pregnancy yoga classes

Erika teaches a dynamic vinyasa flow class, integrating her experience of Iyengar, Ashtanga and Hatha yoga by emphasizing awareness of mind, body and breath whilst focusing on correct alignment. Erika believes that, while yoga does make our bodies stronger and more flexible, yoga's greatest gifts lie in helping us to heal on the inside by helping our minds to become more peaceful and by opening our hearts to grace. She aims to provide a safe, nurturing environment to allow her students to develop their own understanding of yoga in an enjoyable way.

Erika has been practising yoga for over 16 years and teaching for 10 years. Since 1989 she has worked as a holistic massage therapist and is presently studying Cranio-Sacral Therapy. From 1992-95 she lived in Thailand and India studying meditation, Buddhism, yoga and shiatsu. It was during that time that she first discovered the delights of a disciplined daily self-practice. On her return to London she continued her study with a senior Iyengar teacher. After the birth of her first child in 1996 her teacher encouraged her to undertake teacher training so in 1998 she commenced a 3 year course with The British Wheel of Yoga. Since she qualified she has received instruction from many renowned teachers including Clive Sheridan, Shandor Remete, Tias Little, John Scott, Danny Paradise and Shiva Rea covering many different styles of yoga. She has also been greatly inspired by Amritananda Mayi (Amma) and Krishna Das in Bhakti yoga (the path of devotion}. With the birth of her second child in 2004 she acknowledges her two daughters as her greatest teachers on the path of Karma yoga (selfless-service) and is constantly inspired by their natural joy and zest for life.

Lolly Stirk is a leading light in her field. Her yoga career, which has spanned more than three decades, has been dedicated to creating and developing the ideal practice for pregnancy, labour, birth and beyond. She was one of the first teachers to combine childbirth education with yoga. Many teachers have influenced her over the years including Donna Hollaman, Vanda Scaravelli and her husband John Stirk who continues to inspire her. Over the years her passion for her work has led her to training teachers which she continues to do. For many years she lectured at Thames Valley University to midwives on Yoga in Pregnancy and Birth and as a founder member of the Active Birth Movement she campaigned for the rights of women to move freely during the births of their babies.

Lollys pregnancy yoga classes are infused with preparation for labour and birth. Simple postures combined with breath awareness and visualizations “hypnobreathing” will prepare you for the birth of your baby as well as help to keep you well and happy during pregnancy.

Jo is passionate about health and fitness from a holistic view point and she believes we need to be aware of balance in our lives in order to experience freedom in our bodies and from our minds…. Yoga shows us the way! Jo started her practice of yoga in 1998, qualified with the Sivananda School of yoga in 2005 and completed Sivananda advanced teacher training in August 2008. She is proudly and passionately passing on her knowledge to her students and is fully committed to teaching and practising yoga.

She has studied Anatomy and Physiology extensively during her study of Personal training, swimming coaching and massage therapy and regularly attends workshops and courses for her personal development. She also teaches pregnancy yoga.

Jo teaches hatha yoga classes to groups and individuals, her empathis being exploration, fun and challenge. With a supporting and encouraging approach she teaches from the heart.

Deanne has been practising yoga for 16 years and is inspired and influenced by Vanda Scaravelli, Sophie Hoare, John Stirk, Peter Blackaby, Angela Farmer and Donna Farhi. Deanne trained with John Stirk and Sophie Hoare in 2000. Further training with children and pre-natal care includes : 2 training modules for The Special Child with Sonia Sumar and a Yoga Bugs module, also a 2 year course as a Birth Educator with Yogabirth, founded by Lolly Stirk and Yvonne Moore. Deanne currently teaches in yoga centres and schools and runs her own independant classes. Deanne's work prenatally has led her to start attending births as a Doula, Birth assistant. Deanne lives with her partner and child in North West London.