About
Hi, I’m Michelle
I’m a happy, welcoming, down to earth yoga teacher!
I’m not super bendy from a dance background and you may not find me in crop tops on Instagram in acrobatic poses, as I am simply a 51 year old menopausal yoga teacher, who likes to keep my midriff covered!
I am very much a real life yoga person, who enjoys practising yoga, teaching yoga, making yoga accessible and enjoyable for everyone and every body.
I have been teaching yoga for ten years and I first stepped onto a yoga mat 20 years ago, and I have not looked back since! Yoga is very much a part of my everyday life, helping me to stay calm and balanced through life’s ups and downs, and to deal with any stress or anxiety.
Initially, my practice was to become more flexible and help with my fitness levels. However, following a diagnosis with Lupus in my mid-thirties, I found that yoga gave me the nurturing strength and support to recover and connect with my body and mind. Yoga helped with the healing process and taught me to ‘listen to my body’, to slow down and become a Lupus Warrior!
My yoga practice supported me to deal with the grief of several miscarriages, and the practice of Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra, became a valuable part of my grieving process. My understanding of ‘tuning into my body and mind’ became more apparent, allowing myself to heal, and connect to renewed internal energy and resilience.
My life experience (so far!) has given me the opportunity to learn and grow in my own yoga practice and teaching, become more self-aware and to know how to look after myself.
I endeavour to be able to share and translate this into my teaching, which is focused on helping my students. It gives me a great sense of gratitude, knowing that my students experience the many benefits of yoga, and find my classes supportive in their well-being.
Training
I began my formal training in Yoga when my interest grew to more than just ‘doing the poses’. I continue to deepen my knowledge of yoga by attending regular workshops and training to explore, learn and experience the full range of yoga styles and teaching skills, to then be able to share these with and help my students with real life issues.
Teaching
Hatha yoga is a holistic, nurturing, dynamic and strengthening practice, to stretch, realign and create freedom in the body, incorporating breathing practices, meditation and relaxation to provide an enjoyable, safe and well-rounded practice, to leave students feeling energised, calm and balanced.
My teaching focuses on practices to open, stretch and strengthen the body, by working through postures which are taught in stages, to find the right stage suited for the student to work with.
This allows students to become body aware, by learning correct alignment, develop an understanding of how their body works and encourage a more mindful practice by learning to listen to their body, rather than just making fancy yoga shapes!
My classes are for a mixed ability, with safe modifications for those who find it less than easy or who are ‘newbie yogis’, and challenging options for the experienced yogi, aiming to create a space for students to connect and develop their own yoga practice journey.
My yoga journey is ongoing and boundless, always learning a little more along the way about myself, my practice, my health, my body, my mind, my teaching and my students. I use this knowledge to encourage others to experience the benefits of yoga, allowing them to explore, have fun with their yoga and make a change to their well-being with compassion and kindness.
“Yoga is not about touching your toes, it is what you learn on the way down.”
Jigar Gor
- 2008 - British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course
-
2015 - British Wheel of Yoga Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Yoga (500h)
Zoe Knott and Bob Insley -
Restorative Yoga Teacher
Anna Ashby at Triyoga, London -
Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) Teacher
Bihar Tradition, Satyananda Yoga Centre, London -
Yoga for Insomnia and Sleep Recovery
Lisa Sanfilippo at Yoga Campus, London -
Yoga Therapy for Restful Sleep
Yoga United Education -
Yin Yoga & Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training - Level 1
Sarah Lo at Triyoga, London -
Diploma in Meditation Teaching (Distinction)
British School of Meditation -
Menopause Yoga Accredited Teacher
Petra Coveney -
Yoga for a smoother Menopause
Francoise Freedman and Belinda Staplehurst, Birthlight -
Mental Health First Aider
Mental Health First Aid England -
CPD Trainings: Yoga Nidra for Mental Health; Mental Health Skills for Yoga Teachers; Professional Yoga Skills for Working with Depression; Trauma Sensitive Yoga Skills
The Minded Institute
Hi, I’m Michelle
I’m a happy, welcoming, down to earth yoga teacher!
I’m not super bendy from a dance background and you may not find me in crop tops or on Instagram in acrobatic poses, as I am simply a 51 year old menopausal yoga teacher, who likes to keep my midriff covered!
I am very much a real life yoga person, who enjoys practising yoga, teaching yoga, making yoga accessible and enjoyable for everyone and every body.
I have been teaching yoga for ten years and I first stepped onto a yoga mat 20 years ago, and I have not looked back since! Yoga is very much a part of my everyday life, helping me to stay calm and balanced through life’s ups and downs, and to deal with any stress or anxiety.
Initially, my practice was to become more flexible and help with my fitness levels. However, following a diagnosis with Lupus in my mid-thirties, I found that yoga gave me the nurturing strength and support to recover and connect with my body and mind. Yoga helped with the healing process and taught me to ‘listen to my body’ and to slow down!
My yoga practice supported me to deal with the grief of several miscarriages, and the practice of Restorative Yoga and Yoga Nidra, became a valuable part of my grieving process. My understanding of ‘tuning into my body and mind’ became more apparent, allowing myself to heal, and connect to renewed internal energy and resilience.
My life experience (so far!) has given me the opportunity to learn and grow in my own yoga practice and teaching, become more self-aware and to know how to look after myself.
I endeavour to be able to share and translate this into my teaching, which is focused on helping my students. It gives me a great sense of gratitude, knowing that my students experience the many benefits of yoga, and find my classes supportive in their well-being.
Training
I began my formal training in Yoga when my interest grew to more than just ‘doing the poses’. I continue to deepen my knowledge of yoga by attending regular workshops and training to explore, learn and experience the full range of yoga styles and teaching skills, to then be able to share these with and help my students with real life issues.
Teaching
Hatha yoga is a holistic, nurturing, dynamic and strengthening practice, to stretch, realign and create freedom in the body, incorporating breathing practices, meditation and relaxation to provide an enjoyable, safe and well-rounded practice, to leave students feeling energised, calm and balanced.
My teaching focuses on practices to open, stretch and strengthen the body, by working through postures which are taught in stages, to find the right stage suited for the student to work with.
This allows students to become body aware, by learning correct alignment, develop an understanding of how their body works and encourage a more mindful practice by learning to listen to their body, rather than just making fancy yoga shapes!
My classes are for a mixed ability, with safe modifications for those who find it less than easy or who are ‘newbie yogis’, and challenging options for the experienced yogi, aiming to create a space for students to connect and develop their own yoga practice journey.
My yoga journey is ongoing and boundless, always learning a little more along the way about myself, my practice, my health, my body, my mind, my teaching and my students. I use this knowledge to encourage others to experience the benefits of yoga, allowing them to explore, have fun with their yoga and make a change to their well-being with compassion and kindness.
- 2008 - British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course
-
2015 - British Wheel of Yoga Level 4 Diploma in Teaching Yoga (500h)
Zoe Knott and Bob Insley -
Restorative Yoga Teacher
Anna Ashby at Triyoga, London -
Yoga Nidra (Yogic Sleep) Teacher
Bihar Tradition, Satyananda Yoga Centre, London -
Yoga for Insomnia and Sleep Recovery
Lisa Sanfilippo at Yoga Campus, London -
Yoga Therapy for Restful Sleep
Yoga United Education -
Yin Yoga & Mindfulness Meditation Teacher Training - Level 1
Sarah Lo at Triyoga, London -
Diploma in Teaching Meditation (Distinction)
British School of Meditation -
Menopause Yoga Accredited Teacher
Petra Coveney -
Yoga for a smoother Menopause
Francoise Freedman and Belinda Staplehurst, Birthlight -
Mental Health First Aider
Mental Health First Aid England -
CPD Trainings: Yoga Nidra for Mental Health; Mental Health Skills for Yoga Teachers; Professional Yoga Skills for Working with Depression; Trauma Sensitive Yoga Skills
The Minded Institute
