Who am I?

My name is Helen, I’m 45 and a mother to a 12-year-old daughter. I love music, dancing, talking to people, being outside and immersed in nature, whether that’s up a hill or swimming in a cold lake. I love to move and experience the joys of the world through movement and physical involvement.

I studied textile design at university and then in early 2000s ventured into publishing, events and design. I finally decided to train as yoga teacher in 2013. It was always there in the back of my mind having been practising yoga in various forms since 1994. I could see an element of creativity that I felt I could impart into classes almost like a choreographer and more recently the use of language to guide the student to deeper embodiment. As a frustrated dancer I figured there may be more longevity in finding a career as a yoga teacher. The added joy of enabling others to explore the practice sealed the deal and in Autumn 2013 I tentatively started leading classes. There followed further trainings in Pregnancy Yoga and Kids Yoga, and most recently in 2021 Long Covid training with The Breathing Institute and Menopause Yoga with Petra Coveney at Dr Louise Newson’s clinic in Stratford-Upon-Avon. I’m currently taking Yoga for Healing & Recovery: moving beyond stress, trauma, burnout, anxiety, fatigue and post-illness through embodied awareness - with Charlotte Watts, to be completed July 2023.

The question that crops up most often is “What style of yoga do you teach?” Unfortunately there seems to be a need to market the practice of yoga so a ‘style’ is often assigned to what is essentially a practice of embodiment and breath. My explanation below can’t fit neatly on a gym timetable! Inspiration comes from those who celebrate the joy that already exists with you and your body, following the likes of Raphan Kebe whose slow dance style embodied vinyasa is a delight to watch and practice. J. Brown and his Gentle is the New Advanced practice, advocating a slower more embodied practice suitable for all. Judith Hanson Lasater championing Restorative Yoga and the transformational practice of a long Savasana (lying down!) Norman Blair with his wonderful writing, social conscience and Yin practice (long held postures unstained by striving) Donna Farhi with all of her wisdom about bringing yoga to ‘real life’ and her knowledge of the breath. Felicia Tomasko and her deeply compassionate practice of Hatha, Yin and Restorative. Tiffany Cruikshank with her encyclopaedic scientific knowledge of anatomy. Peter Blackaby and his wonderful Intelligent Yoga which goes beyond mere biomechanics delving into nervous system effects and human functional movement. I could go on, but I’m running out of room! Check them all out to get some idea of how I like to teach.

Since the early days of my yoga story, in the 1990s in school halls chanting and spending a LOT of time lying down, to cranking myself into shapes which were not especially beneficial I’ve developed more of an interest in how yoga can be incorporated into modern lifestyles to support all human beings regardless of their own perceived ‘ability’ or sense of flexibility! My classes are welcoming and provide a nurturing space for all those needing to connect more to their own bodies. I always say that if you have a body and a pair of lungs then yoga is for you, it may be a case of experimenting and exploring what feels good and right for you. The practice is designed to be adapted entirely to the students’ needs. This a practice for human beings who all struggle from time to time physically, emotionally and mentally. This is not an elitist esoteric practice for the enlightened! We can come together with all our fragilities and strengths without any apologies. You’re welcome.

CONTACT ME 📞 07952 182701 📧 balanceyogacoventry@outlook.com