2022 in review

As much as I love to live in the moment, the end of year invites a more reflective mood.

I couldn’t start anywhere else but my Yoga for Men classes in Keynsham which have grown in stature this year. After the stop-start nature of the ‘COVID years’, it’s been fantastic to have a smooth run of a full 12 months of classes. Alongside my regulars since pre-COVID days, I’ve had a steady stream of newcomers join me – initially taking advantage of a free first class before settling into a regular rhythm for their practice. Testament to the success of the classes have been the popularity. Most weeks, the classes are fully booked, often with at least a couple more guys on the waiting list.

I love teaching in Keynsham, and the positive impact it’s had on my life. Don’t just take my word for it. When I asked the guys what they would say to any man considering yoga, this is what they said,

My classes in Keynsham had become so popular I decided to open a 2nd class in Saltford. I couldn’t be happier with how things have turned out. Granted, it was a slow burner with only a couple of guys for the first few months. The game changer was when the Managing Director from a local construction company started coming to my classes. He loved them that much that he encouraged some of his design and build teams to join him. Reaching out to new groups such as this is what my yoga classes are all about. Breaking down stereotypes on what yoga is and who should practice it.

I couldn’t mark the end of the year without talking about a couple of key partnerships this year. Firstly, men’s mental fitness charity Talk Club. After training to become a ‘Captain’ at Talk Club sessions, we launched ‘Talk & Yoga’. The essence being to incorporate Talk Club structure into my regular Yoga for Men classes in Bristol. I start and end each class by asking the guys to score themselves out of 10. Nothing scientific, just a score that represents how they feel in the moment.

The guys brought the aims of ‘Talk & Yoga’ to life. The beauty coming in the guys giving their reasons for a score. It was not always easy for any of us to share, but by doing so together in a safe space meant that we were maybe sharing some of our inner most thoughts. By opening up in this way, we were not only supporting ourselves, but also supporting others in realising that they were not alone in whatever struggles they were facing. Life can be hard, but by opening up we’re stronger together.

Changing the face of men’s health for the better became my tagline for the ‘Talk & Yoga’ sessions. It was brilliant to be able to spread the word through media interest this year. Bristol Post’s online publication, Bristol Live interviewed Talk Club and me about Talk & Yoga. I couldn’t have put it better than their headline saying ‘How Talk Club and Yoga for Men are revolutionising men’s health in Bristol‘. This was followed by a live interview on BBC Radio Bristol during Mental Health Awareness Week. It was the first time I had been back in the BBC studios since pre-COVID and I loved every minute of talking about men’s health. I even ran a short mindfulness and breath awareness session which I only hastily prepared on the journey in. I was proud that I felt brave enough to give it a go.

Bringing people together to support their wellbeing is what I’m most proud of this year. Broadening horizons beyond my Yoga for Men classes to Keynsham Music Festival was a highlight. In pre-COVID days, we started planning for a new wellbeing village at the festival. Two years later in 2022, the long-held dream became a reality. As much as it was fantastic to see all of the hard work I put into planning the event come to fruition, the real measure of success was the bringing together so many local businesses to make it happen. We could have easily been considered competitors to one another, but the sum of our parts was so much greater than each individual business. That shone through the storm clouds on the day, and lit the torch for the wellbeing village to return next year.

Reflecting in this way, it’s hard to believe I’ve achieved so much in my ‘spare time’. At Defra, I’ve taken an increasingly leading role in championing wellbeing activities. Running bitesized yoga sessions for 100’s of colleagues, ranging from 5 minutes of yoga to loosen people up for listening circles around national awareness days and campaigns to a series of ‘Take 5’ yoga sessions that were used to encourage colleagues to take 5 minutes out of their day to move their body in a way that felt good.

I’ve led the introduction of a quarterly wellbeing survey for my 200-strong directorate, bringing together divisional champions to reflect on the findings, and develop and implement an action plan. It’s been such a tumultuous period across the government and civil service, knowing that we have been a ‘voice to be heard’ amongst all the noise around Whitehall has made a positive difference.

It’s only by taking a step back, I can really appreciate what I’ve achieved. Thanks to everyone that’s helped make 2022 such a special one. Wishing you all the best for the festive season and beyond.