“The rhythm of the body, the melody of the mind, and the harmony of the soul create the symphony of life."
– BKS Iyengar
Intuitive Yoga
I am both an anatomy geek and a passionate dancer. As such, my teaching style has developed to focus on healthy individual alignment within gently flowing sequences.
If I have to give it a label, it might be alignment-focused hatha vinyasa yoga. I also love to teach yoga specifically for pregnant and postnatal women.
Individual intelligent alignment means that each pose and practice is different for everyone. I encourage each yogi to collaborate with me in seeking their individual needs and challenges, so that they receive a unique practice even within a group situation.
As I guide the practice, we connect mindful movement with the natural ebbs and flow of energy and breath.
We gradually (kramically) build to more complex and stronger poses and sequences. Often we must grow a yoga posture (an asana) slowly in order to discover the nuances of what it can offer today.
As we move further into the practice we may choose to deepen our challenges, whether that be with movement, strength, flexibility or mindfulness.
Each class takes its own journey, and each student will take their own route.
The intended destination is allowing the mind as well as the body to come to rest in a luscious svasana, so that body, mind and spirit feel greater balance and alignment.
I believe that yoga is a gift available to everyone, both in health and during recovery, and I particularly enjoy adapting asana, pranayama and meditation practices to benefit non-yogis, and yogis with special circumstances.
Yoga Influences
My style of yoga has developed from the wonderful mentorship of Vinyasa Flow teachers Jean Hall and Mimi Kuo-Deemer, the exquisite, playful sequences that they create, and Mimi's delicious combinations of yoga and qigong.
Other influences have included the beautifully precise teachings of Anna Ashby and Iyengar teacher Alaric Newcombe; the many amazing teachers I practiced with and observed during my Triyoga teacher training; and my study of anatomy, physiology and clinical massage.
I am especially grateful for the bountiful nourishing pregnancy yoga teacher training of Uma Dinsmore-Tuli and Lisa White, and my introduction to Uma’s Womb Yoga, which teaches that the experience of yoga can be heightened from respect of the changes that take place throughout a woman’s life.
Both my personal practice and my teaching have also been greatly influenced by my own response to back injury, two pregnancies and some difficult post-natal recovery. I have embodied the ability to teach without demonstration, and I have met some amazing therapists and trainers from a broad spectrum of disciplines, who have taken my understanding of yoga off the traditional path, to places where I have found new healing and strength.
I have embodied all this and more, and I love sharing the best of my learnings in my own unique teaching style, which I hope will bring you as much healing and joy as it had done for me.
Here are a few things that I may say during class;
You may like to consider them for yourself during any class or during your personal practice:
“I am planning to do…(x,y,z) however we are free to go totally off-plan; this is your class, so talk to me and we can adapt to what your body needs today.”
“Let’s build this sequence to include more options; in each moment listen inside to decide which version will benefit you most right now”
“Yogi(ni)s choice: take a few breaths to rest in child’s, stretch and strengthen in downwards dog, move and flow in cat/cow or cataranga vinyasa; or practice whatever most appeals to you in this moment”
“Use the props and supports at any time you wish; yoga is awareness of what is available to you”
“How do you feel now after that practice / after practicing that on one side?”
“Yoga may feel challenging but it should never hurt; if it hurts, stop what you are doing; if it is uncomfortable, consider what might improve your comfort, or ask me for advice”
“I am your guide not your god; you do not have to follow everything I say. As long as I feel you are practicing safely, I respect your choice to adapt my advice”
“I may offer you verbal or hands-on adjustments: these are my suggestions as to a way you may find greater depth or enjoyment in the pose; but if they do not suit you it will not offend. Please communicate your experience with me, as I can only see and not feel your body’s signals.”
“You can always ask not to receive hands-on adjustments: before or during the class”