EMPOWERED by yoga as a philosophy and the support of The Society of Yoga Practitioners, Louise Sealy journeyed from recovery to renewal.
For much of her life, Louise Sealy loved high-energy sports shared with her husband and children. But a serious skiing accident — combined with the challenges of menopause — forced her to slow down. It was yoga, and the support she found through The Society of Yoga Practitioners (TSYP), that helped her rebuild her strength and confidence.
Now 64 and living in Hampton Hill, Greater London, Louise teaches yoga locally and works as a yoga therapist.
Louise volunteers as a cover teacher for seated yoga classes at The Mulberry Centre, an independent cancer information and support charity, which aims to deliver a range of information and support services free of charge to anyone affected by cancer, including those with a cancer diagnosis, their main carer, family members and those bereaved by cancer. In addition, for the last two years she has volunteered at Brinsworth House, a residential home for those who have worked in the entertainment industry and which is owned and run by the Royal Variety Charity. Louise leads seated yoga classes there for many of the residents.
Her journey began 10 years ago, after a skiing accident in France. Louise spent nearly four weeks in hospital before returning home to the UK, on crutches.
She recalls:
“At first, I couldn’t walk at all. Even when I could manage with one crutch, I was terrified of anything that might knock me off balance.”
About nine months later, she began one-to-one sessions with yoga therapist Bea Teuten, a past chair of TSYP. Over a year, Bea helped her manage pain and anxiety through yoga breathing and gentle, restorative movement.
Louise said:
“Bea never pushed me — she just guided me. When I finally managed to remain balanced for several breaths in the Warrior III pose without support, I realised how far I’d come.”
Able to return to rowing and working out with a personal coach, Louise continues to work with Bea and credits yoga with helping her heal both physically and mentally.
She said:
“It was holistic — caring for my mind as much as my body. Once I committed to daily practice, everything changed.”
Encouraged by Bea, Louise went on to complete the TSYP Foundation Course and then the three-year teacher training course, finding not only physical recovery but also a new direction in life.
Through TSYP, Louise also began to learn Sanskrit and Vedic chanting. Sanskrit is the language of the Vedas, India’s oldest sacred teachings. Passed down by word of mouth, Vedic chants can be used in yoga to calm the mind, improve focus, and bring inner peace.
She said:
“When my father was dying, I learned a chant that became very special to me. The chants seem to come into your life at just the right time.”
Louise says of her volunteer work:
“People come and go, but I learn so much from them — about resilience and adaptation. I love the outreach work at The Mulberry Centre and Brinsworth House. It’s rewarding, full of laughter. My TSYP training has given me the ‘tools’ to share my love of yoga with others because yoga didn’t just help me recover; it gave me a renewed love of life.”
