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Readers, I would love it if you could join me in wishing a very happy first birthday to my little clinic!  Can you believe I’ve been open a whole year today?  I had four clients on that first Monday and I can still remember the butterflies in my tummy waking up a year ago today, not knowing what the future held!

Oh and what a year it has been!  I’ve worked my little fingers to the bone to increase my client base, get my website to the top of Google, get my name and brand known in the local area, think up the zaniest special offers, work out my niche market and here I am at the start of 2012 with enough regular clients to keep me ticking over and new enquiries all the time.

It’s not all been roses though, there have been some really hard times, some long dark tea-times of the soul, some times (like when we got back from Australia) when I really wondered if this was going to work.  But so far so good *crossed fingers*!

So I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all of you for every word of support and encouragement, every client, everyone who has been to a yoga class, or spread the word, or handed out flyers.  Thank you thank you thank you!!!!

Here’s to the next 12 months!

You may remember, readers, last December when I took part in Reverb10 – a journal prompt each day of the month to reflect on the year gone by.  This year Reverb has taken on a more DIY feel. There is no formal set of prompts but, instead, there are ideas for prompts all over the internet. Debbie is doing some lovely ones, but this week I’m stealing five prompts from Catherine.

Let’s go.

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1. Where did 2011 begin?

Curled up at home with Himself, drinking Prosecco on our big purple sofa.  I had a cold (I always have a cold at New Year) and we were nervously excited at the grand opening of the clinic in just ten short days. Nearly a year on it’s hard to believe the clinic has only been open a year – it seems like I’ve been doing this forever, in a good way. All of the New Year’s Eves Himself and I have been together (and this coming one will be the sixth), have been spent together alone in quiet contemplation.  To be honest I wouldn’t have it any other way.

2. Who did you meet?

Oh so many amazing people! In Sydney I met Stella for one wonderful night of Yin Yoga in the rain.  In Melbourne I had lunch with Kerry and Nadine and had the second best day ever up a mountain with Svasti.  The best day ever was spent on the Neighbours tour where I met Nell Feeney (aka Queen of the Bogans).

I finally met my cousin’s little miracle baby in Melbourne as well; Alex is now 2, proudly calls himself ‘Agus’ and fell head over heels for Himself.

I also met a unimaginable number of fabulous clients without whom my business would not and could not have been the success it has been.

I didn’t meet Dave Grohl.  Again.

3. What books did you read?

I started the year by reading the Narnia books back to back in practically one sitting and I’m finishing up the year with Stephen King’s latest 11.22.63 (if the words’ Derry’ and ‘1958′ mean anything to you, then you absolutely have to read this book – also that link contains spoilers). In between I re-read the Baghavad Gita, the Upanishads, Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Rig Veda.  Himself and I read The Time Traveller’s Wife along with a lot of other bloggers. I finally got around to reading Joe Hill’s Heart-Shaped Box (he’s Mr King’s son in case you didn’t know) and wasn’t remotely disappointed and Maupin Armistead’s Tales of the City and was terribly disappointed.  I read The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo on the plane home from Australia and didn’t really get what the fuss was about and I read a couple of books about cats.  According to my Goodreads profile I have read 45 books in 2011, which is 5 less than last year but 10 more than 2009.  I judge my health by the number of books I read, the more I read the better I’m feeling so that’ll do pig.

4.  When did you struggle?

That said, I struggled with my health this year.  Really struggled.  The tension headaches drove me to distraction through a lot of this year, I’ve had tonsilitis three times and I cannot tell you how exhausted I’ve been.  There is a downside to your business taking off so well – still, I’m better prepared for the onwards and upwards in 2012!  I struggled with giving up wheat and eating meat. I struggled my way through Pilates Teacher Training, knowing in the back of my head that I’d bitten off a little bit more than I could chew this time (still, I did it so can’t complain).  I really struggled upon my return from Australia, it took me months to get back into the swing of things and stop missing everyone so very badly.  Yeah, this year’s been tough – but what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger right?!

5. What did you discover?

I discovered that flying 12,000 miles is always totally worth it and I mustn’t leave it 6 years before I do it again.  I discovered that cups of tea and pieces of cake and a lot of love will get you through pretty much anything.  I discovered that I’m a bloody good businesswoman, with much better people skills than I give myself credit for.  I discovered that the BWY think I’m worthy of teaching teachers. I discovered that my health is still not great and I really need to accept that more and stop comparing myself to people who’s health is good.  I discovered I don’t have to be bad with money and I discovered my own path and the best way of walking it.

It’s been a big year.

Thing the first

For those of you who remember this post you’ll know that making money from or advertising on the blog doesn’t sit well with me. If it works for you, go for it, but I just feel a bit ‘meh’ about the whole thing. Once in a blue moon though a fellow punk rock/cottage industry business person comes along who makes such amazing products I want to sing it from the rooftops.

So when Clare, a long time blog reader and twitter follower, emailed me earlier this year about sharing an affiliate link for her business it actually felt right! Clare owns a little company called Devon Red which sells handmade, original yoga mat bags, eyepillows, meditation cushions and more! Himself particularly recommends the eyepillows. As a child his primary school made all the pupils do regular relaxation exercises with eyepillows over their eyes which he has always said made him feel safe, calm and relaxed… high praise indeed.

If you click on the little advertising box on the right hand side you will go straight to the Devon Red shop via an affiliate link, which means I get a small percentage of the profit. If you would rather not go through an affiliate link, you can go straight to the shop here.

Thing the second

I participated in Melita’s Annual Tea Trade again this year. I sent off my parcel of tea to a blogger in California back in September and kind of forgot about it. So it was a wonderful surprise to receive this awesome haul the other morning!

I think I’m all set for tea for a while!

Thanks Heather for the tea and Melita for organising it all!