The Bhuti Yoga Retreat near Norwich

This is a big question, so I'll keep it brief. Firstly, yoga can mean different things to many people.

For some people yoga is seen as 'exercise' or 'stretching', and this is not incorrect but if we look at the roots of yoga and its lineage yoga is often referred to as a 'science' and has been practiced for thousands of years. There is so much more to yoga than just the asanas (poses). For some, yoga can be a life journey as it was and still is for me, some will tap into the Spiritual aspects of yoga and become interested in its roots and philosophy.

There is no right or wrong, you will take from yoga what you need right now in your life. Some people will enjoy a strong powerful physical yoga practice and others will prefer a more sedate therapeutic practice. Personally, I favour both and I let my body guide my practice, for me it is about balance on and off my mat and continuing to find balance in my daily life. From a physical perspective, yoga can help with muscle strength, flexibility, mobility, balance etc.

Every class you attend will be different just as every yoga teacher will be a little different. My belief is that yoga should be for ‘every body'. It should not matter if you have limited flexibility, mobility or strength or you are 19 or 90 years of age, or you are unable to get up and down from the floor.

There is a yoga class to suit every body. It's a case of trying different classes and teachers to find one that resonates with you. I have taught and continue to teach students of all ages and abilities and with varying degrees of chronic illness and other ailments. Yoga is an all-inclusive practice and not just for young, fit and active people and it is never too late to begin.

Yoga for me is a path, a way of life so even when I am not on my yoga mat I am living my yoga, that doesn't mean to say I go around wearing a halo, and I am as pure as the driven snow. 🙂 We are all human and I am no different. Yoga teaches us so much about ourselves and how we interact with the world at large and the relationships we have with others.

Yoga naturally encompasses meditation, relaxation and breathing practices. Yoga is a mindful practice which focuses our mind hence the reason yoga and meditation are so beneficial for our mental health and for managing anxiety, stress, low self-esteem etc, it is a mind-body practice.

Yoga is a practice of self-enquiry, practicing yoga cultivates self-awareness, and helps us tune into our thoughts, feelings, emotions and how those things affect our body. Yoga fosters a subtle observation and awareness of our body's mechanics and energy. It is an experiential practice; some might describe it as an embodied practice. It focuses our mind on the 'moment' and in the anatomy of our body.

It is one thing to have a general conceptual understanding of the anatomy of our muscles, but it requires much more observation and feeling to locate, sense and work with individual muscles in our body. Only you can know your own body and its idiosyncrasies.

Yoga is empowering, it empowers us to take control of our health and healing and to tune in to how we are feeling at any moment. It provides us with a complex and nuanced 'toolkit' which we can call upon at any time to address specific issues in a non-invasive and holistic way.

You can use yoga to explore and address specific health issues, as exercise, a spiritual practice or you can embrace it more fully and let it become a journey of transformation.

I offer various levels and styles of yoga classes, mindfulness meditation, group tuition, workshops, retreats, Corporate classes and events and specific celebratory events e.g. hen/zen parties, Birthdays and one-to-one appointments offering you a confidential and customised individual programme to suit your specific needs or the needs of the group.

Yoga can be very energetic but also very slow, gentle, restorative and therapeutic yoga which is why I offer something to suit all ages, levels, bodies and health conditions. The clients I teach have various conditions and challenges, these range from mental health, anxiety, eating disorders, depression, general back complaints, chronic fatigue, stress and burnout, long covid, menopause, cancer and remission from cancer, auto-immune problems, long term covid, rehabilitation from injuries, sports injuries plus many more unique issues and health. I also offer Mindfulness, Meditation and Health and Wellbeing programmes for individuals and groups.

I recently became a qualified 'Yoga for Menopause' yoga teacher, having had my own challenges with going through the menopause I feel I can empathise with so many women going through this stage of life. I am now offering menopause well woman workshops, classes and a new programme and weekend retreats collaborating with other professionals to give women the support they need.

Having trained and studied with many outstanding teachers (to which I am extremely grateful) it is through my own experience and practice of yoga, meditation and teaching, I have developed my own unique style of 'yoga' and teaching. I teach intuitively adapting the yoga practice to suit the class or person I am teaching.
As mentioned above my style of teaching comprises of a fusion of various styles of yoga e.g., the precision, discipline and alignment of Iyengar yoga and the energising qualities of Vinyasa and Hatha yoga to the stillness and supported poses of yin, restorative and therapeutic yoga. I adapt the practice to suit my students, so that everyone feels included.

For me, yoga is not just about the asanas (poses) physical aspects, yoga goes so much deeper, yoga is a discipline, a way of life. I base my teachings on the origins of yoga, the philosophical texts that underpin the true purpose of yoga. These texts can teach us so much and serve as a guide or checklist on how to live our lives, to develop compassion and gratitude, to live in the present and to appreciate all that we have. Yoga is also about having fun, (yes, I did say 'fun'), in yoga we learn to connect with our inner child, to be playful in our postures (asanas) and to trust our inner voice, wisdom and intuition, to be guided by this intuition and take what we learn on our mats into our daily lives.

I believe yoga is for every body and if you can't get down onto the mat you can still practice yoga sitting on a chair.

I don't teach a huge number of classes, for me it is more about the quality of my teaching than the quantity. I want to be present and prepared for my students and to give them all my attention and energy.

My own journey, practice and teaching continues to evolve - we never stop learning and growing and I am incredibly grateful to my clients because they teach me so much.

I offer a progressive holistic approach to health, wellbeing, healing and fitness; I see 'you' as a 'unique individual' and as a yoga teacher I take a holistic view of; your health, your lifestyle, your occupation, eating habits and idiosyncrasies (yes, we all have them). I can help you to manage your physical, mental, emotional, and general health and wellbeing, helping you to take some control over your life and wellbeing.

Drawing upon my knowledge and many years of experience, self-practice and teaching I can provide you (the client) with the tools and techniques to empower yourself in developing a deeper understanding and awareness of your body and its' idiosyncrasies'. Yoga teaches us that we are all unique individuals and yoga isn't "a one size fits all" practice. Whether you wish to return to yoga after a spell of absence, try yoga for the very first time or a seasoned practitioner, I will guide you.

If you are a woman experiencing menopausal symptoms, then join the thousands of other women also going through this stage of life. Let us support one another with our 'Second Spring'.

If you are suffering with chronic fatigue or the symptoms of long covid or many other health conditions or sports injuries, then please call me to discuss and to assess whether I am the right person to help you.

Aside from being a Yoga Teacher I am also a qualified Coach which is another job I absolutely love and find so rewarding.

People often ask what kind of coaching I offer. I originally did my coaching training in workplace and corporate coaching and helping clients with many issues that were job related but I also discovered that on many occasions it can be difficult to separate 'work' and 'home' life as the two are integrated so I found I was coaching clients on issues at home that were having an impact on their work life and vice versa. If I had to label the kind of Coach that I am (and for the record I detest labels), I would class myself as a 'Life' coach as I feel this encompasses work and life and everything in between.

My clients that come to me are often confused and don't know what they want to resolve or address, and some have very specific targets that they want to achieve. Coaching is a form of exploration and finding solutions for issues you may be experiencing or it might be that you want to build a new career, find a new job or prepare for an interview, or prepare for retirement, you may have a business idea that you want to bring to fruition, you may be going through divorce or a bereavement, these are just a few of the kind of things my clients bring to the table.

Coaching is about focus and looking forward to the future and taking back your power and control of your life.

With coaching I can help you on your journey, to make changes (should you wish to make them), reach your aspirations and achieve your goals. But remember you are always the one in control of your destiny, health and wellbeing and ultimately your life.
I like to work with people who are truly passionate about making changes and are prepared to put in what it takes to make those changes and achieve their full potential.

I understand that change is not always simple or pleasant and is often met with resistance. By having me as your Coach I will ensure you stay on track with your plans and help you transform whatever you want to transform.

You are the only person that can make things happen and you have to be prepared to do the work and be accountable for your own actions, as your coach I will ensure you stay on track and support and encourage you along the way.

As a qualified NLP (Neuro Linguistic Practitioner) I will incorporate these tools and techniques during coaching sessions, if I feel these will help you in moving forward.

If you are interested in being coached, then please contact me to arrange and book a free 20-minute discovery call.

I also coach and mentor trainee yoga teachers and qualified teachers too. I offer a specific package for yoga teachers so do please get in touch should you wish to explore.