Yoga
“Ultimately doing the practice is the answer to everything”
– Krishna Das
My journey into yoga, breathwork, meditation and bodywork started many years ago.
While on sabbatical in Australia i stumbled across a yoga class. I had tried it once before and considered it not for me. I had felt dizzy from all the focused breathing, the movement was too slow and all of the chat about bandhas left me none the wiser.
This class, however, felt different. It was a hot yoga class and although my practice nowadays is a far cry from this approach, it was exactly what i needed at the time. At the end of the class I lay down in savasana and felt my heart beating, my blood pumping and sweat dripping. It felt like a euphoria i had never experienced before. As i sank into my body the teacher offered some guidance on surrender and i literally felt all my anxieties, dramas and the “mind stuff” melt away. I would go so far as to say it was a life changing moment. When i returned to London i joined a studio and started going 3 - 4 times a week. The connection to my body was getting deeper and deeper and when i discovered a teacher who was able to weave in the philosophy in a thoughtful and engaging way i was hooked.
Over time, i developed an acute awareness of the body’s innate capability to heal and in turn how this supports in lessening the fluctuations of the mind. I started going on retreats, developing a meditation & chanting practice and clearly seeing the link between mind, body and spirit. I became fascinated in the philosophy and now have an enviable library of books that fed my desire to understand and embody this ancient wisdom.
I continued with my personal practice before embarking on formal training in yoga, breathwork and meditation as well as holistic, deep tissue and Lomi Lomi massage. I searched for teachers whom I went on to practise with for several years before learning under their guidance.
Teaching
Since 2016 i have been teaching group yoga for both companies and 1:1 for individuals. Organisations such as Google, DeepMind, Siemens and Peakon employ me to offer their staff time out from their often intense and busy schedules. Since 2020, these sessions are conducted both on and offline.
I offer a non linear practice that gathers from a range of ancient teachings which includes asana (movement/postures) , pranayama (breathwork) and meditation. My intention is to offer embodied guidance to bring about your own innate healing capabilities.
My approach supports overall mental and physical wellbeing whilst offering philosophical and spiritual guidance as learnt through my teachers. I often incorporate bodywork into the sessions including extra time during savasana to offer a short healing massage.
Working 1:1 with clients gives me more time to focus on the individual. Whether that is a deepening of your asana practice or an emphasis on integrating more of the spiritual teachings, mediative aspects or chanting. We discuss what you are looking to achieve through this work and create a bespoke approach designed with you in mind.
It may be that 1:1 yoga can support with your lifestyle. Working around commitments such as your job or childcare we can find a place and time that suits you and your needs.
1:1 sessions are tailored to you. While we can work with goals and an ongoing focus within the sessions, we are also able to meet you exactly where you are at any given moment, adapting as needs be.
Body work
Depending on the client's needs, this work can be deep and remedial in its effect on the physical body but it is also intentionally relaxing and ultimately healing. I have trained in holistic and advanced deep tissue massage and through 2023 will be embarking on a year long course in energy healing.
Most recently, i trained in Lomi Lomi, an ancient spiritual massage therapy. I became interested in this form of bodywork after receiving several treatments myself and experiencing the power of this practice. I aim to incorporate the approaches learnt through this work, both physically and philosophically, through all my offerings.
Here is Lomi Lomi as described by my teacher Dan Joy:
“The Hawaiian Lomi Lomi massage tradition goes back to ancient times when there were as many different Lomi Lomi practices as there were families. Lomi Lomi Nui (The Great Massage) was a sacred initiation ritual practiced in temples and sacred places. In addition to its many therapeutic effects, this sacred form of full body massage was designed to bring the receiver to a deeper connection with themselves and an expanded understanding of all that is. It is a journey of discovery and transformation, which brings us back to our true selves”
If you are an individual of company interested in working with me on any of the above areas, please
