Yoga Pathways

I stood on stage at the John Peel Centre, singing along and doing a little dance to “I Have Confidence” from The Sound of Music. Yes, me—someone with a voice that could clear a room faster than a fire alarm—singing publicly (for at least 20 seconds). And yet, in that moment, it didn’t matter if I hit the right notes. What mattered was that I was embodying pure, unfiltered confidence. Who cared about perfect pitch when the whole room was vibing?

Sunday was the culmination of countless hours of planning, practice, and excitement. I had the privilege of sharing the day with a room full of incredible individuals who had chosen to spend their day with me and my sister Lara, a hypnotist, at our I Am Awesome retreat. Together, we created a space to tap into our inner confidence and become the most empowered, awesome versions of ourselves.

The yoga sessions that day were all about cultivating that confidence. The opening gambit was a strong core session – because who doesn’t feel powerfully fierce when they’re shaking in a plank? Arm balances? and quite a few arm wobbles, we were all flying in our own way, even if only for a split second. And by the time we wrapped up with a soothing yin practice, focused on the solar plexus, I think we were all wondering how we could get that same confidence boost without doing so many planks.

And then there was Lara’s hypnotherapy session, “Dreamcoat.” No, she didn’t make anyone cluck like a chicken, but she did something even better—she guided everyone on a confidence journey, getting them to imagine themselves wearing their very own “dream coat” of awesomeness. Forget superhero capes; in that moment, everyone in the room was rocking a fabulous coat of unstoppable confidence. I swear, I could see some people mentally strutting their stuff like they were on the catwalk.

What I loved most about the day was seeing everyone embrace the retreat’s theme so fully. It wasn’t about perfection; it was about showing up, trying new things, and laughing along the way. Whether it was the arm balances that had us pushing out of our comfort zones, Lara’s Dreamcoat hypnotherapy session, or the solar plexus yin that let us tap into a deep sense of self-trust, each practice built us up in a different way.

And for me, this wasn’t just about guiding others—it was about living the theme myself. Standing on stage, singing and dancing, I felt a deep sense of connection to my own confidence. And if you’d seen me, you’d be forgiven for thinking I’m always this confident. Guess what? I’m not! The woman who stood on that stage, singing (badly) and dancing (enthusiastically) to “I Have Confidence” is the same person who once doubted whether she could teach a yoga class without tripping over her words—or her feet. Confidence, my friends, is a work in progress. It’s like a muscle… a muscle that sometimes takes its sweet time getting stronger, no matter how many downward dogs you do.

At I Am Awesome, that bravery was everywhere, whether it was a first-time inversion or deciding or pushing through with something challenging. We all stepped into our own version of awesomeness, and I couldn’t have been more proud to be part of it.