Meet The Member - Kathryn of Wellness Pathways
wellness pathways
We caught up with our member to explore her inspiring journey into holistic wellness, from veterinary nursing to breathwork, movement, and mindfulness in Harpenden.
Firstly, thank you for being a part of We Are Harpenden. We are very excited to hear more about your journey into becoming a business owner. When did you first discover holistic wellness, and did you know straight away that it was the path for you?
Thank you. It’s great to be a member. I started exploring a more holistic approach to wellbeing at a point in my life where I was feeling completely overwhelmed and on the verge of burnout. I felt out of balance physically, mentally and emotionally. I couldn't hide from the fact that I needed to make a change.
In 2006, I discovered a local yoga class with a wonderful teacher, and that's where my love of yoga started. For the first time, I felt a sense of coming back to myself, a wholeness and contentment. 5 years later, I started my training to become a yoga teacher and since then continued to learn and deepen my knowledge into meditation, the breath and nervous system regulation. I also think it's important to continue with my own personal wellness journey. By nature, I am very curious, I love to explore other modalities of healing and wellness and weave this into what I share.
What challenges are people usually facing before coming to you?
There are many reasons why people come to yoga, often it has been to help with tension and tightness in their body or feeling stressed and overwhelmed. I would say the common theme is the feeling of being out of balance. This could be physically, mentally or emotionally. What I would say is that all of it is linked, mind and body. Movement, meditation and the breath give us the tools to develop mind and body awareness.
If there is one thing you could implement in everyone’s lives related to your practice, what would it be?
The one thing I would encourage people to explore is breath awareness. The breath is the bridge to the mind and body. The breath gives us information about how we are in any given moment, and there are breathing practices that we can do that help us navigate the ups and downs that life inevitably brings.
What is your favourite thing about running a business in Harpenden?
I love meeting people and feeling part of the community.
Did you used to work in something else before starting this business? Was it a big leap to start this business?
My first career was in the veterinary world. I love animals and I loved being a veterinary nurse, but after I had my second child, life took me on a different course with an opportunity to be part of a business that offered great opportunities for me and my family. I was part of a busy, growing organisation, life got too busy, and that's when I started yoga. That led me to where I am now, following a path that I am deeply passionate about and love sharing with others.
You talk about movement practices – how important is movement to your wellbeing?
Moving our body regularly is fundamental to our wellbeing; this isn't just for our physiology but our mental and emotional wellbeing too. We can at times feel mentally and emotionally stuck, movement can help us move and clear that energy.
How would you describe the differences between your practice and that of other wellness coaches?
I think we all bring our own essence to our offerings. Three values that I like to bring into what I share are curiosity, compassion and connection. I encourage everyone to be curious about themselves and open to trying something new, but always with a compassionate mind and heart. In class, we often will have a bit of a laugh, and I like to create a relaxed, welcoming environment.
Has your approach to your practice changed at all since you’ve started?
Yes, my practice is always evolving as I love to continue to explore and learn. One thing that I have learnt is that the simple practices are often the most powerful.
What would you say to someone who is looking to get involved with the wellness world but isn’t 100% sure yet?
Try different things and tune into what resonates with you. If it resonates, it will become a joy, not a chore.
When you aren’t running one of your sessions, where in Harpenden do you most like to spend time?
Walking my two dogs in the local area and popping into Brad and Dills for a coffee!
Tell us a fun fact about yourself.
I have a horse and love to hang out with him. We have a lot of fun together. I am also obsessed with Flamenco; it’s something I would love to learn even though I am 44!