My Story
West View is the name of my home and yoga studio overlooking the rolling hills of Bath. It has been a haven for me and my practice providing a deep connection to nature and a simpler way of life since my family moved nearly nine years ago.
Beginnings
I first started my yoga practice in London at the age of 20. After a few years I trained to teach and taught Hatha yoga alongside being a singer songwriter. 8 years later I discovered Iyengar yoga.
At this point I was experiencing regular difficulties with my back. Having suffered with back trouble from the age of 12 - later to be diagnosed as osteoarthritis. I was finding that my hatha practice raised more questions than answers.
Iyengar Yoga
On attending Iyengar yoga classes I found that the precision had a huge effect on diagnostics and treatment of the varying problems that were arising in me. It quickly became clear that Iyengar yoga was different: It was a clear path to follow that could lead toward physical and philosophical development. An authentic path, rooted in the classical heritage of yoga and its gurukula system. BKS Iyengar and the Iyengar family has given us a tried and tested route to self betterment. Which is highly practical and immensely profound.
A few years in to learning Iyengar yoga however and after two pregnancies I suffered a major set back and had to undergo emergency back surgery for Cauda Equina syndrome. I was told at the time I would not be able to do yoga again. Stubbornly I could not quite believe this. I couldn’t let go of a practice that made me feel so much more stable mentally and emotionally, if not yet physically.
Recovery
Having built up to being able to walk the length of my street I returned to the therapy class at Maida Vale Iyengar yoga centre. After a year I returned to beginners yoga and very slowly began to learn the basics from scratch but this time with precision and an awareness now of what not to do!
It was a humbling experience. My ego took a fair few knocks - not being able to do any of the poses I had once just about managed. Slowly a steadiness came to me and length and strength began to appear where it had not before. I learned what alignment could feel like and the clarity it brings.
By the time I returned to my intermediate classes almost 3 years on from surgery I was so convinced by the Iyengar method I decided to train to teach. I have been teaching the Iyengar method ever since and am lucky enough to have been taught by some exceptional senior teachers.
RIMYI
I have been multiple times to study in Pune and continue online classes in Pune in the years I cannot travel. I am currently a level 2 teacher working toward my level 3 and continue to teach beginners and intermediate classes full time.
I would hope that my own experience has brought an empathy and bravery to my teaching - aiming to share the transformative process of yoga with others regardless of age or initial physical ability. Having been a beginner twice I have a great admiration for the Iyengar syllabus and its careful considered approach.
Yoga is for everyone and Geetajis book Yoga in Action is such a brilliant simple guide to the beginnings of self study. I wanted to give something back to the Iyengar community that has given me so much. This led to me filming an adaptation of Sri Geeta S. Iyengar's book “Yoga in action - a preliminary guide” Which is offered to those who cannot afford regular yoga classes or who otherwise do not have access to Iyengar yoga, as a donations based scholarship program through the IYUK it can hopefully be a small contribution to share.
It is also available commercially through my site. It took me over 3 years to make with my husband and has been a labour of love stitched together along side our full time work.
I hope this is just the beginning of your yogic journey and that you fall in love with the subject as I have done.
