I would guess that most of my members know by now that I am a serving member of the Royal Air Force. What you might not know is that the official motto of the RAF is Per Ardua Ad Astra, ‘through adversity to the stars’.
And whilst there is a link between the RAF and my business name, it is only through the stars and my love, respect and wonderment of astrophysics.
My two passions in life, are yoga and astrophysics. Yoga has been a mental and physical support for me through my 25+ years of practise. Helping to steer me through early motherhood and into the crazy teen years, and doing that with a husband who is often posted away from home, also through the RAF.
While I’ve got a handle on all of that stuff (most of the time), astrophysics is just a constant wonder to me, a subject I find entirely fascinating and even studied in my own time. I will always look for the chance to learn more, and if that involves seeing Professor Brian Cox, all the better!
So, I chose Ad Astra because it means ‘to the stars’ and links my two passions perfectly.
Although the phrase Ad Astra indicates travelling and yoga asks us to be present and grounded, I connect it with ‘om’, the sound of our universe and how both those passions make me feel – full of wonder.
‘Om is not just a sound or vibration. It is not just a symbol. It is the entire cosmos, whatever we can see, touch, hear and feel. Moreover, it is all that is within our perception and all that is beyond our perception. It is the core of our very existence.’ Sri Amit Ray
If you feel that perhaps a famous yogi’s view on the spiritual meditation sound is a little bit, well, fanciful, let’s hear what my favourite particle physicist has to say about the cosmos…
‘When we look out into space, we are looking into our own origins, because we are truly children of the stars’ Professor Brian Cox
So, my fellow star-children! I hope learning more about me and my business, Ad Astra Yoga and Pilates has brought our connection closer, and I look forward to seeing you at class very soon. Om 🙏