Teaching Style

Individualised instruction

I work one-on-one so that we can tailor the practice to you: your body type, health, age, goals, culture and capacity.

There is no perfect pose

Yoga is about becoming intimate with your unique breath and body. You know your body best, so you decide what's right for you. There is no need to replicate the shapes and patterns of others.

Our breath is the guide

We move with our breath. We listen to our breath. We let our breath take us into postures and guide us out of them.

We enjoy what we are able to do

Your practice is what your body can do naturally. We don't push, cause pain or try to be what we're not. Yoga should be pleasurable participation in what already is, so you can feel the wonder that you already are.

We act from the heart

Yoga helps us connect with what we are, what we care about and what we truly want. We bring love, compassion and joy into the practice.

I teach as a friend and an equal

I honour the intelligence in you. I am not a gate keeper of knowledge! I am aim to empower you so you can stand on your own two feet (figuratively speaking, of course; you can do yoga without feet!).

We work towards a daily practice

You will get the most benefits from yoga if you practice everyday. It doesn't need to be long, even seven minutes a day is enough! I will support you to develop a daily practice that fits into your day and is suitable for your body. It took me five years to go from thinking, "I want a daily yoga practice," to realising, "I have a daily yoga practice". I know there are hurdles on the journey to a daily practice, so my job is to support and coach you so that yoga can support you and your life!

We welcome everything

Yoga isn't a dissociated holiday from life. It is direct participation in life! In our yoga sessions, we don't shy away from feelings, emotions and experiences. Instead, we let them move through us. And we allow yoga to support our daily life, creative pursuits and other goals.

We unite opposites

I practice yoga to integrate all the opposites in my life: the inhale and exhale, strength and softness, receptivity and release, masculine and feminine, the highs and lows, the professional and personal, the seen and unseen. I bring this to my teaching.

Why are there no yoga photos on this site?

In yoga, we are doing what doing what we can do and doing it because it is pleasurable. During a class, you (as a student) are not trying to copy a photo or me (as a teacher) and neither of us are performing or trying impress anyone. Once a photo of a posture is shown, it creates an image of how the posture 'should' be and presents it as a static destination. Rather than imitate an image, we will use the breath to create the posture and alignment. Rather than seek to reach a destination, we will keep moving and remain dynamic in the postures in a way a photo can never capture.
I'm not flexible! Can I do yoga?

Absolutely. Yoga is about connecting to your breath and body. It has nothing to do with turning your body into a pretzel, or even touching your toes. We move within the natural elasticity of the body, rather than try to change the body. I tailor the practice to exactly what your body can do.
I'm really tired! Can I do yoga?

Absolutely. We tailor the session to you and remain comfortable in postures. There's no need to do anything that you don't have energy for. I am very happy to help you relax so you can rest deeply. Consider an online 'just before bed' session to help you get a good night's sleep!
What type of yoga do you teach?

I teach yoga in the lineage of Tirumalai Krishnamacharya, as passed down to his son, T.K.V. Desikachar and recorded in the excellent book Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice. I teach yoga as it shared in the wonderful online studio Heart of Yoga. This is not a 'style' of yoga, but rather yoga that is: grounded in the yogic breath principles suited to the individual and taught in a non-hierarchical relationship. I teach the sequence of asana (postures), rest, pranayama (stationary breath to move energy) and meditation. The practice includes physical body movements, but is fundamentally guided by the breath. We can do what you like in the class: sun salutations, longer holds, bendy postures, gentle movement, lying postures. We add the breath principles to any movement and create yoga for you, just as you are.
I want a workout! Can I do yoga?

Absolutely. If you want to move and strengthen your body, we can do that! We'll place the breath principles in more challenging asanas and sun salutations. Give it a go, I think you'll like it!
What if I prefer group sessions?

Get in touch to express you're interest. We'll see what we can do!

Book a Session

Get in touch and we'll arrange your first session.