Profile
Since the late 1980’s I have undertaken numerous trainings in a variety of approaches to working with the body. This investigation was spurred on by a desire to both understand myself and heal my own body from various ailments. I found that natural therapies, yoga and meditation were keys to my own physical, mental and spiritual well-being.
I was drawn to meditation and Buddhism whilst in Asia in 1992. I tried several approaches to meditation before I found a practice that suited me. I now practise insight (vipassana) meditation from the Theravada Buddhist tradition. The simplicity of the practice - investigating the here-and-now experience through cultivating mindfulness and concentration - resonated profoundly with me. I am particularly interested in Stephen Batchelor's enquiries into Buddhism. I aim to attend at least one residential vipassana meditation retreat a year.
I qualified as a reflexologist in 1994, with the Philip Salmon School in London. Upon graduating, I worked for the Association of Reflexologists. This gave me privileged insight into the reflexology world and access to numerous workshops. At this time I also worked for the Dolphin House Children’s Clinic, Brighton, treating babies and children with reflexology and ran a private reflexology practice for adults.
I began practising yoga in 1995 and was delighted to find great teachers on my doorstep. These teachers introduced me to a way of practising yoga that was pioneered by Vanda Scaravelli. In 2000, I studied at Vivekananda (sVYASA) and Satyananda yoga ashrams in Bangalore, India. Upon my return to Brighton, I began a yoga teacher-training programme with John Stirk and Sophy Hoare. I also obtained a City and Guilds teaching certificate 7307. Over the past few years, I have worked extensively with Diane Long and, more recently, with Sandra Sabatini and Pete Blackaby.
In 2008, I completed a Certificate in Humanistic Counselling at the Gestalt Centre, London. This has sharpened my listening skills and helped me to become more keenly aware of how we can relate creatively to the present moment. This course sparked a supressed interest in expressing myself through painting. I have since spent the past 4 years studying fine art -bringing a yogi's perspective to making paintings. View my painting website here.
I draw on this breadth of experience to inform all of my work.