In 2018 I finally took the plunge and decided to take part in my first Yoga Teacher Training, with Mercedes Sieff, 200 hours of Vinyasa Flow and Positive Psychology. I adored the course vinyasa means to place in a special way or as I like to interpret it, to move with purpose. Every action has meaning, however big or small, it is all part of your yoga. I felt on fire when I started to teach, I adored it, I felt inspired, like the embodiment of vinyasa, moving in my purpose, helping others.

Then I taught, I taught and I taught and I taught. Everywhere that I could, online, in person both! I took every cover class I could get my hands on! I wanted as much experience I as could manage. Soon I had regular classes both for myself and for a few different studios, in Oxford, London and around the Cotswolds. I ran workshops and courses, both in yoga and handstands. I learnt so much, fine tuning, refining my own style and how I could better serve my students.

After a couple of years teaching full time, I felt like I needed more to give. So I started to research further and deeper trainings. I ended up in Koh Samui, Thailand. I did a further 300 hours with All Yoga School, the course was ok, I had high expectations and you know what they say about expectations! I trained in advanced adjustments, creative sequencing, rocket yoga, handstands and movement. Most importantly I trained in Yin yoga, this was my first Yin yoga training, with Annie Au, and I absolutely adored it. In all honesty this was the reason I choose this course, whether I knew it at the time or not. It opened a door for me, my practice was mainly power yoga and handstands up to this point. It was mind-blowingly different! 

Now, when I say I adored it, I do not mean it was easy. Yin brought up a LOT of stored emotion in my body and I spent a great deal of time in emotional tatters through this training. It was hard, not physically demanding but it required me to grow, to release and to really look at myself. Scary! 

And so began my fascination with Yin yoga and all it encompasses. I read all the literature I could get my hands on, studying the ancient knowledge of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Meridian Theory, Element Theory and Yoga Nidra. I learnt the basics of face reading using TCM element theory with the fantastic book ‘The wisdom of your face’ by Jean Haner, how to best understand and interpret those who may be different to you, how to communicate better with everyone. One of the biggest trips we all face in life is expecting others to think and feel the same about things/event/life as we do, this is one (of many) great ways to bring more understanding into the world.

I learnt about how different foods affect our energy, how to use meridian activation to release stored emotion, after all E-Motion is just energy in motion, it only causes problems if it gets stuck or repressed. I learned better how to HELP people, help themselves. At the beginning of 2023 my partner and I moved to Asia, doing 18 months in India, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Whilst away I trained (online) doing another 50 hours of Trauma Informed Yin, this training was also intense, but this time at least I had a better idea of what to expect.