students’ needs and aims.

The aim is for students to leave classes feeling renewed, peaceful and empowered.

Lucy is interested in working with charities and the community to offer free yoga to anyone who can benefit from it.

She added: “If you have got an idea to make yoga accessible to more or would like Love the Journey Yoga to be involved with a project, please get in touch.”

Contact Lucy at [email protected] or call 07881781354, or visit www.lovethejourneyyoga.com