ABOUT ME
I have a passion for helping people to thrive through Yoga.
My name is Maxine and I am a fully qualified Yoga teacher, I have been teaching Hatha Yoga with the emphasis on mindfully moving the body with the breath, since 2004.
I qualified with the Comprehensive Yoga Fellowship and the British Wheel of Yoga. I am also a teacher of Yoga For Healthy Lower Backs
I have also undertaken several trainings in Mindfulness, in Meditation and in Hannah Somatics. I have a first aid certificate, a current CRB certificate and have full personal liability insurance.
Influenced by many teachers
I have taught with the Local Education Authorities and currently teach a variety of Yoga classes ranging from beginners Yoga and mixed ability classes to corporate Yoga classes, meditation pranayama and relaxation. I teach both face to face and on line via Zoom.
I also teach Yoga on a one to one basis in the comfort of your own home or on line via Zoom.
Although in my teaching I have been influenced by many teachers, including T.K.V. Desikachar and Gary Kraftsow, (Viniyoga) for the co-ordination of body and breath. Julie Gudmestad (Iyengar Yoga) for alignment principles of the Yoga asanas, Sri Swami Satchidananda ( Integral Yoga) for the development of the individual on a physical, mental and spiritual level, and Sharon Gannon and David Life (Jivamukti Yoga) for the physical challenge of asanas in combination with the spiritual teachings of Yoga in a modern day setting. I am not tied to any one style and my teachings are constantly evolving as I learn more and more about what it is to be human. This human body certainly is a miracle!
Changing Styles
More recently I have been influenced by Gabor Mate, Irene Lyons and Dr Stephen Porges, none of these are Yoga teachers but their embodiment work makes so much sense to me and practices we do in Yoga are now being backed by science.
My style has changed over the years and I use what speaks to me, what has worked for me over time, and what I have learnt from my own practice. I have also been exploring the movements of Hannah Somatics and how it complements my Yoga practice perfectly.
Yoga becomes a way of life
Yoga can be a way to stay centred and balanced in a ever changing rollercoaster of life.
My own practice is constantly evolving and I find that in my classes I am slowing down, incorporating mindfulness and compassion, creating the conditions for the body to heal itself.
Connecting with the body at the level of the nervous system, I encourage you to notice, moment by moment, what it is that you are feeling, what sensations are present, accepting what is there with kindness and curiosity, without judgement or wanting things to be different.
It is from this place of awareness that we can then chose to move differently should we wish to do so.
I believe that small daily actions in the right direction have the biggest impact. Its what we do and how we think on a daily basis that affects our body and mind the most. So Yoga becomes a way of life.
If you are looking for a fast, sweaty, vinyasa style Yoga "workout" practice then you may be disappointed if you come to one of my classes!
Yoga becomes a way of life
Let's Connect
Website Photography courtesy of Sara Thomas and Alison Smith