Meet The Locals

Here at Kirton News, we’re always looking for ways to enrich our community and bring something fresh to your monthly reading. That’s why we’re thrilled to introduce a brand-new column on yoga and well-being. This regular feature will offer insights into yoga’s many benefits, from physical health to mental calm, along with practical tips to bring a little more balance to your everyday life. Whether you’re new to yoga or already on the path, there will be something for everyone to enjoy.

Yoga has been a source of inspiration and calm in my own life, and I’m excited to share that with you. Each month, I’ll explore different aspects of yoga, from simple breathing exercises to gentle movements and ways to ease stress. All designed to help you feel a little more grounded and at ease. Let’s dive into this journey together.

Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Mark, and I am the founder of Blue Elephant Yoga here in South Lincolnshire. Over the past year, I’ve been privileged to share the joys of yoga with our local community, teaching classes in nearby villages and helping people discover how yoga can support both body and mind. As a local resident, I feel deeply connected to this area; both of my now adult daughters attended village schools, and you’ll often find me at the Co-op or the barbers! My journey with yoga has been anything but straightforward, beginning many years ago and evolving into the passion I share today.

As a young man, I embarked on a solo backpacking trip to India, where I stayed at an ashram - a kind of spiritual retreat or Hindu monastery. It was there that I encountered yoga for the first time and fell completely under its spell. On my return to the UK, I was determined to keep up my yoga practice and managed to find classes while living in London. But, as is often the case, life got in the way; career, kids, a mortgage (the usual story) and yoga took a back seat. In truth, I didn’t practise regularly for the next few decades.

Eventually, settled in Lincolnshire, I experienced a bit of a health scare, largely the result of some unhealthy habits I’d picked up along the way. Something had to change. So, I cleaned up my act, ditching the booze, cigarettes, and fast food, and turned to yoga once again. This time, I re-engaged with the practice in a way that felt entirely new and fell in love with its simplicity all over again.

When I retired, I saw an opportunity to deepen my passion and share it with others. I trained as a yoga teacher; an experience that was both challenging and incredibly rewarding. My motivation was simple: to share the benefits of yoga with as many people as possible. Instead of spreading the word door-to-door, I’m delighted to have this opportunity to connect with you through these pages.

Yoga is a vast subject. While it includes the physical poses, it is so much more; as you’ll discover if you become a regular reader. The very first thing I want to say, right here and now, is this: Yoga is for everyone. Regardless of your gender, age, disability, size, fitness level, or anything else you think might hold you back, yoga welcomes you. This is something I and many other yoga teachers feel passionately about - it’s a fundamental principle of yoga.

That said, I know some teachers might disagree with my next statement: there’s no such thing as being ‘good’ at yoga. This may sound surprising when we all know someone who seems effortlessly flexible or graceful, but I’m particularly inflexible (and overweight). However, yoga isn’t something you win gold medals in. It’s a deeply personal practice, not something to be judged or quantified.

Think of yoga as a bit like faith (though it isn’t one and remains largely secular in the West). You don’t become a world-champion Christian or a five-star Buddhist. Yoga works in a similar way; it’s personal, individual, and entirely your own. How you practise is completely up to you, whether that’s daily, monthly, alone, or in classes. There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way, only what feels right for you. And that’s the beauty of yoga: it meets you exactly where you are, offering what you need in this moment.

Before I wrap up, I’d like to leave you with a simple yet powerful exercise. Step outside and take a moment to immerse yourself in nature’s sounds; birds singing, leaves rustling, or the whisper of the wind. Close your eyes and allow these sounds to flow through you, calming your mind and easing tension. When you’re ready, open your eyes and carry that sense of peace with you throughout your day..

And that, my friend, is yoga in its simplest form.

Namaste

Kirton Church Fund

Congratulations to both winners! They have both had previous wins.

The winning numbers for February will be printed in the April magazine.

The March draw takes place on Sunday 30th and the winning numbers will be printed in the May magazine.The KCF books have gone for their annual audit as usual at this time of the year. Also, as usual, I will go through them on their return to give an update on the winning streaks for the last year. Come and join us, you could be part of a winning streak that I report on next year! It is still only £5 a number each month as it was when we started way back in June 2012. I can’t think of anything else that has stayed the same price since then!

The prize money will be slightly less in May unless we get another number in the draw as one of our members as moved away. As you may know, the prize money depends on how many numbers are in the draw for that month. Remember, the more people that take part the higher the prize money.

With only 38 members now in the draw chances of winning are very good. Most of the members pay annually (£60), some pay £30 for 6 months, £20 for 4 months or you can of course pay the £5 monthly if you wish. The choice is yours. You can also have more than one number as our first prize winner has. Anyone over 18 may take part.

The prize fund is ¼ of the money taken each month. The rest of the money goes to Kirton Church. We are we are still trying to raise the money to match fund to enable us to get the grants for the replacement of the lead on the church roof and to improve facilities in church.

Registration forms are available from Fay, please ring 01205 723529, or pick up a form from the back of the church or from Paula’s Gifts on Station Road. If you would like more information give Fay a ring.

Jan 2025 Winners

1st PRIZE - £50.62 - TICKET NUMBER: 79
2nd PRIZE - £16.88 - TICKET NUMBER: 89

Data protection. All information (name, address and phone number) of Kirton Church Fund members is held solely for the purpose of managing Kirton Church Fund and is not passed on to any other organisation or used for any other purpose.

Centenary Methodist Church
Home of the Boston Wellbeing Hub

What do these services and activities offer?

Cook Along With Us - a free and fantastic opportunity to learn new skills, make nutritious food and develop positive relationships. Booking required.

BEAM Café - offers a non-clinical, safe space for anyone in the community who is experiencing challenges with their mental health and wellbeing, who could benefit from a listening ear, peer support and links to other support mechanisms and services.

BEAMing Wellbeing session – Explore arts and crafts and mindful activities to support wellbeing.

Warm Welcome Space - Drop in for a tea/coffee and a chat. All welcome.

Shop For Good - Charity Shop with clothing, puzzles, toys, bric-a-brac and lots more. A Scott House enterprise.

Community meals - Hot meals served at 12.00 for anyone. Good food and company.

Be Smoke Free - Flexible, tailored support to help you quit smoking through a 12 week smoking programme.

U3a Boston - Gives opportunities to make new friends, develop interests and have fun. Open to those who are retired or semi-retired - modest annual fee.

Centenary Morning Service – Music, prayer, food for thought, reflection, all in good company, followed by a cup of tea.

Holiday Tips from Citizens Advice

We’re planning a summer getaway to Greece and I’m worried we’ll forget something important, which could ruin the holiday. What steps can we take to make sure we’re fully protected and prepared if anything goes wrong?

Booking a holiday can be overwhelming, especially if it’s been a while since you last went away. It’s unlikely anything will go wrong, but we’ve prepared a simple checklist to make sure you can relax into your holiday knowing you’re protected from the unexpected.

Check your passport is in date - especially for EU travel

Renewing your passport can take several weeks and isn’t something to leave until the last minute. Check the validity of your passport for your trip on GOV.UK by finding out the entry requirements of the country you’re travelling to.

If you’re heading to Europe, bear in mind EU countries don’t accept passports more than ten years old. This includes passports issued pre-Brexit, which may have longer expiry dates. Just remember, the golden rule for EU travel is: if your passport was issued over ten years ago, you’ll need to get it renewed.

Know your rights if something goes wrong

If your flight’s delayed long enough - usually two to four hours, depending on the journey - your airline must provide access to food and drink vouchers, phone calls and emails, and accommodation if you’re delayed overnight. If it’s cancelled, you’re legally entitled to a full refund or replacement flight to help you get to your destination. You’re also entitled to compensation if your airline delays, loses or damages your checked-in luggage.

Get travel insurance

Although it’s an extra expense, travel insurance can cover many of the things already mentioned, like flight delays and lost luggage, but also things like a holiday cancellation and medical emergencies.

Citizens Advice recommends getting insurance as soon as you book a holiday to make sure you're covered right away - but always check first to see if an existing insurance policy, or your bank account, covers what you need for your holiday. There’s no need to double up if you’re already covered!

The chances are your holiday will be problem-free, but early planning and preparation can make all the difference. If you need advice on a consumer problem, head to the Citizens Advice website.

If you need support or advice, you can contact Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire on 08082787942. Alternatively, you can email your query to: outreach@citizensadvicemidlincs.org.uk or attend one of our face to face drop in sessions.

For information about our service, drop in opening times and how we can help you, please take a look at our website www.camidlincs.org.uk

If you would like to support Citizens Advice Mid Lincolnshire, you can do so by scanning the QR code. Your donations will allow us to continue to help more people within our community.

Book Review: The Rosie Project

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion is a heartwarming and humorous romantic comedy that follows Don Tillman, a socially awkward genetics professor, on his quest to find a life partner. Don, who exhibits characteristics associated with Asperger’s Syndrome, embarks on the “Wife Project,” a meticulously designed questionnaire aimed at finding his ideal match. However, his plans are upended when he meets Rosie, a spontaneous and unconventional woman seeking help to identify her biological father.

Simsion masterfully combines wit and emotional depth, creating a story that is both laugh-out-loud funny and touching. Don’s unique perspective and literal interpretations make for endearing and often hilarious situations, while his evolving relationship with Rosie reveals a deeper exploration of love, acceptance, and self-discovery.

The narrative is fast-paced, with sharp dialogue and quirky yet relatable characters. Don’s transformation from rigid and solitary to someone capable of vulnerability and connection is genuinely moving. At its core, The Rosie Project celebrates the unpredictability of life and the idea that love often defies logic.

Fans of contemporary romance and feel-good stories will find this book a delightful and thought-provoking read. It’s a testament to the power of stepping out of one’s comfort zone and embracing the messy, beautiful complexity of human relationships.

Anthony