Sue Pendlebury

Sue has been teaching yoga for the past ten years. Her background is in music, dance and theatre. Whilst taking a break from theatre she discovered yoga and subsequently travelled around India, America, Bali and England training in all forms of yoga with many renowned yoga teachers.

Over the years she has trained in other forms of bodywork and healing which she weaves into her teaching and practise. Sue's classes are enthused by her creative background.

Sue is the director of Yoga on a Shoestring which she set up in 2003.

Kath Roberts

Kath Roberts began practising yoga nearly 20 years ago and has subsequently trained in many forms of yoga, including Sivananda, Iyengar and Astanga Vinyasa yoga.

She has trained with many of the best international teachers including Graeme Northfield, Dona Holleman and John Scott and has completed a three year Diploma in Yoga Therapy and has worked with a wide range of people therapeutically, including asthma and ME sufferers. Kath aims to make yoga accessible to all.

Her teaching is grounded in the Iyengar style but is strongly influenced by the dynamic flow of Astanga Vinyasa. Kath has also received training in massage, cranial sacral therapy, reiki and homeopathy.

Emil Wendel

Emil Wendel has been living in Asia since the mid-seventies, studying Indian thought as well as Chinese classical philosophy. His many years of residency in Nepal and India have brought about a passion for yoga, in particular the aspects of breath and meditation techniques in both the Buddhist and Hindu traditions. His courses offer a glimpse into the treasures of philosophy and their application in daily life as yoga practice and ritual, all in the original context.

He is presently conducting courses for teacher training programs of Yoga Arts, Australia and Purple Valley, India. When not in Nepal and India teaching, practicing and researching, Emil is conducting his own workshops and retreats in Europe, as well as in Bali, Singapore, Australia and Japan.

Nigel Gilderson

Nigel Gilderson has been teaching both Ashtanga and Hatha Yoga since the early Nineties and is based principally at the Brockwell Lido in South London, but also gives classes at a number of other locations in London. His classes have a unique flow, incorporating influences from many different traditions, enhancing concentration, breath awareness, strength and flexibility.

Beyond that Nigel also runs both weekend workshops at some beautiful country venues in the UK, and takes courses of varying duration abroad in such countries as Greece, Egypt, Sri Lanka and France.

Tim Cummins

Shadow yoga classes are energetic and vibrant, embodying the grace and flow of a yogic dance. They place attention on the breath and subtleties of movement, whilst building stability in your centre (core) and breaking down deep seated stiffness in the hips, back and shoulders.

Tim’s classes will always challenge you to explore your limitations without ever pushing you beyond them, and will leave you feeling calm and rejuvenated.

Tim has been practising Shadow Yoga for 8 years, having come from a background in Astanga and Sivananda, and has completed a 3 year teacher training course at Islington Yoga where he continues to practise. He also continues to study with Zhander Remete and Emma Balnaves.

Lara Stapleton

Lara Stapleton is a hatha yoga instructor trained by the International Sivananda Vedanta Centre and also a qualified aromatherapist. In 2004 she launched Yogaroma which was set up to take you on a holistic journey. The combination of Hatha Yoga and Aromatherapy massage gives you the chance to take time out from your stressful and demanding lifestyles and bring balance to you life.

Hatha Yoga unifies mind, body and spirit and helps attain relaxation, self awareness, increased vitality and balance of mind. Lara's classes are based on the hatha yoga technique of relaxation (savasana), breathing (pranayama), warm up exercises and postures (asanas). The aim is to improve strength and flexibility as well as developing the ability to relax.

Tami Hafzalla

Tami Hafzalla has studied extensively with master teachers and scholars in the US, Australia, India, Thailand, and The Middle East. She teaches classical Vinyasa sequences rooted in the Krishnamacharya lineage.

Her style is dynamic yet she teaches with tenderness and compassion. Her verbal instructions are concise and her hands on adjustments are both skillful and nurturing. She aims to empower her students, challenging them to safely find their edge and expand themselves physically and spiritually.

Tami feels blessed that she has been chosen to share the delights of yoga and does so with humility. She teaches community classes, private sessions, specialty workshops and local and international retreats. Additionally Tami can be consulted for Ayurveda and serves as a labor support Doula.

Ali Gilling

Yoga is my passion. It has become a huge part of my life. My search began in India 18 years ago where I lived for two years studying with my yoga teacher on a 1 to 1 basis. I became so inspired I continued exploring different styles of yoga around the globe... Qualifying as a Sivananda teacher in 1998, followed by a 10 days silent meditation retreat (Vipassana).

Being inspired by my many teachers, my classes focus on flowing
creative sequences of gentle yet dynamic yoga, synchronizing breath (pranayama) and body (asana) together.

Fusing a mix of my different styles of yoga and dance background offers an inspiring blend of strength and flexibility, power and ease. This allows the student to go deeper into the practice depending on the ability sometimes weaving in visualisation and meditation.

Recently I have facilitated ‘Visualisation and Goal Setting’ sessions for the senior division of the Metropolitian Police. Twice a year I teach on yoga holidays in Egypt, India, Ibiza and Morocco and run 1 day workshops.

I also work as a massage therapist at the NHS trust, Dorchester and Hilton hotel. I have worked with Adult Education, Women’s Refuge, Mental Health.

Cathy Ebbels

Cathy Ebbels works as an artist and teacher, specialising in mosaic. She studied Fine Art and French at Exeter University and the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Toulouse, and later qualified as a primary school teacher.

She has worked in Asia, Australia and Africa and has exhibited both in the UK and abroad. Over the years she has trained in a variety of different media and techniques and in 2003 began working in mosaic, finding it a wonderful medium through which to express her love of colour, shape and the natural world.

Much of her work now involves community arts projects such as mosaics for schools and public parks as well as workshops in carnival arts, withy sculpture and painting. Through her teaching she aims to share her passion for art and help others discover their creative talents.

Rachel Hull

Rachel Hull is an eloquent, highly skilled and caring teacher, who has a way of encouraging her students to feel nurtured, empowered and inspired to learn more. Using the Vinyasa (movement/breathing) system and ancient Ayurvedic wisdom, she weaves asana, pranayama and meditation together in a fresh, fun and organic way.

Rachel has been practicing Yoga for 19 years and is a trained Ayurvedic Lifestyle Consultant. Originally from Australia, she has spent the past year and a half in Shanghai, China, where she served as Senior Teacher and Director of the Teachers Training Academy at Y+ Yoga Center.

Liz Warrington

Liz has been teaching Yoga for the past 15 years, inspired by the work of Vanda Scaravelli whose beautiful book 'Awakening the Spine' has led to a revolutionary way of approaching the practice. It is through gentle encouragement and hands on teaching that she invites students to tune into the voice and spaciousness within and learn to follow the rhythm of the body, mind and breath, going with it rather than against. This makes not only for a very personal practice but also one that is highly creative and that evolves moment by moment. One that opens to the present, to freedom, the heart and the inner peace and tranquility that was always there.

Based in Brighton, and having worked out of Brighton's Natural Bodies - Yoga, Movement and Therapy Centre for 10 years, Liz now regularly leads workshops, holidays and retreats abroad in Europe and Asia. While her own practice has developed and deepened over this time through an increasing interest in and practice of Vipassana (Insight) Meditation.

Clare Calvert

Clare studied Fine Art at Camberwell and Chelsea Schools of Art. She first started yoga while at college after getting whiplash from a motorcycle accident. Then she discovered the power of yoga to not only provide a sense of calm and well-being, but also to heal. For the first time, she realised that she could take responsibility for her own health and healing through combined stretching, breathing and greater body awareness and sensitivity.

Clare took her Teacher training in Sivananda Yoga 20 years ago. Following this, she has studied extensively with Shandor Remete and in Iyengar yoga, spending time at the Institute in Pune, India with BKS and Geeta Iyengar. She has also practiced Ashtanga Vinyasa and Scaravelli Yoga and studied with Zhixing Wang, the inspirational Qi gong master.

Clare has a deep-rooted practice which integrates her knowledge from all these forms together with her ongoing exploration of movement and its effects on the body. Recently she has been working with Liz Koch, author of The Psoas Book. Liz’s work inspires and compliments Clare’s emphasis on grounding and also brings a more fluid and spontaneous approach into the practice.

Teaching yoga for Clare is a joy, being able to share both her enthusiastic research of the practice; her love of people and genuine desire to help and heal.

Clare also practices reflexology and massage and continues her work as an artist.

Charlie Boardley

Charlie Boardley has been practising yoga for ten years and has studied with various schools in India. She also regularly trains with some of the world's most senior teachers to keep her teaching style fresh and innovative. Her classes are traditional Hatha Yoga inspired mainly by Sivananda and include relaxation, pranayama (breathing techniques), sun salutations and usually a dynamic flowing sequence of asanas (postures) bringing awareness into mindfulness, energy flow and core stability.

She likes yoga to be fun, sharing what she knows of this ancient philosophy in a down to earth and practical way. She always encourages people to work within their own limits and at the same time to challenge themselves. Charlie has completed courses in Polarity therapy and Reiki and brings a healing and holistic approach to her classes.

Belle Greenwood

Prompted by backpain, Belle took up yoga some 18 years ago discovering a positive shift not only physically; like a bubble of oxygen rising up though turbulent waters, yoga helped gain clarity to take the next best step forward - sometimes immediate clarity, sometimes not so immediate!

Drawing from her studies across a wide rage of traditions - Sivananda, Ashtanga, Iyengar and Scaravelli - Belle teaches flowing Hatha yoga weaving asana on the breath, pranayama and meditation according to level & context. Her aim is to help students establish a sustainable, safe and enjoyable practice, leading towards greater well-being, clarity and joie de vivre!

Alongside teaching, Belle continues her singing career, developing songwriting at present and performing too. She is qualified in Holistic, Indian Head and Facial Rejuvenation Massage. Belle is a practicing Buddhist.

Helen Noakes

Helen Noakes has been practicing hatha yoga for 17 years. She began her journey in Australia with the Iyengar system and finally found her way into her body with the magical teachings of Vanda Scaravelli. 

She trained to be a teacher with Gary Carter in the UK  and now travels globally working with the reclaim yourself team and giving training programmes in body work techniques such as Chavutti Thirumal\ Indian rope massage and  hot-stone therapy .

She brings this energy into her teaching. Her approach is to use the asanas and breathwork to release the spine from tension, allowing our bodies to "come home" and surrender to gravity. This gives space to experience what occurs naturally from the ground up!  -  the spirals, waves and curves eminating from the spine. This response enables us to find relaxation and joy in our practice. Helen is strongly influenced by the explorations of the five rhythm dance system and brings this lightness into the practice!

Sunnah Rose

Sunnah Rose has been practicing yoga for many years but became truly inspired during a trip to India. "It is amazing how your mind and body feel after just doing a few simple exercises. I love the awareness Yoga has given me of my body and mind. Yoga brings not only stillness and calm but also an indescribable energy and feeling of bliss."

Having trained with many different teachers, she combines her experience to bring a deeply relaxing class intent on releasing the spine alongside a gentle vinyasa (flow) hatha yoga, bringing creativity and dynamism to the practice.

Jane Manze

Jane Manze was led to Hatha Yoga via a background in martial arts, dance, bodywork and an exploration of various Yoga styles over the past 18 years.

Inspired by the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli, Jane encourages students to find freedom, flexibility and strength in the body, by taking time within each asana and being present and attentive to the breath. Her passion for dance also comes into her teaching, where she invites the flow of postures and the breath to meet. This 'simple' breath focus ultimately gives us greater body/movement awareness.

Jane currently teaches groups and individuals in the Brighton area and leads holidays abroad. She trained at Natural Bodies in Brighton and in India. She has worked with many of Vanda Scarvelli's direct students.

Kate McKenzie

Kate McKenzie has been practising various forms of yoga all her adult life. She teaches Kundalini and Sivananda yoga. Her busy career as a singer/performer informs her approach. Her workshops explore the connection between breath, movement and chakra awareness in order to free the voice and enjoy greater well being and creativity.

Kundalini yoga has a wealth of practices which really help to balance, energise and develop the entire being. Kate has lead "Mantra Choirs" for fun singing and improvising in groups to free body, sound and soul! Other training includes massage, Reiki, First Nature voice, Indian Rag and Life Coaching.

Jodi Boone

Jodi Boone teaches a blend of vinyasa and hatha yoga and offers a fluid, yet quieting, practice. She specializes in assisting people of all levels through hands-on adjustments, helping each practitioner move more deeply into their practice. She believes that the philosophical and spiritual teachings are an important aspect of yoga and integrates relevant readings and stories during her classes, drawing from many teachers, traditions and texts.

Jodi lives in Goa India where she co-directs Satsanga Retreat. She is an ayurvedic massage therapist, writer and doula and is currently working on her certification as an ayurvedic practitioner.

Louise Grime

Louise Grime first discovered yoga over 30 years ago and that was it. She knew that it was something she loved.

Since then she has travelled frequently to India to study, training and teaching in Ashrams and spending time at the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune. She trained as an Iyengar Teacher in 1994 and that is still her main influence but she has a softer more flowing approach now. Her most important teachers have been BKS Iyengar, Shandor Remete, John Scott and Alaric Newcombe.

For the last 19 years she has taught in and around London mainly at Triyoga, The Life Centre and The Tabernacle.

Deepa Moodgal

Deepa has been practising yoga for over 15 years. Her style of teaching is intuitive - centered around creating fluid movements in the body, derived from the classical form of Hatha Yoga with elements of beautiful Vinyasa waves. Her classes are strong, dynamic, slow and creative, building strength, elongating the muscles and opening the cells by channelling the flow of prana.

She brings humour, warmth and passion into her classes and her teachings are about guiding her students back to their true essence of peace,harmony and joyful living. She believes yoga is a universal gift and offers this gift to all whom she comes into contact with. She offers immediate gratitude to family, friends and teachers who guide her daily along this path of selfless service.

Brigitte Rooney

Brigitte has been practising yoga for 24 years and teaching for 9 years. She has experience in, Hatha yoga, Astanga yoga and Vinyasa Prana Flow yoga. In 2004 she was introduced to Anusara Yoga. Her first Anusara teacher training course had a transformational effect on her attitude towards life and literally transformed her Yoga practice opening her body, heart and mind consequently deepening her understanding of 'Yoga'. Her practice and teaching continues to pour knowledge into her life as she draws inspiration from her students as well as her teachers and she feels honoured to be able to share this passion with others.

Brigitte believes that physical practice is about feeling the energy in each posture internally and to let this prana flow unobstructed within our bodies so that we feel a sense of freedom from both physical and emotional tension. The breath is the music and our body dances to it as she links creative, dynamic and at times challenging flow sequences. A strong focus is placed on postural alignment so that each student finds his or her unique optimal body blueprint moving towards a more vibrant, lighter, stronger, flexible, confident body and cultivating more love along the way. Her teaching also incorporates Restorative Yoga, Therapeutic Yoga, Pranayama, Mudras, Relaxation, Yoga Nidra and Meditation.

Anusara Yoga is uplifting and fun, Brigitte welcomes and invites students of all ability to be open to all possibilities, to embrace and expand their experience of yoga and life.

Dory Walker (Dayadevi)

Finding herself on her first asana mat at 18, Dory has experienced the true spirit of yoga as transformational practise. She believes in the power of yoga to guide conscious evolution, individually and collectively. She brings the essence of the ancient teachings to her classes in fun and creative way with hatha yoga practises, meditation, profound relaxation and chanting.

A global adventurer, Dory has taught in Canada, New Zealand, India and Egypt, teaching retreats and teacher training courses. She is an Advanced certified teacher and has practised and studied many forms of Hatha Yoga (physical yoga) all of which influence and enrich her teaching. Her classes are fun and encourage students to discover their edge and use their practise as an art of transformation.

With a deep desire to immerse fully in the yogic way of life, Dory became a staff member of the highly respected Sivananda organisation and was very fortunate to study, practise and live in ashrams in India and Canada.

A practising therapist and Reiki Master, Dory gives intuitive treatments that draw on her wide ranging experience and knowledge from a broad spectrum of healing modalities.

Through her own self-practise and study she continues to develop experience and knowledge gaining fresh inspiration for her teaching.

Georgina Evans

Georgina was first introduced to yoga at the age of 16 while at boarding school in Yorkshire. She was taught Sivananda style yoga for two years and then left the path to explore other youthful delights. She returned to Sivananda yoga in 1993 after completing a BA in Fine arts at Goldsmiths College in London and the loosely pursued Sivanandaa yoga along with her interest in the visual and performance arts and dance. She discovered Astanga Vinyasa Yoga, Mysore Style, in 1999 and has been practicing Astanga yoga for ten years.

Georgina has a British Wheel of Yoga teaching certificate and has trained with leading yoga teachers in various styles, including Astanga Vinyasa Yoga with Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Hamish Hendry, Dena Kingsburg; Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers and Paul Grilley and Dynamic flow yoga with Shiva Rea. She incorporates aspects of alignment, strength-building and encourages inner reflection and self-healing through her sharing of yoga teachings.

Georgina sees yoga as a path of self-discovery leading to good health, happiness and healing. Her classes offer a warm, nurturing and safe environment in which to cultivate self-awareness by working with focus and commitment, softness and strength, and a connection to inner peace and joy.

Victoria White

Artist, photographer and art teacher Victoria White has exhibited throughout Europe to considerable acclaim, building up an enviable client list that includes Prince Albert II of Monaco, Vanessa Redgrave, Joely Richardson and Ralph Lauren. Most recently, her work was selected for the Royal Academy of Art Summer exhibition. Her work has regularly been featured in publications such as Vanity Fair, Tatler, The Sunday Telegraph and The Daily Mail.

With her unique way of working Victoria sees a new an astonishing world: a world of parallel moments, of reflections, of the normally unseen and the coincidental. Her work continues to find the extraordinary and beautiful in the most ordinary everyday objects – whether it is glass panelling, bottles of water, or simply barren trees along side Tate Britain. The work reveals an insight into a previously unseen dimension.

For her recent paintings, Victoria has continued to be inspired by the natural process of creating images. Using glass panels to add paint to she has then photographed the process of one colour gently absorbing into another. This technique using mainly acrylic or gauche has produced some of the most vivid and striking results

Carol Macartney

Carol has over twenty years experience of teaching yoga and meditation. She trotted around the globe to practice with some of the worlds most influential teachers.

Her experience of yoga and love of nature are interwoven into the most integral, intuitive and blissful classes available today. She has run holidays all over the world and has facilitated in opening the only two yoga studios on the Isle of Wight, where she lives with her three sons.

Her love of life and yoga is contagious and all are welcome from beginner level to advanced. The practice Carol will be offering is a blissful cocktail of asana, pranayama, meditation and dance.

Nigel Shamash

Nigel Shamash trained as a yoga teacher in Pondicherry, India, as a young man in 1973 and has been teaching ever since. He is an accomplished singer and musician and includes a combination of sound, musical improvisation and movement in his courses, skillfully weaving together a synthesis of Eastern and Western approaches to the spiritual path.

He founded an alternative holiday centre in southern Spain, Cortijo Romero, in 1986 and is now based in southern France where he runs his own yoga centre, La Roane.

He is fun loving and welcoming with a special blend of humour and sensitivity.

Andrew Wrenn

Andrew Wrenn has been practising yoga for the past fifteen years and for him it is a way of life. He is a British Wheel of Yoga trained teacher with influences from the Iyengar, Ashtanga and Satyanada traditions, which he has passionately developed into a fusion of breath coordinated movement and classical postures which is adaptable to all abilities.

" I came to yoga (or yoga found me!) at a time in my life where I suffered from asthma and felt I had no real direction in life. I fully embraced the physical, philosophical and spiritual aspects of yoga which has transformed my health and given me a love and a zest for life. I have a close affinity with nature and the outdoors where I enjoy horse riding, cycling or simply sitting and watching the unfolding of the universe"

Further studies with Clive Sheridan, The Scandinavian School of Yoga, Tantra and Meditation and his involvement with Kalari Piat has brought a vibrancy, depth and clarity to his teaching which he hopes will inspire, promote well-being and reflection.

Ishwara

Ishwara (Neil Pendlebury) teaches Yoga and Meditation classes and retreats in South Lakeland, Cumbria. Ishwara is guided by the enlightened teachings and lives of Swami Sivananda Saraswati of Rishekesh and his disciple Swami Vishnu Devananda.

Ishwara began his Yoga and Meditation practice in London 1991, training in many of the Hatha Yoga's such as Kundalini, Ashtanga, Shadow, Iyengar and Sivananda Yoga until leaving for the Lake District in 2002. Prior to Yoga Neil was a keen footballer and athlete. Desiring, eventually, a more holistic, cerebral tool to work mind and body brought Ish to Yoga and India.

Training with the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta (2003) helped Neil connect more deeply with the heart or bhakti aspect of Yoga and day to day living.
Today Ish teaches with a strong connection to the classical lineage of Asana, Pranayama, Bandha, Mantras and Meditation.

Ishwara is also a fully qualified practitioner of traditional Thai Yoga massage.

Susan Metwali

Susan has been a popular teacher in West London since the early 90s. Those who attend her classes range in age from 8 - 80 but she has become particularly sought after by older learners, many of whom attend her Age Well groups and have themselves practised yoga for many decades.  Susan has proven to be a great teacher for beginners because she allows people to develop at their own pace and gives lots of instruction and insight into the yoga work. Originally she trained as a teacher in the Iyengar school and therefore pays great attention to alignment and focus and safety in the asanas. Since that time she has broadened her experience with other schools and teachers and developed a style of teaching that is truly joyful and uplifting. 

"We are all individuals both physically and mentally. My aim is to teach yoga in way that  enables everyone to discover the practice that suits them and to realise that no matter whatever your age or ability, Yoga can really benefit your life."

Susan has visited Egypt many times in the past because she is married to an Egyptian. She will therefore be able to give lots of interesting information about customs and way of life not to mention some basic arabic language that you can try out in the local shops and restaurants if you so wish.

David Olton

David trained at the Stella Mann School of Dance (ballet), The Laban Centre (contemporary dance) and received his yoga teacher's diplomas with the International Yoga School (A.I .Y.S) and Sunra Yoga ttc.

David is the yoga teacher on sky's fitness tv channel and teaches classes and workshops in central london and internationally. His classes encompass the many different styles of training he has achieved over the years including Sivananda, Ashtanga and Pilates.

He is the creator of Yoga Ballet Fusion and has produced two DVDs.

Andrea Everingham

Andrea runs a successful Holistic Fitness Personal Training company, and has been teaching many styles of movement for mind and body for the past 15 years.

Her experience of wellbeing and happiness had always come from natural high of aerobic and dance classes that she taught, until she discovered yoga.

She practiced for 4 years before she trained in California as an Integrative Yoga Teacher, which studies and integrates all styles of Yoga. She went on to train as a Yoga Therapist gaining my 500hr level and certification by the International Yoga Alliance. Yoga is a discipline that you are always a student of very much like life, so I continued to study with some of Yoga’s leading teachers.

Andrea offers an integral practice, combining the challenge and energy of ashtanga, with the focus of alignment of Iyengar to the soothing and calming essence of stillness of restorative and yin postures. Her practices are for everyone, accessible for beginners and yet also offering more challenging variations .

Nicky Lowe

Nicky Lowe has been teaching Hatha Yoga since 2005 and practicing since 1997. Her classes are open to all levels and ages. Ready to answer questions and support your experience Nicky is a dedicated and enthusiastic teacher. She qualified in India through the Sivananda Vedanta School in Kerala, and is currently studying to qualify as an Iyengar Yoga teacher too. Nicky continues to enjoy workshops and training with excellent Yoga teachers including, Rajiv and Swati Chanchani, and Alaric Newcombe.

In her teaching there is an emphasis on engaging from the inside out with the nature and effect of Yoga Asana. Looking within. To truly feel the magic of the postures attention is paid to the alignment of the body, creating stability and openness to then experience the breath and meditative qualities of the Asana practice.

Michelle Cobbin

Michelle has been teaching yoga since 2001. She has 20 years experience working in the field of natural therapies.

Her approach to yoga draws upon 15 years of practice with inspirational teachers, all of whom have been influenced by the work of Vanda Scaravelli. Michelle draws on this experience and combines it with her long-standing interest in insight meditation (vipassana) from the Theravada Buddhist tradition.

Her classes involve cultivating patience and relaxation to become aware of where we hold tension, and bringing mindfulness to the simple mechanics of movement. This approach of developing curiosity in ‘how’ we practice enables us to release unhelpful habits of movement and find a sense of freedom in the body. This enhances our ability to become more grounded, stable and at ease – whether we are engaged in asana, pranayama or informal practice.

Michelle is based in Brighton, England, where she teaches yoga and runs a reflexology clinic. She also works as a freelance artist.

Jonathan Orchard

Having been trained by the International Sivananda Vedanta Centre, Jonathan has been teaching yoga since the mid 1990’s. He is also a qualified holistic massage therapist.

Using his relaxed yet professional style, combined with a sense of fun and friendliness, Jonathan brings out the best in both beginners and advanced students alike. During his classes, Jonathan encourages his students to notice the flow of the breath and to take their time with each asana, being present in the moment.

Jonathan has run holidays in France and Ibiza.  After spending time living in California, Jonathan moved to the Findhorn Community in Scotland where he taught for two years.

He is now based at a Dynamic yoga studio in Brighton, as well as teaching privately.

He continues to develop his music career with songwriting and performance and uses this passion for music and the voice as an instrument to run workshops exploring the Yoga of Sound.

He also used this love of entertaining and song to bring yoga to children through song, dance and stories at Kids a Go Go Yoga.

Peter Roussel

Passionate about breath and movement from years of dancing and lone wondering on mountain bikes, Peter was introduced to Ashtanga yoga in Manchester, his home town in 1998, and loved it.

More than ten years on, three teacher trainings and many long retreats later, Peter's passion for breath and movement has refined into how they can bring us to a place of stillness and joy.

Running workshops, classes, retreats and privates all over the world, Peter aims to assist the friends he meets in tasting something divinely special within. He does that with demanding asana and soft lying around, he does it with careful, precise guidance and by offering time for self exploration. Usually combining meditation and focus, with asana and pranayama. Peter aims to awaken a sense of inner delight and ease of being.

Jaya Jaks

Jaya started practising yoga in 1995 and has explored many styles since. She completed an intensive 9-month teacher training in Byron Bay in 2003 and taught at Brahmani Yoga (former Purple Valley) in India until 2008. She now lives and works in London and periodically leads or assists on retreats abroad.

Jaya teaches a dynamic flow style that combines the integrity, precision and alignment of Iyengar with the movement and breath awareness of Vinyasa. Her most influencial teachers include Glenn Ceresoli, Louisa Sear, Clive Sheridan and Max Strom.

Jaya's techniques tend to suit students of varying abilities, as they can be both calming and challenging. Most important, Jaya creates a safe and nurturing environment that encourages self-discovery and non-competitiveness. She is particularly skilled at one-on-one adjustments.

As well as strengthening the body and increasing stamina and flexibility, Jaya’s teachings help create a more peaceful mind, a more open heart and a more grounded attitude, all of which can help no end in today’s hectic world.

Jaya completed Sitaram Pregnancy Yoga training last year, and is currently studying for a Yoga Therapy Diploma with Yoga Campus.

Sophie Costes

Ayurvedic, certified WaterDance & Watsu therapist, Sophie Costes offers bodywork treatments on land and in water.

Her journey as a therapist and an Ayurvedic lifestyle consultant peaked as she responded to demand to share her skills on workshops which focus on how to adapt the benefits of Ayurveda to modern lifestyles. She teaches two forms of traditional Ayurvedic massages: Abhyanga and Chavutti Thirumal (indian rope massage).

French born Sophie, trained as dancer and yogini. The practice of meditation contributes greatly to her therapy work as the ability to hold space for people in sessions and training programs.

Her passion for opening the heart with conscious touch is expressed by continued dedication to developing her practice and teaching of Ayurveda. She pursues sharing the expression of unconditional love that is “Presence”, in water treatments that naturally combine movement & meditation.

Maurizio Marmorato

Maurizio has been practicing yoga in different forms since 2003 and completed his training as a hatha yoga teacher at the Amrita School of Yoga in London. The results of his own practice and his seeking spirit have led him to believe that yoga has the power to transform people's desires, needs and attitudes towards life into something magical of the utmost importance. He is committed to exploring and meeting those individual needs and to making yoga friendly, fun and accessible to everyone.

Drawing on Ashtanga and Jivamukti yoga practices, Maurizio's teaching brings together a balance between ying and yang energies. A harmonious blend of intense, dynamic, vigorous elements counterposed by a more gentle, introspective style. This leads to a development of strength and flexibility whilst finding and maintaining an inner sense of union.

Lee Carter

Lee has been practicing hatha yoga for nearly 20 years and teaching for 12. She began her yoga journey with Faustomaria of Innergy yoga and went on to complete the Sivananda yoga teachers training. She has also recently completed a 2 year Lecoq physical theatre course in which she found she could use all of her yoga practice in a more outward and creative way.

Lee teaches hatha yoga working closely with the breath and moving fluidly through the yoga postures. This style of yoga is open to anyone of any age or physical capability, you will practice to your own ability and grow in your own connection with your breath and body. Your spine will inevitably become stronger and more flexible as will the rest of the body and through the constant awareness of the breath you will discover your ability to let go, relax and revitalise yourself.

Lila Conway

Lila was first introduced to yoga in the early eighties through a book, ‘The book of YOGA’ by Sivananda, this was her first teacher. Asana practice felt very natural, but it was the chanting and philosophy that really fuelled an intense desire to learn more.

Lila continued her study and practice of yoga and naturally went on to complete a Yoga Teachers Training Course at the Sivananda Ashram, Kerala, India in 2001. Having lived within the Sivananda yoga ashrams and centres in India and Canada for the best part of eight years, it was during this time of service that ashram life deeply transformed her and sparked an intense love for yoga, chanting and devotional service.

Lila currently leads yoga classes, retreats and workshops in the Bristol area and beyond. Her classes can be dynamic and challenging or soft, nurturing and meditative. As a result of years of practice and study Lila shares from the heart and has an intuitive and compassionate teaching style, offering presence, love and attention to each individual. Lila is trained to Advanced Level and has been the main teacher of Hatha Yoga on the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Courses in both India and Canada since 2008.

Emma Despres

Emma's journey as a yoga teacher began when she qualified as a Yoga Alliance registered teacher with the Integrated South Pacific Yoga Academy in Byron Bay, Australia in 2005 before undertaking further training with the Byron Yoga Centre. Upon returning to Guernsey she founded BeInspired in order to share her knowledge, joy and experience of yoga with the local population.

Emma has recently completed Level 1 & 2 of the Phoenix Rising Yoga Therapy training in North America and is a Member of the International Association of Yoga Therapists, as well as a qualified Children’s Yoga teacher and Pregnancy Yoga teacher.

As a Reiki and Holistic Therapist, Emma likes to combine her knowledge and experience of energy healing with the ancient yoga teachings for a truly holistic approach to healing and life generally.

Carlene Sullivan

Carlene has been practicing yoga since 1996 and received her yoga teacher certification in 2003. She owns and operates SymmetreeYoga World Tours, a successful yoga business rooted in North America. In the past six years her business has branched out internationally and she has had the opportunity to host Adventure Yoga retreats / workshops in Italy, India, Costa Rica, Ecuador, Switzerland and North America.

Her appreciation and love for the outdoors led her down a path to become a Certified Wilderness Therapy Guide and she strongly encourages blending the ancient healing art of yoga with nature to create a teaching in perfect harmony with Mother Nature. Her teachings combine Earth, Water, Fire and air along with breath, meditation and various styles of Yoga to tone and strengthen the entire body while guiding your subconscious mind into a higher level of awareness.

Her years of studies include various workshops in Ayurveda, Thai yoga therapies, massage, aromatherapy and advanced asana trainings. Her yoga style blends Vinyasa, Kundalini, Raja and Hatha while incorporating the elements of the earth into a loving, yet challenging approach into the healing art of yoga.

Robert Kohl

Robert’s path to yoga led him to Jivamukti yoga, Sivananda Yoga and Brian Kest’s Power Yoga. He received his teacher’s certification in 2008 and since then has participated in Brian Kest Power Yoga Teacher Training and in various workshops and trainings with Jivamukti Yoga.

Robert began teaching yoga in his hometown of Dachau, Germany and in the past few years has expanded his teachings of yoga at Chi Loft in Munich, Yogaraum in Liechtenstein and recently has become a new staff member and teacher of SymmetreeYoga World Tours Co. of North America. His travels throughout the year include hosting yoga trainings/ workshops in India, Germany, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Ecuador, Spain, Italy and North America.

His teaching style is dynamic, fluent and individual. He combines the philosophy of yoga into each practice while encompassing many different styles of yoga with guided meditation to create a whole body, mind, spirit experience.