NATURE OF YOGA

I have been practicing Yoga and meditation for almost 20 years - lying about my age to get into my first Yoga class... and sleeping through the entire thing... I was sold from that day onwards!  I came to Yoga initially to find support for the physical demands and injuries of training as a competitive swimmer and long-distance runner.  After a couple of years of practicing I became far more excited about what Yoga was doing for my overall health, mood, contentment levels, energy, resilience, enthusiasm for life, strength and general wellbeing - emotionally, mentally and physiologically.

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After studying Sports Science and working as a personal trainer I went on to do a degree training as an Actor for three years with the Italia Conti Academy in London.  During this time I also began studying Yoga more deeply and began to see it through a prism of storytelling and my two worlds began complimenting one another so I  dipped my toes into teacher training. 

Whilst studying Hatha Yoga I also took a deep dive into Raja Yoga meditation for two years and immersed myself in experiential learning and practice working for The Life Centre /Yogacampus in London learning from and practicing with some of the most exciting and experienced teachers from all around the world. In 2014 I became a registered Yoga Alliance Vinyasa teacher through Yoga London. 

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Whilst living in LA for a couple of years I studied Vedic Meditation with Emily Fletcher (founder of Ziva meditation) and continue to endorse a twice daily meditation practice and the incredible benefits this has brought to my life.

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I have learned that whatever the reason behind our initial pull towards Yoga it is a lifelong practice with no end goal that serves to align us with the rhythms of nature and the cycles of life. After a while of consistent practice we all receive exactly what we need at any given time - be it stress reduction, improved resilience, strength, flexibility (body and mind) or increased connection with Nature.  

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My increasing passion for neuroscience and how the brain and body interact has become a large component in my teaching today.  My practice is inspired by learning from the natural world and our relationship with the ecosystem we are all a part of, which offers a mirror to our own inner ecosystem (microcosm /macrocosm).  

 

My passion for storytelling and continued work in Film and as an Actor and Producer provides ongoing inspiration, from the notion of unravelling our own stories to better understanding ourselves and our relationship to community and the environment around us.

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Whatever free time is available to me I will spend out in wild spaces, up a tree, wild swimming, watching movies, up a mountain or in the woods alone, with friends or my husband and our dog. 

I believe that the benefits in practicing Yoga and Meditation are becoming more effective and more resilient, boosting creative energy and feeling more connected and aligned with the flow of life (it is not to become 'better' at Yoga or Meditation). It is truly an experiential and non-competitive practice. I see Yoga and time in nature (especially cold water for me personally) as  non-negotiable commitments that serve a bigger picture of "rewilding" myself, my nervous systems, enlivening my senses and deepening my experience of living. These, along with community, creativity and healthy lifestyle choices have become my life support system.

The more we can effectively look after ourselves, cultivate contentment, allow the flow of energy through us and deepen our own self awareness and childlike curiosity to explore and learn, the more effective we will be at looking after the planet, our relationships and our communities.

 

Home for me is in Fife, Scotland where I also run www.smellytrees.co.uk - a small artisan natural fragrance company dedicated to celebrating the magical properties of natural aromatic compounds emitted by the forest; to re-wilding and restoring our wild spaces, deepening our connection with trees and falling in love with nature to become better custodians.