Yoga

"And the day came when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom" - Anais Nin

More than 7 years ago, I found my spot on the mat. Drawn in by the holistic linking of the mind, body and soul, it was through yoga that I learnt balance. Practicing yoga wherever these feet take me, I completed a 200hour certified Yoga Alliance Teacher Training Program with the group, It’s Yoga Satellite, in the lush Ubud, in central Bali, Indonesia. It consisted of dynamic lessons on asanas, pranayamas and practice teaching. 

Since my first introduction to yoga, I have been mentored by an Australian yogini Mardi Bell at the Yoga Collective with more than 20 years yoga experience in Hatha, Ashtanga and Vinyasa traditions, teaching communities in Australia, New Zealand, Bali, Nepal, India and Bhutan. More recently, I've been influenced by the teachers Joy Kunkanit from Thailand and Ricardo Martin from Venezuela, trained in Ashtanga and Rocket yoga from It’s Yoga Satellite.

My love for my yoga practice drives me to go deeper, to listen to my body and to honour myself wherever and however I am feeling in that moment on that day. It’s been the game changer for how I choose to live my life, prioritising happiness and wellbeing first and foremost always.

Elena Brower says, “Choose to be a conscious servant not an unconscious slave.” Yoga teaches you that anything is possible. That you have choice in every single moment. That you can create the life you want to live as long as you believe and show up.

During my classes, I will teach from the Ashtanga and Vinyasa traditions (catered for all experience levels), guiding you through the movement of the postures, linking the breath, the drishti (point of gaze) and the body’s bandhas (energy locks). Combining a dynamic flow of movement with relaxation, you will learn to better understand who you are and how you connect with the world. This is the beauty of yoga. It will awaken your body, soothing and nourishing, opening and strengthening.

An important element of all my classes is sharing positive messages and yoga philosophy, and essentially coming back to a place of joy and fun.

By practicing yoga, you are committing to yourself – to your growth and wellbeing - and there is no greater gift you could give yourself.

Are you in London and want to practice yoga?

If you are in London, I would love to share the joys of yoga with you! Like my Yoga Dynamic Facebook page for all the information and updates!

The Well Garden

I am teaching with The Well Garden at Hackney Down Studios at Amhurst Terrace E82BT in the Oak Room on Thursday mornings from 830-930am.

A drop-in is £10 and a package of 4 classes is £35 (to be used within a 5 week block).

Community classes

I am also running community classes at St Hilda's East Community Centre at 18 Club Row E27EY in the first floor resource room on Monday evenings from 630-730pm and an outdoor class at Weaver's Field in Bethenal Green on a Thursday evenings from 630-730pm (weather permitting of course!).

These community classes are £8 for drop-ins or £40 for 6 classes (to be used within an 8 week frame).

Would you like to take your practice deeper?

I also teach private classes on request. Pop me an email if you’re interested and we can discuss prices and packages.

If you have any questions or queries, please email me at paperplaneseditor@gmail.com. 

I am so thrilled to be part of this journey with you and look forward to seeing your beautiful face on the mat soon :)

What is Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga?

Sri K. Patthabi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga yoga, said: “Do your practice and all is coming.”

As the story goes, Pattabi Jois and his teacher Krishnamarcharya found a an ancient manuscript buried among texts in Calcutta University during the 1930s which detailed never seen instructions for a series of six sequences of yoga, forming the six series of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga today.

It is a dynamic form of Hatha yoga with a vinyasa ingredient, linking the breath with movement though asanas (postures) and connecting to the drishti (your point of soft gaze) and activation of bandhas (energy locks) in the body.

Ashtanga vinyasa yoga involves a set sequence of postures, each flowing onto the next, opening and supporting the body as you transition from sun saluations to standing poses to seated postures to backward bends and inversion, always leading with the right side first and then balancing the left side. A student repeats the same asanas in the sequence until they have successfully completed the sequence in full. Once they have, they move to the next set sequence. This first or primary series is called Yoga Chikitsa, which means yoga therapy, and takes an hour and a half to two hours to complete. Very few people have progressed to complete the second series. Ashtanga teaches patience, helps you to honour your body and inspires fierce loyalty to your practice.

The word Ashtanga in Sanskrit translates to ‘the eight limbs to union with the universal’ and is designed to aid you as you grow and enlighten your understanding of yourself and the world around you. These eight limbs include ethical observation, self-observation, physical posture, breath control, sense withdrawal, concentration, meditation and Samadhi (or togetherness in harmony - isn't that just beautiful!?).

In comparison to other forms of yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa is an intense flow, benefiting your body and your mind, detoxifying all that does not serve you. You will notice changes in your body as you simultaneously build strength and flexibility and experience greater balance, harmony and peace in your life.