My journey into yoga and beyond..
Yoga has been a part of my life since my late teens. I clearly remember really struggling with the early classes, I don’t have a dancing background, and at the time had minimal flexibility and body awareness, it’s fair to say that it was a challenge. As a classic over thinker, I quickly realised that this practice was like medicine for my mind. As my own awareness poured through me, I fell into deeper dialogue with my body which allowed me to get to know myself through the window of my breath.
I remember one of the first books I read was “Awakening the spine” by Vanda Scaravelli, This was such an important part of my early understanding of the practice and I still revisit this book regularly. A quote which inspired my practice is “Do not kill the instinct of the body for the glory of the pose” This was a humble reminder to honour and respect my unique shape and approach myself with kindness and curiosity. Rather than pushing and forcing entry, when we approach the body with a tenderness, the body starts to pour open of its own accord.
As my curiosity about the body evolved, I went on to complete my teacher training in various styles of yoga including Vinyasa yoga, Yin and acupressure and have more recently completed training in massage therapy.
Much of my practice and teaching is inspired by the teachings of Traditional Chinese Medicine. It is rooted in Chinese thinking that the world around us flows within us and when we combine these ideas with movement, we begin to animate these forces of nature which are flowing through us. Recognising that the seasons themselves are alive within, these elements of nature and their qualities are buried in the depths of our body and with attention and awareness, we can get to know these parts of ourself.
My practice is forever changing and evolving, it’s a constant exploration and I love to share my inspirations and discoveries in my weekly classes. In these classes, I aim to share a practice which serves a wide range of people, everyone is welcome.
For me, yoga is a practice of remembrance, a time to reconnect with a sense of self. To be reminded of who you are beneath the busyness of life, remembering what matters and cultivating a warm sense of gratitude towards the unfathomable intelligence of your body, which is constantly working to take care of you.
I currently reside in Sheffield, I teach most of my classes from Unity yoga and i’m so pleased to be part of the wonderful community there.
Some words from John O’ Donohue..
“ It is a strange and wonderful fact to be here, walking around in a body, to have a whole world within you and a world at your fingertips outside you. It is an immense privilege, and it is incredible that humans manage to forget the miracle of being here. Rilke said, ‘Being here is so much,’ and it is uncanny how social reality can deaden and numb us so that the mystical wonder of our lives go totally unnoticed. We are here. We are wildly and dangerously free.”