Hello, I’m Katie Shorten and I am a 36 year old Mum of 2 beautiful girls who lives in Penylan. I am married to my lovely husband Mike who I have been with for 17 years and married for 7.

I have been attending Hatha Flow Yoga with Osk at PhysioSpace for just over a year now. I have been doing yoga on and off for 10 years and was so pleased to find a regular class just up the road from me in Penylan, Cardiff and the bonus that my friend and neighbour was running the classes!

-Why do you practise yoga / what does it mean to you?

As a busy Mum of 2 it is time for me to reconnect and ‘touch base’ with my body and mind. I feel it’s so important for my wellbeing to take time to come back to myself and listen and connect once more.

-What is your favourite posture / stretch and why?

I love a good hip flexer! Happy baby pose is up there, as well as lizard and pidgeon pose. Love a good deep stretch that I can sink in to.

-What is in your wellbeing toolkit? What do you do to take care of your wellbeing?

Definitely my regular weekly yoga practice with Osk and any other yoga practice I can fit into my schedule. I do enjoy a nice morning rise and shine flow if I can fit it in. I also practice mindfulness and meditation to help ground me, particularly in the morning and last thing at night, it’s important to take pauses in your daily life. Also being outside is a big part of my wellbeing toolkit, it’s amazing the impact nature can have on you.

-Do you have a favourite mantra/saying you live by?

Be kind to yourself. It’s something I’ve learned the hard way through years of thinking negatively about yourself and always striving to be better. It’s important to see goodness in you and be grateful.