FORMER Australian pole vaulter Amanda Bisk admits she misses the sport she had to give up, but is blessed by the opportunities she's been given because of it - including being a special guest in Launceston this weekend.
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Bisk, 27, of Perth, Western Australia is the special quest at today's Harcourt's Women's 5 kilometre run/walk and will take an hour yoga class as a cool down after the Breast Cancer awareness event.
Bisk got into yoga about four years ago, after an illness forced her to give up her Olympic dream.
She had not long got back to Australia after competing at the New Delhi Commonwealth Games, in 2010 and was training for the 2012 London Olympics, when she was diagnosed with chronic fatigue.
"I wasn't doing any form of exercise for six months (after) but I felt like I wanted to do something for myself," Bisk said.
Bisk discovered yoga - fitting when she was already flexible from being an elite gymnast from 3-years-old to 18 - and has since become a qualified instructor.
"I do miss pole vault," she said.
"But then I always think if (I wasn't diagnosed with chronic fatigue) I wouldn't be where I was today and I feel so blessed to be given all the opportunities that come my way."
Bisk said she was excited about being back in Launceston.
She came to the state a few times last year as she is the face of Launceston-based online store Fitup.
"I'm excited to run," she said.
"I've always said on my Instagram I'm not a very big runner but I'm always up for a challenge."
She hoped to finish the run in under half an hour, before setting up to take the yoga session.
She encouraged anyone, no matter their age or flexibility to give the class a go.
"Yoga's not just about doing all these incredible postures and flexible things, it's about tuning in with your body and understanding how it works and how it feels," the inspirational woman said.
"I do Vinyasa Yoga, but my teaching style is unique. I love to incorporate moments in my class where we really focus on flexibility and unwinding.
"I always like to throw in a posture or two that are quite challenging, but there's also going to be some variations in there so people can take it a bit easier."
Bisk has become a special guest at the event through being the face of Fitup, which is owned by Courtney Hogan and Jessie Mansfield.
Today's run will also include an 800 metre Prostate Cancer run for men, starting at 9.30am.
