I first came to yoga as a student and then thirty years ago discovered Iyengar yoga through my mother and under the guidance of my first teachers, Ursula Schoonraad, John Shirbon and John Claxton, all who inspired me individually.
I worked in international policy juggling work and travel with my young family; it was yoga which helped keep the balance. I left my job and began teacher training with Ursula and subsequently Sheila Haswell which deepened my practice further and I have enjoyed teaching a variety of classes since 2009. I continue to learn with Sheila and Julie Hodges; their wisdom, patience and in depth teaching have been all inspiring and they continue to provide invaluable guidance and support in my practice and training, now qualified as a Level 3 teacher.
As a student and teacher I continue to be challenged on the vast subject of yoga. I attend workshops, exchange of learning days and conventions across the UK led by senior teachers, including teachers from Pune and the Institute, Geeta and Abhijata Iyengar and those who worked closely with BKS Iyengar: Navaz Kamdin, Zubin Zarthoshtimanesh, Raya Uma Dutta and Uday Bhosale. In 2018 I was fortunate to visit Pune and be taught by Geeta, Prashant and Abhijata Iyengar during the Centenary celebrations of BKS Iyengar’s birth. I will be forever grateful to have been a recipient of Geeta’s last days of her devoted teaching and wisdom.
Between 2019 and 2021 I completed modules on the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali led by Sheila Haswell and Gitte Bechsgaard, an expert on philosophy, Sanskrit, Eastern psychology, studying the meanings and Sanskrit of the Sutras and how we apply them to our practice and everyday lives.
Yoga has only brought benefits: to my health and well-being, to my attitude to life and dealing with its challenges, on a personal level and in the wider world. Teaching and sharing is so rewarding, even more as I continue to learn and develop through my students. I teach a variety of classes to adults, teenager and children in Ealing and West Kensington.
