A Poem To My Teenage Self : Louise Boyd

Girlvana has always been a space for not just teens to discover and explore their innermost thoughts, but for teachers to reconnect with themselves as well.

Louise joined Ally’s New York Girlvana teacher training two years ago, and within her we recognised an ocean of calm, joy and grounding energy. Since then, she has brought that sense of ease to Girlvana in the UK. During our training Louise wrote this poem as an ode to her teenage self. We always say that your vulnerability is your superpower. This is Louise wielding her own.

Wild, curly hair I try to tame
Hours of straightening, do I look the same?
My skin is darker, tanned I’m mixed race
Shopping for make-up, nothing matches my face
Destiny’s child on tv, do I look like that?
Skip to eighteen, I travel and enjoy life in the sun
Time for Uni - a few nicknames, but are they racist or fun?
In my twenties I grow,
And find my flow,
Now in my thirties, so what’s with the hair?
It’s wild and curly – why do I care?

I grew up in a small town in Central Scotland which is predominately White. I’m mixed race – my mum is Black
Caribbean and my dad is White. I was first called ‘half caste’ when I was about 14; I didn’t know exactly what it
meant but I knew I didn’t like it. It sounded like I was half of a person – not good enough.

I entered my teens in the early 90s, thankfully around the time that GHD hair straighteners launched which became my saviour. My thick, unruly curls could finally transform into straight hair.

When I look back, I had no idea who I was. I was just so focused on fitting in and straight hair was part of that. The things that my friends liked, became the things that I liked. For years, I coasted along in the comfort and safety of my friends, hiding behind straight hair.

It wasn’t until I moved to London that I began to start questioning; What do I think? What do I want? Who do I want to be? In London I was no longer the mixed-race girl trying to fit in, I was now another mixed-race girl in a sea of mixed-race girls, girls of all races…

It was in London where I began to practice yoga and in 2012, I moved to Vancouver, a city with a yoga
studio on every corner. I practiced daily and continued when I returned to the UK the following year. In 2017 I completed my 200-hour YTT in India and later in October 2018, I was part of the first International Girlvana teacher training.

Yoga has helped me in so many ways, but I am most grateful for how it’s helped me find my voice. The yoga community is incredibly supportive yoga and they have helped show me that my voice matters, just as yours does. Embrace your difference, use your voice.

Bio: Louise is currently based in Edinburgh and teaches regular online yoga classes. She also collaborates with brands and other organisations to help people live healthier, happier lives. She has recently returned from an adventure in Berlin and looking for ways to bring Girlvana to life in Edinburgh and London. If you’re based in either of these cities and want to connect, find her @louiseboydyoga or head here to see if you can join any of her online classes.