Hi everyone
My name is Esther, and I live in the Rhondda Valley. I started walking for pleasure about 12 years ago, as a way to deal with the emotions I was struggling with following the death of my brother. Walking quickly became a real passion and my most effective grief therapy, and helped me to learn to love my hometown. I have walked many miles in the intervening years, walking has brought so much joy into my life, even though I don't get to do it as much now as I used to.
A few years ago, I had a breakdown, and trained to be a Yoga teacher, and love to combine walking with Yoga - both amazing pathways to wellbeing and connection to oneself and the world (and, Yoga really helps me to walk better, and release the tension of a long day of walking!). When I walk, particularly up mountains or by the coast, I feel alive in a way that nothing else comes even close to, it really is my biggest joy in life (well, apart from my kids of course, but walking never answers back or slams doors in temper so sometimes walking has the edge over the kids, haha!)
This is a pic of me at my favourite beach in Wales, Dunraven Bay in Southerndown, it is my real 'happy place'
Very happy to be here in this forum, looking forward to getting to know you all!
Love Esther