Bare all interview with our Academy founder Diane Lee.
Sometimes to truly get a feel for a place, you need to get under the skin of the people behind it.
In the first in a series of interviews with our Academy team, we asked our founder Diane Lee to share all.
From some lesser known facts, her aspirations for the Yoga community she is building and her personal reasons behind supporting some amazing local charities, this bare all interview is well worth a read.
What do you love?
I love my work, I love my family and friends and my beautiful dog, Amogh, who is joyous every day.
What do you dislike?
Nothing in particular, other than those who judge because they have their own issues going on, which they are too fearful to address, so project and transfer the blame outwards. No one is special, we all face adversity, struggle and darkness, it is how we learn, reflect, grow and choose to take responsibility that defines us.
What makes you have a proper belly laugh?
Being stupid with my nearest and dearest and playing with Amogh. Having no filters to utterly let go with those who share your sense of humour.
What is the hardest lesson you have had to learn?
“To face the edge of death on dozens of occasions in 2015, to be in so many life-threatening situations. I had to rebuild my life after horrific domestic abuse, and learn how to literally breathe, eat and live again. I also had to let go of narcissistic female, power play relationships and forgive the woman I was, who ultimately allowed the abuse happen.”
What drives you?
I have a fire in my belly to achieve and succeed. I gain great satisfaction from the creative process of building and producing something special from each of the courses. I am driven to feel free, so I make choices that I know can help other people.
What have you learned from the pandemic?
The pandemic has been such a hugely tough time for all concerned, for many reasons. I have learnt that working at home has been isolating but also aspirational; our international 200-hour online Hatha Yoga Teacher Training course was born in the first lockdown and I have since written a Restorative Yoga Teacher Training course, thanks to the endless hours at home focusing and doing!
It has definitely redefined friendships and shown what is important in life, and I have loved watching wonderful and inspiring connections form over Zoom.
Teaching our Yin and Hatha courses has shown how powerful a force for community Yoga can be. Our community has certainly grown on social media and our students’ communities have also grown since graduation. It has been humbling to watch and a privilege be a part of.
What have you learned about yourself thanks to the pandemic?
I always knew I was resilient, but now I know I am fearless. Nothing phases me, when I set my mind to something it happens, and I know I can tune into my drive and passion to create.
I have loved the lack of distractions, and to properly tune into the people in my life that I love has been very precious. Our freedom can be taken away from us and simple, assumed pleasures that we took for granted were taken away overnight. Yet from all of this rises a new appreciation for what makes us truly happy; connection.
What is your favourite food?
Fruit, cake, I have a sweet tooth, but drink green juices daily!
What food do you most dislike?
Celery and meat.
Which charities do you support and why?
Charities close to my heart are We Get it Together, based in Bath and set up by Laura, who I have worked with during her chemotherapy and cancer diagnosis, and now many years in remission, and Sarah, also a client. Having seen my mum die from ovarian cancer, my dad had bladder cancer and I too have had stage 1 skin cancer, I know that cancer affects everyone, so I love to fundraise and support their legacy.
Voices is a Bath based domestic violence charity, run by two victims of domestic abuse to help support women during this horrific period in their life. I had a violent relationship in 2015, which ended in a criminal court case and conviction in 2016. Selfless work to help provide much needed guidance during lost times is invaluable.
Local charity, The Forever Friends Appeal at the RUH was an easy choice to support during the first lockdown. We were delighted to create a 14-day Yoga Challenge from our sister studio, Bath Yoga Studio, specifically to raise funds to support key workers during unprecedented times.
What makes you proud?
My students. Seeing their progress from the start to end of the course is truly unbelievable, amazing to watch!
Why did you set up AFYT?
I set up AFYT because as I had a wealth of experience as a teacher that I wanted to share. Yoga was getting a bad reputation for poor quality instruction which led to unnecessary injuries. Seeing the national need for highly qualified and accredited Yoga teachers, it was a natural step for me to help other passionate students access high quality Yoga teacher training.
What aspirations do you have for your students?
To teach around the country, across all community sectors with classes ranging from Hatha to Power, Restorative to Yang to Yin, in groups, in studios, 1:1s, leading retreats and specialist workshops; the sky is the limit!
What aspirations do you have for the Academy?
To become a nationally recognised Academy; the go-to place for high quality, accredited, professional courses, that are always informative, hugely respected and innovative.
Why are you accredited with YAP?
I have nearly 18-years of teaching experience of Yoga and many thousands of hours under my belt, so became a Senior Teacher nearly a decade ago. Yoga Alliance Professionals has grown to become an internationally recognised Yoga organisation, with members and training courses all around the world. It means that no matter where you are in the world, you can find a high quality Yoga class near you.
Why do people choose to train at the AFYT?
Students come to us because of the quality of our courses, the integrity of the teachers, the knowledge provided, and they feel assured that we can create highly qualified, exceptional teachers the day after they qualify.
We have also done a great deal to prepare our students for the reality of teaching in person and online – something that has surged since the pandemic and looks as though it is here for to stay.
What do your graduates go on to do after completing the course?
All of our graduates have left to weave their passion for Yoga into their working lives, either as a completely new career or incorporating their new knowledge into their existing roles. They are working in various facilities from gyms to sports halls, to community centres, to private care homes and gyms, country clubs, healing centres, special and mainstream schools.
How important is community to AFYT?
Community is everything for AFYT, it provides a platform where students connect, and the loyalty, mutual love and enquiry of Yoga and friendships that are formed are everything.
By teaching students from across the UK and abroad, the AFYT community in towns and cities across the country is spreading the real meaning of Yoga.
Yoga is a traditional form of introspection, enquiry, growth, quietening of the mind and of course creating some postural shapes and integration of the breath.
The benefits of Yoga for health, to reduce pain, to help anxiety, to reduce obesity, improve wellbeing and happiness is so important to communities everywhere. Yoga offers support, guidance, strength and hope to everyone who participates. It is a Yogi's path to encourage others to find their purpose.
How does AFYT positively impact the community?
As we are moving post-Covid into what I believe is an epidemic of long-lasting fear, social awkwardness and mental health issues (ranging across every age bracket), there has never been a better time for Yoga to become more mainstream and nourish communities.
We accredit amazing teachers who, from the day they graduate, are teaching both children and fellow teachers in schools, in NHS workplaces, police stations, social worker offices, Yoga for older people and Yoga for Autism and auto-immune issues. This, as well as injury prevention for Yoga with runners, Crossfit Yoga and Yoga integrated gently into end-of-life palliative care.
This immense range is the breadth and depth that Yoga can span. Yoga supports, empowers, soothes, holds and gives hope to all who teach and all who receive. Yoga has infinite value in the community.
Favourite hobby?
Eeeer.....sorry boring I know.....Yoga and woof walks!
What is your favourite music?
Ibiza classics!
What is your favourite film?
Anything Dystopian, like Equilibrium.
What is your favourite asana?
Parivrtta Janu Sirsasana
Who inspires you most?
Kyle Gray is amazing; my angel healing teacher.
Favourite item of clothing?
Yoga leggings are a daily staple!
Share a lesser known fact about you.
I won the London Triathlon Relay event, out of x400+ teams! I ran the run leg 5km.
What do our students go on to do after graduating? WATCH to hear more.