Welcome

I teach Yoga one to one because I find it immensely satisfying to identify the needs of my clients and create an individual program that supports their unique disposition, level of skill and fitness. It is one of the greatest gifts in life for me to assist someone in their growth physically, mentally and spiritually. I also love teaching couples and other partnership combinations like a parent and child because learning Yoga together is so enriching and fun.

There are detailed descriptions of some of the major asanas (Yoga postures) alongside photos together with information about which of the chakra energy centres it stimulates and opens. You can subscribe to my FREE Yoga Meditation offer to help encourage and sustain both your interest and practice of Yoga. I trust you will enjoy the site, travel lightly on this earth and smile in your heart.

The Principle of Yoga

The root of the Sanskrit word Yoga means yoke or union and the principle of yoga is to unite ourselves with the universal principles of life, bringing our awareness into the present, free from worry and guilt about the future and the past. Relaxation is the alpha and omega of yoga and whether it be experienced through stretching and relaxing into a posture, resting between poses or in the final relaxation process, the act of letting go frees us. Yoga is designed to connect us to the present - in every action, in every moment, fully aware and alive to the potential of the moment. Through Yoga you can learn to accept the present, to accept yourself exactly as you are and to honour the life that is your creation. To create a life that is joyful and complete one must call upon and balance the ability to manifest what you want, with the desire to be free. Chakra yoga can empower you to do just that.

Not only will you create a greater sense of well being but some of the other major benefits of your Yoga practice will include strengthening and toning of muscles, enhanced flexibility, greater natural will power and self discipline and heightened awareness and clarity.

I discovered Yoga 17 years ago at the onset of a major career transition from accountancy to the unknown but exciting world of creativity, as an actress and artist. It became the catalyst for personal transformation and was an elegant pathway and support in my recovery from the eating disorder, bulimia. Yoga introduced me to nutrition, strengthened my body and taught me the value of both positive thinking and not thinking at all. Yoga has sustained and nourished me ever since and I feel privileged and blessed to share its gifts in whatever form, whether it be teaching fellow passengers some basic yoga stretches on board a flight, or enabling young children to connect with the spirit of yoga through animal storytelling. Whether it be teaching one to one in a beautiful, harmonious space or teaching twenty tough and noisy teenagers in school. So if you are curious about yoga and have always been shy or put off by the large, impersonal classes in your local gym, why not give me a call and try a session. Yoga may be particularly helpful if you identify with any of the statements below:

If any of these statements apply to you, Yoga could be an excellent way to redress the balance

* I feel very stressed at times and don't know how to release it

* I am out of shape and want to feel strong and powerful again

* I feel tired much of the time and rather demotivated

* I am out of tune with my body and don't respect it very much

* Part of me feels disatisfied with life and I know it could be different

* I seem to have a weak immune system - I keep catching colds and the flu

* My life feels out of balance and I have lost my focus

* I was very athletic once upon a time but having children changed that

* I don't know how to relax and flow with life

* I want to improve my level of fitness and flexibility but not go mad

* I am out of touch with myself and what I need to feel energised and joyful

Yoga is Fantastic for

* eliminating physical and mental stress from your system

* enhancing focused concentration and expanding clarity - bringing insight and perspective

* inviting a sense of wellbeing, balance and harmony into your daily life

* massaging internal organs and glands, strengthening your immune system

* increasing physical strength, grace and flexibility, improving will power and stamina

* energising, relaxing and maintaining your nervous system and bringing emotional calm

* toning your muscles and transforming your body shape

My own Yoga Practice

I have been practising for 17 years since my mid-20's and have found it to be a nourishing, enlivening, joyful system of movement and meditation. For the past 6 years I have been teaching yoga - to adults in classes, private sessions, at alternative festivals, in school and for youth projects. I believe yoga can assist every single being on this planet because it gets us out of our heads and into our bodies.

In a time when the business of work demands us to be focused, competitive, logical and analytical, it is essential to connect with the feminine principle of aliveness, radiance, sensuality, flow and natural joy. Yoga is one of many spiritual and physical disciplines that does just that. In yoga we endeavour to balance the masculine principle of purpose with the feminine principle of receptivity and love so that we can live a more harmonious life, relishing the journey and adventure of realising our dreams.

I like to practise yoga for myself at least 2 to 3 times a week even if its only for 30 minutes because it really centres me and gets me in tune with my body's wisdom. I can leave the hustle and bustle of my mind behind and just be present to my vulnerability, my strength and the pure grace of being alive in this moment.

However I have also used yoga to change my appearance. Last summer I stepped up my yoga practise to 4 or 5 times a week for half an hour, to consciously transform my body - making it more slender, lithe and powerful - even my cellulite disappeared!

Whether you are thinking about investing your time and resources to learn yoga to improve your strength and flexibility, to release stress, to get fit, or to deepen your self knowledge and radiance then I invite you to try one yoga session with me and experience for yourself its powerful effects. Sure, different strokes for different folks but you won't know until you try. Equally it's important to find a supportive and inspirational teacher that is right for you - and if something about this site resonates with you, give me a call. I believe life is all about discovering what works for you - what brings more energy, clarity and joy to each day - in your work, relationships and play. Yoga for me does just that and is an incredible discipline and gift. Once you have learnt the assanas, breath and essence of yoga you have mastered those skills for life. Then you can choose to pass that knowledge on to the next generations in your family and introduce them to a more magical, harmonious and connected way of being.

The History of Yoga

Earliest archaeological evidence of Yoga's existence can be found in stone seals about 5000 years old in India which depict figures of Yoga Poses.In the interests of clarity we can divide the history of yoga into four periods: the Vedic Period, Pre-Classical Period, Classical Period, and Post-Classical Period.

Vedic Period

The Vedas are the sacred scriptures of Brahmanism which are the root of modern-day Hinduism. They are a collection of hymns which praise a divine power and contain the oldest known Yogic teachings characterized by rituals and ceremonies that endeavour to surpass the limitations of the mind. It was during this period that Rishis are recorded as teaching their communities to live in divine harmony and were known to be gifted with the ability to see the ultimate reality through their intensive spiritual practice. For instance living in seclusion in forests. .

Pre-Classical Yoga

The creation of the 200 scriptures of the Upanishads marks the Pre-Classical Yoga. These explained the ultimate reality (Brahman), the transcendental self (atman), and the relationship between the two while giving more clarity to the Vedas.Yoga shares some characteristics not only with Hinduism but also with Buddhism which also stresses the importance of Meditation and the practice of physical postures. Then in 500 B.C., the Bhagavad-Gita or Lord's Song was created and this is currently the oldest known Yoga scripture. Just as the Upanishads further the Vedas, the Gita builds on and incorporates the doctrines found in the Upanishads. In the Gita, three facets must be brought together in our lifestyle: Bhakti or loving devotion, Jnana which is knowledge or contemplation, and Karma which is about selfless actions.

Classical Yoga

The Classical Period is known as such because of the creation by Patanjali of the Yoga Sutra which was an attempt to define and standardize Classical Yoga. It is composed of 195 aphorisms or sutras (from the Sanskrit word which means thread) that expound upon the Raja Yoga and its underlying principle, Patanjali's Eightfold path of Yoga, also called the Eight Limbs of Classical Yoga). In contrast to Vedic and Classical Yoga that concentrate on the union of body and spirit, Patanjali believed that each individual is a composite of matter (prakriti) and spirit (purusha) and that the two must be separated in order to cleanse the spirit. As a consequence there was an emphasis on Meditation rather than Asanas for some centuries until the belief that the body was the temple of the spirit re-emerged and now yogis attempted to useYoga techniques to change the body and make it immortal.

1. Yama, which means social restraints or ethical values;
2. Niyama, which is personal observance of purity, tolerance, and study;
3. Asanas or physical exercises;
4. Pranayama, which means breath control or regulation;
5. Pratyahara or sense withdrawal in preparation for Meditation;
6. Dharana, which is about concentration;
7. Dhyana, which means Meditation; and
8. Samadhi, which means ecstasy.

Post-Classical Yoga

This period saw the proliferation of literature as well as the practice of Yoga and its focus is more on the present. It no longer emphasised a person's liberation from reality but rather teaches one to accept it and live in the moment. Yoga was introduced to the West during the early 19th century and was first studied as part of Eastern Philosophy. It began as a movement for health and vegetarianism around the 1930's but during the 1960's there was a proliferation of Indian teachers who expounded on Yoga. Two of the most famous are Maharishi Mahesh, the Yogi who popularised Transcendental Meditation and Yoga Guru Swami Sivananda who was a doctor in Malaysia who then opened world-reknowned schools in America and Europe. He wrote more than 200 books on Yoga and Philosophy but the most prominent of his works is his modified Five Principles of Yoga. He had many disciples who further developed

1. Savasana or proper relaxation;
2. Asanas or proper exercise;
3. Pranayama or proper breathing;
4. Proper diet
5. Dhyana or positive thinking and Meditation

Sivananda wrote more than 200 books on Yoga and Philosophy and had many disciples who developed and expanded his teachings including Swami Satchitananda who introduced chanting and Yoga to Woodstock; Swami Sivananada Radha who explored the connection between psychology and Yoga and Yogi Bhajan who started teaching Kundalini Yoga in the 70's. Yoga continues to evolve and flourish with more recent developments such as Astanga and Bikram Yoga.

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