2010

2010: May 17th - 24th

Gill & Geraldine's Big Turkish Spirit Adventure holiday

Sun, sea, spiritual reflections, mindful walks, yoga, music & dance and Psychology seminars. Body & mind integration

Lots to do on this week and everything is, of course, optional - however we suspect you will be having such a good time you will not want to miss any of it!

Geraldine
Geraldine Sherborne facilitates self-empowerment weeks in the U.K. and Europe, teaching ways of Self-healing on all levels of the body and mind. She has worked with Free Spirit Travel for several years and her courses are engaging, heart centred, valuable ways of communication with each other and ourselves.

Combining her gifts as a natural Healer, Dowser, Meditator and long term professional Body Working Therapist, she has given a deeper understanding of the human body and it subtle energy fields, the Chakras and how to understand them and consciously work with them for Optimum Health, creating renewed life directions.

During the week she will be offering her skills to promote deep relaxation and energy revival and practical advice on daily cell management for overall self-healing.

Geraldine will also offer integral yoga, meditation and Earth and subtle Body dowsing to heighten awareness, improve energy levels and bring a lightness of bring and a conscious joyful presence.
 
 
Gill
Gill Garratt is a Psychotherapist who likes to live and work in a holistic way. She first met and worked with Geraldine eight years ago on the Greek island of Zakynthos and they have run holidays and workshops together ever since integrating their own unique combination of heart, soul and spirit.  The holidays are about a sharing of resources with groups of guests to facilitate a caring and fun environment nurturing respect and personal development. 

Gill's passions are CBT therapy, an integration of philosophy, science and cognitive awareness; walking, cycling, dance and being at one in the beautiful Greek climate & culture, the birthplace of civilisation.   

The week will include opportunities to consider what CBT is about, practical workshops, and time to reflect on what is important to the individual and how to look towards the future and integrate positive psychology. She will also include sessions on teaching Palm reading, Indian Head massage workshops and Mindfulness meditative experiences.       

The week is not prescriptive and set in stone but provides a framework from which guests choose the activities and sessions which fit best with them each day. The opportunities for walking, swimming and yoga will be offered for individuals to make their own choices and maximise the integration and development of heart, body and spirit.

The philosophy of Carl Rogers emphasised that the person who knows what is best for you is yourself - trust in the process.
We aim to be alongside you as facilitators in this process in a genuine and empathic way. 

2010: May 24th - 31st

Hatha Yoga with Jackie Coulson

Jackie has studied many forms of Yoga over the last 12 years, including Hatha, Iyengar, Vajrasati, Astanga, Sivananda & Scaravelli.

She holds teaching certificates in Hatha and Vajrasati Yoga and is Yoga Alliance 500hr accredited. She has taken great joy from inspiring her students in Brighton for the last 4 years. Jackie's teaching style is creative and fluid, partly due to her broad inspiration across disciplines.

Her Vajrasati training helps bring in a meditative feel to her Hatha flowing practise, incorporating the core principles of Sthira Sukham (finding the balance between strength or effort and ease) as well as an emphasis on postural awareness. Jackie's interest in the body also took her to India to study Yogic massage.

The morning classes will have a fluid, playful nature, incorporating some gentle sequences, flowing through postures with deep breath awareness, to invigorate the body and mind.

The evening practise will generally be more restorative and meditative. Even when the practise is challenging it will be deeply relaxing. We will also be exploring Pranayama (breathing techniques) and simple Mantra (chanting).

Jackie is known for her nurturing and supportive style that welcomes all abilities.

2010: May 31st - June 7th

Iyengar yoga with Sue Lovell

Sue Lovell teaches Iyengar yoga as a unique process capable of transforming our lives by giving us a deeper awareness of our body , mind and spirit as well as increasing strength and flexibility.

She has been practicing yoga for 15 years and teaching for 8 years in Derbyshire where she runs with partner Peak Yoga Centre. She holds is a Junior Intermediate level Teaching certificate

Sue’s approach to teaching on yoga holidays and workshops is to introduce a sense of serious fun generating an eagerness to learn, adding layers of understanding and clarity to students practise helping them to realise their full potential.

Her open and accessible style is geared to building confidence and poise in asana practice and deepening understanding of ourselves through pranayama (yogic breathing techniques).

The week will offer a 2 hour morning yoga asana class suitable to all levels of students and a short evening class.

2010 : June 7th - 14th

Energy Yoga with Fiona Agombar

Fiona has developed Energy Yoga as a way of  working with the breath to take the student deeply into each posture and sequences to connect with the stillness within.  The practise is based on the  Patanjali's Sutras  of sthira and sukham - sanskrit terms which describe steadiness, comfort and ease within each sequence.

In this way Energy Yoga  releases blocked energy and held patterns (samskaras) and invigorates the whole being. Fiona seeks to include everyone, making Energy Yoga yoga suitable for all levels regardless of age, injury or fitness. Sessions are fun and include classic postures,  gentle  flowing movements, pranayama (breath work), mantra  and yoga nidra (deep relaxation) to promote  well-being  of body, mind and spirit. Energy yoga is non-competitive and is based on the principle of ahimsa (non-violence) to the self as well as to others.

Fiona originally studied with the Yoga for Health Foundation, from 1993, and she now spends much time in India studying Patanjali’s yoga in depth at ashrams such as VYASA in Bangalore.

She is a regular contributor to Yoga and Health magazine and has also made a DVD with Sue Delf of TriYoga.

Currently she is studying yoga in the Krishnamacharya tradition under Sarah Ryan. Her mentor is Gill Lloyd, a student of Desikachar.

In 1997 Fiona wrote the definitive book on yoga, fatigue and M.E: Beat Fatigue with Yoga (Cherry Red Books) out of her experience of  having chronic fatigue for 15 years from which she made a full recovery thanks to following a yoga lifestyle and with the help of her mentors Angela Stevens and Bill Feeney. 

On this holiday the morning yoga class will be an active class and the afternoon class a gentle restorative style. Jilly in the Free Spirit office has studied with Fiona and can give you more information on her teaching style.

This week is suitable for all levels

2010: June 14th - 21st

Flowing Hatha Yoga with Zoe Martin

Zoë leads inspirational open classes in both Leicester and London and teaches on yoga retreats in the UK and Europe. Originally training with the Sivananda School, Zoë's love for yoga has drawn her to study and practice different forms and traditions.

Her style of teaching is intuitive and creative and inspired and informed by her experience of Sivananda yoga as taught by Swami Vishnu Devananda, Ashtanga yoga as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois and more recently the approach of T.K.V Desikachar and Paul Harvey.
Zoë's classes focus on slow flowing, organic sequences of postures combined with long held poses to increase inner awareness, strength, stamina and flexibility.

The holiday will consist of a morning and afternoon class.

Morning classes will begin with gentle sequences to awaken the body, breath and mind. Each class will focus on a specific theme which will be explored through slow, flowing organic vinyasa, pranayama (breathing techniques) and seated meditation.

Afternoon sessions will include the practice of restorative asanas and simple chant to encourage deep relaxation.

Zoë encourages those who practice with her to build on or develop their own authentic yoga practice through the practice of Asana, Pranayama, Meditation and Chant. 

This holiday will allow students of all levels of experience to build on, or develop, their own authentic yoga practice.

For questions about Zoe's yoga contact her on : 0781 3164 181
sundari@ekayoga.co.uk http://www.ekayoga.co.uk

2010 : June 21st - 28th

Iyengar Yoga with Karen Stamper

Karen is a qualified Iyengar yoga teacher and a practitioner with 10 years teaching experience. She has studied in the UK, New Zealand, India and France.

All abilities are welcomed on this yoga holiday. Iyengar yoga consists of a series of postures, tailored to different levels of fitness. Using props such as blocks, straps and bolsters even complete beginners will find this an excellent introduction to yoga.

Poses (asanas) are held for a few minutes to stretch out aches and stiffness, align joints, calm the nervous system, tone muscles, build stamina and develop emotional and physical strength. All which lead to deep relaxation. Karen’s patient and calm approach will soon increase your flexibility and confidence to try more advanced poses.  

The combination of  yoga, sunshine and good company and delicious food will soon energize your body and mind and leave you feeling inspired and truly relaxed.

“Thanks for a brilliant week. I thought that the classes were ran with the right mixture of precision and humour. It was not only highly instructive but really invigorating. ”

For more information on Karen visit her website at http://www.acy-holidays.com

2010: June 28th - July 5th

Susannah is a fully qualified British Wheel of Yoga teacher and has been practising yoga since childhood.

Her teaching style is intuitive and creative, drawing on her main influences of Hatha Yoga, Viniyoga and Astanga Yoga. Her dance background also brings into play a focus on alignment.

Susannah’s classes have a meditative quality and work on the principles of ‘Sthira and Sukham’ - (form and experience, strength and softness). So although her classes can be quite demanding they are also deeply relaxing. Her years of dancing have given Susannah an invaluable knowledge of the body, which enhances her ability to teach yoga. In addition she has studied both holistic massage and herbalism - and therefore has a very broad and balanced view of the body.

For Susannah yoga is about breath and bringing a sense of space and freedom to the body. She teaches Hatha Yoga, inspired by the Viniyoga System with its one-to-one approach, with an emphasis on connecting the breath and movement, enabling her students to work with their bodies, get to know them and to take responsibility for their personal well-being.

She applies this approach to all her classes where she ensures that adjustments and modifications are made for individual students - after all every body is different

Susannah studied yoga as a child and grew up within the yogic philosophy.

2010: July 5th - 12th

Dynamic Hatha Yoga with Lili Miller

After years of working in all sorts of jobs searching for my vocation I started teaching yoga in October 2001 and realised this was the beginning of my journey.

I completed the Sivananda teacher training course in New York in September 2001. Then I studied Shadow Yoga method with John Evans.

Recently I studied with David Swenson in the Astanga method and also completed the advanced teacher training in the Sivananda style.

On our week at Grenadine Lodge I will be teaching a Dynamic Hatha Yoga class in the morning and a slower, quieter class in the evening

I enjoy challenge as a practitioner, and like to challenge the people I teach and my aim is to assist people in finding their own self practice, and inner teacher, rather than relying on being taught

Slowly I am moving into a deeper connection with myself, and my own inner Guru. After always looking outside for a Guru to follow, I am so relieved, and blessed to find the one within

My current favourite quote:
"It's not because things are difficult that we do not dare, it is because we do not dare that things are difficult"

2010: July 12th - 19th

Lucy Aldridge qualified as an Iyengar teacher in 1997 and has been teaching ever since. She feels that she has "the best job in the world"

As an Iyengar teacher she has learnt asana as an art and shares this knowledge with her students." Yoga has helped me deal with many life changes and challenges. Coming to my mat each day brings me back to my centre and who I really am"

Lucy is a qualified intermediate Iyengar teacher and is one of the youngest in the U.K., she teaches courses and classes in the U.K. and abroad. Her workshops are designed towards the understanding of asana and developing the confidence to maintain an evolving self practice.

2010: July 19th - 26th

Yin and Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Jude Medhurst

Jude has been practising yoga and meditation for over sixteen years and has been teaching for eleven years. Over the years she has worked with, been inspired and influenced by many wonderful teachers whose knowledge and teachings have enriched her practice - Erich Schiffman, Sharon Gannon and David Life, Shiva Rea and, currently, Sarah Powers.
 

She completed a Teacher Training Course with the Bihar School of Yoga (Satyananda Yoga) under the direction of Swami Vedantananda and assessed by Swami Pragyamurti, the Principal of the School. This course is recognised by and is accredited with the British Wheel of Yoga.

The yoga Jude teaches is a mix of the Yin style (focusing on the gently held postures that work on the connective tissue of the hips, pelvis and lower spine) and the stronger Yang practise that emphasizes muscular movement and contraction.

The combining of the two helps to create a balanced practice "on the mat" which can be helpful in balancing our life "off the mat". There is much emphasis on the flow of the breath and how we allow the breath to be the initiator for the movement of the body.

The sessions also include pranayama, relaxation and visualisation practices plus nada yoga and meditation.

2010: July 26th - August 2nd

Hatha Scaravelli Yoga with June Mercer

I went to my first yoga class when I was about 15 years old. Later as a student I read philosophy and studied different spiritual traditions. The seeds were sown for my developing interest in the philosophy and art of yoga.

When I was drawn to train as a yoga teacher with Yoga Scotland in 1991, it was to delve more deeply into the philosophy, to further my spiritual search. I had never been any good at sports and had no background in anatomy and physiology.

I could never have guessed that a few years down the road I would be teaching a practice very much based on the physical work……....observing the body as it is, on the ground, being breathed. In particular, my studies over the last 14 years with yoga tutor and osteopath John Stirk have helped me discover the connection between body, mind and spirit. The experience in the postures brought an awareness I couldn’t have found in any book. The meditation, the non-doing is there in the doing.

Lots of yoga students are drawn to the yoga for the benefits of the physical exercise and I am keen to present my classes so they are accessible to everyone, regardless of their fitness level. Many people find they benefit especially from the relaxation and many then go on to develop an interest in the spiritual practice.

My personal journey was from the spiritual search to the physical practice. Whichever way, I think there is no separation. The practice is the meditation. We use what we have, where we are.

These days I am interested in how science is proving what the yogis discovered through their efforts thousands of years ago. My daily inspiration comes from my family, my students, the music of Krishna Das, and the books of Osho. And of course the yoga!
 

2010: August 2nd - 9th

Power Vinyasa Yoga with Babs Lehner-Platts

Power Vinyasa, which means breath-synchronized movement, is a more vigorous style of Yoga based on the performance of a sequence of poses such as Sun Salutations, in which movement is matched to the breath.

This class is led by renowned yoga instructor and fitness expert Babs Lehner-Platts. With her characteristic down-to-earth instruction and fun approach, you will be guided through a series of yoga postures that are physically challenging, yet can be done by the average participant! The easy-to-follow sequences practised with energy and enthusiasm, will produce amazing results!

Babs encourages you with clear instructions for each posture, giving detailed explanations and corrections on correct alignment throughout. The class is designed for any age or fitness level and make it the perfect program from the beginner to the more experienced student.

A Power Vinyasa class will typically start with Pranayama (breath control), then goes into flowing sequences of standing postures. This is followed by practicing Yoga Balances leading into mat work, which brings the focus to core stability to increase stamina, flexibility and energy levels. Deep stretches and relaxation will bring the class to an end.

Class contents vary from one session to the next to prevent complacency and to give the student constant challenges and goals to strive for. Whilst we believe that Yoga classes should always be fun, Babs encourages every student to remain mindfully focused on themselves and to explore not only their strengths but also the limitations of their body and mind.

Get ready to transform yourself and discover the Power of Yoga!

www.isvarayoga.co.uk

'I have attended many yoga classes but I find Babs by far the bests teacher. I am always amazed how she can  accommodate different clients in just one class. A true pro!'  GITA BERITZ

I absolutely looove Babs' classes. They are never the same and I feel that they give me everything I need from challenge to relaxation. Can't wait for the next session. I didn't know keeping fit could be so much fun.' 

JUDY MORRISON

2010 : August 9th - 16th

Hatha Yoga with Paul Mitchell (Mitch)

Mitch is an exciting and inspirational international Yoga Alliance teacher, who has been practising yoga for many years and has studied many styles of yoga.  He teaches classes in Winchester and annually holds yoga holidays to Egypt, Spain, Turkey.
 
His classes are designed for all levels from those new to yoga to the experienced and are based on classical Hatha incorporating a fusion of other yoga styles to suit everyone.
 
There is particular emphasise on warming up and stretching techniques to ensure no injuries occur and optimum strength and flexibility can be achieved. Mitch uses his intuitive sense of his own body , and those of his students in the class to dictate the pace, postures and type of practise used within any one class.
 
Mitch has a particular interest in encouraging men to try yoga and as a 6'6" ex rugby player himself can amply demonstrate what yoga has to offer them.   
 
Over the week he will offer a morning two hour invigorating class and a shorter relaxing and rejuvenating evening class incorporating breathing techniques, meditation and work on opening up the chakras.  

A sense of fun combined with a thoughtful practise will ensure that everyone feels at ease and have a great time.  

www.mitchyoga.com

2010 : August 16th - 23rd

Yin and Yang Yoga with Julie Hemmings

"There is really something special about Grenadine Lodge. You can feel it as soon as you walk into the entrance. A shift in energy, a sense of calm and joy, of openness and spirit. It is a great place to restore, revitalise and have fun!"

Julie, who is returning to this venue for the third year, has been practising Yoga since 1993 and teaching since 1996.

Having completed her Teacher Training with the British Wheel of Yoga in 1998, she has taught in Salisbury, Brighton and now in Staffordshire,. She has worked with many famous yoga teachers and also studied Sivananda, Iyengar, Viniyoga, Astanga and Pranayama. Her classes merge together the Vinyasa style of sequences and the slow pace of Yin Yoga.

On this holiday the morning sessions will be a Yang practice, focusing on flowing ‘Shiva Rea’ style sequences, building heat, strength and stamina in the body.
The afternoon sessions will be a more meditative practice, combining Yin Yoga (long held postures to enhance flexibility and stretch the connective tissues), Pranayama and Meditation.

For more information on Julie visit her website at
www,divineworks.co.uk

2010 : August 23rd - 30th

Hatha Yoga with Lindsay Jones

Lindsay  attended her first yoga class when she was 13 years old, which means she has practiced yoga for over 30 years.

She has now been teaching yoga for 7 years and also teaching yoga to children in schools after doing the Yoga*d Up training.

Although she has practiced many styles, including Hatha, Astanga, Sivananda and Yin Yoga her main influence is Iyengar. Classes on this holiday will be a mix of yoga styles with importance placed on the postures

Lindsay's classes are suitable for all levels as she encourages students to work within their own capabilities.

The week will offer a 2 hour morning yoga asana class suitable to all levels of students and a short evening class.

20010: August 30th - September 6th

Dynamic Yoga with Leone Roberts

"I feel the use of both dynamic flow and held poses combined with skilled alignment, enables my students to progress safely, deepening their practice to enhance strength, improve flexibility and become more centred.
Static postures train students to observe and understand their alignment, allowing time to repose and quietly intensify the posture.
Dynamic Flow teaches synchronisation of breath and movement creating freedom and enjoyment"

Leone is a fully certified yoga teacher and also has an ITEC diploma in Anatomy and Physiology. She has been practising yoga for over 20 years.
On this holiday Leone will be teaching a dynamic class in the morning session and a gentle class in the afternoon session.
 

We will have 10 sessions of yoga over the week

2010: October 4th - 11th

Hatha Yoga with Elisa Williams

Elisa, a British Wheel of Yoga and US Yoga Alliance accredited Teacher, has over 15 Years of Yoga and 20 years of Pilates experience.

She teaches many weekly open classes and private students in a wide variety of West London locations.

Elisa studied under many of the world’s leading Yoga exponents from Iyengar, Astanga, Dynamic, Structural Yoga Therapy and Restorative backgrounds and undertook the highly regarded Life Centre teacher’s training programme.

Her own teaching style has evolved into a flowing mixture of classic Hatha Yoga poses combined with some of the core strengthening principals drawn from her many years of Pilates. She nurtures and encourages her students with empathy and sensitivity.

This adaptable style of teaching means that she attracts students of mixed of ages and abilities and includes teenage groups, ‘forever forties’ and those requiring a more restorative and gentle practice.

"Discover Stillness & Strength In A Busy World"

www.elisawilliamsyoga.com

2010: October 11th - 18th

Dynamic Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga with Roanna Harstad

''Roanna Harstad is an adventurer!

As a Yoga Instructor, NLP Practitioner, Life Coach, Empowerment Teacher, Sundoor Master Firewalking Instructor, Spiritual
leader, Retreat/Workshop Leader,  Body Worker, Therapist and Founder of Resting Buddha she leads clients into a more empowered, healthy and enjoyable way of life.

Roanna brings a holistic, spiritual and dynamic approach to her Retreats, Classes and Workshops.

Roanna brings ancient healing and fun tools into her sessions to empower our thinking and soften our being. With her gentle, informative but deeply encouraging and motivating approach, you will find you release barriers and move into a new, stronger, more aware sense of your body and self.''

‘I invite you to come and play, come with an open heart and a soft smile. Together lets investigate where our joy is hiding, lets be playful when remembering how fragile life can feel sometimes, lets find our power and rain our light on all that need it.

Let’s remember our happiness and all the gifts that we bring to this world. Let’s celebrate our challenges and give thanks for the opportunity to inspire each other through this ancient and beautiful practice.’

www.restingbuddha.co.uk
 

2010: October 18th - 25th

Hatha Yoga Explained with Stephen Waters

If ever you wondered what a posture was doing for you and what variations are possible then this is the yoga holiday for you.

Stephen has an extensive knowledge of the postures and will incorporate these into your morning classes. Afternoon classes will be more meditative and instructional - for meditation we might even abandon the yoga room for the wonderful views from Grenadine Lodge's tree house.

Stephen is a YMCA Fit Yoga Teacher. He is also an OCR Pilates instructor using the seven principles of pilates for stress reduction and a qualified National Academy of Sports Medicine Level 3 Personal Trainer and runs advanced workshops training health and fitness professionals.

On this holiday Stephen will use yoga postures, asanas and breathing exercises, plus pranayama, meditation and relaxation techniques. His classes are inspiring, educational and are planned to help you escape totally from all the stresses of daily life.

His teaching approach encourages lifestyle changes and helps all kind of people live a more balanced, peaceful and happier life style. Stephen's classes have had excellent reviews in the London papers.

Suitable for all levels and especially for beginner/beginner-intermediate students

(pictures below from Stephan's 2009 trip)

Below are teachers who have taught at this venues in past years and plan to return in the future

Flowing Yoga with Ken Eyerman

Ken Eyerman has 30 years experience with Yoga & Bodywork, and is a trained practitioner of the Feldenkrais Method. He will bring his wealth of learning to this weeks' unique blend of dynamic flowing yoga with gentle inner sensing Feldenkrais movement awareness lessons. Ken's intuitive and spontaneous, hands-on approach places an emphasis on using the breath, an awareness of your inner process and how to use your body efficiently. This combination of approaches will ease you into the postures. The workshop is suitable for all levels and consists of two classes a day. The morning class will be dynamic and flowing, based around the Astanga form, with the afternoons improvised, developmental and restorative, bringing in the vast body of knowledge of the Feldenkrais Method.

Ken Eyerman is an American based in London since 1980. His main Yoga influences are Derek Ireland, an inspiring astanga teacher, and Angela Farmer, an early student of Iyengar. He attended his first London Feldenkrais training in 1987 after the publication of his book 'Massage'.

Since this time Ken has developed his own style of teaching, bridging the space between the dynamic power of Astanga and the gentle understated, spiralling Feldenkrais movements. Ken teaches his unique Yoga with Awareness Holidays internationally.

right: on the roof of the yoga hotel in Dahab!

Feldenkrais

The developmental movement technique, The Feldenkrais Method, has been Ken's lifelong study, especially in how it relates and is complementary to yoga, through the awareness of movement and being attentive to detail. For Ken, The Feldenkrais Method forms the bridge between hands-on healing, touch and the spontaneity of life as a dance. The Feldenkrais Method named after its originator, Dr. Moshe Feldenkrais, is an educational system that uses gentle movement and directed attention to improve posture and human functioning. One can increase the ease and range of motion, improve flexibility and rediscover the natural capacity for efficient movement.

"I can help people to think about their body, how it breathes and moves, how the structure connects, to develop a level of awareness..... so they are not only powering away at stretching but also learning to feel and think their way to a stronger more supple body. A goal being to get into the imagination, to find a more subtle approach, to excite the feelings as well as to power the muscles" Ken Eyerman (c)
 

I received my BA honours in Indian religion and Hindi from The School of Oriental and African Studies and went on to acquire postgraduate knowledge of medieval Hindi and Indian classical music.

I have now been practising yoga for 10 years, during which time I have studied Iyengar, Astanga, Sivananda, and Shadow Yoga.

My practice and teaching is mostly inspired by the Shadow school of yoga's work on internal energies, Astanga's use of movement within the posture and Iyengar's fine attention to alignment.

Since an on going lower back injury reached it's pinnacle at the end of last year, and left me unable to walk for a MONTH! I have changed my way of working and now place considerable emphasis on posture through core strength and lower abdominals which have become my lifesaver and have near enough corrected what I found out to be SPONDILO LYSTHESIS (my spine was curving dramatically to the left due to a fracture in the spine and over compensated to the right).

On this holiday we will be practising a mixture of Dynamic Yoga and Hatha Yoga - classes are suitable for all levels.

Anusara Inspired Vinyasa Flow Yoga with Simona Hernandez

The style of yoga I teach could be described as a Vinyasa Hatha Yoga. I focus very much on the flow of the breath and the flow of that breath as an initiator for the movement.

Having studied Classical ballet for 18 years and worked as an assistant ballet teacher I have become aware of how inextricably the mind and body are linked. As a result I try to encourage a real softness in the body throughout the practice. My classes focus on chanting, pranayama, asanas and relaxation.

I encourage a continuous flow from one asana to the next linked by the breath and usually draw on some aspects of yoga philosophy during the physical practice of yoga.

I have been practising yoga since November 1997. I will never forget that feeling after my very first class. It was as though the world had been literally lifted off my shoulders and for the first time in a very long time I had a real sense of who I was. Within a year I had trained as a Sivananda teacher and continue to learn and train at every opportunity.

I have many different teachers I look to for inspiration - Vanda Scaravelli, Shiva Rea, Sharon and David from Jivamukti Yoga, Swami Sivananda, Desikachar and BKS Iyengar.

Originally based in London I have recently moved to Bath and teach mainly at Yoga Bodhi

http://www.yogabodhi.co.uk

Hatha Vinyasa Yoga with Susan Chopping

Susan Chopping has an eclectic teaching style and adjusts it to the best interest of the people she is teaching. 

She started practising yoga after a back injury and has been teaching for four years.  Susan is influenced by her background in dance and has been inspired by 'Shadow Yoga', and 'Vinyasa Flow', the movements follow the breath to discover a little juice 'rasa' within the breath. 

She uses music and endeavour to inspire a deeper understanding of yoga practice.
 
Her training is ongoing, beginning at 'Yoga Arts' in Byron Bay and continuing in India and more recently in London at 'The Life Centre'.

Hatha Yoga with Laura Shave

Laura Shave has been practising yoga for twelve years.

She dedicated herself to teaching after studying extensively in London and Los Angeles, where in 2002 she completed her Teacher Training Certification.
Laura studied a variety of disciplines including Iyengar, Astanga, and Sivananda before becoming inspired by the contemporary teachings of Ken Eyerman, and also Monica Voss and John Stirk, who were both taught directly by Vanda Scaravelli. Teaching yoga is the natural progression from her ever deepening experience of her personal practice.

Her personal style is to work closely with clients to encourage exploration of individual flexibility and release. Drawing on her extensive knowledge she uses yoga postures (asanas) and breath-work (pranayama) to open the body's structure, dissolving deeply held tensions and stress, promoting and grounding the natural energy of the body, and encouraging a deep sense of relaxation and well-being.

Laura is also qualified in Bodywork and Indian Holistic Massage and is a member of the British Register of Complimentary Practitioners. She is a qualified Yoga for the Special Child™ yoga therapist working with children with specific requirements.

Laura teaches privately and has regular classes at some of London’s premier health clubs

Margaret Rawlinson has been teaching yoga for over 20 years and is firmly grounded in the precision and depth of Iyengar yoga.

She has studied with BKS Iyengar over the years and also brings the richness of her extensive experience in other fields - especially Chinese Medicine, which she has been successfully practising for 6 years. She has also worked and studied in China in both acupuncture and Tui Na (Chinese osteopathy).

Margaret believes we can find self-healing for the mind, body and spirit in the complete yoga practice which incorporates asanas, pranayama and meditation.

The classes will allow you to find new insights and openings but joyfully and with a sense of fun.

Hatha Scaravelli Yoga with Marc Woolford

Marc Woolford's unusual but deeply effective approach to yoga is founded on the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli.

Time is given to exploring the relationships between the forces of gravity operating through the body and the action of the breath. The postures can then develop from these relationships with a glorious sense of expanding out from the core of the body - 'undoing' and elongating the spine. Surprisingly challenging but suitable for all.

Marc has been dedicated to this approach to yoga since 1994, working exclusively with other Scaravelli inspired teachers such as Pete Blackaby, John Stirk, Diane Long and Sophy Hoare and runs regular workshops and weekends around the UK as well as in India, France and the States.

He is known for his infectious enthusiasm for the work, and through his deep understanding of the nature of movement, has developed a reputation for helping transform people's practise.

He is also very clear that yoga practise is a very personal journey, and is keen to make sure that everyone feels free to work at their own level and pace.

Hatha Vinyasa Yoga with Kerry Morgan

Kerry Is a Hatha Yoga teacher advanced reflexologist and Holistic Therapist/Healer (member of the international institute of holistic therapist) for nine years.

A RYT 200 Yoga Alliance Yoga Academy BWY accredited teacher. She teaches a Hatha Vinyasa style of yoga drawing upon the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli an extraordinary Italian teach, Angela Farmer, Victor Van Kooten, Simon Low and Mararishi Mahesh Yogi.

She has studied the mararishis teaching of transcendental yoga for ten years incorporating the study of the ancient yogic text, the yoga sutras Upanishads and the Bhagavad-Gita

Her practice has developed over eighteen years and continues to evolve.

Kerry's aim is to pass on the benefits of yoga in a safe inclusive manner Her teaching focuses on developing healthy body mechanics awareness of breath and an awakening of our subtle energy’s to balance and strengthen the body; with deep stretching to release tension from deep within.

She seeks to include rather than exclude making her yoga suitable for all levels regardless of age injury or flexibility, from beginners to intermediate. Sessions are fun and challenging including Asanas postures, pranayama breath work, yoga nidra (deep relaxation) to promote holistic well being strength and flexibility of body and mind.

Kerry offers clear and knowledgeable instructions with a caring approach so that each individual feels challenged energised and safe.