Yoga & Somatics
Yoga and Somatics
My work is now a beautiful cross-pollination of yoga, Somatics, embodied anatomy, fascial matrix awakening and activating, energy practices, breathwork, mindfulness, relaxation and meditation. I bring all of this and my many years of experience to everything I teach whether it be my general yoga and Somatics classes or my specialist work in women’s health and chronic pain. Weaving all of these threads helps me to share the tapestry of what it means to be a truly healthy human.
Somatic Yoga for All
I have been teaching yoga for more than 20 years. In that time, I have continued to study voraciously and I love bringing my students the latest insights and practices. This keeps the classes fresh and up to date with the latest research into what promotes health and happiness. Somatics and my study of the fascial matrix model of anatomy have transformed how I teach. I now blend Somatics with my general yoga teaching as its approach aids reconnection between body and mind, promotes healing and creates more ease, balance and freedom in the body. My goal is always to design a session which will promote greater ease in body and mind.
My general yoga classes are for all ages and abilities. I have teenagers and octogenarians, triathletes and students with limited mobility. My classes are 90 minutes long and always include breathwork and 15 minutes meditation/relaxation which is crucial to give the brain time to integrate the practice and promote healing.
True yoga is so much more than exercise, it is not about performing poses and looking good but as my teacher Aadil Palkhivala says, ‘True yoga doesn’t care about the shape of your body, but the shape of your life. Yoga is not to be performed: yoga is to be lived. Yoga doesn’t care about what you have been: yoga cares about the person you are becoming.’ I profoundly agree with this, if you embrace it, yoga (especially with a somatic approach) will transform you – it is so much more than postures and lycra!
Face to Face Group Somatic Yoga Classes
Badminton Village Hall – Monday evenings – 6.30-8pm and 8.15-9.45pm
Online Group Somatic Yoga Classes
Online on Zoom – Tuesday evenings – 7-8.30pm
Somatics – What is it and how can it help?
Somatics is a movement therapy that reconnects mind and body. Somatic Movement Education offers a safe, fast and profound way to release and recalibrate tight muscles by re-training the nervous system and re-patterning the mind/body, such that every movement becomes easier and pain-free from your head to your toes. As a floor-based practice which encourages the nervous system to feel safe and relax, its healing effects can be incredibly fast.
Somatics restores functionality and balance in your muscular-skeletal system and relieves the effects of the stresses of the modern world. Put simply, Somatics restores the body/mind relationship and slowly educates you to notice how you feel in your body and make changes accordingly to improve your health and wellbeing.
I truly believe that everyone benefits from Somatics. It is especially helpful for those suffering from musculo-skeletal pain including all types of back pain as well as neck, shoulder, hip and knee pain. It can relieve the symptoms of many conditions including Arthritis, Sciatica, Scoliosis, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Frozen Shoulder, Piriformis Syndrome, Plantar Fasciitis, ME, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and Fibromyalgia. It is extremely helpful to athletes in the prevention of and recovery from injury. It can also relieve the symptoms of stress and anxiety related disorders.
Online Group Somatics Classes
Online on Zoom – Tuesday mornings – 9.30-11am
Relaxation
Relaxation is the missing piece! Modern life is ridiculously busy and most people are so over-stimulated they simply can’t switch off. People are constantly being told to ‘reduce their stress’ but simply don’t have the tools. There is a counter-intuitive truth that I believe is life-changing…..if you take time to relax every day, you will have more energy and be much more productive! Just as the necessity for good quality sleep is being re-evaluated, I believe that a daily relaxation practice can be the single, biggest game-changer for health. Ironically it is the one thing that many people find almost impossible and therefore an experienced guide is necessary. Teaching relaxation as a practice in itself is becoming an ever more important part of my work.
Coming Soon…..I am recording some audio guides which will be available to download soon.
