Q&A with Charlotte Townend, Private Yoga instructor & Prenatal & Postnatal Yoga expert....
"I love what I do now and wouldn’t change it for the world."
1. After working in the hectic world of property, you decided to switch your career paths to teach yoga. Tell us about your journey and how you made the transition?
I took my first yoga class 7 years ago and was instantly hooked. But the more I practised, the more I realised I needed a change of pace. My line of work in property was exciting but fast, fierce, and hectic so it was a big jump to take for Yoga!
As I started to notice all these amazing changes to my mind and body, I wanted to dive deeper and learn more so I took my Yoga teacher training and it was the best thing I’ve ever done (second to having a baby!).
I love what I do now and wouldn’t change it for the world. I’ve now just organised my first yoga retreat for October later this year, so things are getting really exciting for me!
2. How has yoga changed your life?
The biggest changes I’ve noticed are my flexibility (I could barely touch my toes when I started), improved posture, endurance and strength, better sleep and less anxiety. I’m an avid runner and always had problems with my knees which seemed to disappear once I was practicing Yoga regularly.
The great thing about Yoga is that you can apply your Yoga knowledge to your daily life too. I will generally come back to certain breathwork in stressful situations or at times when I can't sleep.
3. Mumma yoga has become a signature class for CTYoga, how does this differ to your usual routines?
Prenatal Yoga will focus on preparing Mumma for labour and creating space for Baba. All my prenatal classes include pregnancy safe yoga asanas, breathwork, pelvic floor exercises, hip mobility work and strengthening exercises for the pelvic region.
There are lots of poses which aren’t recommended throughout pregnancy (especially towards third trimester) such as backbends, twists, anything on the belly etc. but there are lots of juicy alternatives!
I completed my Prenatal teacher training 7 months pregnant so I know from experience the best and most satisfying poses to target certain pregnancy aches and pains. I’m really open with my pregnancy and birth experience too so I’m always happy to share everything with students from the breathwork I found most helpful, to the positions I used during contractions, to what I found most useful in my hospital bag - anything and everything to reassure Mumma that they are totally ready for labour.
Prenatal Yoga will focus on preparing Mumma for labour and creating space for Baba. All my prenatal classes include pregnancy safe yoga asanas, breathwork, pelvic floor exercises, hip mobility work and strengthening exercises for the pelvic region.
4. Once you were pregnant and breastfeeding with Vivi, did you need to change your skincare routine, and if so how?
When I found out I was pregnant, I knew I had to switch up my skincare routine, so I went straight to Saintly Skin for some advice. She advised me that I would need to stay away from any hard core regimes, and adapt to more 'baby friendly' ingredients. I stopped using retinol as Vitamin A is a no no during pregnancy, and I backed off from a product I was using with a high concentration of glycolic acid and switched to a more gentler fomulation.
Freddie and I spoke about how my skin felt and what it needed the most so we both agreed that I turn to a gentle Vitamin C serum which helped with my complexion (Medik8), Hyaluronic acid (Skinceuticals) for hydration and an extremely high SPF from Mesoesthetic for pigmentation - I developed a significant amount of pigmentation on my forehead throughout pregnancy. For general cleansing and moisturising, I turned to a few simple products from Roche-Posay which I loved and still use.
I went through tonnes of bottles of Bio-oil for my bump and the rest of my body - I lathered it on twice a day. I don’t have any stretchmarks now which could have been thanks to genes (?!) but I’m pretty sure the bio oil helped!
I'm now 6 months postpartum and beginning to wean Vivi off breastfeeding so will now begin to bring back my sorely missed products I was using before pregnancy.
5. Do you have any wellness hacks that you can share with us?
1. Cold shower after your morning exercise.
2. I use a Theragun to massage into deep tissue muscle - best buy ever.
3. Intermittent fasting. I usually skip breakfast and eat between the hours of 1 - 9pm. I know most people can’t function without breakfast but I personally feel more focused and energised this way.
6. What is your holy grail skincare product?
I can’t live without Skinceuticals HE Intensifier- pregnant or not. It keeps my skin smooth and hydrated.
My new favourite product is the Mauli Supreme Skin face serum. It smells divine, my skin is glowing with it, and it isn’t too heavy which works wonders for either day or night.
For more information on Charlotte Townend Yoga head to www.charlottetownend.com or follow them @charlottetownendyoga