Dark days are over
I'm Colm Walsh, the owner of Yoga Dublin.
I guess when I started a studio back in 2003 I didn't realise in the future I'd have to 'pivot' online, get through two years of closure, apart from some false starts, and then 'reopen'...wasn't it hard enough the first few times at different locations? The 15 March 2023 marks the anniversary of our first lockdown, closing studios, going online, letting people go..never again!This is my 22nd year running yoga and pilates classes in Dublin.
I remember twenty one years ago putting up the ceilings and fixing up my first leased property on Dartmouth Place, a former photography studio, while teaching at nights in a school hall on Baggot Street, and then going home to my 6 month old daughter.
That daughter, and another one, now work the reception at Yoga Dublin! Three generations of my family have attended the studios in various guises, my Mum loves Pilates with Mich, my wife benefited so much from pre-natal yoga & our therapists over four pregnancies, I dip in/out of classes as I choose, it's a busman's holiday! But I'm a conductor now, not a driver, and I love the view from the back seat...
I had come to yoga about five years previously to my first studio opening & gradually got immersed in the Iyengar method, then dabbled in astanga, vinyasa flow and whatever else. It was a natural progression towards practicing, teaching and then the business of the business of yoga and pilates. It's been an *interesting* journey through yoga training, to teaching, evolving practice, babies, life, death and everything else, but never boring.
I have never enjoyed a new energy and new year as much so far. 2022 was a year of recovery to say the least! We are really back at last with three studios buzzing, but it's different energy, different habits and needs. We are finding people want earlier, shorter classes than before lockdown? There are lots of restorative, Yin and gentle classes to accomodate this revitalising stage - that's my happy place right now, warm and cosy these cools evenings, exploring deep and restorative openings.
We have so many new master trainings, workshops, masterclasses, courses and more regular classes lined up for '23. It's been flat out this spring, new teachers, classes, staff and team additions too. Our teacher trainees commence our first post-C. training this auspicious weekend of the Equinox and on St Patrick's Day - wishing them well!
I love outdoor time over the winter, going off-screen & up-hills, connected with friends, family and nature keeps me happy. Here's Pawz and his friend - Blue, out walking with me.
Beannachtaí Lá Féile le Phádraig - Colm
Colm
