From personal healing to community wellness, Freya Shaw’s journey into yoga and aromatherapy-led living is rooted in resilience, purpose and a whole lot of heart. As the founder of East Leeds’ first yoga studio, The Yoga House, and wellness brand Housemade Botanics, Freya has created a sanctuary where movement, mindfulness and natural living come together.
We spoke with Freya about her story, studio ethos, motherhood, and how she weaves self-care into even the busiest days.
Let’s start from the beginning… How did you first get into yoga, and what led you to opening The Yoga House and creating Housemade Botanics?
Movement has always been medicine for me – I grew up loving gymnastics and exercise and I know that I need to move my body to feel good both physically and mentally. I struggled with anxiety throughout my teenage years after sadly losing my dad to cancer when I was 12 – we were really close.
I first tried yoga during that time but didn't really get into it – I thought it was slow and dull compared to the high-energy exercise I was used to! At university, I trained as a Zumba instructor and children’s ballet teacher alongside my degree in events and business management and loved the fast-paced classes.
Everything changed when I attended my first Vinyasa Flow class in my early twenties. It felt like it just clicked. Not only did it incorporate my love for movement and gymnastics, but I also felt a peace during Savasana that I hadn't experienced since losing my dad. Yoga became so much more than a physical practice – it was a way to find mental and emotional balance.
After my younger brother had lymphoma twice (thankfully recovering both times), I left my job in fundraising events at St Gemma's Hospice to travel and complete my yoga teacher training. I wanted to share how yoga had helped me through life’s highs and lows.
The timing for opening The Yoga House was challenging – we were due to open in April but it was pushed back to 27 July 2020 and we could only have mats 2m apart from July-November due to lockdown, so it was a struggle! With lots of spare time and needing to pay rent, I researched natural aromatherapy and set up Housemade Botanics. After the cancer diagnoses in my family, I became interested in natural and low-toxic living, and wanted to create true wellness products using natural ingredients and bring a sense of wellbeing to others through the blends I had created.
When you imagined your own yoga studio, what kind of space were you hoping to create?
I envisioned a neutral, calming space filled with plants that felt homely and relaxing. I called it The Yoga House because I wanted it to feel like a home from home for our students – somewhere everyone feels truly welcome.
I brought this vision to life through the studio’s aesthetic, incorporating scents from our Housemade Botanics candles and reed diffusers to create balance and peace. Most importantly, I carefully selected teachers who are not only talented but fit our welcoming vibe. We've built such a down-to-earth community where new students always feel at home – it’s never cliquey.
What makes The Yoga House feel special to you?
It's the first yoga studio in East Leeds – most Leeds studios are in North Leeds, and having grown up in East Leeds I wanted to bring yoga, Pilates, meditation and wellness to this area where it was missing.
It’s also becoming a family business. My brother now teaches meditation with us after it helped him so much with his health, and he helps with admin too. Having him involved makes it feel even more special and personal.
What atmosphere do you hope people experience when they walk through the door?
I want people to feel immediate calm – like they've entered a safe sanctuary where they can escape their busy, stressful lives and take time for themselves. Our ethos is 'every body is a yoga body and everyone is welcome’, so I hope that friendly, down-to-earth atmosphere comes across from both teachers and students, regardless of ability, shape, size, gender or race.
What’s drawing so many people to practices such as yoga, Pilates and sound healing right now?
In our crazy, fast-paced world, people are increasingly feeling the need to slow down. The fast pace, technology and modern lifestyle are causing us to feel more stressed than ever. Phones and social media are disconnecting us from each other and negatively impacting both our physical and mental health.
The pandemic was a turning point – people realised they needed to prioritise their health and could actually live slower through working from home more. Many of our students first tried yoga online during lockdown and have loved it ever since. Practices such as yoga help to bring a sense of balance to our busy lives, and classes support a growing need for genuine community and connection.
Has motherhood changed how you think about self-care?
Absolutely. As all mums know, we don’t get much time for ourselves! I now treasure those little moments of self-care so much more. If Kobe is napping or out with his Dad, I'll do small things that make me feel good – a magnesium salt bath, yoga, meditation or a workout.
I've also learned that teaching yoga and working is actually self-care for me. It’s time away from being a mum where I feel like myself, which I’ve realised is really important. It’s hard to fit things in sometimes, but as mums we really must take time for ourselves to be the best mothers we can be.
How can yoga support women in early motherhood?
Becoming a mum brings huge physical, mental and emotional changes. During pregnancy, yoga offers meditation, relaxation and breathing techniques for pregnancy and birth, plus physical postures to ease aches and tension.
Postnatally, yoga and Pilates gently rebuild strength and flexibility while offering much-needed relaxation time. Classes also provide important social connections – a community of women on the same journey, which can be very beneficial for mental health.
We offer Pregnancy Yoga (Tuesdays 6:15pm) and Postnatal Yoga/Pilates (Thursday daytime) where people can bring their babies – this helps to support women physically, mentally and emotionally while helping them to feel a sense of community.
How did Housemade Botanics come to life, and what’s it like running a business with your sister?
After our family’s health challenges, I became very health-conscious and now try to live a toxin-free life as much as possible. Research shows many synthetic products can lead to cancer and poor health, and I’ve found I’m only drawn to natural aromatherapy scents now – synthetic fragrances smell so strong and unnatural.
During the pandemic, I had time to research natural aromatherapy and its wellness benefits compared to synthetic fragrances. Since having Kobe, I haven’t been able to dedicate as much time to Housemade Botanics, and my sister had spare time alongside her other work.
We bring different strengths – she has a fashion and marketing degree with social media skills and Manchester contacts, while I handle the business side with Leeds connections. She’s also my best friend, so we make a great team. We love bouncing ideas off each other.
How do you use aromatherapy daily?
Lavender is my go-to – in baths, at the end of yoga classes where I put a drop on students’ wrists to help them relax. It’s beneficial for so many things and can be applied undiluted to skin, unlike most essential oils. I also use our balance blend in my electric diffuser when I need self-care.
For anyone considering yoga teacher training, what do you wish you’d known?
Teaching feels different from attending classes. I thought I’d always feel zen and relaxed like when I attend class, but when teaching, you're focused on your students’ safety, modifying poses for different levels and ensuring everyone gets the most from class.
It's also hard to make a living solely as a yoga teacher – there are lots of teachers but not enough studios, so getting work can be challenging. You may need to work alongside teaching initially, treating it as part-time or a hobby while building up classes over a few years.
Finally, becoming a yoga teacher will probably change your whole way of life for the better. You’ll learn yoga’s spiritual philosophy and how it helps us become better people off the mat too. It’s an incredible, life-changing journey of constant training and learning for life – which is pretty amazing!
What are you quietly working on or excited about?
I have lots of goals for The Yoga House and Housemade Botanics over the next few years. I held weekend retreats in the Lake District and Yorkshire Dales a couple of years ago, and I'm excited about hosting retreats abroad – I think they’d bring so many benefits to our students.
We've also recently launched our monthly run club to support mental health and help people socialise.
QUICK-FIRE ROUND
My daily non-negotiable is… Turning my phone off at 7pm and onto airplane mode during the day when I don’t need it, and spending quality time with Kobe, family and friends.
A moment in my day I really look forward to is… Seeing Kobe first thing in the morning and teaching at the studio – it’s my passion and I love it.
The best life lesson I’ve learned so far is… You grow through what you go through, and suffering is the greatest teacher.
If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self, what would it be? That everything will be ok and life’s challenges make us stronger.
You can find The Yoga House and Housemade Botanics on Instagram @theyogahouse_ and @housemadebotanics
Visit theyogahouseleeds.co.uk for class bookings, and shop Housemade Botanics here.
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