I teach at Harmony Hall which is a beautiful space in the heart of the Walthamstow community, a 5 minute walk from Walthamstow Central Station at the North end of the Victoria line (directions). We practise upstairs in the Melody Room which is a lovely open space, surrounded by large windows letting in the natural light, and is covered by a wooden beamed ceiling. I teach weekly classes themed around the seasons and the time of day we are practising, classes are capped at 8 people. Seasonal oils gently warming our senses, music helps us soften as we flow together, each movement led by our breath. You will be warmed up in the flow, but eased into relaxation by the end, finishing with a Vegan drink or treat.
These classes will get you flowing and feeling your body & breath after a long day, ending in calming, introspective, grounding Yin postures and a long Shavasana relaxation where I use essential oils and massage to help you let go. You will feel nurtured and ready to wind down for the evening into a deep sleep. In Autumn and Winter the room is Candlelit, and a vegan brew at the end of class will be suited to the evening and time of year - for example vegan hot chocolate in Winter, juicy banana smoothie lollies in Summer.
Once a month, the Tuesday closest to the full moon is a Yin special. The full moon is often a time where we can feel a surge of energy and vibrancy - it's a wonderful time of the month but can also be accompanied by less sleep and a sense of restlessness. These monthly specials are a wonderful way to sync ourselves a little deeper with natural cycles. Yin is the yoga of quiet release, surrender, and the exploration of the healing, grounding potential of the exhale breath. We hold poses for 3-5 minutes exploring our inner world - it's the perfect partner for a Full Moon.
Last updated Sept. 30, 2018, 6:58 p.m. UTC
YOGA SLOWLY WORKED IT’S MAGIC
I started to practise Yoga over twelve years ago with the odd session at the gym to ‘stretch out’ after a sweaty workout. After a serious running injury at the start of 2012 I used Bikram, (a physically demanding style of Yoga practised in a hot studio around 40 degrees) as a way for me to keep my body moving. I started to notice I couldn’t complete the sequence unless I surrendered attention to my breath. For the first time I experienced linking breath and movement making me feel present and calm: at the end of class life stresses seemed to fade away.
An initial flicker of curiosity started to deepen. A week long Ashtanga retreat in the Portuguese mountains later in 2012 was the first time I had practised daily, eaten Vegan food, and been introduced to the heart, history and Spirituality of Yoga. I delved into things a little further with The British Wheel of Yoga Foundation course, which led me to train with Toni Roberts at The Yoga Garden in 2014, qualifying as a 200 hour Yoga Alliance Accredited teacher in 2015.
WHY I TEACH
I find out something new every time I get on my mat, even if it’s just noticing the subtle physical effects a hard day in the office has (I'm a Project Manager by day) and enjoying those sensations melt away. I appreciate what my body is capable of, but equally how to smile and accept something I can’t do knowing I can keep trying. There have been moments Yoga has profoundly affected me, grounding me when life has felt chaotic and uncertain, a way for me to reconnect to my breath, helping my mind and body work together in unison. For me, yoga is not about stretching yourself into the most challenging shapes, it's about dropping into your body and feeling.
I teach the way I like to practise: Yoga is a beautiful ritual, something I do to stop, be present in the moment and with myself, which in turn has the magical effect of opening my heart to feeling more connected with the world around me. The seasonal focus comes from my experience of needing something different depending on the cycles in our external world, whether seasonally, weekly, or the time of day. I want to honour that and I hope people leave my classes feeling cared for, at peace, and inspired to follow even the smallest flicker of curiosity about Yoga.
Heartfelt gratitude to all the teachers who have taught and encouraged me over the years.
