Long bio
About Me.
I remember my first class, probably about 3 decades ago now, and coming from a dance background, I felt the yoga class was too slow. I remember lying down at the end and felt uncomfortable, I wanted to laugh and just get up. I enjoyed some of the movement and felt relaxed afterwards, but it was too slow for me.
I have a BA (Hons) degree in Contemporary Performance and shortly after completing it, I moved to London in 2006 and studied for an MSc in Dance Science at Trinity Laban Conservatoire. It was here that I discovered somatic practices more fully. I took part in Feldenkrais, Alexander and Contact Improvisation classes. I also took part in a yoga class taught by a male dancer, David, who applied tiger balm or lavender oil to our heads in relaxation. I was hooked. I used to go to the class just for this. I got more interested in crystal healing and trained as a Reiki practitioner around this time.
In 2008, I moved to Manchester and searched for yoga classes like David’s. I didn’t find anyone who applied tiger balm on me, but I found some goooood classes! I found Jivamukti. Yoga-type movement creeps in to dance classes, either stretches or in warm-ups. The dance classes I was attending in Manchester had yoga in them somewhere. I was finding the connections. I started to attend the Buddhist Centre yoga classes and here were many props. This is something else I’m hooked on. I love a prop.
Two decades later, I don’t think I realised over the years of dipping in and out of yoga classes how it had changed my life. I did Pilates, Alexander Technique, Feldenkrais, BMC, Authentic Movement and finding somatic practices changed my awareness of breath and movement of my body. Yoga has been the one practice I’ve done most over the years and I’ve always felt grateful for the offer of the practice when I’ve done class. But more than the physical postures, the relationship to spiritual and universal energy. It’s been a subtle change, I’m not sure anyone noticed, but I know. I think it’s more powerful now that I’ve been practicing consistently for over 10 years.
Starting my yoga teaching journey in 2020 (yes, I decided to start training in January 2020, just before the pandemic hit!) with the Contemporary School of Yoga was the best thing. Even though it was postponed in person, my teacher, Richard George, devised an online programme that provided us with foundational knowledge. I can honestly say that this helped me through 2020 and 2021. Yoga became a necessary part of life.
I wasn’t so concerned three decades ago about mental clarity and bodily health. Mobility has always been important because of dancing. I’m calmer now, not as distracted by others on my mat and it’s a safe place to go when other things don’t go so well. I care about what I put in my body and I think about energy in, out and around it.
What I now realise is that I was after a different way of moving and stretching my body that was mindful and aware. I enjoyed touch and sensory stimulation like the use of tiger balm or lavender oil in class, and that helped me relax. There was something about the environment that felt caring, trusting and a connection to something outside of me. This is my aim when teaching you.