In recognition of her services to sport and the community, YogaBugs Founder Nell (Fenella) Lindsell has been nominated to carry the Olympic Flame in the London 2012 Olympic Torch Relay! We’re delighted because Nell has worked tirelessly to introduce yoga to over 100,000 children across the UK as well as to influence the lives of many seniors (over 60s) by getting them active and changing their attitude to exercise.
Nell has lobbied government at a local and national level to make yoga available for children who most need it, embracing government initiatives to encourage schools to adopt a more holistic and inclusive attitude to physical activity and offer a more rounded approach to learning. She has helped to introduce a new generation to yoga through her work for the popular CBeebies Waybaloo programme.
Nell’s father, Richard Zimmern, took part in the opening ceremony of the 1948 Olympic Games held in London. These were the first Summer Olympics after the 1936 Berlin Games and became known as the Austerity Games due to the economic climate and post-war rationing. A record 59 nations were represented by 4,104 athletes, 3,714 men and 390 women, in 19 sports disciplines.
In his opening address, Lord Burghley said, “Your Majesty, The hour has struck. A visionary dream has today become a glorious reality. At the end of the worldwide struggle in 1945, many institutions and associations were found to have withered and only the strongest had survived. How, many wondered, had the great Olympic Movement prospered?” After welcoming the athletes to two weeks of “keen but friendly rivalry”, he said London represented a “warm flame of hope for a better understanding in the world which has burned so low.”
We asked Nell what this nomination means to her. “For me, this nomination is a huge link to my father who has been such an inspiration in my life. It gives me a real sense of pride to be connected to him in this way. I’m absolutely committed and passionate about changing children’s lives so that they have a strong sense of self-esteem and self-worth. Children’s lives are now so competitive and challenging. I want them to have time to indulge in their imaginations and explore their creativity. Yoga helps children to feel grounded and secure. Our fun, story-style, themed YogaBugs and Yoga’d Up classes give children the space to be creative and that’s so important in this modern world where children have so little time to play.”
You can support Nell’s nomination and inspire others by clicking on the “share” button at: www.lloydstsblondon2012.co.uk/en/carrytheflame/Nomination/?nid=e2e1cd3d-f316-4064-97d5-3f30757e1962.