Building My Yoga Community: From Dream to Downward Dog
A group of women practicing yoga together, guided by a teacher, symbolising connection, community, and the spirit of shared yoga practice.
Hi beautiful friend,
I just taught my first community yoga class - a moment I’ve dreamed about for so long, and one I’ve been quietly working toward for months. The idea of building a community came from a heartfelt desire to create a space where people feel seen, supported, and connected. A space where, hopefully, they can begin to feel a little more at home - both in the room and within themselves. A space to experience the many benefits of yoga, just as I have.
I always knew I wanted to teach, but more than that, I wanted to build something. Something that could grow alongside me. Something that could support my life, my future family, my dreams, and my goals.
And now I’m here, reflecting on the community class I imagined, planned, and poured so much heart into creating.
Why It Matters
My years in the musical theatre world taught me resilience, drive, and how to put myself out there, but they also taught me something else - how it feels to chase a dream that doesn’t always give back. The industry is relentless, and for so long, I poured everything into it, without feeling that same energy in return.
Yoga feels different. It’s about giving, yes, but in a way that fills my cup too. And creating a yoga community? Well, that’s about building something sustainable. A space that will evolve with me, grow with the people who show up, and be a source of support for us all.
From Dream to Reality
I was planned and prepped for my yoga teacher training six months before I was due to travel to India. I was so excited to do the course that I had everything lined up - flights booked, research done on how to get to the yoga school, hotel sorted for the night before, a cost breakdown to make sure I had enough saved, heck, I even had a packing list!
That’s when it hit me - I had planned everything for my training, but I hadn’t given much thought to what would happen once I was back on UK soil as a certified teacher.
I spent the weeks leading up to my course researching community spaces, dance studios, school halls, scout huts - anything I could find in my area that I could hire. I wasn’t just planning where I could teach - I was setting myself up so that when I came home, I would teach. I didn’t want to lose the momentum I had built in India. I wanted to step straight into this new chapter.
When I managed to secure a space before I even left, I knew it was a sign.
The Reality Behind the Dream
While launching this class has been full of excitement and joy… it’s also been hard.
I’ve always said that one of my biggest life lessons is learning to release the grip. To trust the process. And wow, this has been a huge opportunity to practice that.
Because after the buzz of announcing the class, something else quickly crept in - the pressure. The emotional rollercoaster of waiting to see if people would actually book. I found myself logging into the booking app every five minutes, refreshing the page, holding my breath… and then feeling deflated when the numbers didn’t move.
Just a few days into promoting the class, I already felt drained. My energy was pouring into spreading the word - posting on socials, messaging friends, creating flyers (which I haven’t got round to giving out yet) - but still it felt like nothing was shifting. This is the side we don’t often see online - the quiet doubts, the waiting, the uncertainty… and the discipline it takes to keep showing up anyway.
The first week began to fill up (yay!) - but the following weeks? Still sitting empty. Was it a one-time thing? Was I being too ambitious to plan a weekly offering right from the start?
And that’s where the real work began. The internal work.
This is where discipline had to step in - the kind of discipline that whispers “let it be”. That says: stop checking, stop stressing, trust the timing.
Because yoga isn’t just something we do on the mat - it’s in these moments too. When we release the need to control the outcome and when we keep our hearts open, even while we wait.
And that’s the work I am doing - right alongside you.
Butterflies & Bubbly
After weeks of planning, promoting and putting myself out there, the day arrived - the first class had SOLD OUT - which I just could not believe!
With butterflies in my stomach, I walked into the hall, mat in hand and took a deep breath. This was it. My class. My space. My community, that with time, hopefully will blossom in something truly special.
People arrived… Some were friends and family there to support me, and a few were faces I didn’t know (yet). We rolled out our mats and we flowed through 60-minutes of gentle yoga.
It was everything I hoped for. Seeing people move, breathe and connect is the most fulfilling thing.
And then when it was all over? I popped a bottle of bubbly for us to celebrate together! Because this wasn’t just about teaching, this was about building community.
This experience has shown me the beauty of just starting, believing in yourself, and trusting. I will celebrate the growth of this class, no matter how slow or quick it happens. Whether one person shows up or a dozen, every class is an opportunity to make a difference in someone’s week, which is something truly worth celebrating.
Where We Go From Here
This class is just the beginning.
I am so proud of myself for putting in the work, being proactive, being patient, and for making this happen.
To everyone who came to my first community class - thank you. You are part of something that means the world to me. Here’s to many more classes, connections and shared moments on the mat.
Oh and if you're in Leicester, join my in-person class every Friday at Groby Village Hall from 5:45 - 6:45pm!
All my love,
P.S. If you're looking for a mat that will support your practice (and your knees!), I used my Yoga Collective mat throughout teacher training and loved it. Super grippy, and so durable. You can grab 15% off with the code SOPHIE at checkout.
Before You Go - Let’s Chat!
What does community mean to you?
Have you ever thought about starting something of your own?
What’s one dream you are working towards right now?
Drop a comment below - your words mean the world to me!