Andrea Marshall

I feel that if I had started yoga sooner, and as a child, then I would have had this great practice that I could have gone to sooner.  I have experienced anxiety throughout my life, due to having

a busy childhood with a sibling with ADHD.  I am very reactive!  I have found that yoga has been one of the most beneficial resources to me in managing stress and my response to it, and learning to relax. Going for a cycle ride can be great, but also stressful in itself, looking out for potholes and cars, something else to worry about!   Because yoga is so different to anything else in life, it requires full focus and concentration and being present in the moment.  Now having completed my 200 hour teacher training with Holly McFee at Yoga Hero in Leeds I want to share what I have learnt in this fuller exploration of yoga, this amazing practice that  calms that works on our brains, the sympathetic system and helps dampen reactivity, and activates the parasympathetic nervous system, to relax the muscles, feel balanced and healthy both physically and mentally.  I now know and believe that everyone can benefit from yoga, and particularly interested in working with making yoga as accessible as possible, to work with people who maybe struggle to access yoga, or people who need yoga taking to them.  My experience volunteering with people with a variety of physical or mental impairments as a tandem pilot and as a walking guide with Open Country (Registered Charity No: 1107331) I really want to take yoga to groups who may not have experienced yoga.  To ensure people dealing with stressful lives, workplaces, or overcoming stressful situations.   Whether that be adults or children, teachers or their pupils, or carers.