The practices of yoga and meditation have been a way of life for me since 1998, although I had no idea in those early days to what extent they would profoundly change my life. It has been a journey of learning to trust that we are in exactly the right place at the right time.
I began teaching over 25 years ago, and even though in the beginning the subject was different, teaching has been my path since I left university. In 2000, I was initiated into the practice of Buddhist meditation with Goenkaji in the Vipassana tradition and since then have been taught and inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh and teachers from the Insight and Thai Forest traditions, attending silent meditation retreats annually. I also set up a monthly sangha, which I have been running since 2013.
In 2005, my first yoga teacher, Beth Shay, took me under her wing as an apprentice. I now know how precious this opportunity was – to be able to spend time off as well as on the yoga mat with my teacher and learn about how the yoga teachings extend into every aspect of our lives.
In 2006, life took quite a change in direction. By then, I had had 2 children, my priorities were beginning to change and I had become disillusioned with the ethical stance of the company I had been working for. Yoga helps us to listen to our hearts, and I had found that I could no longer work for a cause that I didn’t believe in. I took the leap of faith, left my job and enrolled on an Anusara teacher training course, recommended by Beth. At that time, we were living in Surrey and I was desperate to get away from the ‘rat race’; my heart was also calling out for the countryside. After several years of feeling stuck and unhappy, everything suddenly fell into place and we moved to Cornwall, where my teacher trainer, Bridget Woods Kramer, was living. I spent the next 8 years training with Bridget and set up my own yoga business, Yoga in Penryn (now Lucinda Yoga).
Around 2009, I began studying with another influential teacher in my life, Sianna Sherman. I found Sianna's honesty about her own personal journey to be very insightful. On retreats and workshops with Sianna I learnt that having the courage to look inwardly and work with our shadows is deeply transformative and for me essential healing work as a yoga teacher.
Other inspirational teachers I have trained with from the same lineage include John Friend, Bill Mahoney and Carlos Pomeda; as well as senior teachers in the Iyengar tradition and with Drs Claudia Welch and Robert Svoboda in Ayurveda. I am grateful for the insights and guidance that all of my teachers have brought.
My classes include a mixture of flow and close attention to alignment in asana, pranayama, philosophy and meditation. For me, the science of yoga can only be understood through embodiment of the teachings. Aside from teaching weekly classes in yoga and meditation, workshops, yoga therapy and 1-1's, I am co-founder and co-teacher of the 300hour Yoga Teacher Training Programme at Lime House Yoga Studio.
