From those first classes I continued to practice yoga and my practice would vary depending on what was happening in life and depending on where I lived. I lived overseas in Indonesia for 2 years and practised with teachers I found in Jakarta and Bali. I spent some time in Cambodia where I attended meditation sessions in a temple in Phnom Penn led by Buddhist monks and dabbled in self practice on the beach when living on an island in Thailand. Whatever happened in life yoga remained one of the consistent threads woven through it all. Although my practice style changed over the years (as I believe it should- complimenting my life stages and adapting) it continues to get richer, continues to teach me and helps me to process life.

Wanting to share this with others and in particular with people that would ordinarily not have the means to access yoga I began to train as a teacher. I initially completed my 200 hour yoga teacher training in January 2019  with Evolve YTT under the guidance of Vicki Shields and in 2021 I completed a 300 hour teacher training with Brea Johnson of Heart and Bones yoga. 

With a background working in Mental Health, primarily as a nurse and subsequently as a psychotherapist, I have many years experience working directly with people in this field including adolescents and adults with a wide range of struggles including trauma, PTSD, depression, anxiety, panic, phobias, self harm, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and substance use, although describing peoples' difficulties as a one-word diagnosis does not really do justice to all of our uniqueness. 

I found that talking therapy was not a one-size-fits-all solution.  Some people required less talk, less of 'using the mind to think the mind out of something’. Movement can help to shift emotions, thoughts and energy whilst also promoting increased connection to self, body, mind  and towards others. I could see connecting with the breath would be helpful for many; reducing anxiety, providing grounding and providing practical skills that can be used in everyday life. A variety of mindful movement and breath practices can be used to better regulate the nervous system. I like to sprinkle yoga philosophy through my classes and use this as a basis to shape my classes around, particularly with regards to mental health.

Currently the main bulk of my work is facilitating yoga in a residential centre as part of a recovery/abstinence from addiction treatment programme and also at a thirty bedded purpose-built unit for homeless adults with complex needs. I strongly believe in taking yoga to the people and places where it would not ordinarily reach. 

OTHER TRAINING

• CPD for yoga teachers specific to trauma, I always try to ensure that my classes are trauma informed as best as I can. 

• CPD for talking therapists and the use of yoga in therapy sessions. 

• CPD in yoga for addictions and Yoga Nidra for mental health.

• I have completed the Yoga in Health Care Alliance (YIHA) training in Yoga for Wellbeing run by Heather Mason and Paul Fox.

• I am also a qualified TEENYOGA teacher which equates to a level 3  sports coach.

• Thirty hour Yoga Anatomy course -Andrew McGonigle (Doctor Yogi)

Having been through a number of traumatic events myself I found my yoga practice has been a consistent and compassionate self-care companion. Now as a parent/carer I turn to my practice to manage overwhelm and find internal space from the external noise. My practice keeps me in check, it continues to be a voyage of personal  discovery, gifts me with perspective when life seems unfair but most importantly helps me take care of myself and reminds me to rest so I can then take my place back in the world. It also helps me not to take myself too seriously.

This has been my personal experience, you may find some similarities from regular practice or something entirely different. This is your practice, for you, to find you, however you are.