Darryl Gibney, Associated Newspapers Ireland Ltd Posted on November 1, 2023 by planirl
Darryl Gibney is an Agency Sales Account Manager for Associated Newspapers Ireland Ltd by day and runs her own yoga classes under the name ‘Dublin Yogabody’ at The South William Space, 27 South William St by night.
Darryl’s first yoga class in 2001 was a life changing moment and it wasn’t long before she fell in love with the discipline hook, line and sinker and in 2006, she embarked upon her training as an Ashtanga Yoga Teacher and has been teaching ever since.
The second biggest love of her life is travelling the world and it was on a backpacking adventure across Laos that she decided she wanted to train in International Development after meeting an inspiring Laos girl her own age on a bus who was being forced to give up her career because her family disapproved of her working. This emotional chance meeting was overwhelming, and in 2006 Darryl left her own job to read International Development Studies with Communication Studies at University of Chester, U.K.
Since she completed her degree she has gone on to work voluntarily on campaigns for a number of international NGOs and believes passionately that all people without exception deserve the right to good quality of life, education and the freedom to dream, explore and realise their own passions, just like her.
Because I am a Girl I ask…we all spend a bit more time thinking about the little girls in the world who aren’t as lucky as us instead of getting distracted by Birkin bags, Jimmy Choo’s and fad diets.
Because I am a Girl I believe…that all girls worldwide should be entitled to a full education so they can freely make their own life choices like I was lucky enough to do.
Because I am a Girl I hope…for a world where women’s liberation isn’t seen as a movement that happened in the past, but one thats happening right now in the developing world and is recognised as essential for development.
Because I am a Girl I wonder…if I’ll live to see the day when girls are treated as equals to boys in developed and developing countries alike.
Because I am a Girl I dream…of seeing more women in positions of power, be it politically, professionally, artistically or otherwise so we can have a real say in how the world is being run and so little girls in the future will have more female action-heroes to inspire them.
Because I am a Girl I remember…how lucky I am to have the freedom to work in a profession that i love and how many other girls in the world will never be allowed to work outside the home.
Because I am a Girl I like…being able to teach women Yoga knowing its helping them empower themselves mentally and watching their amazement at their own physical strength as the weeks progress.
Because I am a Girl I dislike…when other girls give each other a hard time for their physical appearance, their social status or their opinions when historically women spent so long fighting against being pigeon-holed and oppressed.
Because I am a Girl I feel…lucky to have grown up in Ireland where I can embrace my femininity and not feel that its a curse as many girls in the developing world might feel.
Because I am a Girl I…know any of the above circumstances could have happened to me were it not for the fact I was born in the developed world.
- Darryl Gibney
