ELEMENTAL HEALING

 

 

My journey with Yoga and Ayurveda began in 1988,  when I was 22  I attended my first yoga class and bought my first

book on yoga,  beginning what was to be a lifetime's  study and  practise. 

As a child i suffered significant  chronic health issues with recurrent  episodes, by my  early teens my health had deteriorated with frequent panic attacks and digestive problems.  I also struggled with nerve and pain sensitivity, chronic fatigue,  depression and anxiety and eventually I was diagnosed with depressive and anxiety disorder, fibromyalgia and cptsd.  Over the years I've found my regular practice of yoga, Ayurvedic  diet and lifestyle and the use of appropriate herbs has been very helpful with my health conditions. 

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Driven to seek well being and health for myself, I've  explored many avenues for health and wellbeing, researching nutrition and  

herbs as well as yoga.  

To cope with stress, I'd walk  daily with my beloved hound, combined with my daily practice on my yoga mat.  Sometimes I might practice

energy releasing warriors when frustrated,  pranayama and breath work to bring balance and ease away anxiety but more often

than not, I'd lie down on my mat in  restorative postures for extended periods to help me get through those  difficult spells. 

I've always been  drawn to yoga as therapy as opposed to achieving  the end results of dynamic postures and my practice, was and  

still is my personal sanctuary away from everything that is going on in the world, coming home to myself the union that is yoga 

where I could retreat and find peace. 

We all face life's challenges  and I've found my regular practice of yoga has impacted on my health in a positive way, helping me

to stay focused,  bringing balance into my life and following a nutritious diet and Ayurvedic lifestyle has also  played a huge part in attaining  health and well being. 

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My Teachers 

On this holistic path , I followed and practised  the teachings of Paramahansa Yogananda  and  explored  many  other styles of Yoga  

such as Kundalini and  Satyananda Yoga  but felt called to  enquire deeper into  Yoga Therapy with the teachings of T.K.Desikachar and Mukunda Stiles.  

Inspired by Yoga as a medicine for the body, mind and spirit, I began looking  for different approaches to maintaining  health,  

seeking to explore  not just the physical, but all the  energetic koshas, the five layers of being in yoga. 

 

My yoga studies over the years have included the teachings of  Donna Farhi  and  Vanda Scaravelli’s innovative approach through 

proper alignment of the spine.  Through this powerful practice, I experienced profound healing experiences , with  Scaravelli

teachers such as Diane Long and studying the practice of Scaravelli's  " Awakening the Spine"   

I've  also  studied and attended many workshops on the kinaesthetic observations and lessons of Moshe Feldenkrais,  a highly

respected method of the emerging field of somatic education with the focus on learning through developing awareness through movement, which I found at times to be deeply profound . 

These deeper inquiries gave me a hunger to know more about the anatomical and physiological pathways  of the body and

led me to train as a Physical Therapist and inquire into the mystery of the spinal fluid through the techniques of  Cranial Sacral Therapy.  

 

Ayurveda 

It was in 2006, while  browsing through a second hand book shop, that I really found Ayurveda when  I came

across Deepak Chopra's book " Perfect Health".  Although I had come across snippets about Ayurveda in other  books, I found this 

to be a clearer and more consise reference to Ayurveda from a health and scientific vew point. 

My epiphany  came when I realised that I had in fact been healing myself  with Ayurveda and living the Ayurvedic  lifestyle for my 'type' through trial and error,  with great results and without realising, I was living Ayurveda ! 

I had already read Deepak's book "Quantum Healing" and both books resonated with me so much I undertook to study   Ayurveda

and began an ongoing  journey of  science and learning which eventually led me to London for my training and

seminars with Dr Vasant Lad  which broadened my world to a whole new level of possibilities for health and healing,

involving all areas of our lives including emotional, psychological and physical well being which has become my way of life. 

 

Since my early 20’s I’ve spent many years studying the beneficial properties of herbs and nutrition, motivated by my

own ill health and a determined quest for well being.  I own a library of healing literature

which I continue to add  and dip into on a frequent basis, updating my knowledge as I continue to research and study

therapeutic ways to heal not just the physical body but emotionally and  mentally also,   giving me  a fairly

good foundational knowledge of herbs, supplements and nutrition.

This has further been enhanced by my studies of Ayurveda, the use of Indian and western herbs  and individualised

specific nutritional diet and herbal plans for clients.

 

But also my life experiences and ill health have been my greatest teachers, where I have  travelled the deepest

journey's of healing and I'm still learning...

 

Over the years I have  treated and worked  with senior and elderly students,   children's camps,  taught yoga for pregnancy  

and  practised karma yoga through  voluntary teaching ,  including teaching  teenage boys in  rehabilitation centres for drug abuse

and  crime.   I've taught and guided individuals with addiction issues, osteoarthritis,  rheumatoid arthritis,  young people and 

adults with  limited mobility,   learning difficulties ,  Autistic Spectrum Disorder, ADHD , Aspergers Syndrome. 

Those who know me well will know I can spend hours passionately extolling the life changing and healing benefits of

Yoga and Ayurveda.   Really I could easily spend the rest of my life being an eternal student of the body and  the sacred

healing power of touch and putting my acquired knowledge into practice drives me on to resolve chronic issues and

bring healing and release for clients.

 

I'm often asked, what kind of yoga do you teach ? Well,  what is yoga?  Yoga is  awareness, being mindful, having the right intention.. yoga is laughter,  yoga is love...yoga is within everyone, just waiting to be tapped into when you take the time

to pause in your life, tune in and just be,  union with the self.

Listening to your heart beating.

Listening to your breath.

Watching your thoughts, your emotions. 

Yoga is  being yourself in non judgement, opening your heart centre in kindness and compassion,

not just others but to yourself also.

Yoga has revitislised, nurtured and given me the support that was absent for much of my life and  Ayurveda

has been the golden thread that holds it alltogether.

Yoga and Ayurveda  are way of life, a way of being in your daily activities; the longer you stay with it and the more

heart you put into the journey, the further it will  take you....