International Day of Yoga: Kate Hall in revolved seated side angle pose — she says yoga is for everybody.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
At 19, Kate Hall was experiencing panic attacks, both severe and often.
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She was suffering from depression and anxiety — being at a loss and unsure where to turn, she went to a yoga class.
“I hadn’t felt happy in I can’t remember how long, but I walked out of that class actually feeling just so content, and I thought, ‘what just happened?’” she said.
The class left her in what she calls a “yoga bliss” and with time, she said the passion she developed for the ancient practice went as far as curing her depression.
Now, having taught for 14 years and practised for more than 20, Ms Hall said she had physically seen the changes in her life and others’ from yoga.
June 21 is International Day of Yoga; recognised by the United Nations, it is a way to raise awareness worldwide of the many benefits of practising yoga.
“It helps you cope with life’s difficulties,” Ms Hall said.
“Life is continuously sending us on a bit of a roller coaster.
“It doesn't matter whether it’s a pandemic, whether it’s a death in the family or whether you lose your job, or you don’t know what you want to do with your life because you’re not loving your job — practise yoga.
“It just seems to kind of open up this possibility that you are exactly where you’re meant to be right now, that everything really is okay.”
Though yoga is a useful tool in becoming more flexible and a sure-fire way to strengthen the body, an Australian survey in the International Journal of Yoga showed the mindfulness element of yoga has a strong grip.
The survey found that while participants began yoga for the physical benefits, they continued to practise as a stress management tool.
Ms Hall, however, said over time the practice had become over-commercialised, leading people to feel they needed to look and be a certain way before even trying.
“It’s not meant to be overly sexualised like they are doing in the media and on Instagram, you see all the fancy girls in their bikinis and people actually think, ‘oh, I need to look like that in order to do yoga’,” she said.
“And that’s one of the sad things that’s kind of happened to this beautiful ancient practice.“
Mindful: Kate Hall in the seated straddle pose.
Photo by
Megan Fisher
Ms Hall said her work focused on accessibility, attempting to allow everyone to have the chance to incorporate yoga into their lives without barriers — financial, physical or mental.
In celebration of the international commemorative day, Ms Hall has organised a free class for all to get a taste.
“The International Yoga Day is a beautiful day to celebrate yoga, to come and learn about the benefits of yoga,” she said.
“It doesn’t matter what body you’re in, you don't have to be fit, you can be classified as overweight, you can be old, you can have injuries, you can have medical conditions — yoga practice is for everyone, no matter what.”
Kate Hall is managing director of Prasanna Yoga, located at 174 Corio St, Shepparton. For more information, visit https://www.prasannayoga.com.au/
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