Kirby Cross man went from firefighter to being a yoga teacher

But for David Smith, they go together like bread and butter.

David was in his mid-30s working in construction when he had a change of heart and joined the London Fire Brigade where he attended emergencies for more than 19 years.

David stepped back from his duties two months ago, when he realized being a firefighter was becoming more and more physically demanding.

Instead, he turned to a long time passion- yoga.

He said: “My job was getting harder so I started doing yoga and it made me feel young enough to do the job physically.

“It allowed me to just carry on and made me feel ten years younger.

“I was still going into fires at the age of 55.”

For the ex-fire fighter, doing yoga meant better spirituality, improved flexibility and range of motion, so he encouraged his colleagues to give it a try too.

David, 55, of Kirby Cross, said: “When I was at the fire station I was doing yoga with the guys there and it did help with their stress levels and their physical fitness.

“And people you thought would never do yoga were getting into it.”

David has been fascinated by the ancient practice ever since he took his first lesson five years ago.

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So the obvious thing to do once he retired from the fire service was to take on yoga permanently.

But this time as a teacher.

He said: “A lot of being a firefighter is prevention, so when it came to teaching yoga I was already used to talking to people.

“And also just understanding that everyone has been through their own kind of trauma that yoga can help them deal with.”

The ex-firefighter has also been teaching chair yoga for survivors of brain injuries at the Headway centre in Colchester for the last three months.

Chair yoga is used as a therapy and is practised sitting or standing with a chair for support.

The sessions, which are held twice weekly, are aimed at people who have suffered car accidents, strokes or any other serious head traumas which can have an enduring impact on their lives.

David added: “These people suffer from anxiety so I do try to calm down their breathing.

“When we do the chair yoga they always seem very happy, and when they are happy they get to move more.

“Improving their mental health seems to be helping with their physical wellbeing too. “

Starting this month, David will also be giving regular yoga classes at the Frinton MgGrigor Hall and the Columbine Centre in Walton.

He has teamed up with his wife, Pauline Smith, 55, for mixed fitness dance and yoga sessions at the Holland library to get residents moving after lockdown.

David has also added paddleboard yoga instructor to his resume, but something always seems to be taking him back to the time he was a firefighter.

He said: “When I left the fire brigade I thought my life would be less exciting but then I joined the Tendring Beach Patrol, so I am still serving and helping my community.

“Joining the patrol and going into the sea with them has been very challenging and as exciting as being a firefighter.

“It’s always catching up with me.

“It’s the same thing but in a different environment.“

If you want to book a session with David, call 07976929824 or message @flexfityogaDave on Facebook.