As I sit here in London, watching the early February frost cling to the windows of the studio, my mind is already 10,000 miles away.
This month, I am heading to Australia.
On the surface, it’s a trip to chase the sun. But beneath that, it is the start of what I’m calling Freedom February. After a January often defined by "shoulds," "musts," and the heavy lifting of new resolutions, February arrives as a much-needed exhale.
For me, freedom isn't just a passport stamp; it’s a state of mind. Whether you are boarding a flight to the Southern Hemisphere or simply stepping onto your yoga mat in a rainy city, freedom is something we have to actively choose.
The decision to travel halfway across the world is an exercise in freedom of choice. For a long time, like many of us, I operated from a place of "I can't" or "I should stay put."
Choosing to go—choosing to seek the light—is a radical act of self-care. It’s about recognizing that we are not stuck in our patterns. In Australia, the vast horizons and the heat of the sun remind me that our lives can be as expansive as we allow them to be. It’s the ultimate "Dose of Joy."
You don’t need a long-haul flight to experience Freedom February. True liberty starts from the inside out. As a teacher, I see three main pillars where we can find this:
Freedom of Movement (Yoga): On the mat, we break free from the physical tightness of our daily lives. When we flow, we aren't just stretching muscles; we are stretching our perceived limits.
Freedom from the "Busy" Mind (Meditation): Meditation is the "First Reaction Pause" in action. It gives us the freedom to observe a stressful thought without being swept away by it. It’s the difference between reacting and responding.
Freedom of Spirit (Mindset): This is where my 2026 word, Insouciant, comes in. Freedom is the ability to be lighthearted when the world feels heavy. It’s the "Not my circus, not my monkeys" approach to life’s little stressors.
As I pack my Eluroom kit for the Australian heat, I find myself reaching for our Bird motif pieces. In particular flamingos 🦩
The bird is the ultimate symbol for this month. It represents the lifting of the spirit and the ability to soar above the "noise." Whether I’m wearing it while teaching an Inferno Hot Pilates class or while walking along a beach in Adelaide, it serves as my visual anchor. It reminds me that I have the wings to change my perspective whenever I choose.
"Freedom is not the absence of pressure, but the ability to move gracefully within it."
This month, I invite you to join me in Freedom February. You don’t have to fly to Australia to participate.
Choose one thing you are going to stop "people-pleasing" about.
Take five minutes of stillness to find freedom from your notifications.
Wear something that makes you feel vibrant and light (hello, dopamine dressing!).
Let’s trade the "shoulds" for "coulds" and see how high we can fly.
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