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About Me
I have been teaching yoga for 14 years but practicing since my 20s. Like most people it was the physical side of the practice that drew me in. I've never been particularly sporty so it was initially just a way of moving my body I enjoyed (and still do!). It's the benefits the practice has had on my mind though that has kept me practicing all these years and what eventually lead me to teaching. I saw the effect that yoga had on my general well-being and wanted to share that with others. Everyone thinks yoga teachers are naturally calm, I promise you we're not - at least from my experience! I can suffer from stress, overwhelm and worry like the best of people, yoga has been the perfect leveller to that over the years, The combination of slowing down, breathing deeply and connecting to how we feel has provided a really settling effect on my mind. What motivates me now is helping others to live more balanced lives and to prioritise their own physical and mental wellbeing.
Vinyasa Flow
I teach a style of yoga called vinyasa flow. In a vinyasa class you can expect to move in and out of postures syncing the movement with the breath. Physically vinyasa yoga is great for building range of motion and strength. Vinyasa is also great for regulating our breathing and focusing our attention, all good for calming the nervous system and managing stress and anxiety.
My Style
I aim to teach yoga that is functional - sounds boring I know, so let me explain...
A lot of the yoga we see on social media focuses on the way things look - big, fancy, impressive looking poses. Nothing wrong with that, it's just not my approach. I want to teach poses that help you feel and move better in your everyday life. Modern living can create a lot of physical imbalances in our body, tight shoulders, weak back muscles, the list goes on. We use poses that help us address these postural imbalances - stabilising, strengthening and obviously some stretching too!
It's all about balance when it comes to the mind too. Life can be busy and full of distractions. Which can leave us struggling to slow down, focus and switch off. In class we place a big emphasis on regulating our breathing and focusing our attention to bring our brains and nervous systems back in to balance.
I aim to teach classes that are welcoming and accessible to everyone and from your first class you feel a part of our little yoga community! Have a question that's not been answered here? Then drop me an email I would love to hear from you.
My Training
I have placed a very big emphasis on training over the years and love to continue honing my skills as a teacher. I know I am biased but I have been lucky to train with some of the worlds best yoga teachers either in person or more recently online. My most recent trainings have been on "Yoga for Mental Wellness", most specifically stress and anxiety. I hope to incorporate these teachings in my regular classes and offer specific workshops later in the year.
Philippa Stevens
"This was my first time at a yoga class for decades. Philippa was clear and supportive and gave various options for poses. I was surprised how much pace there was to the class and I really valued the wind down at the end. Philippa created a calm atmosphere but a real sense of purpose and I left the class feeling utterly refreshed. Thanks Philippa!"
Theresa W
"Philippa is an excellent yoga teacher. I find her classes relaxing, inspiring, strengthening and she'll always had a touch of humour to put everyone at ease!"
Katherine E
"Philippa is highly skilled, gentle and supportive with her teaching. I always feel refreshed and more peaceful after each session. The perfect counter to a hectic life. I love it!"
David B