Wellness Specialist and Reiki Master

More than twenty years after my first Reiki class, I remain as passionate about Reiki as ever. It has connected me with wonderful teachers, students and friends, supported me through significant life events, and continues to inspire me every day.

Whether you are curious about Reiki for your own wellbeing, wish to become a practitioner, or simply feel called to explore something new, I would be delighted to welcome you onto your own Reiki journey.

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Yoga & Qi Gong Instructor

My yoga journey began when I was seventeen years old.

At the time, I was working at County Hall and lunchtime yoga classes were being offered to staff. I can no longer remember the teacher’s name, but I remember her clearly. She was a traditional yoga teacher, complete with the classic leotard that seemed synonymous with yoga in those days!

What stayed with me most, however, was not what she wore but how she taught. She had a wonderfully soft and gentle manner, and I particularly remember the relaxation and visualisation practices at the end of each class. Even then, I recognised how different I felt afterwards, calmer, more balanced and more connected to myself.

That first class sparked an interest that has remained with me throughout my life.

Over the years I have been fortunate to learn from many wonderful teachers, each bringing something unique to my understanding of yoga. Among them were Ted Frost, Elaine Fletcher, Katie Lane (NZ) and Benita Galvan (NZ).

One teacher who had a particularly significant influence on my journey was Ted Frost. Ted introduced me to the philosophy of yoga, helping me appreciate that yoga was far more than a series of physical postures. He was also the person who encouraged me to enrol on the British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course with Elaine Fletcher.

I thoroughly enjoyed the course and it planted a seed that would eventually grow into teacher training.

In 2006 I began my original yoga teacher training, excited about the possibility of sharing yoga with others. However, life had other plans. In 2007 my husband, dog Hendrix and I emigrated to New Zealand, and my training was placed on hold whilst we embraced a new chapter of our lives.

Although my teacher training paused, my yoga journey certainly did not.

In New Zealand I met some truly inspiring teachers and was introduced to Anusara Yoga, a heart-centred style of Hatha Yoga that deeply resonated with me. Inspired by the teachings, I undertook the Anusara Immersions with Katie Lane and Benita Galvan.

I completed two of the three immersions before the Christchurch earthquakes changed everything.

In fact, one of the earthquakes struck overnight whilst I was attending a yoga workshop with teacher Noah Maze. The roads were badly damaged, making it impossible for me to return for the following day’s training. Like so many experiences during that period, it became another reminder that life doesn’t always follow the plans we make.

Following our return to the United Kingdom in 2012, I was able to resume my teacher training with Elaine Fletcher, by then an NVQ qualification, and finally begin teaching yoga classes.

Many years later, in 2021, I was delighted to complete my final Anusara Immersion with Benita Galvan (UK), bringing a long chapter of study full circle.

Alongside my broader yoga training, I have always been interested in adapting yoga to support people with different health needs. This led me to undertake the British Wheel of Yoga’s Yoga for People Living with Cancer training programme, originally developed by Julie Friedeberger and later taught by Kari Knight.

It was an incredibly comprehensive and inspiring course that deepened my understanding of how yoga can be adapted to support people through challenging times. I taught these specialist classes for a period and gained valuable experience from doing so. Looking back, I feel these classes are often best suited to hospice or healthcare settings, where participants share a common experience. If I were to revisit this area in the future, I would likely offer a broader “Yoga for Healing” programme, creating a more inclusive space for people living with a variety of health conditions.

One of the greatest lessons yoga has taught me is that our bodies continually change.

The yoga I practised in my teens is not the same yoga I practised in my twenties and thirties. Equally, the yoga I teach in my forties and fifties has evolved alongside my own body and experience.

Every body has its own unique blueprint. Age, posture, lifestyle (including diet), injuries, surgery, health conditions and anatomy all influence how we move. Yoga is not about forcing the body into shapes; it is about working with the body you have today.

This philosophy forms the foundation of my teaching.

My classes are suitable for beginners and I always aim to offer modifications where needed. I encourage students to work at their own pace, honouring their bodies rather than comparing themselves to others.

I also teach Chair Yoga for those who find getting down to the floor, and perhaps more importantly getting back up again, a little challenging. Chair Yoga is often misunderstood as being purely gentle or relaxing. Whilst relaxation is certainly part of the experience, students are often surprised by how much movement, strengthening and energising work can be achieved from a chair.

As the years passed, I found myself increasingly drawn towards gentler, flowing movement practices in my own life. This naturally led me to discover Qi Gong.

Qi Gong shares many similarities with yoga in its focus on breath, movement, balance and wellbeing, yet it has its own unique character. I was captivated by the flowing movements and the emphasis on cultivating and balancing energy throughout the body.

My own Qi Gong teaching has been heavily influenced by Lee Holden, whose approach makes the practice accessible, enjoyable and suitable for a wide range of people. Drawing inspiration from the many styles of Qi Gong he has studied over the years, I have developed a teaching style that blends flowing movement, breath awareness and mindful practice into classes that are both enjoyable and restorative.

Today, yoga and Qi Gong complement one another beautifully within my life and teaching. Both encourage us to slow down, become more aware of our bodies and reconnect with ourselves amidst the busyness of modern life.

Looking back, it is remarkable to think that a lunchtime yoga class at seventeen years old would lead to a lifelong journey of learning, teaching and personal growth.