From Grief to Gratitude: What Stepping on My Yoga Mat Has Taught Me About Love

Valentine’s Day often gets wrapped up in cards, chocolates, and grand gestures of love for others. And don’t get me wrong—I love all of that. But as I’ve gotten older, I’ve realised that some of the most meaningful love stories are the ones we have with ourselves.

For me, one of those love stories lives on my yoga mat.

My mat has been with me for years. Long before social media reels, curated wellness routines, or matching yoga outfits. It has been rolled out during some of the most beautiful moments of my life—and some of the hardest too. Through grief, through loss, through fertility struggles and IVF, through moments of deep joy, and through days when just getting out of bed felt like a win.

No matter what season of life I was in, the mat was always there. No judgement. No expectations. Just space.

There were days I stepped onto my mat full of energy, ready to move, sweat, and feel strong. And there were days I lay down, barely moving, breathing through emotions I didn’t quite have words for yet. My mat held all of it. It allowed me to feel, to release, and to soften when life felt heavy.

And here’s the thing—yoga was never about the perfect pose for me. It was (and still is) about giving myself time. Time to pause. Time to regulate my nervous system. Time to reconnect with my body when my mind felt overwhelmed. Time to remember that even when life feels hard, it is still full of love, beauty, and possibility.

That’s why I’m so passionate about teaching yoga and wellness. I truly believe we don’t give ourselves enough permission to slow down. To rest. To refocus. To build resilience in both body and mind so we can meet life as it comes—strong, grounded, and supported.

Alongside movement, meditation has been another constant companion on my mat. One of my favourites—and one that feels especially fitting for Valentine’s—is our “What Is Love” meditation. It’s a gentle reminder that love isn’t just something we seek externally; it’s something we can cultivate within ourselves. Through breath, awareness, and intention, meditation helps soften the edges of stress and brings us back to a place of connection.

And then there’s aromatherapy… oh how I love it. Scent has this incredible ability to calm the mind almost instantly. When life feels noisy or emotionally charged, essential oils help create a sense of safety and comfort. Our Restore Aroma Ritual oils were created for exactly those moments—when you need to feel nurtured, grounded, and gently held. A few deep breaths, a familiar scent, and suddenly your body gets the message: you’re safe, you can soften now.

This is why my mat means so much to me. It’s not just a place I move—it’s a place I return to myself. Again and again.

So this Valentine’s, alongside celebrating love in all its forms, I invite you to reflect on the quiet constants in your life.

❤️ What does your mat mean to you?

❤️ Where do you go to rest, reset, and reconnect?

❤️ How are you gifting yourself time to breathe, feel, and be?

Because choosing to show up for yourself—over and over again—is one of the greatest acts of love there is. 💕