“Leap, and the net will appear”
- Zen proverb
It was these words, leap, and the net will appear, among years of practice, which led to me becoming a yoga teacher, a writer, and a restorative yoga and yoga nidra advocate.
I became a qualified yoga teacher in 2014, and since then have spent time undertaking intensive study with a number of skilled and inspirational teachers, either face to face or through literature. In that time I discovered more about myself than I would have ever thought possible and I now am very grateful to be able to teach classes, workshops and retreats to groups and work one-to-one with clients experiencing anxiety, depression, stress, low self esteem, chronic fatigue, menstrual difficulties and more.
I have specialised my training in restorative yoga and yoga nidra, practices which help us to rest. By allowing ourselves to rest we practice a form of deep self-acceptance, and we allow ourselves not only to heal physically from the effects of stress but to also begin to contemplate ourselves as spiritual, soulful beings.
I contribute to the online resource Yoga Nidra Network, write my own blogs and have contributed the Yoga London blog, writing on practical philosophy. In September 2020 my first book, Rest Is Radical, was published by Aeon Books.
On a personal note, I love spending time with my two small children, who are my greatest yoga teachers! I love spending time in the woods and by water. I am a big fan of early mornings and early nights, have a fondness for beautiful blankets and woolly jumpers, can stare out the window for hours, love to read, and make a brilliant hot chocolate with cacao powder, dark and bitter and not at all sweet. I am most happy when I have a day with no schedules and no commitments and can let myself flow.
“You have taught me to have the faith to question things and take what I need from all sorts of different areas...I love working with you because I see you doing the work yourself. I see you striving for more and applying your teachings to your own life and it inspires me all the time.”
My training
I have invested in my training and CPD, as well as committing to a regular practice and personal study for many years.
Training
2 years intensive study (500 hour) in hatha yoga with senior teacher Laura Gilmore, Bristol City Yoga 2013 - 2015
6 day restorative yoga training with senior teacher Anna Ashby, at Triyoga London, 2014
3 day vinyasa flow with Heather Elton, Bristol CIty Yoga 2014
5 day iRest level 1 training with James Reeves, 2014
5 days Total Yoga Nidra teacher training with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli and Nirlipta Dinsmore, 2015
4 day Well Woman training with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, 2015
6 day pregnancy yoga training with senior teacher Laura Gilmore and teacher and midwife Ali Woozley, 2015
4 days training yoga nidra with Rod Stryker, 2017
1 day course, Basic Mental Health Training for Yoga Teachers, Heather Mason of Minded Institute, 2018
3 day course, Trauma Centre, Trauma Sensitive Yoga 20 Hr Foundation Workshop, Alex Cat of The Yoga Clinic, 2018
Workshops and courses:
Reflexology training, South Devon School of Reflexology, 2008
6 week chakra and energy healing course with Lana Hunt, 2012
3 day yoga nidra workshop with Donna Farhi, 2012
3 day wrokshop with Rajiv Chanchani, YogaWest, August 2014
3 day retreat women’s retreat with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli and Sivani Mata, 2015
2 day workshop with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, yoga and sexuality, 2015
1 day workshop, yoga and menopause, with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, 2016
3 day workshop with international teacher, Matthew Sanford, 2016
Foundation in astrology course, Jodey Collerick, 2018-2019