Hi, I’m Louise and I love sharing yoga with those who are either new to the practice or have started their yoga journey and want to deepen their practice. I am a yoga instructor based in Canterbury, Kent and provide group, private or semi-private classes for mixed ability levels. My styles include Hatha, Yin, Vinyasa Flow and Yoga Nidra.
Growing up, my attitude to fitness had always been focused on cardio and weight training, so when I first started practicing yoga, I thought ‘wow, this could be interesting!’ Initially I was too scared to attend one of the local yoga classes out of fear of looking like an idiot, so I started off watching a few YouTube videos, and before I knew it, I was hooked! Within a very short space of time, I had fallen in love with yoga; with the feeling of clarity in my mind and a sense of being present in my own body. As such, it wasn’t long before I decided to find a class I connected with and make yoga a permanent fixture in my life.
As my love for yoga grew, my next step was to try out a retreat, so a friend and I headed off to Thailand and spent a week at a lovely little resort in Koh Yao Noi called Island Yoga. It was nothing fancy, just yoga as it is meant to be, and I learnt so much during that magical week that I really didn’t want to return to the dreaded rat race.
Travelling in India
The big change came when I had the opportunity to spend a month in India, and it was at this point that I decided to undertake my teacher training in both Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. My reason for choosing India was because it was important for me to gain a deeper understanding of what yoga truly is, and what better place to learn than the birthplace of yoga. It was probably the biggest culture shock of my life!
My training allowed me to come to appreciate that yoga is more than just physical postures, but a holistic practice which unites the mind, body and breath. Studying yoga in India completely changed the way I view life in that it has allowed me to let go of limiting beliefs, unreal expectations of myself and others, unhealthy attachments and most of all, self-doubt. It has also made me stronger, both physically, mentally and emotionally. It has taught me to live in the present, rather than dwell on the past or dream of the future. Yoga is about living in the here and now. I left India (reluctantly) with my body feeling the strongest and healthiest it had ever felt, replaced with a strength of character and feeling of being able to achieve anything if I put my mind to it.
Since completing my training, my relationship with yoga has grown immensely, and continues to do so. It is an integral part of my life. Understanding the philosophy of yoga has been an inspiration to me and I thank those who have walked this path with me over the years; both teachers and students alike. I believe the most important thing to remember about yoga is that it is a journey with no final destination. It is about being yourself, showing up on your mat, developing a regular practice and doing the best that you can. I will always see myself first and foremost as a student of yoga, always remaining curious and keen to gain more knowledge of the practice.
Continuing my Journey
Since my training in India, I have gone on to complete my teacher training in Yin yoga which is a style I particularly enjoy. I believe it offers us the chance to be still, present, and work within ourselves whilst we breathe and stretch deeply, thus creating more space in the mind and body.
I am also currently exploring the concept of Yoga Nidra (yogic sleep). Unlike other forms of physical yoga, it is a deeply restorative practice, and is a very effective way to rest and recharge. Yoga Nidra takes you through a journey of the body and mind, allowing you to drift into a lovely meditative state. In fact, yoga is a form of meditation; the ultimate yoga relaxation.
The Next Steps
If you are considering yoga but are still sitting on the fence, my advice to you is to come along with an open mind. Most of us initially had those niggling doubts that we weren’t ‘good enough’ to do yoga and didn’t want to embarrass ourselves in a group setting. My classes are open to all levels and everyone is welcome, regardless of experience. My wish is to help people progress on the path of yoga because I believe its teaching have the answers to leading a happy, fulfilling life. Yoga shows us that the questions are not out there, but within us; yoga teaches us to listen to the inner voice instead of searching for fulfilment through external factors such as material possessions.
Yoga Knowledge and Experience:
RYT-200 yoga teacher training in Hatha and Ashtanga (Yoga Alliance USA)
50-hour teacher training in Yin yoga
Practices include Hatha, Ashtanga, Yin and Vinyasa Flow
Diploma in Meditation and Yoga Nidra
Yoga classes for beginners and intermediate students
