Katherine Collyer

It has been said when the student is ready, the teacher will appear....

A few years ago, a somewhat serendipitous encounter with yoga, instigated by my health practitioner at the time, was perhaps a gentle nudge toward a path of self-discovery and healing, unbeknown to me at the time. What began as a simple exploration in 2015, soon evolved into a profound, life-changing turn of events. Initially, I practised yoga because I had been told it was good for reducing both physical and emotional stress, and tension. I remember the feeling of disconnectedness from my body, mind and breath, although this feeling was only realised once I began to synchronise all three. I kept returning back to the practice and it slowly began to weave itself into my life in ways I hadn't anticipated. I decided to learn more by training as a yoga teacher and what began as a personal quest, blossomed into a calling to offer others a space to practise so they too, could open themselves up to healing through yoga.

At this time, my body was speaking to me in ways that called for change and as I deepened my practise, this message became much louder and harder to ignore. I was prompted to consult with various doctors over time and after several investigations, but very little in terms of answers, a gastroenterologist eventually diagnosed Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS). The subsequent suggestion of drugs was a moment of clarity for me. I decided there must be more to explore to address the root of my troubles. I wasn’t against the use of drugs; something inside me sensed they would not provide me with the answers I needed.

This revelation ignited a quest for wholistic healing, leading me and my family into the heart of dietary and lifestyle medicine. Our journey began with a simple but profound decision to alter our diet and embrace a new lifestyle. We embarked on this journey with an open mind, guided by the understanding that the human body has its own innate capacity to heal, given the right conditions.

Gradually, subtle but significant changes began to unfold. My body started to speak more softly; my symptoms began to dissolve over time. If this were possible for me, it was possible for others, and I was now on a soul mission to learn as much as I could about health and wellness with a focus on food as medicine. This led me to formalise my education and go on to complete a Bachelor of Clinical Nutrition, which gifted me invaluable foundations in navigating the complexities of human health.

Through my life experience and the evolution of my own journey, I came to understand that true wellness extends far beyond just conventional medicine. It is a journey of self-insight; a quest for balancing harmony between body, mind, and spirit; a story of continual learning and growth, a testament to the power of natural approaches to healing, and the transformative potential of embracing an empowered, integrated life.

Wherever you are, is always the entry point…