My Journey…
I have been holding space and teaching Yoga & Meditation full time since 2009. My development as both teacher and practitioner has drawn on experience, inspiration and trainings from different styles of Yoga over the many years. The precision, therapeutic and alignment focus of Iyengar Yoga is my main inspiration, and I connect deeply with the authentic Hatha principles of action and non action and its traditional philosophy and spirituality.
I teach in various countries in Europe including England, Spain, Ireland, Italy, the USA and many spots in Africa. I was based teaching and studying in India between 2014 and 2019: deepening my wisdom in the ancient healing therapies of Yoga, Massage, the study of Ayurveda and the power of Dance. My personal journey and goal of freedom, keeps me constantly driven through a process of self reflection, increased awareness and helping others to find physical and mental space.
Pregnancy & Yoga…
…in December 2020, I was blessed with experiencing the magical and challenging journey of pregnancy. I feel such gratitude for my Yoga and Meditation practice and how these amazing conscious tools and lifelong techniques aided me along the way. The absolute necessity to keep my body healthy, spacious and pain free throughout the pregnancy process as well as dealing with all the mental fluctuations, emotions and hormones can be attributed to Yoga & Meditation. The whole process is one of Yoga. I believe too that my understanding of the practice really helped me in the labour process and in becoming a mother. My plan is to do a live Doula training as soon as things open up.
I have taught pregnancy Yoga for at least 10 years now, but now that the teachings are one of experiential not only intellectual I truly look forward to touching many woman’s lives and pregnancy journeys. For any advice or more information feel free to reach out…..
YOGA
"Yoga is Life, Life is Yoga"
Yoga is so much more than a physical practice, it is a conscious way of existing. How we align and move our bodies, combined with total mental presence and awareness dictates and further extends to how we treat ourselves and others in the world. It is a daily process and practice….. No-one is exempt from the mental noise that exists and I believe it is our most important task in life to cultivate self reflection and awareness, expand self love and compassion so that this unravels and expands to all those around us. As the Buddha so wisely said : “ If you know and love yourself, you can harm no other.”
Practice Yoga with both intention and attention. Is your attention in the moment, with your breath and physical sensations, or have you lost consciousness…..Yoga is an inward journey, it is not about sculpting the body. What we attend to, and the attitude with which we attend to it, greatly influence how we experience ourselves and our lives. The more we practice yoga holistically the more mindful we become.
MEDITATION
"meditation is PASSIVE OBSERVATION"
Be quiet and go within. The quality of being aware and being alert. What you are watching is not the point. The action is not the question, but the quality that you bring to the action. When you are COMPLETELY observant, in a state of no action on any level, all activity has ceased and you just simply are, just being - this is Meditation. If even for a moment you are not thinking, not concentrating, not contemplating, not judging, not analysing - totally relaxed and full of space - that is Meditation. Even the act of trying to not do is an action. Meditation is total surrender.
Whatsoever you do with awareness can be Meditation. Once you have become aware of the way ‘just being’ can remain undisturbed, then small and finally all actions can be meditative, as long as you keep your inner volition unstirred and non reactive. True meditation is silence
An objective tool to discover the simplicity of just being is to watch without any manipulation the breath as it flows in and out naturally. There are many methods of Meditation, as long as they follow three essential things:- A completely relaxed state- no fighting or controlling of the mind. Second, observing whatever is happening without trying to interfere. And thirdly, watching without any judgement or evaluation. Of course the mind will pull one into action, towards analysis of past and or future, when you again become aware of this activity - use the breath to move you towards silence.
MASSAGE
I have been using my hands as a healing tool for as long as I can remember. I believe very strongly in the power of touch. A trained Reiki master, and a certified massage practitioner since 2007, I offer transformative body massage specific to each individual. My hands just know where to go, how to touch and when to touch. They understand the natural intelligence of the body.
Broad experience includes Shiatsu, Fascia work, Swedish & Deep Tissue Massage, Thai Yoga Massage, Abhyanga (Ayurvedic Massage), and Chi energy balancing. Drawing on these varied techniques, I work intuitively: holding space with complete presence, with or without oil.
QUALIFICATIONS
2006 - Certified Reiki 1, Reiki 2 and Reiki Masters Degree in "Hands on Healing"
2007 - Full Body Chi Massage Course 400 hours
2009 - Apprenticeship with Jax Jai in Ashtanga Primary Series in Cape Town, SA - 200 hours
2010 - RYT 200 Ashtanga / Vinyasa Teacher Training Course in Cape Town, SA @ Africa Yoga in St Francis Bay with Maria Taylor
2011 - Bikram & Yin training at Yoga Life in Cape Town. 300 Hours
2013 - RYT 200 Introduction to Forrest Yoga in March in Cape Town with Ana Forrest
- 100 hrs Advanced Forrest training at Triyoga in London in August with Ana Forrest
- 80 hrs Anusara Advanced Teacher’s Immersion with Patrick Creelman in Cape Town in October
2014 - 5 months immersed in India - practising Iyengar, Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga with various Indian teachers
- 80 hrs Synergy Immersion with Simon Borg-Olivier, the co-founder of Synergy Yoga Australia
2015 : India- 200 Hours Intensive "Pranic Healing" Course and 220 hours Teachers Training Course Level 1 Iyengar Yoga with Master Yoga Teacher Sharat Arora (student of BKS Iyengar for 8 years)
2016 : India - 200 Hours Intensive Ayurveda Course and 220 hours Teachers Training Course Level 2 Iyengar Yoga with Master Yoga Teacher Sharat Arora
2017 : Teaching full time at the Himalayan Iyengar Yoga Centre in Arambol, Goa during Winter & Dharamkot Centre in the Himalayas in the summer
2017 August : Resident Yoga teacher at the Italy Contact Camp in Tuscany
2018 March : Resident Yoga Teacher at the Thailand Contact Dance Festival in Koh Pangan
2018 September : Completed my 7th Vipassana 10 Day Silent Retreat
2019 January: Yoga Therapy Courses in Arambol, India
2020 January : Yoga Therpay Courses in Arambol, India