About me:
I have always been fascinating by the world’s myriad health and healing practices and after studying Anthropology at Sussex University, I went on to study for and MSc in medical anthropology at UCL, London.
I have worked within NHS primary health care and research departments before embarking on an adventure to the East where I studied yoga teaching and therapy in India whilst I was living in Sri Lanka. This transition was a huge time of healing for me, and yoga was my main medicine.
Navigating western and eastern paradigms of health and medicine inspires me to teach, write, paint in order to help others with the principles and practices that have helped, and continue to help, me heal and thrive. For me, sharing yoga, art, creative writing, (and a few philosophical ponderings) are the most satisfying ways to make meaning in the world of chaos known as “wellbeing”.
Dragonflo
Dragonflo invokes the mythical creature that appears throughout many an ancient parable: The Dragon. I’m endeared by the roguish yet heroic power of this ethereal outsider, yet I also recognise that struggles of mental and physical health are akin to a battle with an inner fire, or passion, that we don’t always know how to express without causing harm to others, so we trap it inside ourselves causing harm within. In my case this resulted in gut health issues.
The name is also an invocation of the Dragonfly, a very “real” yet equally as auspicious creature with connotations I favour in life. It is a symbol of change and prosperity in many of the world’s cultures. Even older than the idea of the legendary dragon, this species has flown the earth for over 300 million years knowing that survival is not about being the fittest, strongest or sexiest, but being able to adapt to an ever changing world.
Myths and legends are an integral part of growing up as well as our childhoods. We create our life and our identities, and should never forget what brought us joy as an 8 year old…for me, this always included rolling around on the floor. So despite my 30 odd years, I’ve decided to reignite my childhood mythical inspirations to find play as well as purpose in practicing yoga.
Healing can be fun.
“if you are not a myth whose reality are you? If you are not a reality whose myth are you?”
― Sun Ra, Prophetika Book One
My Yogic Journey
I qualified as a multi-style yoga instructor in the foothills of the Himalayas, Dharamshala, India. Whilst living and teaching yoga in Sri Lanka for 18 months, I returned to India to complete an advanced teacher training focused in yoga therapy, this time in the Southern city of Chennai.
Combining a practical background in healthcare, academic study and interest in diverse cultural medical paradigms and my own personal healing experiences I passionately believe yoga to be a supreme path to healing and self-fulfilment. As a teacher with an therapeutic orientation, I endeavour to assist in each individual person’s journey to find what they need from yoga, and help them use their yoga practice to flow more smoothly with the world around them.
Individual Approach
Nowadays there are so many different styles, forms and aspects of yoga, and I love to explore this diversity to creatively offer classes that suit individual physiological needs as well as the energy of the group. My classes offer enjoyable challenges, as well as the chance to relax the bodymind and restore the universal connection.
I believe that every body, every mind, and everyone can benefit from yoga, they just have to find out how to make it work for them. Without worrying about how an asana (posture), pranayama (breathing control), meditation technique and even lifestyle choice “should” be done, I encourage each person to find the teacher and healer within themselves.
Training
300 hours yoga therapy at Dr. Asana Andiappan College of Yoga, Chennai, India
200 hours multi-style teacher training at Mahi Power Yoga School, Dharamshala, India
MSc Medical Anthropology at University College London
BA Anthropology at The University of Sussex
Yoga is believed to help so many ailments; physical, psychological and spiritual.
A brief list includes:
- Strength, flexibility and balance
- Stress, anxiety and depression
- Digestive disorders
- Muscular-skeletal and joint problems
- Back and neck pain
- Asthma, allergies and insomnia
- Menstrual problems
- Genetic disorder and chronic illnesses
- Acceptance and integration
- Focus and concentration
- Connecting with your body
- Connecting with the world
- Being at ease with the present moment