My Working Day: Yoga teacher Anne-Marie McGlinchey starts with mediation, stretches and tending to her horses, dogs and cats. It helps her focus on the day with a positive attitude
I begin my day with meditation and simple stretches. This helps me focus on the day ahead with a positive attitude.
I live in the countryside, near Errill village, Co Laois, on a small farm with horses, dogs and cats. I enjoy tending to them in the morning.
From then on, my day will vary, depending on whether I am working as a kinesiologist on a one-to-one basis or teaching yoga.
The kinesiology helps to rebalance the body's energies and puts a person in a better state for healing to begin.
In my kinesiology sessions, I also teach simple yoga movements and breathing techniques, teaching people how to use their lungs fully, as this helps to combat stress.
I give weekly yoga classes in Rathdowney, Co Laois, and Johnstown, Co Kilkenny. I also teach in the Cuisle Centre, which is a cancer support centre in Portlaoise, Co Laois.
I lost my husband, Con, through cancer almost three years ago and I feel that through this personal experience, I can really understand on a deeper level what people are going through and how yoga can help, as they learn to relax and get back in touch with their bodies.
The feedback I have had is very positive.
People who have attended the classes say that they have lower levels of pain, better sleep patterns and better mobility.
The most important thing about yoga is encouraging people to relax and let go of the effort they put into postures.
Many people live in the head, so learning to feel and experience what is going on in the body - instead of thinking about it - has a very positive effect on a person's mental and emotional wellbeing.
Part of my day is spent preparing for my yoga classes, weekend seminars and teacher training and tutor courses.
I founded the Yoga Society of Ireland 26 years ago and set up the Castlefleming School of Yoga as the training body for the Yoga Society of Ireland some years ago, so a lot of my work comes from these organisations.
Yoga is a way of life for me, and I believe it is for everyone, regardless of age or level of fitness.
People these days are searching for something more spiritual in their lives, something that makes them feel more at peace within themselves and gives them a greater connectedness.
Yoga offers that in a deep way but it does take discipline and practice.
I think the most important thing is the sincerity about what you do and cultivating the right attitude about what you're doing.
And when you do that, everything else will flow, because the intention is right.
In the evening, I do my personal yoga, which lasts about one hour. This daily practice keeps me supple, flexible, calm, grounded and focused - providing support in my daily life.
• In conversation with Sylvia Thompson