My emphasis is on a regular, gentle yoga practice to maintain and improve the functioning of the body. I have found yoga to be holistic in its beneficial effects - supporting mind, body and spirit. I am fascinated by the close connection between our emotional and physical well-being.

I came to yoga in 1997, when I was 35, after scoliosis and chronic back and leg pain had left me house-bound most of the time. Over the first year a combination of yoga and osteopathy radically improved my situation.

Regular practice of yoga has strengthened my back and opened the vertebrae, releasing the nerves that were trapped and creating so much pain. The wonderful thing about yoga is that it gave me a set of tools to do something positive and help myself. There have been lots of other benefits - I feel more relaxed in stressful situations, my circulation, balance, and co-ordination have all improved. I feel fitter and stronger than I did in my 20s.

I trained with FRYOG, (2 year diploma course), and began teaching in 2001. I am currently the County Rep for the British Wheel of Yoga - the UK national yoga organisation. As County Representative, I am responsible for arranging teacher- training events for yoga teachers in the area and workshops for BWY members.

My approach to teaching yoga is about encouraging people to develop a regular practice enjoying the benefits of yoga and ultimately develop a yogic state of being. By that I mean:

moving and performing the tasks of our day to day lives, with intelligent strength - efficient movements, which don’t tire the body quickly.

better breathing patterns to energise the body, and support us in a calm and balanced state of well-being.

stimulating the flow of lymph, which cleanses the toxins and cell debris created in normal cell function to ensure we continue to operate at our best.

greater awareness of when we are moving ‘out of balance’, physically straining the body, storing up tension or moving out of our comfortable emotional equilibrium so we can do something before it’s a habit.

working with the fascia and the connective tissues of the body to ensure they remain open and elastic allowing for freedom and ease of movement

exploring and unpicking our, often unconscious, long standing habits, patterns and attitudes to increase our choice over our behaviours - both physical and mental

It’s a continuous journey through our lives with no end point until we are done! Yoga can support us through the aging process, infirmities and injuries, always supplying us with the tools to improve our well-being in the moment. If you haven’t tried yoga, now is the time and if you’ve let it slide, put it back at the top of your agenda.