About Laura
Laura:
"I have been practicing yoga since the age of sixteen, when I attended my first classes in Iyengar Yoga in Alston, Cumbria. I chose yoga because I wanted to do something spiritual but non religious, and it suited me straight away. I have practiced a wide range of types of yoga, and find myself drawing on these different styles in my own classes. I find that yoga works on so many levels, and the benefits for me over the years have been both physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional. Over the years yoga has helped me cope through stress, anxiety, depression, university, work, pregnancy, and new motherhood. Yoga helps to keep me grounded, balanced, positive, and relaxed. It releases tension from my body, calms my mind and soothes my heart.
I did my first teacher training with the Integral Yoga Institute at their ashram in Virginia, USA. This was an invaluable experience, both in terms of learning how to teach, but also in learning a great deal about myself and my own yoga practice. Later, I also completed the British Wheel of Yoga teacher training in Durham. This course is a level 4 diploma and is very in depth, providing a really firm grounding in understanding all aspects of yoga. I also took further training in Pregnancy Yoga and Mother and Baby Yoga, which have been particular passions of mine, especially in recent years when having my own children.
For me, yoga provides a re-set button, bringing me back to myself, and helping me find balance throughout my life. And this is what I aim to bring to my classes, to share with everyone attending.”
My Passion
“Yoga releases tension from my body, calms my mind, and soothes my heart.
My Passion is sharing this with others.”
Qualifications:
Foundation Course:
In 2006 I completed the British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course in Yoga taught by Linda Irving in Gateshead. The foundation course provides an opportunity to explore yoga practices in more depth. It also covers some of the underlying principles and philosophies of yoga. In addition it is a prerequisite for the British Wheel of Yoga Teacher Training Diploma.
Integral Yoga:
In July 2007 I qualified as an Integral Yoga Teacher after a month-long intensive teacher training at the Satchidananda Ashram in Virginia, USA.
Integral Yoga was developed by Sri Swami Satchidananda, an Indian Spiritual Leader who advocated the acceptance of all religions and spiritual paths as equally valid, and dedicated his life to individual and universal peace. The style of yoga he developed integrates the various branches of yoga (postures, breathing exercises, meditation, self-discipline etc.) to help the practitioner work towards inner peace & joy. Yoga classes taught in the Integral style follow a set sequence of postures each lesson, and include breathing techniques, meditation, chanting & relaxation.
British Wheel of Yoga:
This qualification is a 2 year diploma in yoga teaching to Level 4 - equivalent to a first year degree. I was taught by Terri Hilder and Maureen McCarthy, both highly respected teachers in the North of England. I completed this course in December 2011, and feel very privileged to have been able to experience both this and the Ashram intensive course in the US as they both provided such amazing and varied opportunities for study and practice.
The general style of yoga taught within the British Wheel of Yoga is “Hatha” yoga, but teachers are encouraged to draw on their own experiences and personal practice. The course provides the background knowledge in anatomy & physiology, the main yogic practices, the ancient theories of yoga, yogic philosophy, and essential teaching methods and techniques, allowing teachers to develop a style of teaching that suits them and their students. For more information on my teaching style see "What to expect at class".
Pregnancy Yoga:
In 2012 I undertook further "post-graduate" training with the British Wheel of Yoga in Yoga for Pregnancy, taught by Wendy Teasdill (a highly respected Pregnancy Yoga teacher and Author of "Yoga for Pregnancy" one of the original and best books on the subject) and Denise Bottomley (Midwife), both of whom helped to inspire me in my teaching of women during this most special, and sometimes challenging, time in their life.
Mother and Baby Yoga:
In 2013 I completed the Mother and Baby Yoga course with the Yoga Campus in Manchester with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli. This course focusses on Post-natal healing and recovery for mothers, as well as yoga for babies from birth to four years of age. Uma is an inspiring teacher, with a wealth of knowledge and experience, and this course was a fantastic introduction to the world of teaching yoga for mothers and their babies.
Insurance:
I am fully insured with the British Wheel of Yoga, and with BGI. I also carry out a full risk assessment before starting a course of classes, and obtain information from students relating to health before they commence class to allow me to assess if postures are safe for them on an on-going basis.
First Aid:
I am a qualified (one-day) first aider, and as part of my BWY membership I take a refresher course every three years.