A bit about me
I came to yoga quite late, which just goes to show that like most important things in life, there isn’t any perfect starting point. I’ll never forget my first yoga class. I was hungover and sweaty, my flexibility constricted but my interest sparked. Looking around at people effortlessly contorting themselves into insanely difficult poses I thought, ‘how the hell are they doing this?’
That’s all it took. My first connection with yoga was purely physical, a desire to get back to my adolescent fitness levels. I signed up for 3 months of regular classes because, why not? We’d just moved to Dubai and I had plenty of time. Despite the challenge, I enjoyed every moment: the physical effort, the routine, and the camaraderie. My first true test snuck up on me when suddenly, I had to choose between late nights and partying (which I loved), and early morning yoga classes. Something had to give and, surprising myself even more than my friends and family, I chose yoga. From then on it was incremental; small yet significant changes to my lifestyle as I pursued what was becoming increasingly valuable to me.
3 months passed and it felt amazing, having accomplished this milestone. But there was something more significant than improved flexibility and fitness, or even the discipline of routine. I felt calmer and more centered, and that was the true transformation. My journey had begun.
Over the last 12 years I’ve done 500+ hours of teacher training from Yoga Alliance certified schools. I've travelled, practised and trained with credible teachers in India, Indonesia, Thailand, and the United States of America. I’ve got certified in Ashtanga Vinyasa, YinYasa, Hatha, and most recently, in Chromatic Yoga. I’ve taught hundreds of students in group and individual classes. Navigating this journey has required patience, persistence and self-compassion. I've struggled with anxiety, self-doubt, injuries, and the isolation of Covid, which meant an abrupt end to face-to-face yoga that forced me to innovate my own practise. More importantly, I've had to be courageous, vulnerable and willing to 'step into the fire' to allow for true transformation to occur.
In fact, evolution can be quite terrifying because sometimes you're scared of not knowing what lies ahead. Yet, it is only when you learn to trust yourself and take the leap, there is growth, and the next step of your journey unfolds.
So, the most important thing I want to share are the tools you can use to connect with yourself.
My journey with yoga is not about perfecting poses – that’s amazing to do, but it isn’t why I get up every morning at the crack of dawn. It’s about knowing myself, being a witness to the reactions of my mind, the limitations of my body and choosing to make the most of every second by being authentic, vulnerable, and open.
So if you’re just looking for someone who can get you to the highest level of a pose, I can of course assist you to attain that – that’s the baseline. But my ultimate aim is meeting you where you are, and supporting you to truly embrace the preciousness of our time on this earth. Perhaps a bit grand, but it’s something I strive for every day, and I want to help you do it too.
Different paths, same destination.