How long does it take to form a new habit?

If you ask Chelsea Burns, anywhere from 10 to 365 days.

The part-time yoga instructor tried Instagram’s 365-day handstand challenge three years ago and has continued every day since.

Last month she signed up for ten days of community service — now she can’t stop finding ways to give back.

The office manager at Capsicum Re said yoga got her started.

She took it up after her brother Geoffrey Burns died after a bike accident in 2010.

“It was a way for my mum [Rexanne Burns] and I to help move through our grief,” she said. “My mum really inspired me to do it. She did her yoga teacher training on the island shortly after my brother passed and she began teaching classes on the porch.

“I was sleeping a lot through that time. I was able to roll out of bed and onto the porch. I was not into yoga before that, but I noticed it really started helping. I got into my yoga to help move through the grief and it’s been a wonderful tool. I’ve learnt a lot about myself and what kind of life I want to live.”

She’s now raising money for the Capsicum Re Foundation using a four-week yoga for insurance professionals programme.

Donations are taken at each class; monies raised will go to the Nepal Youth Fund to help rebuild after the April earthquake.

“The charity is going to build a special school in Nepal that will help train people in skills for building infrastructure.

“It’s something sustainable, teaching people how to build so therefore they can go out, make money for themselves and rebuild their communities,” she said.

Despite the name, the 7.15am classes in Hamilton are open to everyone. “The first one was last Thursday. We woke up with the town. At first it was really quiet, but people started walking around and the boats started moving. Everything was coming awake as we did our class.”

She said her mother encouraged her to take her teacher training in Nicaragua in 2013.

She then took over Yoga on the Porch from her mother, offering donation-only sessions on Saturday mornings. The 30-year-old has gratefully received fresh vegetables, crafts, baked goods and pesto as payment in lieu of cash.

Mondays, she volunteers at the Matilda Smith Nursing home. The seniors are shown how to stretch from their chairs; Ms Burns ends each session with her ukulele.

“We start by gauging the energy in the room and then we come up with a mantra. We chant, ‘I am strong’ or last week’s was ‘I am patient’. I’m there for half-an-hour once a week. Our older community is very underserved. There is a wonderful staff at Matilda Smith who are there providing care. They’re the ones that deserve the credit.”

Proceeds from her Saturday morning classes in July will go to Friends of Hospice. She has vowed to match the cash donations with her own money.

“Doing this kind of stuff has been a great way to connect with people,” Ms Burns said. “People approach me all the time and ask how it’s going or say that they like following.

“I don’t think I’m doing anything that people don’t do on a regular day themselves.

“Tons of people go to the beach and pick up trash and tons of people give money to the homeless or volunteer their time — a lot of stuff that I was doing.

“I’m not boasting or something special. These are little things we can all do to help change the world through awareness and kindness.”

Ms Burns’s hour long classes in aid of Nepal run every Thursday through June 22. Donations of $100 minimum are suggested. Donate here: rtts2017.everydayhero.com/uk/chelsea-burns

The Nepal Youth Foundation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OgHklCrn2kQ

Chart her handstand progress on Instagram: @shellseasflow

Send an e-mail to learn more about Yoga on the Porch: info@yogaforyoubermuda.com