Meet our Local Love Rosie McCaughey; teacher, mentor and  business owner. She’s strong, independent,  generous and inviting. She’s a woman who wears many hats and we are so thrilled to welcome her to the Twosixmag community!

 

Rosie, can you tell us a little about you and your journey to a healthier and well-balanced life?

My view of health and wellness has changed markedly over the last ten to fifteen years. As a teenager I was obsessed with searching for perfection, my idea of healthy was to be as skinny as possible, and to have a strong sense of control over every food or activity choice that I made. I was terribly unwell and terribly unhappy for many years and suffered with an eating disorder for around fifteen years. When I realised the selfishness of this behaviour, the impact on my family and friends and indeed other women, I was jolted into action to move away from this behaviour and start really living.

Yoga has been a huge part of my journey towards health and coming to a place of non-judgement and self-love. I knew if I continued to treat myself without love, it would be near impossible to feel love for other people. I was also determined to be a beacon of hope for other sufferers and to do something positive with my experience, to share and to help others on their journey. I continue to learn every day how intertwined our physical, mental and emotional wellbeing is; they are not separate, they are one.

During our chat you touched on the importance of having a healthy relationship with food. Can you tell us about the changes you made to restore your own relationship with food?

It certainly has been an evolution, a slow and difficult change. Learning to see food as fuel, as nourishment, rather than the enemy or something for punishment. There is a positive flow on effect when we are well nourished, we have a clear mind and are more able to process thoughts and can make our decisions from a more grounded place. Our body and mind functions more optimally and I’ve noticed a huge difference when I’m focused on my nutrition; I feel more balanced, energised and productive. I focus on my nutrition so I can perform optimally both physically and mentally and so I can keep up with the hectic demands of running a business and balancing with other workloads!

What does your typical day look like?

Oh dear! My days are so varied because of my many roles! However, typically my alarm goes off at 4.50am, I will have a coffee while I read through my notes and inspiration for my yoga class. I then arrive at the studio around 5.30am to teach, clean then manage day to day running’s of the business, meet with other local business owners, which is always inspiring! I also work 2 -3 days a week as a physiotherapist so I might duck off to the clinic for 6 to 8 hours after my morning class. I also try to get a gym session, yoga practice and/or run in and then I’m off home for dinner! At the moment my partner and I have a lot of work on so our ‘quality time’ is a quick dinner and working on our laptops side by side until we go to bed. There is the notion that this is not a forever thing work wise and there needs to be greater balance which I know will come in a few months when my business Rise Yoga reaches the point where I can afford some help with running the business. I also try to fit in some quite time or meditation and deep breathing work before bed just to ease my busy mind and reset for the next day ahead!

Lastly, we all have days when we don’t feel our best, If you are having a low day what do you do to lift your mood?

I will dive into a playful yoga practice or I might go for a walk or run outside which is great for lifting the spirits. Its definitely been a trying time in my life opening a new business but I try to treat each day as a new day, clean slate and try to allow myself time to nourish my body and mind with fresh air and movement which is an instant mood elevator!

Like we said she is a woman who wears many hats!

There’s so much to this intelligent, driven and business savvy local that we couldn’t possibly fit into one post…be sure to keep your eye out for more from Rosie!

 

In the meantime…

You must go to one of the many classes at her beautiful studio – RiseYoga Studio  

Attend an incredible weekend workshop

Donate to a cause close to her heart –  Makeup Free Me