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 fibromyalgia . 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.
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 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 solace .
We all face life's challenges but 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 lifetstyle has also played a huge part in attaining health and well being.
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 powerful healing experiences , with Scaravelli
teachers such as Diane Long and the wonderful Margaret Hardman who teaches Vanda's style of " Awakening the Spine" from a passionate and devoted heart as well as being delightfully fun to work with !
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....
Claire Rosewood
Ayurvedic Lifestyle and Nutritional Practitioner AP Dip.
Ayurvedic Therapist AP Dip.
Yoga Instructor and Therapist CY Dip. YFI RCY
Physical Therapist IIPT. Phys
Dravyaguna - Ayurvedic Herbal Pharmacology
Initiated and certified as Kahuna ARCH Healing Practitioner
Reiki :
Tera Mai Sechem Attunement 1
Tera Mai Sechem Practioner
Fully accredited with Complementary Medicine Association
( CMA ) and The Federation of Holistic Therapists ( FHT )
Attended Ayurveda Seminars with Dr Vasant Lad - Ayurvedic Physician, Professor and director of The Ayurvedic Institute in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Initially an Iyengar student with many years of personal practice since 1988, I trained as a Yoga Instructor in 2001 , completing a two year study program of Yoga Asana, Philosophy and Pranayama with Contemporary Yoga Ireland.
"Live quietly in the moment and see the beauty before you. The future will take care of itself. "
Yogananda