My Yoga Journey
My journey into yoga began in my late 20s with Bhakti yoga, where I first encountered the transformative power of devotional meditation. This initial practice led me to explore Hatha yoga as a way to heal and reconnect with my body. While it may sound cliché, the experience of moving my body in this mindful, intentional way truly felt like ‘coming home.’ The practice was characterised by an effortless effort, with no prescribed way of moving—just an invitation to listen deeply to my body.
As a child, I was captivated by gymnastics and spent hours experimenting with ways to move my body, including countless ways to stand on my head. When I discovered ‘Scaravelli-inspired’ yoga, it reminded me of that same playful exploration, but with a more refined focus on sensitivity and presence in movement, rather than striving for acrobatic poses.
Five years into my yoga practice, as I embraced the freedom of letting go and moving naturally again, I found myself at a career crossroads. I chose to follow the path of yoga—a decision that has since transformed my life in ways I continue to find inspiring and deeply fulfilling.
Healing body and mind
Since the late 1980s, I have immersed myself in the study and practice of natural therapies, including reflexology, massage, yoga, and meditation. My journey began as a personal quest to understand myself and heal from various physical and emotional challenges. Over the years, I have discovered that these practices, individually and collectively, are integral to my physical, mental, and spiritual well-being.
I continue to offer reflexology treatments, blending my experience and intuition to provide nurturing sessions that support balance and relaxation. These treatments complement my yoga teaching, creating a holistic approach to fostering health and harmony.
My exploration of meditation and Buddhism began during a transformative trip to Asia in 1992. I have since delved into various practices, including Bhakti yoga, before finding my home in Insight (Vipassana) meditation in 2006. Rooted in the Theravada Buddhist tradition, this practice of cultivating mindfulness and heartfulness resonates deeply with me. It provides a simple yet profound way to explore the present moment, helping me stay grounded and connected in daily life.
Through my work and practice, I aim to share the tools that have supported me on my own healing journey, empowering others to connect with their own inner resources for well-being.
Photo: In India with a roadside fortune teller and foot reader, 2000.
My Yoga Journey
In 1995, whilst working as a reflexologist and massage therapist, I began practicing Hatha yoga as part of my own journey to heal my body. I was fortunate to find inspiring teachers early on, and I remain deeply grateful for their guidance. Liz Warrington, in particular, introduced me to the profound approach to yoga pioneered by Vanda Scaravelli, which continues to shape both my practice and my teaching to this day.
In 2000, I had the privilege of studying at the Vivekananda (sVYASA) and Satyananda yoga ashrams in Bangalore, India. Upon returning to Brighton, I embarked on a yoga teacher training program with John Stirk and Sophy Hoare, while also completing the City and Guilds teaching certificate 7307. Since then, I have practiced extensively with renowned teachers such as Diane Long, Pete Blackaby, and more recently, Dot Bowen, Sandra Sabatini, and Michal Harkin.
In 2008, I completed a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling at the Gestalt Centre in London. This training not only enhanced my listening skills but also deepened my understanding of how we can relate creatively to the present moment. It also sparked a long-standing interest in painting, leading me to explore art through a yogic lens, bringing mindfulness, presence, and creativity into my work with the paintbrush.
The diverse experiences I've gathered—spanning therapeutic bodywork, yoga, and the arts—inform and enrich every aspect of my teaching and practice. This breadth of knowledge allows me to offer a holistic, integrative approach to all I do.
Photo: A masterclass in effortless movement from my neighbour’s cat
“Is it possible to have a different attitude in which a new intelligence, not imposed by authority, but born from interest, attention and sensitivity, will emerge and in which body and mind, fused in one single action, are collaborating together?”
—Vanda Scaravelli, Awakening The Spine