This year, as we celebrate our first anniversary as a charity, TSYP is sharing stories of our members’ commitment to community support. Meet Susan Dick, a dedicated yoga therapist and teacher from Oxshott. For years, Susan has been teaching weekly sessions at St. Raphael’s Hospice and leading a group class for women from Refugee Action, Kingston.
After practising yoga for twenty years, Susan was inspired to train with Colin Dunsmuir as a yoga teacher and therapist and immersed herself in the tradition of T. Krishnamacharya and T.K.V. Desikachar, a lineage that focuses on adapting yoga to meet the specific needs and abilities of each student.
Susan reflects: “My role as a yoga therapist and teacher has provided immense positivity and sense of fulfilment. Knowing that my students face diverse health issues and significant challenges, it is incredibly humbling when they share how much yoga has helped them.”
Susan recalls that teaching was not her initial intention: “I was practising for personal growth and enrolled in the teacher training course to deepen my understanding.”
However, this changed when, during her first year of training, she visited a friend with early-onset Alzheimer’s at Emberbrook Nursing Home in Surrey, which had recently lost its yoga teacher and could not afford to continue the classes.
“They asked if I could assist. Initially hesitant, as I was only in my first year of training, I consulted my teacher, Colin, who encouraged me to proceed. I continued teaching there for almost ten years.”
Susan has gone on to teach weekly sessions at St. Raphael Hospice, which she continues to this day, in collaboration with another yoga teacher.
“At first, the classes at the hospice included patients from the ward, outpatients, and relatives,” she says. “The composition varied each week. We received excellent support from a nurse and a senior holistic therapist who attended the sessions. And while the COVID pandemic initially disrupted our routines, we were pleased to discover that resuming classes on Zoom provided a valuable platform for many participants.”
Following COVID, the classes were relocated to a combined conference and wellbeing centre outside the hospice. While hospice patients can seldom attend, outpatients, widows, and individuals experiencing grief continue to participate.
Susan explains: “Yoga supports them through this phase of their lives. Participants range from young individuals to those in their eighties. Weekly attendance can vary, but I remain dedicated whether it’s one or twenty-one people attending. They’re learning to try to live their lives as fully as possible since their loss, and I want to do whatever I can to help facilitate that.”
Since then, Susan has also been teaching a yoga class for women associated with Refugee Action, Kingston, initially sharing the sessions with a colleague on alternating weeks. “The traumas experienced by these individuals are often unknown, and language barriers could be challenging. During the COVID pandemic, these individuals were uncertain of the appropriate course of action. I eventually persuaded the action group to allow us to continue the classes on Zoom. Although not everyone could join, it provided crucial support to the ladies and allowed the action group to help continue to check in on their wellbeing.
“I continue to offer the Zoom class, with participants attending regularly for many years. The feedback has been that the attendees really appreciate the classes, but I also believe the experience with these diverse groups and classes has been a profoundly positive learning experience and enriched my understanding of life. I am very grateful to the women who attend.”
Testimonials for Susan Dick
Refugee Action Kingston
Jenny Arokiasamy, RAK Learning Manager, said:
“The online classes proved to be very popular, particularly as some clients were less mobile and women could join in the privacy of their own homes.
“The class proved to be a lifeline for isolated women, some of whom have chronic health conditions and one of them even joined the class from her hospital bed, telling us afterward how joining the class and meeting her friends on line contributed so much to her wellbeing.
“During the pandemic, Susan joined us in a local park for outdoor yoga, alongside our outdoor conversation class. The class is not just about yoga, Susan knows the clients and takes a personal interest in them, particularly the individual clients health conditions and they trust her with their concerns. She teaches holistically to make sure everyone participates safely to their ability, she also leads wide ranging discussions about health and wellbeing.
“Every term Susan joins the teachers at the Homework club and delivers a session for the Primary aged children which is very popular with children leaving them challenged but also quiet and relaxed at the end.”
Pippa Hogg, who works with the children at the RAK homework club, said:
“Thank you for such an amazing session. It was wonderful to see the children so responsive and eager to try things with you. Those who had participated in one of your sessions before definitely remembered things too! It was really uplifting for us all.”
St Raphael’s Hospice
Lizzie Doherty, Wellbeing Facilitator St Raphael’s Hospice in Cheam, said:
“Susan Dick has been teaching Yoga as a volunteer for St. Raphael’s Hospice for around 14 years. She is a brilliant yoga teacher but so much more to us all.
“Susan is a wonderful caring friend to our clients. She always has time to chat individually, is understanding, empathetic and remembers everyone’s individual specific needs. Her classes are so looked forward to and often a packed house! A truly lovely lady loved by us all.”
For more information on these organisations please visit www.refugeeactionkingston.org.uk/ and www.straphaels.org.uk/