What sort of yoga do I teach?
People often say to me "Ooh I can't touch my toes; I'm not bendy enough to do yoga!".
We don't go to piano lessons, football training or fitness classes because we're already brilliant; we go to practice various skills to get better.
It's the same with yoga: come and do what you comfortably can; stretch, strengthen, breathe and relax, the bendiness will happen.
In my classes, I teach a flowing, therapeutic form of yoga suitable for ALL levels of fitness and flexibility, from beginners to advanced students, toddlers to adults of any age. If you can take a deep breath, you really can do yoga. I'll always explain where your hands and feet (and anything else relevant) should be, what to be careful with and how to modify poses or take them to the next level. We learn transitions (changing from one pose to the next) slowly, often practicing a sequence for several weeks a bit at a time in order to be familiar with each part before trying to put it all together. I like teaching sequences as they are often easier to remember when you feel like doing something at home by yourself.
Yoga focuses on building strength and increasing flexibility in the spine, which can relieve back and neck pain by improving your spinal alignment. Building awareness and strength in our abdominal, back & pelvic floor muscles - our core - also helps to relieve back, shoulder, neck and hip pain, often caused by mis-alignment or weakness in the muscles we should be using. Moving the spine and body in certain ways massages the main organs, helping to support healthy organ function and leads to a greater sense of vitality. Yoga will also improve strength and flexibility throughout the body, supporting joints and helping to balance and re-align the body. A period of deep relaxation at the end of every class allows you to emerge from each session feeling relaxed and refreshed, and students often comment on how well they sleep for a few nights after their class.
This complete package of yoga techniques has the capacity to gently transform you, physically, mentally and emotionally, into a healthier, calmer and more positive person, better able to find creative solutions to the day-to-day stresses of your life.
We don't go to piano lessons, football training or fitness classes because we're already brilliant; we go to practice various skills to get better.
It's the same with yoga: come and do what you comfortably can; stretch, strengthen, breathe and relax, the bendiness will happen.
In my classes, I teach a flowing, therapeutic form of yoga suitable for ALL levels of fitness and flexibility, from beginners to advanced students, toddlers to adults of any age. If you can take a deep breath, you really can do yoga. I'll always explain where your hands and feet (and anything else relevant) should be, what to be careful with and how to modify poses or take them to the next level. We learn transitions (changing from one pose to the next) slowly, often practicing a sequence for several weeks a bit at a time in order to be familiar with each part before trying to put it all together. I like teaching sequences as they are often easier to remember when you feel like doing something at home by yourself.
Yoga focuses on building strength and increasing flexibility in the spine, which can relieve back and neck pain by improving your spinal alignment. Building awareness and strength in our abdominal, back & pelvic floor muscles - our core - also helps to relieve back, shoulder, neck and hip pain, often caused by mis-alignment or weakness in the muscles we should be using. Moving the spine and body in certain ways massages the main organs, helping to support healthy organ function and leads to a greater sense of vitality. Yoga will also improve strength and flexibility throughout the body, supporting joints and helping to balance and re-align the body. A period of deep relaxation at the end of every class allows you to emerge from each session feeling relaxed and refreshed, and students often comment on how well they sleep for a few nights after their class.
This complete package of yoga techniques has the capacity to gently transform you, physically, mentally and emotionally, into a healthier, calmer and more positive person, better able to find creative solutions to the day-to-day stresses of your life.
What is a typical class like?
I try to make each class a bit different so that if we spend a lot of time on our knees one week, the next week we will mostly be standing up; shoulders & arms one week, our core or legs the next; moving and dynamic one week, slow balances & holding poses the next. I also try to learn what each student is dealing with so that if you have bad wrists I will make sure there is an option where you can be doing something similar that doesn't rely on your wrists.
Generally every class includes:
- a period of sitting or standing to calm and centre ourselves and let whatever has happened during the day fade a little,
- a warm-up of stretches and coordinated breathing & movement to ensure muscles and joints are ready for the poses to follow,
- individual or sequenced asana (poses)
- core (abdomen, lower back & pelvic floor) strengthening, forward & back bends, shoulder & hip stretches, twists and balances
- pranayama (breathing techniques),
- yoga nidra (deep relaxation),
- and sometimes meditation.
Generally every class includes:
- a period of sitting or standing to calm and centre ourselves and let whatever has happened during the day fade a little,
- a warm-up of stretches and coordinated breathing & movement to ensure muscles and joints are ready for the poses to follow,
- individual or sequenced asana (poses)
- core (abdomen, lower back & pelvic floor) strengthening, forward & back bends, shoulder & hip stretches, twists and balances
- pranayama (breathing techniques),
- yoga nidra (deep relaxation),
- and sometimes meditation.
About Me
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I was first introduced to yoga when I was at high school in Australia in the 1990’s and always found myself coming back to yoga at different times in my life. I think once you feel that amazingly relaxed but refreshed feeling you get after a class, you can never really forget it.
I started teaching as a Student Teacher with Dru Yoga in 2011 and became a fully qualified yoga teacher in early 2012. As part of this training, I completed 240 hours of direct tuition over my two year course, which covered anatomy and physiology, detailed study of the spine, breathing and relaxation techniques, as well as modifications and adaptations for various issues people may be working with. I was also required to complete a final practical exam, numerous written assignments and undertake extensive home practice in order to fully explore and understand the philosophy and benefits of Yoga. I am a Full Member of the Dru Professional Network, which requires teachers to undertake regular CPD training in various aspects of yoga teaching. I also volunteer on Teacher Training courses, work with local charities and older people's groups, and attend yoga and meditation workshops and retreats as part of my own professional and personal development. I hope every person I teach feels comfortable enough to gently challenge themselves and leaves their class feeling stretched and relaxed. After attending classes regularly for a while, I hope that you will feel stronger, happier and more adaptable, better equipped to meet all of life's challenges with a smile. |
