MY YOGA JOURNEY

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I'm Frances,  Yogini, mother, yoga adventurer and founder of Yoga Glow Studio in Portishead, UK.  I am passionate about helping people awaken to the untapped energy that is available to us all, and to experience more freedom, joy, wisdom and bliss!  Modern life can be stressful and yoga provides a sanctuary in which we can strengthen and soothe both mind and body.  My classes integrate movement, breath, philosophy and humour in a way that leaves you feeling totally revitalised.  You will experience transformation not only 'on the mat' but also 'off the mat' as you come back to yourself and gain inner calm and happiness.
 

My personal journey with yoga started at university in London back in 2000 while studying for a degree in Law.  Back then I practiced ‘hot yoga’ (undertaken in 90 degree yoga studios).  Twenty years on and as a mother of two very energetic young boys I can’t think of anything worse than doing yoga in scorching hot temperatures!  As a mother and dare I say it, middle aged (!), I need classes that are more gentle and with more focus on the meditative aspect of yoga.  I like to teach classes that are meditative and calming, but also provide a really good work out to strengthen and keep the body supple.

Over the years I have grown to love ‘Vinyasa Flow’ yoga and was lucky enough to learn with some brilliant teachers.  I was hooked on yoga from my first class as I instantly felt huge benefits.  I felt calmer, happier and experienced more focus and energy.  In 2008 I took the plunge and quit the corporate world, going to India and training as a yoga teacher with the internationally acclaimed Sivananda Yoga Organisation.  My Yoga Alliance certified training was comprehensive - covering yoga philosophy, chanting, pranayama and anatomy as well as the asanas (postures).  I came away with a heartfelt desire to take this practice to as wide an audience as possible.  I truly started to connect with yoga philosophy and teachings beyond just the physical asana practice and do my best to incorporate this into my teaching.

My teaching style is calming and focused with particular attention given to breath awareness.  I use dynamic and restorative classical and modern postural yoga asanas to make yoga as accessible as possible to everybody.  Classical postures are adapted to suit each person’s individual needs to make it possible for all body types and supportive of any health issues you might be experiencing.  I enjoy teaching other practices such as pranayama (breathing practices) and dhyana (meditation).   I am inspired by traditional yoga philosophy such as the Yoga Sutras of Patanajali but also from modern day writings such as those of Deepak Chopra, the Dalai Lama and plenty more!