For me, yoga is an invitation to listen – My most powerful and profound lessons are when I am quiet and tune into the sensations of my inner environment when I am in asana or meditation – creating a deeper knowing. This is what I hope to share with my students – a space to listen.
I started my movement and meditation journey in the late 90s and trained in yoga in 2002 – I was invited in 2011 to share the philosophy and history of yoga on the Himalaya Yoga Valley teacher trainings and this gave me the language to describe these practices of listening and trusting – so for me yoga is a journey of svadhyaya (self-study), shraddha (faith) and pratyahara (going inwards).
I originally trained in the UK with SKY School of Kundalini Yoga in 2003 and I am still deeply inspired by the practices from the modality of Kundalini Yoga and the use of asana, breath and sound. Over the years though I have sought out other practices and traditions that help us go beyond our preoccupations and stresses and create more space, clarity and awareness. I am blessed to have been taught by Angela Farmer who invited us to ‘unlearn’ and in turn instilled a sense of inner wisdom. I am also honoured to have spent time with Hareesh Wallis in-person and online and worked with practices from Kashmiri Shaivism.
Having worked with Adam for the last 15 years I am inspired by his passion for anatomy and emotional anatomy and this has led me to look at neuroscience and yoga for emotional balance with Bo Forbes which brings a complimentary dynamic to our teachings together. I think what I find fascinating is that neuroscience gives a language or ‘the science bit’ to what the yogis always knew – we have the capacity to change. Ancient yogis always knew that we have the potential to create new neural pathways and connections. The most profound way I feel this works is through yoga nidra – and I am currently studying deeper into the healing power of of yoga nidra.
Going back to the teachings from Kundalini Yoga, I have discovered how many of the practices if done in a particular way activate or tonify the vagus nerve. I like to share sound healing practices as well which are really powerful in toning the vagus nerve and bringing a sense of upliftment. Adam and I are creating a tool box of asana, mantra-based meditations and pranayamas to tonify the vagus nerve.
I am also fascinated by the haling power of ayurveda and have trained in various forms of ayurvedic techniques and ayurvedic yoga massage; I did my 300hr training in Yoga-Ayurveda-Mantra-Meditation with the American Institute of Vedic Studies under Dr David Frawley and am a Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness Consultant.
Certifications
- 2020 – 300hr Ayurveda-Yoga-Mantra Diploma, American Institute of Hindu Studies
- 2019 – Restorative Yoga CPD, Adelene Cheong (YogaCampus)
- 2018 – Foundation in Mindfulness Meditation Teaching, Michael Stone (YogaCampus)
- 2015 – Foundation in Yoga Nidra, Uma Dunsmore Tulli (YogaCampus) UK
- 2015 – Oxford College of Hindu Studies (OCHS) UK, Bhagavad Gita
- 2014 – Oxford College of Hindu Studies (OCHS) UK, Philosophy of Yoga
- 2014 – Ecstatic Dance and Movement Facilitator, India
- 2011-2013 – Biodynamic Breath and Trauma Release Facilitator Trainings (145 hrs)
- 2008 – ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage
- 2005 – Diploma in Ayurveda & Panchakarma, Kerala
- 2005 – Ayurvedic Yoga Massage Levels 1 & 2, India
- 2003 – KYTA (Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association) UK, Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Instructor
Every word of this quote inspires me to do what I do… “Life makes shapes. If we could photograph our lives and show them frame by frame, we would see that we are moving sequences of varying emotional shapes. Human shape is marked by love and disappointment. Emotional anatomy is a somatic education, a tool to learn the geography and the archetypes of personal history. Emotional anatomy shows the relationship between shape and generic and social forces that inhibit or facilitate the shaping of a life. Emotional anatomy contains ancestral and ancient mysteries, present challenges and pleasures as well as a peek into the future.”Stanley Keleman