how it all began…
I began practicing yoga in 2014; initially drawn to the physical benefits of the asana practice, but soon noticed the power of meditation and pranayama (breath techniques) which helped me discover some calm in my often anxious mind, and leading me to discover more about myself in the process. This experience, coupled with my keen interest in understanding life through the lens of other cultures and philosophies, ignited further during my travels across south Asia and the Pacific in 2018, lead me to seek more from yoga. Almost by chance, or perhaps with good reason, I landed up embarking on my 200hr vinyasa teacher training in 2019 with Yoga Beyond in Bali, Indonesia. This training, led by Claudine and Honza Lafond, and Adam Whiting (who I met at Power Living in Adelaide earlier that year), was a hugely transformative and rewarding experience; I deepened my knowledge of the philosophical roots of this practice, started to shift my approach to my own physical practice towards functionality, and began to cultivate the skills required to share this with others.
…how it’s going now
Since qualifying in 2019 I have taught at a variety of locations across Edinburgh, including Tribe Yoga, Beetroot Suavage & Sacred Heart, and when the world moved online in 2020, I took to the zoom room to teach for for Space to Be, an online yoga community platform, as well as covering online classes for The Movement House. I held a number of ceremonies as well as a magical retreat in the Scottish highlands in Summer 2021 alongside Skye Kleman and Mika Benjamin, and I have gathered a lovely group of dedicated private clients who I still work with every week. In a pocket of eased restrictions in 2021 I also completed my aerial teacher training with Gillian Watt (Aerial Yoga Edinburgh), and my 300hr training in yin yoga and variable anatomy, principles of Chinese medicine (qiology) and meditation with Dhugal Meachem. This latest training transformed my approach to both teaching and living. I am passionate about continuing my own education; this is part of my commitment as a teacher to expand and grow, and challenge what I know, so that I can confidently offer the best I can to you, my students, and keep my classes exciting, informed and engaging. Pun intended — you can expect more of those ;).
what I’m all about
Two things:
1) on a surface level — our bodies, identities and life experiences — we are all completely different
2) on a deeper level, we are all essentially the same
Following my variable anatomy training, I’ve become very curious about what my body does (and doesn’t!) do. This means I lead you to explore your body and find what works for your individual shape and structure. I hope might discover a sensation you haven’t felt in a posture before, or consider your movement through a more functional lens. I will always afford you the freedom to explore, modify and adapt your practice. We are, after all, completely unique (see point 1). Expect a movement practice with me to be playful. curious and compassionate, with an invitation to meet your edges with softness.
In the other aspects of my teaching, in meditation and in 1:1 sessions, I draw on yoga philosophy and the taoist tradition to help you strip away the surface layers; the stories that we carry about who we are, our identities, sense of distinct, lower case ‘s’ self to reveal your true essence; the capital ‘s’ Self, the consciousness that connects us all. This is where shit gets deep. It’s also where things get challenging, but it’s the true inner work of yoga; being able to see the humanity and divinity in ourselves and one another, regardless of how we present to the outside world.
My hope is that you will feel liberated by your yoga practice, and that by recognising these two truths and approaching your practice through mind, body and soul, you will be come to embody your practice, take it out into your daily interactions, and make it part of your life’s work, whether in big or small ways.
Images by @snapsbymartin