About me

I first became hooked on yoga around 16 years ago, when I tried out a class at a local leisure centre. It was a revelation to realise that lack of fitness and co-ordination were not

barriers to practising and I was amazed at how different I felt after each class, both mentally and physically - more alive, relaxed and spacious.

Yoga training

After initial training with the Sivananda School of Yoga in northern California, I completed teacher training intensives with Sarah Powers (yin/yang yoga), Judith Lasater (Restorative yoga) and Catherine Annis (Scaravelli).

I am a fully qualified Relax and Renew® trainer, certified by Judith Lasater, and have studied with integrative yoga therapist, and clinical psychologist, Bo Forbes. Bo has a special interest in yoga and meditation to treat anxiety, stress and depression, and is the author of highly recommended book, Yoga for Emotional Balance: Simple Practices to Help Relieve Anxiety and Depression.

I am also fully qualified (by ME specialist and yoga teacher Fiona Agombar) to teach those suffering from ME, Chronic Fatigue and related conditions.

Meditation studies

I have been humbled to have studied and practised meditation with some of the world's leading meditation teachers and practitioners, including Jon Kabat-Zinn, Christina Feldman, John Peacock, Thich Nhat Hanh, Bante Gunaratana (author of Mindfulness in Plain English) and Shamash Alidina, author of the highly recommended book/CD, Mindfulness for Dummies (and with whom we run meditation retreats).

I have had a daily meditation practice for eight years and have completed intensive mindfulness training with the wonderful Christina Feldman and John Peacock. I have also completed the highly recommended 8-week Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Programme (MBSR - increasingly available on the NHS to treat anxiety and depression) with Ed Haliwell, author of The Mindful Manifesto.

Through our yoga travel company, Satvada retreats, we run mindfulness retreats with leading author and mindfulness trainer, Shamash Alidina.

Teaching: yoga for anxiety and depression

I now teach private and group classes in and around Chelmsford and London (please visit our Yoga At The Mill website: www.yogaatthemill.co.uk). My teaching style draws on a range of traditions - especially mindfulness meditation, Scaravelli, Ashtanga & viniyoga - and essentially aims to present yoga as an awareness practice.

In addition to the manifold physical benefits of yoga practice, I have a particular interest in the therapeutic benefits of yoga and mindfulness meditation on mental health - especially for the treatment of stress, anxiety and depression. In essence, I believe passionately in yoga's ability to transform both body and mind, regardless of the student's age or background.

Through our company, Satvada Retreats, I also organise and teach yoga and meditation retreats worldwide, specialising in Morocco.

To read a few student testimonials, please click here.