What I Discovered When I Swapped My ‘To-Do’ List for a Yoga Mat

For anyone who doesn’t quite get yoga, I hear you. I didn’t either.

I was the person who’d run a half marathon before breakfast, lift weights twice a day and believed exercise only counted if it hurt. Although my approach to movement has softened over the years, yoga still hadn’t clicked for me.

Years ago in London, I tried hot yoga because of course, I needed to sweat to feel like I’d ‘done something.’ Everyone around me was bending into shapes I could barely attempt and after two classes and zero understanding of what yoga was about, I decided it wasn’t for me. My perception was that yoga was about flexibility and poses and because I couldn’t do them, it was pointless.

What I didn’t realise was that yoga is so much more.

The True Meaning of Yoga

I’m not a yoga teacher, so I asked Google.

“Yoga is a group of physical, mental, and spiritual practices originating in ancient India that aim to create harmony between the body, mind, and spirit… combining physical postures (asanas), breathing exercises (pranayama), and meditation (dhyana) for physical and mental well-being.”

Finally, it made sense. As a Wellness Practitioner and Coach, I should have known this sooner but old habits die hard. Stillness and gentle movement has never come naturally to me, I thrived on being busy, rushing around, always doing, never being and often living in my head which I’m sure resonates with many of you?

Learning to Slow Down

Through studying holistic lifestyle and nutrition coaching, and becoming a mind-body practitioner, I’ve learned how deeply connected our body and mind really are.

I can manage stress, eat well, move regularly but stillness of the mind? That’s my lifelong work in progress. Because ultimately, thoughts create feelings, and feelings create behaviours.

We have on average 60,000–80,000 thoughts a day, and 95% are unconscious. Around 80% are the same thoughts as yesterday, many with a negative bias. It’s no wonder then that we get stuck in loops of overthinking, self-doubt, or stress.

So, Why a Yoga Retreat?

Honestly? Because my husband bought it for me as a surprise birthday gift!

I’d never have booked it myself, too much Mum guilt, too many reasons to stay at home because everyone needs me right?! Er no, as I learned the world doesn’t fall apart when you step away.

So I went to Caroline Foster’s Yoga Retreat in Portugal, with my mate Isla (a yoga teacher) and eight other women I’d never met.

Just Stillness

We stayed in a gorgeous Art Deco villa surrounded by the Algarve countryside. Delicious healthy food, sunshine, laughter and to my slight panic, lots of stillness.

At first, it was uncomfortable. Being still felt like being out of control. Being alone with my thoughts? No thanks. But day by day, that discomfort began to melt along with the thousands of daily thoughts.

Each morning, we practiced yoga on the rooftop. Movement, breath work, philosophy and shavasana, the rest that once felt impossible. I learned more about the science behind yoga, underpinning my knowledge that breath work calms the nervous system, how presence silences the mind and how mindfulness anchors us to the here and now.

After a healthy brunch, we talked and connected, a group of women, each with their own story, forming bonds over laughter, tears, good food, yoga and a crazy ass night of dancing at the end of the week!

By the end, my body felt stronger, my mind quieter, and I felt calm, really calm.

The Power of Presence

Yoga taught me that peace doesn’t come from doing more, it comes from being more. By focusing on the breath, I found a way to quiet the endless chatter in my head and reconnect with my body. My head had never been that quiet ever, that for me was the proof in the pudding.

Now, I’ve made yoga a permanent part of my routine, 10 minutes after every workout and one class a week, it’s non-negotiable.

Final Thoughts

If you think yoga is ‘woo-woo’ or ‘not for me,’ I get it I really do. But I’d encourage you to try it. Start small, try an online class, or join a local studio. No one cares how you look, how flexible you are, or whether you can hold a tree pose for more than a second.

Yoga isn’t about perfection it’s about presence.

A huge thank you to Caroline Foster and Tracy Carson for creating such a beautiful, nurturing space, and to the incredible women I shared the week with, you know who you are.

I can now safely say… I’m a yoga convert.

This is not an advertisement, just my personal reflections on a week well spent.

I'm Antonia Siegel, a Wellness Practitioner & Coach, I've developed The Reset Method, a 1:1 wellness and coaching program. It's packed full of science backed, evidence based tools to regain control of your mindset, your health and your habits.

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