ABOUT ME

 

The great thing about yoga, like life itself, is that it is an experience rather than a theory.

 

I am passionate about how yoga can be used to enhance our well-being and adapted to everyone's needs, regardless of age or fitness level. Yoga offers great tools for managing everyday life – on and off the mat.

 

I came to yoga after recovering from serious illness. This enabled me to appreciate what it means to be in good health, both in body and mind. Before dedicating myself to teaching, and setting up MaxineYoga, I worked as a curator in the international contemporary art world and as a producer in documentary television.

 

A highly qualified teacher, I have more than 25 years of yoga practice and experience.

I was fortunate to first meet my teacher and mentor, yoga and pranayama master Sri O.P Tiwari, the head of the Kaivalyadhama Institute, 20 years ago, who has guided me on my path and, I am fortunate to say, still continues to do so.

 

I originally qualified with the British Wheel, through Simon Lowe’s teacher training (Triyoga, London). Since then, I continue to follow a journey inspired by my teacher and the teachings of  Kaivalyadhama , which includes traditional practice, yoga therapy training and philosophy, using the original yoga texts (Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras, Gherada Samitha, Hatha Pradipika and the Bhagavad Gita) alongside modern scientific research into the medical benefits of the practices. I have completed the Kaivalyadhama teacher training, and pranayama training certification.

 

For over a decade  I have studied with Dr Ananda Balayogi, benefitting from his wisdom as a distinguished yogi, medical doctor, visionary yoga therapist and inspirational guide. Head of Gitananda Ashram in Pondicherry of CYTER. The Centre for Yoga Therapy, Education and Research and other national and international bodies promoting Yoga and Yoga therapy worldwide, he bridges the 'gap' between modern science, traditional yoga, spirituality and modern living in the here and now.

 

Many other great yoga teachers who I have studied with have inspired me including Tias Little and  Donna Farhi . I certified in pregnancy, postnatal and baby yoga with Franciose Barbira Freedman of Birthlight and Uma Dinsmore-Tuli of Womb Yoga. I  also greatly enjoy and pass on the insights my trainings with Sarah Powers in yin yoga, and  Mukunda Stiles in structural yoga therapy, – have brought me.

 

I am grateful to all my teachers for their wisdom and knowledge.

 

Alongside my MaxineYoga  classes and workshops  I  am dedicated to  taking yoga out into the community to enhance personal well being,  teaching in organisations that support mental health (JAMI House) , Chair Yoga for in Care Homes, Yoga for Cancer in hospitals, (The Royal Free ). In addition, I teach kids and teens in a number of schools and privately.

 

Combining my background  in the art world  over 20 years experience of teaching yoga, I also run All In The Breath, working with artists and instructing yoga teachers in yoga, breath and meditation techniques.

 

 

LIFE OFF THE MAT

La dolce vita!

 

I am married, with a beautiful teenage daughter. I continue to maintain my interests in the international art world. My passions include learning, writing, spending time with family, friends, artists, film, food, travel and having lived in Italy for a number of years, many things Italian.

 

It is only through the practice of living life consciously that we truly learn. And using our ‘selves’ as our playground in yoga – our mind, breath and our bodies as spaces for reflection –so with that premiss in mind, I tend to think that life does not get any more creative, authentic, or enjoyable than that.

 

I will forever be a student of pranayama – alongside the myriad of traditional yoga practices. I am inspired by yoga philosophy and the original yoga texts – and by how each step I take, the path grows longer.  I look forward to being with you.

 

Stay Fit, Stay Well, Stay Connected