My Yoga Journey

First Steps

My mother practised Yoga at home in her pregnancy, and so I can truly say that I absorbed Yoga with my mother’s milk. In 1991, I formally began practising Iyengar Yoga, instantly loving its earthy physicality, as a way of releasing physical and mental tension. The relaxation at the end of the classes eased the anxiety I had been suffering from.  In 2002, I graduated from the Yoga Therapy and Training Centre and began to teach Yoga. I knew that this was what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.

Pioneer

In 2003 I pioneered Pregnancy Yoga in Northern Ireland, having trained with Birthlight Perinatal Yoga in London under Dr Francoise Freedman and Uma Dinsmore Tuli. It was wonderful to be in the forefront of such ground-breaking work guiding thousands of women to enjoy a better pregnancies and more empowered birth experiences.  

In 2004 I began to teach women Postnatally and in 2005 qualified to teach Baby Yoga and Smart Toddler Yoga with Birthlight. It is still a thrill to see babies and mothers practicing Yoga and others returning with their fourth and fifth babies!.. In 2009, I qualified in Baby Massage with The International Association of Infant Massage. It is still delightful to see babies and mothers relax and bond with this special practice. 

Yoga World

My yoga travels and studies have taken me to many countries including : – India, Hawaii, France, Italy, Egypt, Canada, Turkey, Greece and the USA. I have been very privileged to train, study and be inspired by some of the world’s leading teachers and Swamis. These include Paramahamsa Niranjananada, Swami Nishchalananda, Michael McCann, Donna Farhi, David Sye , Marlene Mawhinney, David Swenson, Kaustab Desikachar, Elise Browning Miller and Alison Trewhela.

The Music of Yoga

In 2005 in a rooftop tent amidst the sounds from the temples on the hillsides of Rajasthan, I fell in love with Mantra Yoga. I bought my first harmonium in Delhi and since then have continued to immerse myself in voicework and the ancient art of Mantra Yoga, under the discipline of Swamis and teachers of the Bihar School of Yoga. I am passionate about sharing the transformative experience of group chanting and singing in my workshops and retreats dedicated to this beautiful path of Yoga. 

Yoga for Scoliosis

In 2015/ 2016 I trained to teach Yoga for Scoliosis with Elise Browning Miller in California in the Iyengar Yoga tradition. The training released an old injury to my thoracic spine so that I could now stand taller and straighter. I experienced an incredible liberating lightness in my body. My daily practice of Yoga for Scoliosis has relieved my back pain and helped to correct a structural Scoliosis I had suffered since youth. I have also witnessed first-hand the amazing effect of Yoga for Scoliosis on students’, confidence body shape and pain management. 

Yoga Therapy

Also in 2016 I trained to teach ‘Yoga for Stress, Depression Anxiety and Sleep’ , with Dr Hania Kramhund at Mandala Yoga Ashram . I have seen how Yoga counteracts such crippling conditions with the healing gifts of deep peace and restfulness. 
My intensive training in Hypno Yoga for Birth in 2017 has immeasurably enriched what I offer as a widely experienced Pregnancy Yoga teacher so that I can share with mothers and babies this innovative, deeply transformative practice. 

Yoga for Back Pain

In 2017, I fully complemented my Scoliosis qualifications by successfully completing the prestigious course “Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs”. I am now qualified to apply this proven therapy to treat and prevent recurring back pain. 

Endless path

I am so grateful to everyone who stepped onto the path with me at my Yoga classes in the early days and to everyone who continues to voyage.

Yoga continues to be an endlessly,fascinating spiritual journey for me, and indeed ‘the road of Yoga winds on forever’. May you also be transformed and inspired by this ancient path of self-integration. 

Qualifications

YTTC – Diploma in Hatha Yoga
Birthlight – Diploma in Perinatal Yoga
Birthlight – Diploma in Baby Yoga and Smart Toddler Yoga
IAIM – Diploma in Baby Massage
Elise Browning Miller – Yoga for Scoliosis teacher trainer
Creative Calm – Certificate – Hypno Yoga for Birth
Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs – Certified teacher
Yoga for Stress, Anxiety, Depression & Sleep – MYA
YFNI member

When head, heart and hands unite, an ordinary moment can become divine.
Paramahamsa Niranjananda Saraswati