As well as Yoga and Meditation teacher I'm a written and spoken word poet, I write as and am generally known as Raye and perform as The Bendy Witch. I’ve always had a fascination and love for the Magickal and the Mystical. I love writing and my Poetry feels more like a calling (from Beyond), I would , in fact, say it writes me! I write about Spirituality and life. I see life as a Blessing. Blessings and Gratitude are a part of my daily Spiritual practice and form the roots of what I share in my offerings. I like to remind my students that Yoga is a "Spiritual" practice and help them to have a direct experience of what that actually means.
My Yoga and Meditation practices give me the internal space for words to flow through me. As a child I rarely spoke, so it's quite a transformation and a revelation. I still, after all these years teaching, get so excited about sharing Yoga and Meditation! For me it's an opportunity to help people experience more Peace, more Joy and more space in their body and mind.
I actually graduated as a Yoga teacher in 2006. Bridget Woods Kramer was one of my first teachers when she had her studio in Hitchin. I wanted to train with her but it worked out that initially I did my foundation Yoga Teacher Training with The Yoga for Health and Education Trust at Ickwell Bury. It was predominantly a remedial centre and the power of the breath and Prana were emphasised for which I am very Grateful. Sadly it closed down and although I have my certificate it does not state 200 hours hence my profile showing 2012.
I always missed the alignment that Bridget taught and found the Anusara Yoga method suited my body well, so I completed the Anusara Immersion with Bridget in 2011 and finished the teacher training with Claire Murphy and Bruce Bowditch in 2012. Although I never went the official accreditation route with Anusara (because I like to bring in other elements), I stand very firm to the original alignment principles that I was taught. The first principle of Anusara Yoga is set the foundation and open to Grace.
In 2015 I did a Mastery of the Self Meditation teachers course with The Bright Path Ishayas which involved Meditating on a mountain in Spain for 6 months and graduated as an Ishaya Monk. Ishaya means "to support Consciousness". My teacher gave me the Sanskrit name Rajita, meaning "bright, brilliant, illuminated, resplendent". What I learnt in those 6 months was a mastery in opening to Grace, how to recognise the Silence that resides within us as the foundation of everything. When we learn to rest here we find Grace. Cultivating awareness of this Silence or stillness within is now the main emphasis of all my sharing.
I’ve done some wonderful CPD courses, Chakra Yoga with Anodea Judith and Yoga as Therapy with Doug Kellar. I offer one to one Yoga and Mediation sessions and I'm a trained Holistic Therapist (qualified in 2002) in Massage, Aromatherapy, Reflexology, Holistic Facials. I'm an Energy Therapist trained in Reiki (1,2 & 3) and Crystal Therapy. I also offer Soul Session readings and coaching based on my Success Intelligence training with Robert Holden. I'm trained in levels 1 & 2 Be Activated Technique which has transformed my own personal Yoga practice and I've been studying Shamanic Healing techniques with Peter Aziz since 2018 (ongoing). I weave elements of the Wisdom gained from these healing practices into my classes.
I started Yoga because of long standing issues with shyness, lack of confidence, anxiety, panic attacks, ptsd and hyper sensitivity. I had a lot of old injuries from extreme sports like figure skating and then I fell in love with wakeskating and snowboarding (although the latter I’m still not that good at!). I also love stand up paddle boarding which is much more conducive to my health and you’ll often find me out on the river or a lake at any available opportunity. I should probably add that I'm a trained SUP Yoga teacher too.
What I’ve learnt over the years has given me the most amazing tool box to share. My own experience and everyday overcoming the challenges of being a HSP (Highly Sensitive Person), has most certainly helped me to remain humble in my life and my work and to never think, “I’m there!” We never know what life is going to throw at us and we can only ever strive to give our best to each moment as it unfolds. However messy that looks on the outside sometimes, there’s usually an invitation to grow and expand beyond our comfort zone. I’ve learnt to not take myself and life so seriously and I wholeheartedly encourage play, laughter and the Joy that arises from that in my classes.
I love that Yoga has something to offer everyone. It doesn’t have to look any particular way. Everyone can find a way to do Yoga if they are willing. Even if they can’t move their body there is always the breath. There is always the opportunity for more awareness.
Over the course of my career I’ve taught all sorts of people of all ages, from all walks of life. Predominantly I've been self-employed running my own classes and courses.
Mid 2017 I took a year out travelling. 2018 I set up The Cabin at The Granary yoga Studio for Manor Farm,Bedfordshire, which due to me relocating was passed on to a colleague and became the little breathing space studio.
In 2020 I started my own classes up again at Box End Park in Bedford until the Pandemic. I'm currently teaching two classes at Whitespace Yoga Studio, including mentoring some of their TT students, which I've thoroughly enjoyed.
I live on a boat in Northamptonshire and after many attempts through lockdown to get online and livestream from the boat, I can report technical problems are now resolved. In September 2022 I launched Blossom Online Yoga, offering 3 early morning classes for those that want some consistency in their practice (you can also drop in).
As well as classes, I also offer Yoga teacher mentoring and One to One's for Yoga, Meditation, Shamanic Energy Healing and Readings. I run Yoga Retreat Days and Workshops, and am currently planning longer Nature based Retreats.
I'm available for corporate work as a Stress Management and Wellness Consultant.
I'm available to run workshops and spoken word Poetry at events and festivals.
I'm available fo class cover.
Hope to see you on a mat soon.
Bright Blessings
Raye ✨
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