A woman who stunned locals when she was spotted doing yoga on the A555 after it was closed due to flooding has spoken out about the ‘spur of the moment’ decision.
Self-confessed ‘free spirit’ Freyah Grace, 31, was pictured stretching out on a yoga mat on the Manchester Airport Relief Road on January 2, a day after the usually busy main road was turned into a ‘lake’ and closed due to severe flooding near Hazel Grove.
The story, first shared by the Manchester Evening News, caught the eyes of thousands across the region. Freyah, a local instructor, was pictured doing yoga in the middle of the carriageway close to Heald Green.
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David Vaughan, who was out with his daughter at the time, snapped the pictures and was left stunned after he ‘saw a coloured blob moving on the carriageway’ and ‘thought it was a large bird’.
A passer-by spotted Freyah on the A555 -Credit:David Vaughan
After recent trips to Australia and Bali, Freyah, who lives nearby, said the blue skies were ‘a sign for me to get out of the house’ and so she grabbed her yoga mat and headed down to the A555 for a session, which she later shared on social media.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, she said: “I’m not entirely sure what drew me to the A555 to practise yoga that day. It was a spur of the moment thing really, and the blue skies were a sign for me to get out of the house.
“I’ve always been someone who thinks outside the box and loves to bring creativity into everything I do, so the idea of rolling out my mat in such an unusual location felt like a no brainer. I thought it would be great, eye-catching content that might turn heads, and, well, it did.
“As a local to the area, the A555 is a familiar spot for me. That day, I just grabbed my mat, a bottle of water, and walked there, not expecting much more than a memorable yoga session. What I didn’t anticipate was the buzz it would generate, leading to photos being shared and eventually landing in the local papers.”
As of Tuesday (January 7), the A555 still remains closed with cars submerged in the water underneath a bridge close to the airport.
Cars remain stuck on the A555 after flooding on New Year’s Day -Credit:Kenny Brown | Manchester Evening News
Beneath the story, which had more than 1,000 comments, the yoga incident was described by one reader as ‘stupidity at its very best’. There were other positive comments hailing her for the act, as one person wrote: “Do what makes you happy” and another said: “That’s woman power”.
But despite the mixed reaction, Freyah said the positive responses were ‘very heart-warming’ and that she ‘couldn’t help but laugh’ at the ‘dramatic’ negativity.
“The reactions were, let’s just say, very mixed,” she said. “I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the negative comments. People can be hilariously dramatic when something breaks their routine perception. But honestly, that’s exactly why I think doing something different is so important. It sparks conversations, challenges norms, and inspires others to think differently.
“On the flip side, the positive responses were very heart-warming. I received so many lovely messages of encouragement from people who appreciated the creativity behind the idea. It was really humbling to see the support and to hear from others who found it inspiring in some way.”
Freyah shared her yoga video on social media -Credit:@healingthroughself/Instagram
Freyah, from Manchester, embarked on her yoga journey around ten years ago and, during lockdown, completed her teacher training to share her skills with others.
She now posts on her social media profile, @healingthroughself on Instagram, and offers online classes and personalised 1-1 sessions to people locally and around the world. She is set to take her teachings to Youtube
She added: “I’m such a free spirit and love to travel. I’ve recently returned from an amazing trip to Australia and Bali, soaking up the sunshine and yoga styles. Because of my on-the-go lifestyle, I focus mainly on online classes and personalised 1:1 sessions, which allow me to connect deeply with students no matter where I am in the world.
“That said, I’ve also had the privilege of teaching in studios across Cheshire, but 1:1 sessions really suit my way of life and allow me to tailor my teaching to each student’s unique needs.
“I’m not the biggest fan of social media, but I’m working on it. Lately, I’ve been stepping out of my comfort zone to share more of myself online and build a dynamic, supportive community. It’s a challenge, but it’s also exciting to connect with like-minded people in this space.
“It’s a new adventure for me, and I’m looking forward to connecting with even more people, offering yoga practices, tips, and inspiration to help others embrace movement, mindfulness, and creativity in their own lives.
“For me, it was a reminder that stepping out of your comfort zone, even in the smallest ways, can have a big ripple effect. Whether people loved or hated the idea, it got them talking, and maybe even thinking about trying something new themselves. Who knows where yoga might take me next, maybe another unexpected location.”