Yoga for Slimmers
Celia Hawe, who live's at Findhorn in Scotland, is the recent author of a successful yoga book 'Yoga for Slimmers' which is for sale at Tesco, Amazon, and other bookshops. It has only been out 3 months and is already in many countries of the world, and is being translated into many languages too.
It was Celia's own pain around the issue of weight that led her to investigate if yoga could successfully be used for slimming. She believes that sustainable and enjoyable weight management needs a body - mind - spirit approach.
She ultimatley combines her form of yoga with healthy eating, motivation techniques from coaching, behavioural changes, relaxation to combat stress eating and visualisation techniques to get the mind on your side - and also some of her favourite delicious recipes. She calls it slimming from the inside out.
Celia first became interested in Yoga when she moved to Combe Martin on the edge of Exmoor, North Devon, 25 years ago. She studied intensely with Tony Crisp and other helpful teachers at his Ashram for many years. He taught with a holistic approach which involved deep personal development work along with the yoga practices.
Celia did her training with the British Wheel of Yoga and claims that the comprehensive training provided gave her a solid foundation from which to continue her yoga development. She recently went back to basics and took the British Wheel's year foundation course - about 20 years after first completing her BWY Diploma. She tells us -
It was wonderful to do it - the tutor was a vastly experienced and inspiring woman called June Reeve (Scotland), she updated me on my yoga practice/techniques and going back to basics with yoga was very helpful. When I originally completed my training I was so desperate to know everything there was to know. Now I went back to it without desperation, expectations and wants. I went back to it like an old friend, welcoming and not expecting. I learnt so much.
An aspect of Celia's life which has influenced her yoga is the Findhorn Foundation – a spiritual education community situated in North East Scotland. She owns a house in Findhorn's village and when she is there she teaches yoga classes and is involved in voluntary work.
I have been going to Findhorn for around 15 years and have had a home there for 9 years. Their approach includes listening within, and bringing spirituality into everyday activities.
Another major influence has been Krishnamurti – My husband has studied Krishnamurti’s teachings intensely. Hence I did have him thrust upon me; in fact I always maintain that often there were 3 in our bed, me, Pete and a Krishnamurti book! At first his teachings frustrated me, but slowly I started to understand. One of his famous quotes which fascinates me is:
I maintain that Truth is a pathless land, and you cannot approach it by any path whatsoever, by any religion, by any sect... Truth being limitless, unconditioned, and unapproachable by any path whatsoever, cannot be organized; nor should any organization be formed to lead or coerce people along any particular path... My only concern is to set man absolutely, unconditionally free.
Healing workshops have also played a major part in her journey - "I am sensitive, and this has developed by attending many healing workshops over the years. My approach now is more to help people to heal themselves. Hence I trained to become a Life Coach which I combine with my yoga work and is included in my Yoga for Slimmers book and Consultants Training."
When she first started out - she explains she did her practice out of fear - "I didn’t want to get ill, feel pain or age and thought yoga was the answer. Of course I got my answer – but not in the way I expected, in fact I got very ill at one point with ME". She has fortunatley been fully recovered for over 10 years now and over the years she has managed to transform her fear into love, both within herself and her practice.
Celia claims her yoga classes to be a medium to help people experience the power and wisdom of stillness, and to undo the knots and tensions of the mind and body in order to grow into their full potential. Her yoga is a blend of the best of ancient wisdom, updated modern sports science, Life Coaching, and her own unique way of putting the essence across in a way that people can understand.
So what are Celia's plans for the future? - To train Yoga for Slimmers Consultants so that Yoga for Slimmers Centres are established worldwide. To keep learning, growing, loving and putting integrity first. To keep alert to the guidance within and be obedient to that voice.