Pause and Breathe: A Mother’s Reflection on Watching Her Children Grow.

Today, I realized something both simple and profound — I am officially the smallest person in my house. After twenty years, my children have all grown taller than me.

It’s a strange mix of emotions — pride, nostalgia, a little fear, and wonder. I find myself asking, “Is this going too fast? Have my four children really grown up before my eyes?”

Watching them become the men and women they are today fills me with pride. Yet it also reminds me how quickly time moves. From the day they were born until now, life has been a blur of school runs, dinners, laughter, and lessons. Somewhere in between, they grew — and so did I.

As I walk the fields on my morning walk, memories flood back — their first steps, their first smiles, that first freckle that made me laugh, the first wobbly tooth, the first day of school, and then the first day of secondary school. Now, it’s the first days of college.

When I look back, I realize I did pause sometimes — I did take those moments in. But today is another reminder to keep doing that. To slow down, to breathe, to notice where I am and who I’ve become alongside them.

Today, my mantra is simple: pause and breathe.

Because these moments — the ones that slip by quietly while we rush around — are the ones we’ll want to hold onto most.

Colette xx

Why i don't take pictures of my Students-and still share my yoga classes Authentically.

In today’s world, everything seems to be photographed, posted, and shared — even our most peaceful spaces. As a yoga teacher, I’m often told, “You should take pictures of your classes! It’s great for advertising.”

But for me, that’s a NO.

When I attend a yoga class myself, I see it as a safe space — a place to disconnect, breathe, and just be. I know how uncomfortable it can feel to have a camera pointed at you when you’re trying to relax or move through a vulnerable pose. That’s why I made a conscious decision: I never take pictures of my students during class.

My yoga space is about trust, presence, and personal connection — not performance or perfect poses for social media.

Still, I understand the question: “How can you show what your classes are like?”

There are many ways to share the energy and community of your studio without compromising privacy or comfort:

Use empty-room shots. Capture your serene space before or after class — the mats, the soft lighting, the calm vibe.

Take pictures of props, plants, or your teaching setup. These small details often tell a bigger story about your teaching style and atmosphere.

Share your own practice. You can model poses or moments of mindfulness yourself — this still gives people a sense of your approach.

Ask for consent-based participation. Occasionally, students may volunteer to be in photos, especially for special workshops. Always get written consent and make it optional.

Let words and testimonials do the talking. A few heartfelt lines from your students about how they feel after class can speak louder than any photo.

For me, yoga is about presence — not pictures.

If I can create a space where people feel safe, seen, and free to be themselves, that’s the best kind of marketing there is.

Big Hugs

Colette xx

Yoga, pregnancy, and the journey

I trained to be a yoga teacher, a pregnancy yoga teacher, eight years ago, and as part of my pregnancy yoga teacher training, I had to observe 18 yoga classes, pregnancy yoga classes. As a result, I went around the country, Dublin, Limerick, Galway to observe these classes.

The teachers were amazing. The classes were amazing. A lot of teachers, a lot of the pregnancy yoga classes held in community halls, community centres and pregnant women had to lie on the cold hard floors to benefit or to be at the class.

I came home one evening to Oliver and said, “You know, the teachers are great. The classes were great, but the facilities and where the pregnant women had to attend the class isn't so great. It was cold, and there was nowhere to have tea or coffee or anything afterwards”

So, that's where we decided, or I decided, to create a space for mothers to be, where they would be able to attend a pregnancy yoga class, be warm, be comfortable, have blankets, cushions and pillows and feel safe. A place where they could be informed of and about their pregnancy, birthing and labour. Where these things could be discussed in confidence with other mommies to be.

Limestone Yoga Studio creates such a space for pregnant mommies. With underground heating, comfort and time to relax as the pregnant women arrive to the class. We have a circle time where we ask questions, where I ask the mommies about themselves: How are they doing? How many weeks are they pregnant? Any issues with their pregnancy? Any aches or pains?

Then we move on to the class where I provide and give golden nuggets throughout the class, different tips and tools that mommies can use throughout their pregnancy, their labour, their birthing journey and the first few weeks of their babies being born. I send them meditations and also create retreats for pregnant mommies. At these retreats we often have other professionals come in with their own expertise and information, tips and tools and tools for pregnant mommies,

I believe knowledge is so important throughout your pregnancy journey, your labour journey and your birthing journey. I think it is so important to have as much information and guidance as possible through movement, with knowledge of how to move, how to use yoga to your best benefit. Whilst in your pregnancy journey and in your labouring journey, using the tool of breath work is really, really important, but also using the tool of communication, not being afraid to ask questions, not being afraid to ask why, and using the B.R.A.I.N method (Benefits, Risks, Alternatives, Intuition, Nothing). Read more about it on Pregnancy, Birth & Beyond

🩷 Colette