I started Northumberland Yoga back in 2005 just after my youngest child had been born, it felt like I had two babies to look after at one time ! I had for as long as can remember had a love for yoga and Pilates, it is no suprise then that is how I ended up making my living.
My own practice began in 1993 I began to suffer a terribly bad back, something instinctive told me to try Hatha yoga. I began practicing intially at home then later in the Buddhist Centre in Newcastle with a fabulous teacher called Sudaka. I have never had any back trouble since ! At first like most people I went to my once a week class and listened to my teacher tell us all how we should do a little every day and like most people thought “yeah yeah”. But gradually over 2 or 3 years yoga began to seep into my life, I went to Newcastle University and gained a degree in Religious Studies BA hons. Whilst there I had the opportunity to study Indian scriptures with a wonderful professor Dr Dermot Killingley which further deepened my interest. By now I had a daily practice and a growing meditation practice. With the birth of my two youngest there were points of course where my practice was 10 minutes but it was there.
It was the birth of my second child that led to my love of Pilates, I had significant abdominal surgery after the birth of James and needed the subtly of Pilates to mend those broken muscles. Which it did amazingly and since then became a part of my daily practice.
My yoga training was at Union Yoga in Edinburgh with the world renowned teacher Brian Cooper, since then I have studied with countless teachers including Danny Paradise, John Scott, Ana Forrest, Micheal Gannon, Matthew Sweeny and Donna Fariah.
My Pilates training was initially at Newcastle College followed by further study with the Pilates Institiute and Future Fit.
I do not teach yoga and Pilates as a hobby, it is my full time occupation or perhaps obsession as most of my free time is spent practicing or studying. When you come to my classes you have the benefit not only of a teacher who has been fully trained and continues to study but a teacher who lives the life and practice I advocate. Monday mornings aside I will never teach a class or session before 11.00 am to allow the morning for my own practice, currently my daily practice is between one and two and a half hours. It is my personal belief that the real work takes place not with gaining of certificates or having celebrity teachers to name but with the daily practice and exploration of the art of yoga and Pilates.
My personal aims for this year are to deepen my practice, not just in the physical sense but the more important spiritual, I also hope to make yoga and Pilates more accessible those who would not usually have the chance to start a practice. It is with this in mind that Maya Yoga has come into being, a progressive system that allows transition from a Hatha practice to the more esoteric yogic practices.
yoga at northumberlandyoga.co.uk
