Sober Curious with Laura Naylor

Meet Laura Naylor, one of my friends and yoga students based in Abu Dhabi! If you've attended any MLPC class over the course of the last year and a half you've met her - she's one of our original members and hasn't missed a day of yoga with us in over 18 months. Laura is a TV & radio presenter & events host MC from Preston in the UK. She is currently based in Abu Dhabi. She hosts the Radio 2 Breakfast show every weekday morning in Abu Dhabi, Dubai & across the UAE. In this episode, Me and Laura talk about her story - her journey overcoming brain tumors, travelling around the world on cruise ships and settling in Abu Dhabi, finding yoga and also exploring sober curiousity.

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Learn more about Laura at https://www.lauranaylorofficial.com. You can also follow her on Instagram @lauranaylorofficial and catch her in most 4pm GST/8am EST/1pm BST yoga classes at www.themindfullifepractice.com! Follow me on Instagram @alexmcrobs and check out my offerings in yoga, meditation and coaching at http://themindfullifepractice.com/live-schedule.

Full episode

TRANSCRIPT

Speaker 1

All right. So, Hi, everyone. And welcome back to another episode of Sober Yoga Girl. I am super excited to have Laura Nailer on the show today. And Laura has been one of the original Mindful Life Practice community members since the very beginning. So if you've ever been to a class, you've probably met Laura. She is also the host of the Radio two breakfast show in Abudabi. So welcome to the show, Laura.

Speaker 2

Oh, thank you so much. Like, I'm so excited about this. Thanks for inviting me on.

Speaker 1

I'm so happy to have you here. So I was wondering I want to know more about you and kind of your journey. So I know that you're from the UK, you're in Abudabi here.

Speaker 2

That's how we met.

Speaker 1

But how did you end up here? And, like, what has been your journey to this point in your life?

Speaker 2

So I was presenting in the UK, in London and from press on, but I was living in London for eight years. And then I saw this job that I'm doing now advertise on a website, present a website. And I thought it was quite fun. So I thought, why not even though I've never been Trave Dabi or Dubai on the Middle East before? But I thought, why not just try it out? And so I applied and then I didn't hear anything for a while. I forgot about it.

Speaker 2

And then I got an email and I had some interviews and then got the job. And then I was like, okay, let's go. Wow. And how long ago was that? Well, four years ago. Okay.

Speaker 1

So we would have come to Abudabi around the same time because I've been here for four years as well.

Speaker 2

Yes. Yeah. Cool.

Speaker 1

I think we've talked about that before. And were you always on, like, when you came over, were you always Breakfast with Rich or were there other things you did?

Speaker 2

No. When I first started, I was on Breakfast with Rich. And then if on every show on that station, I've done Midday Evenings Drive. But it's been really good. It's a really good experience to me that I've got to do all the different shows. And now I'm back on Breakfast, which I'm really loving apart on the early morning starts, but everybody else. Oh, my God.

Speaker 1

Yeah. It's so early. I don't know. I actually thought of you this morning because I had a yoga class at 930 and I pretty much got out of bed at, like, 925. And I thought of you be like, I don't know how Laura does it. It's like four in the morning, right?

Speaker 2

Yeah. Well, usually around half four. But the thing is, I thought it would get easier in time. I thought, you know, after a few months or even after a few years. But it still does not get any easier either. I go spend at 08:00 at night. I'm still really tight in the morning.

Speaker 1

It's a male prostitute and then you and work at, like, noon, right?

Speaker 2

Well, no. Sometimes a bit before that, I-I-I-W-I mean, I shouldn't moan about being tired because sometimes I'm out of the door at, like, 10:10. It's like 4 hours a day. I can't moan about that.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it's pretty great. And then I always see your Instagram photos at the beach or the pool or whatever. So that's really nice. And I can kind of relate to this. Like me also having a really unusual work hours. And so for me, it's actually kind of the opposite. I have most days. I don't start until, like, 04:00 p.m. Teaching classes. And I kind of have a bit of freedom in my schedule. And so it's kind of the opposite, but the same in that. It's not like a typical nine to five.

Speaker 2

Yeah, I do.

Speaker 1

I so tell me about a bit about we talked about this right before the episode started. So right when I met, you know, you came and did a few of my yoga classes. I had you on social media. And I remember seeing you fundraising for brain tumors. And you had shared a little bit about having a brain tumor yourself. And I wanted to ask you about that because we never talked about that. Like, what was that?

Speaker 2

Like? Well, I mean, obviously it wasn't great. When diagnosed of that when I was 21, it happened. So basically I started losing heaven in my right ear. But that story happened since I was, like twelve or 13. And I have really bad tinnitus in my ear, which is like really loud ringing. It just sounds like her dryers going up in your ear electric all the time. So I went to the doctors a few times and they just said I was fine. I obviously had no symptoms apart from the hearing loss and the tinnitus.

Speaker 2

So then when I was 21, I moved. I started working on cruise ships. So I went to Tahiti of all places, and then for some reason and adopt know why I never know what. Well, obviously, you know what? I believe in the higher force universe. God, whatever you want to call it. I went to the doctor on the ship one day because I thought I'm really tired and sick of this ringing in my ear. So anyway, on the cruise ship, we got amazing health care. It's amazing.

Speaker 2

So they sent me off the ship to the hospital to have scans and things. And then they were like, oh, you need to go home. That's for you. And I was thinking, what the hell? Obviously, I didn't think anything happen with serious. So I went home like, you need to go and have scans and things like that. So I went to the hospital and they did lots of tests on me. But I still didn't think there's anything wrong because I was absolutely fine. Apart from that ring in my ear, and then they said, oh, you need to have a brain together.

Speaker 2

Then they were like, oh, yeah. We found this tumor, which obviously was absolutely horrific for the words mean. So then that was that you have to have an operation to remove this tuner. And so I was like, oh, my gosh. You know, I don't want to have an operation. And then he just literally looked at me and said, if you don't have this operation, you will die like this. You have to have your operation. So but luckily, now looking back, at least, like, you know, there's no social media, really.

Speaker 2

Then otherwise I would have been looking online, looking what it was, how serious it was. So I had that removed the year after I got the diagnosis, and it all went really well. Like, I had the best processor. And then they said that come back after a year. So we need to check that it's not come back because these tumors can brought back. And luckily, it wasn't cancerous. So that was amazing. But when I went back the second time, the second year, they were like, okay, we're really sorry to tell you this, but we've now found another tumor on your road side on your other agent.

Speaker 2

So, I mean, obviously, my mom was like, they're absolutely devastated. So was I I but I was just thinking, I don't know why, but something inside. And he told me I was still gonna be all right. I knew I was gonna be all right. But then they were like, come back into the hospital. And, I mean, this was probably one of the worst days off of my life. I would say there was like, 15 doctors around the table, me and my mom and dad. And they were like, listen, we think you've got this condition of tumors on your spine, tumors in your head.

Speaker 2

You're going to have to have all your family going to have to learn sign language. You're going to have to have this ear removed because of all my right ear now removed if they have to take everything out. So I got it in this year. Yeah. So obviously, that day I was like, oh, my God. This is absolutely like, Ah, my family were devastated, obviously, because of all that. And then the fact that you could get chooses on your sign at any time. So then I went home from that.

Speaker 2

And then they like, come back again in another year. So I had a year of thinking, oh, my God. This is horrendous. But then the year after that, I went back to the hospital, and the doctor, the professor who I had all the way through, said, show me the scan. And he was like, it's gone. Like, the tumor has disappeared. So I was like, well, where is it gone? And he was like, I don't know. So this to me, that is a miracle, because he even said himself and he's at the top.

Speaker 2

Professor. Professor Ramson. I don't even know if he's still at Manchester of Manchester Hospital now. He didn't know where that had gone. So I mean, I've always been very had a very strong face. I've always believed in something. But obviously for me to have that happen was proof to me, because where is that to a goal. It was taken away. Thank God. Like, yeah. I mean, I can talk about it now. I'm fine now, but obviously at the time it was awful. But at the same time and I know this sounds really weird.

Speaker 2

I kind of knew that I'm always going to be all right all along. So I now believe that me telling this story will give hope to other people that maybe have tumors, cancer. All these awful things happen because it can. They can disappear because obviously they can because I've had it. So I know that it can happen, you know? Wow. What I'm to work for.

Speaker 1

What a powerful story and something so scary to go through at such a young age.

Speaker 2

Yeah. It was really awful. I mean, it was awful. And I think the worst thing was every year having the scans and waiting for the results to come back because these tumors do grow back. So, you know, having to wear to find out what was the result was awful.

Speaker 1

But then amazing.

Speaker 2

When you get this on, it like it's all fine. The things come back.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Speaker 2

Do you do that?

Speaker 1

Do you still do that? You go to scan?

Speaker 2

No, I got one more scam to have now. Well, I think. I mean, I'm fine. Yeah. Wow.

Speaker 1

And it's so powerful because you meet people like you in particular. You have this energy that is infectious. You're just so positive and so happy and so loving to everyone. And you meet people like you and you just have no idea what someone has been through in their life. You know what I mean?

Speaker 2

Yeah. I mean, that's the thing, you know, and I am a very happy person, as you know. Like, I'm not sick. I don't put on the punitive attitude that is me. But then I look at my what have I not got to be happy about? You know, but I do really sometimes think I think a lot of people think a lot of positives happy people. I think this happened to a lot of people, but people think they've never had anything happen to live in their life. It's like, well, well, Ararat she ever had happened to her.

Speaker 2

But actually I have had stuff happen in the past. It's just the way I now choose to live. Well, I have ALS with my life like that, but I think it's you know, and I know people that are very upbeat and positive and they kind of get not left behind, but it's always kind of like, well, he's alright. She's alright. Like, you've never had any hardships in your life. That's the thing when people don't think you've ever been through anything hard, but actually everybody has to some extent, other then totally.

Speaker 1

I completely agree. There was someone commented one of my posts. I posted something about, like, the Tropicana commercial, not liking the the way they were glamorizing alcohol. And someone commented being like, wow, your life is so wonderful that the only problem you have is this come. And I was like, okay, from clearly doesn't know me at all.

Speaker 2

No, it's really interesting because I think an eye on my Instagram when I call single Instagram. What is it like? Some people are like, oh, you know, you're always so happy. You're always so positive, but your beat. I had to like, well, actually, that is my life. I am at the beach all the time. I am at the pool of the time. I've got a great life. I've got a great job. I'm really happy. But a lot of people didn't see me when I have no money.

Speaker 2

I was crying at the bank in London when I had to try and extend my overdraft and I'm running to auditions all day long in London trying to get something. I don't think people seem to realize that that has happen to me as well, you know? I mean, totally.

Speaker 1

Well, thank you so much for being vulnerable and sharing that.

Speaker 2

I'm really happy to share it because it's weird because I didn't know when I first told people when I was doing this fundraising, I actually felt quite bad because even some of my closest friends, I never told them because not that I didn't want to tell anyone, but it's just a little bit of a difficult conversation to get into, you know, how. Or, by the way, just let me tell you, I've had two brain tumors and this has happened to me, and that happens to be it's not something that would come up every day, but if somebody asks me or what happened with that, I'll always tell them always.

Speaker 2

But I think I've shared my story. I will always share my story. If there's somebody in a situation where they're like, oh, my gosh, my dad's Bill, my mom ill. I know I got this one with me. Then I will say, you know, just keep the safe because may recall from nothing.

Speaker 1

Just got to keep believing that's the power of sharing our story. I think it's Brene Brown who says, like, you know, share your story because it might become someone else's survival.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

So tell me about how your journey getting into yoga. Were you practicing yoga before you and I met, or was it something that's been like a recent part of your journey?

Speaker 2

Well, I didn't. I did yoga one story member in London at Big First Gym, and I will never forget it because I was really excited about trying it out. And the teacher there, I don't have to tell you this story, but it was just awful because she there's probably about 25 people in the class. And I obviously had never done your before, didn't have a clue what I was doing. And then I was obviously looking around the class, like, seeing what everybody was doing. And then she was like, you close your eyes.

Speaker 2

Close your eyes. Like, look this singling me out. And being a crew, close your eyes. And then I was like, oh, and I was close my eye. And then I opened them again to look into I was like, no, close your eyes. Close your eyes. What are you doing? And I was like, oh, my God. I'm never, ever, ever doing yogurt ever getting my life. That's it. And it really put me off, like, massively put me off because, yeah, because I was like, what the hell was that?

Speaker 2

But then and then I think I did it. A friend of a friend in London. She was teaching yoga, and she did one class with me, which I went to, which I thought was all right. But I wasn't like, massively into it. And then I did your class a night at the room in Canada.

Yeah.

Speaker 2

And then I remember it because remember at the end of the class, when I came walked to you, I was like, oh, and you got such a nice energy about you got such a great energy about you. And then I was like, oh, my God, look, that class. And then I was like, okay. And then you set up and reminds me of Pots. Yeah, that was it. And now I'm a die for a while, too.

Speaker 1

Like, I remember the class that you came to. It just happened to be like, I was subbing on a Saturday morning or something, because then I think the time of my classes for a while before the mind place practice weren't always working with your schedule, because it seems like you have evening stuff going on. I often taught later, like, 06:30 p.m.. 07:30 p.m.. And since you're up in the middle of the night, you really early. But once the mindplace practice started and there's the convenience of doing it from your home, and also I would be able to set my own schedule.

Speaker 1

So I was teaching earlier. It just worked. And now it's like, I think it's like 18 months later, and you've done yoga, like, almost every day of that time, which is wild.

Speaker 2

Oh, my gosh. I'm so you know what I was thinking about today before I came on here, and I thought, oh, my gosh. Like, so many times I sometimes think, what would I do if the mindful life practice actually stops? And I like, I'm just like, oh, my God, that could never happen. That could never happen. Because now it's like a massive part of a life, honestly. But you know what, Alex? I have to say that. And I'm not just saying this stores classes. Your classes completely saved me during that last year during the whole ten COVID first hit.

Speaker 2

And it's absolutely horrific to me. And now there's another thing that people did. I think last year with the whole everybody suffered in one way or another with Corvet. They did. And even the people that said they didn't they did because we are it was, like such a shock of the whole world. But I think it was this kind of mentality at the time. It was like, well, if you still got your job and you're still earning money, you're fine. Again. It's you're fine, don't you?

Speaker 2

More no complain. You can't be stressed because you still got a job. But yet it was it was probably one apart from obvious to the whole illness and brain humor thing, probably one of the more stressful times in my life. And I very rarely get stressed. Yeah. And I was, you know, working from home. As you know, I'm not very technical and doing that. I can't even click on a Zoom link to make that work. But doing a radio show from your home, I mean, it was just a it is at five in the morning.

Speaker 2

06:00 and the the what map messages would be continuous till 910 o'clock at night. And then I just remember that hour of yoga every day. It was just, like, the best possible thing ever.

Speaker 1

And, you know, it was really it was, like, selfish for me, too, if that makes sense. Like, it was I was in as much of a spiral as everyone else, just like, what is happening right now in the world. And for me, it was like I started doing it because I needed to do it for my own mental health. And so just to hear, I don't know, the way it benefited and anchored people, I'm just so glad that people got the benefit from it that I did as well.

Speaker 2

Oh, my gosh, it was so good. I remember at one point I remember my dad saying to me on the phone, These yoga classes have completely saved like this. And they did. And it's really hard to explain whenever I explain to my friends who have never done yoga. And it's weird because, you know, and I talk about yoga and I love it so much, but I'm not. But I know you always say, you can't say you're not good at yoga because there is no good and bad.

Speaker 2

But, like, I'm not flexible. I'm not great. You all positions. But there's something about it. Remember when I said to you that time and I said, what is it about yoga? Like, how does it I remember especially during the last year when I start the class and be like, oh, my, I'm so unbelievably stressed. And then by the end of it, I was absolutely fine after 1 hour of yoga, like, fine, like a different person. It's amazing but remember, what was it that you put? I think you posted on the same yoga is magic on yoga is a miracle, but it actually is, Alex, isn't it?

Speaker 2

I it's hard to explain what it is to say to you, but it does.

Speaker 1

Yeah.

Speaker 2

And that I I couldn't imagine not doing yoga now. Like, even if I miss a couple of days, if I'm on holiday or away for the weekend, I'm like my body and my mind. I'm like, oh, my gosh. I need to. I need to do a class. I need to do a class. Yeah, totally.

Speaker 1

I have a question for you. Have you ever thought about becoming a yoga teacher?

Speaker 2

Oh, no. Do you know what I do? I like the whole like, I wouldn't mind doing it if I could do it well, but I can't do the pass that well. But also, this is the thing as well, Alex, about you is that sometimes I've been to classes and don't get me wrong. Yoga is great wherever you go, but there's something about your style of teaching. I love it. Like, you tell your story. There'll be like, quotes from in the Live a good quote, as you know.

Speaker 2

But that's what I think makes it for me because anyone. Not anyone. I'm not saying anyone can stand there and go, okay, Dan with dog. Okay, stand like this. Do this. Do that. And that's all well and good. But I think there's something I think when you find the right teacher or for me now with the right community of people, that makes a difference. Because I always say to my friend, whenever my friend, like, if my friend is going through a difficult time, I'll be like, I'll just try yoga.

Speaker 2

Like, just just try yoga. I oh, I don't know that it has to be Alexis Yogurt. Like, it has been my life quite soon, because otherwise, what was this?

Speaker 1

I mean, so much to me, honestly, to have your support.

Speaker 2

But it's honestly like, it's so true. Like, I'm so grateful for all the classic. Honestly, you're going to meet you a teacher? No, I'm not. So I know what I find as well with the yoga. Like, with the end. I mean, I know you do a lot of meditation, but that is something that I've really struggled with. I've tried a couple of times, not your meditation, but I'm like, oh, I can't, because my mind's always racing, but in a way, it's also meditation, isn't it? Totally you're off your phone.

Speaker 2

I'm always on my phone, so at least it gives me an hour without phone. So you've got your thought. Your mind is clear whilst you're doing that, your overclass.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it's like a moving meditation, like moving with the glass and the poses. And I'm similar to you. When I started meditation in itself, sitting was just not possible. Even like, the in classes were very difficult for me in the beginning. So much stillness. And then it's kind of like a muscle that grows over time and you do a little bit sprinkled in here and there, like at the end of a Asana yoga practice. But no, I can totally relate to that.

Speaker 2

But I would like to try the meditation. I'm going to do that, actually, I'm going to try that.

Speaker 1

Yeah, we have a lot on the website, a lot. I used to do Instagram lives. Actually. I used to do Instagram live meditations. And then there were just so many weird messages, people watching and commenting, like, I want to date you. I was like, I can't do.

Speaker 2

The one. You've got meditation. So.

Speaker 1

I want to ask you a bit about your sober curious journey. So tell me a bit about your relationship with alcohol.

Speaker 2

So alcohol are things for me has always been around my and I would say my job because when I first started when I first got home when I was 18 and I went to work on Holiday Park in the UK as a tenor, it was, alcohol is ever every night entertain as the drinking. And then you go, you know, you're meeting all the holiday makers. Drink, drink, drink, drink, drink. Then I worked on cruise ships after that. And that was like heavily, you know, influenced by alcohol, the crew bar.

Speaker 2

I mean, it's totally wrong. It was a great lifestyle with alcohol here. Alcohol then, you know, working in London, events, TV, it's alcohol everywhere offered to you all the time. So, you know, and I did obviously drink and socialize and take the free drink whenever I got. But then I think I think, well, I think it was mainly mainly I met when you started to solve curious thing. I was thinking actually, maybe I should have a look into this because I remember what it was when I had started that crafted you and followed you on Instagram, remember?

Speaker 2

And then I saw on your Instagram, you solve girl or something. This is before you set up the server curiously. And then I went up to the next class and said, oh, not on your Instagram, you don't drink. And I was like, Why do you not drink? But then at that time it was really weird, you know, that I believe in all this, like signs and all this. I think I told you this, that a guy who I knew in Dubai who was a presenter at the time.

Speaker 2

I met up with him and he had also told the story of how he doesn't drink. And he told me all this stuff and I was like, alright. And he said, you know, I don't know when to stop drinking. It's not good for me. So I tell me this stuff. And I thought, okay. And then I saw I stumbled across that one year or been on Facebook and it said everybody should try not drinking for three months and see how it changes their lives. And then I was like, right, that's it.

Speaker 2

It's a sign. I'm going to Alex inserting and I'm going to try it out because I think everyone you can go out and enjoy your drink. Talk at me wrong. I'm very source, and I love to drink. And I love to hang around with my friends. And I think for me, it's a very social thing, the drinking. But then at the same time, not now, but when I was younger, you know, I did have a massive problem with not knowing when to stop drinking, which I actually think a lot of people have this problem, you know, and I think what I think I love about your so the curious thing is that it's making people, as it says, curious, because people are thinking, well, actually, I don't know when to stop people listening to this.

Speaker 2

Now we'll probably be like, oh, actually, I don't know when to stop. Think it either. That's a point. I might have a little look at this because there's so many people that have it, and especially with the UAE, with the situation with the drink here. It's everywhere, isn't it? Like it's part of your life here.

Speaker 1

Totally.

Speaker 2

Totally.

Speaker 1

And it's so interesting here because, like, I remember back when I was teaching yoga at the gym publicly, I wasn't sure I didn't talk about my sobriety in my classes because I wasn't sure what I could say and what I couldn't say. Because on the one hand, you have the expat party culture, which is just extreme. It's 01:00 p.m. On a Friday, and people are playing flip cup, and you're like, what is that? It's like a College broad week. And then on the other extreme, you have people in the traditional local culture who alcohol a part of their life.

Speaker 1

And so it's a really interesting combination. And I think because of that, there isn't, like, much discussion and awareness about the harmful effects of drinking, and there just isn't really like, I think I'm the only kind of sober, curious advocate in the region that I know of. It's just not really talked about.

Speaker 2

And I think it's really interesting that I think a lot of people are a lot of people are like, okay, what is this Saber stuff or this is ridiculous. Like, there's nothing wrong with you. Like, come on, you've not got a problem. You don't need to be giving up drink. And then there's the other people that are massively into the sober thing, which is brilliant because now it's becoming the trend and it's a craze to be sober, you know, and which is fantastic. But I also think that it's important to mention that you're not doing this for people that get up in the morning and have a Bobcat 06:00 a.m. People like me, like, I go out to a brunch with my friends.

Speaker 2

I love to socialize. I love to have a drink with my friends. I'm not an alcoholic. I'm not getting up in the morning having vodka. But do I sometimes go out and drink too much? Yes, I do. Do I sometimes go out and think and not think, oh, my gosh, I should be stopping now. Yeah, I do. So it's for, like, people that are like, you know, I mean, there's so many people that I know on Friday, Brunches will go out. I mean, we've all done it.

Speaker 2

Forget what we've done. Forget what we're saying with message people. We shouldn't be messaging or we feel horrific the next day. Oh, my gosh, we'll hung over. And then it starts again the following week and the following week. But you know, I remember at my birthday Brunch, and I think because I did those three months, so but in that last year with you, and I think that's completely changed everything for me then, and I've become a lot better now. But I remember looking around and beat because I still went out.

Speaker 2

I feel that everything that I would have done if I'd have been drinking and I didn't feel like I missed out at all. In fact, I had a better time doing not drinking. But like, even at my birthday, Brad, I remember I remember I don't know if you were there. And that girl, there was a girl that she got carried out. I security at one point and because she would start that drunk. And I remember sitting watching thinking, I feel so sorry for that girl because I thought she could feel tomorrow everyone would be laughing at her, but nobody else felt sorry for it.

Speaker 2

Everybody else or my other friends were like, oh, my gosh, look said of her, did you see that girl? Oh, my God. And it's like, really, who the hell wants that? Nobody. But it's not. And it's like, you don't realize, I think until you actually stop and look at the situation and go, Well, actually, this is not it's not nice and it's not healthy and it's not good. And also what I've noticed as well since, like being that so the curious is friends of mine. And, you know, people that, you know, Alex, that have given up alcohol and their lives have transformed since they stopped drinking.

Speaker 2

And there's quite a few people that I've been watching their stories going along. And I think, well, this is not a coincidence because it's happened too many times to too many different people now. So one should give up the drink. All other areas of your life improve that the careers of Skyrocketed, the relationship everything is is changed for the better.

Totally.

Speaker 2

You know, like adopting. You ever hear anybody saying I wish I hadn't given up doing a kid? Do you? Never. Never. But even though I'm saying this and I'm still drinking, so I'm not saying I don't agree with drinking cause I do like to have a drink, but I just like, to have and to drink a few drinks, not to go too crazy, that I want to be that with which I can more or less. Now I will say, possibly on time. I have learned to get, you know, quite good with that.

Speaker 2

But then I am still curious to think, well, what would my last like if I gave it up completely? You know, like I said for you, so, like, I'm at the stage now where I'm really I'm only having a few drinks of not going mad, which I used to go crazy when I was younger. So that's a massive improvement already. So I feel happy for that. And I feel thankful to you for that. Or, like, you know, just even with the Instagram pause or the social media, and it's really good.

Speaker 2

But then I think, then what would you like to, like if you completely gave it up? And I remember seeing that guy. I always said, I tell the story, too. But the other guy who used to do the one in Be, and and it was his Facebook video that came up that time. And I was like, okay. And he said, you know, if you're going out to an event, say, like, I have to me so many times, I'm thinking, okay, brunch today. I don't want to go crazy.

Speaker 2

I don't want to be hung over tomorrow. So in my mind, I'm like, okay, right. What I'll do is I'll have some prosecco say I'll have four months of per second. That's it. But then and then when you read the brunch, you're thinking, okay, right. Oh, my gosh. I can't have anymore kind of anymore. Can't drink half of the brunch. But then, like, he was saying that it's so true. Like, for all that extra energy that you're pouring into your mind, going, right, don't drink that.

Speaker 2

Oh, no. Oh, my gosh. When you bought a shot or but you can't have that shot. Oh, my God, no, no, no. Then you have the shot. And then you're like, oh, no. Now we're going somewhere else. Should I go somewhere of should I drink? What should I drink at this part? It's like, it can be exhausting. That. Yeah. So then, like, he was saying, like, why just don't drink? Just don't drink the alcohol when you go out it's easy, said the dog. But he's right.

Speaker 2

I remember actually speaking of that interesting about the whole thing, you know?

Speaker 1

Yeah. I was gonna say it reminded me of I remember at your birthday because we had talked about it before, and you saying that you were just gonna have one beer. And then I remember people kept handing you, like, giant bottles on great. You and I wanted to take pictures of you with them. And, you know, I don't care. I'm like, I'm not judging whether Laura drinks or not. It doesn't matter to me. I'm here as her friend her birthday. But I thought it was so funny if you were trying to like.

Speaker 2

But then I you know what I did? I did to have that fear. And I did have a couple of glasses of champagne that someone gave me, but I'm definitely fine. And it was probably, like, one of the best birthdays I've ever had because I wasn't like, completely. I didn't go too far. But that's the thing. But then the thing is, though, it's easier said than done, because sometimes you'll go out and it would depend on, like, you know, especially for me getting up at half four in the morning.

Speaker 2

So Thursday night now I'm like, I can't go out on Thursday night and drink because I'm so tired that being tired affects how much drink affect you and what's happening to you at the time. Like, if you're going through whatever you're going through, you might want to drink more. And it's just it's really it's not really worth it. But I think there's a lot of people that can go out and just have one or two drinks and be fine. But there's also a lot of people, more people I would say that will go out drink and not know when to stop and then feel horrific.

Speaker 2

And then then like, what actually is the point in this? Yeah. Especially when I was younger. I'm like, now I'm a lot better now. But when I was especially like in my 20s, in my early 20s, like the stuff that I would be going out drinking, not stopping drink, it was just like, and I remember one time I went out and my sister said to me, but this is the thing, and it's actually quite scary when you look at it, because we went out somewhere in Manchester.

Speaker 2

Then then we went we had laws of drink. And then what got back to my sisters friends out. And I was like, right. Come on, then. Let's have another book. Let's talk in another bottle of wine. And my sister was like, oh, my God, how can you even think to the old thing was but we drank so much. But I genuinely like, especially when I was younger, did not I have no. There was nothing in me that knew when to stop drinking, nothing at all. But I think a lot of people have that, because if you don't know when to start, then you're not going to stop higher.

Speaker 2

And like, you know, I think it's interesting because people who will list and then if you're a good case for me and I am a good if I'm drunk, I'm not bad drunk. I'm not an angry drunk. I'm happy some type of fall asleep. But that's what I will do. So people will be like, oh, my gosh, Lori, you really socially happy. You fine. And that's another thing. I think when people like you sign in, you sign because then you're like, oh, I'm fine.

Right.

Speaker 2

But actually, it just sometimes I just think it's just easier just to so on the stormy stories that are similar to this that I've heard from friends, friends of friends. And it's just like, oh, you know, and that guy that told you about the guy that a friend of mine who was a presenter and by but he's not here anymore. He had said to me and it would always stuck with me. He said, I gave it drinking because he said he had a horrific night and was drunk for to, which didn't know him to stop.

Speaker 2

And he said, I thought, okay, I'm going to have to stop and stopping drinking active because I thought, if I don't stop now, what am I going to do, wait until it's too late until something awful happens to be right. And actually, I mean, I know it as dramatic, but the stories that you hear about what alcohol because it changes your whole perception, doesn't it? And then people will say, well, you know, it's not the same, but it's similar. Like my mom will always say, you know, she struggled with her weight all alive.

Speaker 2

Then she'll eat too much. So she'll say, if I've got a packet of biscuits on the table, here a full packet biscuits. I let all those biscuits because I want to eat them because I've got this thing with food. But then but then my mom would say to me when I was younger, but if there's a bottle of wine there, you wouldn't be able to just drink one glass. You drink two or three glasses. But then I always used to say, yeah, but the difference is, mom, with food and alcohol, you're not waking up in the morning after you have been biscuits going, oh, my gosh, what did I do?

Speaker 2

What did I say? I can't remember getting home, whereas the alcohol you are sometimes. I mean, when I was younger, I was. And I remember I always remember what my dad said was, and I actually do think this is true. I know a lot of people might disagree, but my dad always said to me and my sisters, growing up, alcohol is the worst drug because in a way, because it's legal, it's fine. Everyone got easy. You social with your friends, being sociable. But if you have too much, I mean, God knows what actually could happen, really.

Speaker 2

So that's why I think when you set this. All right, let me have a look at this because it's it's interesting really as well to me. But I'm saying this and even people be like, oh, Laura looked at you doing the solar thing of that, but we'll just send you out. Don't get me wrong, but this is coming from me. And I love a drink. And I you know, I'm very aware that at this moment in time, but I'm not giving up at the moment. I do think it's important, but that you only drink what you can manage.

Speaker 2

Yeah. You know, and also it's embarrassing. And I remember when I first got to day. I mean, oh, my gosh, I was like a kid in a sweet shop every weekend.

Speaker 1

Me too.

Speaker 2

I don't know how I did it. I was like, oh, my gosh. I was getting up in the morning and during the week at 05:00 in the morning, 04:00 in the morning, then rocking in a 05:00 in the morning on Friday, Friday, Saturday mornings. But it was like, like that was the culture there. Well, it's so is the culture. But now I think I'm right. I can't do that anymore. But it's so easy. Now I'm looking around when you see people, you know, the brunch is the all start off so civilized, and then it just ends in shambles.

Speaker 2

Yes. Shambles every time. Every time. Yeah. But then, you know, and somebody was saying to you the other day, I just wish that we could go to brunch it and just go home after the brunch. But I don't know. I mean, I've been in four and a half years and I've not known one person to go home after a brunch. And it's like and then it's the Astros, and that's fine. And it's just like.

Speaker 1

Yeah, it's amazing that you've been able to moderate and reduce in the culture that we are in now. And I think even just having, like, a curiosity about it right now, no one's journey is completely linear. And, you know, so kind of having a curiosity taking your 90 day break moderating, like, those are all like mindful drinking, you know.

Speaker 2

Yeah. And I think another thing I think I said this to you before about, you know, I was thinking even this month, I thought, you know, what I'm going to do, like, dry August, I'm going to have a break from, you know, drinking. But I thought, oh, no. Well, I've got a week. I've got that each holiday. And I've got this. Oh, maybe I'll do September. Then I've only got friends birth versus in September. But I think we, like, associate, like, drinking with the think, like, holidays, birthdays, Christmases, you know?

Speaker 2

Oh, you celebrate something. Let's have a drink. You stand about something. Let's have a drink.

Totally.

Speaker 2

Isn't it? Like and really, I think it's everything. Well, I do believe everything's in your mind, but I think the same for the alcohol as well. That's why I'm so, like, curious about it, because I find interesting as well as the site. I've cut down a hell of a lot. And I'm proud of myself for doing that because it is easy to, you know, but and I think, like, some people are like, oh, well, you know, all it is if you go out and have a few drinks and then sometimes you go too far.

Speaker 2

That's what every single human being does. But then I think I think other people that have had, you know, when I was younger, I did have that issue of not being able to stop. I think it is important for me to to be like, aware of. And but. And this is really I think it's great what you set up, Alex, because nobody else is doing this kind of thing, are they? I think like other people are like, right. Stop drink. Whereas you're not like that. You're like it's your own journey, but you are allowed to can be curious about it without giving up the alcohol.

Speaker 1

Totally.

Speaker 2

Totally, you know, and everything in moderation. But like, my mom used to set me when I was younger. Everything in moderation. But then if you don't know where to start, then you shouldn't. Well, that's that's the thing, isn't it? You know, but I think only each person that is a curious build, not they'll find they're all like half. And what what helps? That what's more than.

Speaker 1

Well, if you've ever decide that you want to take another break again.

Speaker 2

Yeah, you want to do that. And you know what, Alex? Last time I took that break, it was honestly one of the best things I've ever done. And even, like friends of mine would say to me, oh my gosh, you can tell you're not drink anymore because you look different. Like you look so much better. Whereas I wouldn't think I look better. But it's like everything. And also another thing that I think I heard, I think Jasmine said this in heard podcast with you. And like for the weekend when she was like, you know, you drink.

Speaker 2

So if you're out at Friday, bro, I can't possibly meet you on Saturday morning because I'll be hung over. So Saturdays out, right. Like, the whole day of your week is out because, you know, you're going to be hung over from that day. But that's really sad, isn't it? It's the thing. Oh my gosh, that that day is gone now because. And then when I got three months, I go every morning doing yoga, doing whatever. And I remember my friend me, my friend, a really good friend of mine in Australia.

Speaker 2

She message and sent me a voice note once and she said, Laura, she's like, you're at your best when you're not drinking and you're doing yoga. And I was like, That's true. He was like, that's when you're at your best.

Speaker 1

Yeah, that's so true.

Speaker 2

Yeah.

Speaker 1

Well, if you do ever are curious about it again, we have the new since you joined last time. We now have the super curious yoga school. So it involves like meditation and yoga and also journaling. You probably really like it actually these workbooks. So whenever you're ready for exploring it again, I'm here.

Speaker 2

Yeah, I'll definitely definitely do it again. Definitely.

Speaker 1

Awesome. Alright, I have a very important question for you. So yesterday you posted a picture of Carrie and Big together sometimes. And now the debate is happening on my Instagram. My Instagram poll. I have to tell you, it's like the most voted for poll that I've ever gotten on my gram story. It's like hundreds of people that have voted and majority our team Aden. Unfortunately, I know your team did it.

Speaker 2

You know what? It's so funny because I was almost big love Mr. Big for my friend message sent me a massive message into my Instagram. And he was like, oh, my God. Laura, are you actually serious? Team Big Bob sake. Like, what is wrong with you? But you know what? Mr. Big got something about him. Like, you know, for Aden, do everyone. Eden is a lovely guy. Like, Evan is very sweet and everything.

Speaker 1

But Bike does have this charm. See, I loved him. When I only saw the movie, like, movie one, I was like, oh, my God, this handsome, charming, rich guy who got the pontoon.

Speaker 2

The walk in closet.

Speaker 1

You know, like, it was very, very charming. And then when I watched the whole season, I was just like, I mean, to be fair, I also watched the whole season, the summer when I was experiencing depression. So it's like, maybe that was not impacted my view of him. My mood was just like, bad that summer. But no, I'm an aide fan.

Speaker 2

It just made me laugh. And you said, oh, well, staring off, he bought her a walk in closet. No, but you know what it is about Mr. Big? I think Mr. Big is one of those guys who got lots of layers, many layers, you know, and you got to feel down the layers to get to the core. I quite like the nice.

Speaker 1

I'll have to watch the whole series again. Now I feel reinspired before the next movie comes out. We can do a section of City Marathon. That would be fun.

Speaker 2

Yeah, definitely. Yeah.

Speaker 1

So I'm wondering last question before we wrap it up, do you have any advice for someone who wants to start a yoga journey or a sober, curious journey or both?

Speaker 2

I think definitely try your because you do that because I mean, I know you used to do, like, the weeks free trials and don't you? We do that two weeks. That's it. Yeah. And I would definitely definitely 100% recommend you. And I'm not saying this because I'm your friend and I'm doing this on this podcast, but I would definitely recommend your classes or that anybody else is PC. And I didn't have any yogurt periods before I started with you, and I'm not flexible in anything like that, but I have really honestly and I had not find through nor Alex that has seen to change my life these classes.

Speaker 2

I could not live without these classes now, honestly, seriously, with the cute Soterious yogurt, not just your older overtures. I think everyone should try it. Alex, I think if you've ever been out and about whether you're in the UAE or wherever you are and you've had hangovers you've broken up the next morning. And, I mean, oh, my gosh. I remember all from feelings. And when I was younger, waking up so many calls, lights on, can't find phone where she's bad. Where she's? Waller, how did you get home if you've ever experienced that in your life and you still experience in it, then you should be curious to think what would my life would be like without that in it?

Speaker 2

And it's not saying. Do you know what I mean? Alex, you're not preaching to people. This is the thing. And I think some people get a little bit confused thinking of, oh, my God. Like, what this or giving up alcohol. But you're actually not saying that. It's just people that are curious that, you know, and let's be honest. I mean, I love a drink. Our lives would be better without it for many different reasons. And I think we all know that. And I think the interesting thing is whoever I speak to about my friends, and they're like, oh, my God.

Speaker 2

Like, why are you doing that? You don't need to give up. You're fine, which I am fine. But I then think, actually, you're curious because you keep asking me about it. So that's also interesting because I think they wouldn't keep asking me or giving me their opinions on it if they weren't serious at the and these are all so drinkers that I've had hangovers that I've had anxiety that had all this kind of thing. So it's like, well, actually, why don't you just try it and see?

Speaker 2

Well, it does. See, it totally.

Speaker 1

Just give it a while.

Speaker 2

Now. Everyone ever, ever anyone sees me out in the out with a wand and be like that. Excuse me. How many of you have?

Speaker 1

Well, Laura, thank you so much for coming on the show. It was honestly so fun to just sit down and chat with you and get to know you better. And I really appreciate you taking the time to be on the show, so thank you so much.

Speaker 2

Thank you so much. Alex. You've been so nice to chat to you, as always. And thank you so much for the classes. I really do appreciate you and all teachers.

Speaker 1

You.

Speaker 2

Thank you, Laura.

Speaker 1

And you have a class soon now, right?

Speaker 2

Yes, I do.

Speaker 1

So I'll let you get going to that. Take care, Laura.

Speaker 2

It by.