LAUNCHING:
HELENA CRABTREE
Company:
CRAB YOGA
THE BIG QUESTIONS
WHAT IS YOUR PROFESSIONAL TITLE?
Yoga Teacher
WHAT DO YOU DO ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS?
I teach Yoga mostly in East London. I have a sporadic timetable at the moment, so I am here there and everywhere on my bike, in and out of Yoga studios, doing admin and research/planning in between classes.
WHAT DID YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU WERE A CHILD AND WHAT CHANGED?
Dance and perform.
WHAT ACADEMIC QUALIFICATIONS DO YOU HAVE?
11 GCSE’s, 3 A levels, BA Hons Fine Art Painting degree and a 200hr Yoga Teacher training.
WHAT’S THE BEST CAREER ADVICE YOU’VE EVER BEEN GIVEN?
Love what you do and the rest will follow.
WHO IS YOUR ROLE MODEL AND WHY?
My Yoga teachers inspire me the most, they share so much of themselves and are so open and receptive. It is such an admirable quality especially within the fitness/wellness sphere that can often feel quite shallow and competitive.
WHAT IS THE BEST THING ABOUT YOUR CURRENT WORKING ENVIRONMENT?
The variety. It changes a lot so I have to be pretty adaptable to the space and people which is different every day.
WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE ABOUT YOUR DAILY WORK ROUTINE IF YOU COULD?
I would like my time to be less fragmented, sometimes I envy the 9-5 routine but I know I would miss my vocational practices.
WHERE DO YOU SEE YOURSELF PROFESSIONALLY IN FIVE YEARS’ TIME?
Owning and running a multifunctional space that is a hub for the arts, yoga, community and that makes a killer coffee and cake.
DO YOU FEEL YOU CAN BE THE SAME PERSON AT WORK AND IN PRIVATE?
Yes absolutely, the lines between work and play are blurred because you get to know your students quite well sometimes. Although when you need to hold a space or room for people to practice in I definitely behave differently but isn't not a mask, more of a focused energy.
WHERE AND IN WHAT ROLES ARE WOMEN IN THE LEADERSHIP STRUCTURE AT YOUR COMPANY?
I work with a lot of female yoga teachers, it is a field dominated by women which is empowering but I feel there needs to be a more welcoming environment for men to practice yoga in. Guys I promise it's not all bending and lycra.
DOES DIVERSITY MATTER TO YOU?
It is intrinsic to a balanced and well-rounded outcome. Having different opinions and points of view makes work interesting which is only possible through diversity. The conversation and the process is just as important as the outcome.
HOW GOOD IS YOUR WORK LIFE BALANCE?
It could be better, my hours are slightly antisocial but generally speaking it's pretty good.
WHAT QUALITIES DOES BEING IN YOUR ROLE NECESSITATE?
I need to be organised, adaptable, passionate and level headed.
ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
Life is too short to do things that don’t make you happy and money doesn’t equal happiness.