“The sun does not rise or set, it merely goes out of sight”
- Bhagavad Gita
Hello, I am Harriet!
After studying Music at university, I did a PGCE and qualified as a primary school teacher; a job that was fulfilling and rewarding yet incredibly stressful and demanding. After 4 years in this profession I underwent a slight change of career: I left to manage a ladies boutique in the Cotswolds, and then moved to home interiors for a further 4 years.
Whilst enjoying the buzz of retail and the creativity it provided, I always felt like something was missing and never quite felt fulfilled. I often contemplated becoming a yoga teacher but …how could I teach yoga when I couldn’t even touch my toes?
Over the years, I came to realise that yoga is so much more than being able to touch your toes, its’s a rich way of life; the very word means ‘to yoke’ - to bring two things into union: the mind and the body. It’s a path, an aspiration, a journey. More importantly I feel it makes me human to my students. I embrace all the wobbles I have in each pose, it’s never about what you look like, its about what you learn about yourself along the way!
I have had Type 1 Diabetes for the vast majority of my life, having been diagnosed aged three. I am a type-1 which means I cannot produce my own insulin. It’s a condition that needs to be managed every moment of every day. The tools I have to manage it are absolutely remarkable: I wear an insulin pump which ‘talks’ to a glucose sensor attached to my arm or torso. I only have to look at my watch or phone or hear my pump to be reminded of what my blood sugars are, and whether I need to act.
That being said…
The human body is an incredibly complex thing, and one we still don’t understand fully. The most modern tech and medical gadgets will only take you so far. I find that yoga has really helped bridge that gap; not only to gain higher control of my blood sugars, yet conversely let go of the ‘need to control’, because quite simply we cannot control everything. Life cannot be like that.
In summary then, i’ll say this:
Yoga is far more than just physical exercise,
it’s a holistic way of life that encompasses the body, mind, and spirit.
My Qualifications
200 hr Vinyasa Yoga (Yoga Alliance Global)
40 hr Yin (Yoga Alliance Global)
40 hr The Art of Assisting (Yoga Alliance Global)
BA Music Cardiff University
PGCE Teaching
MY APPROACH
CLASS STRUCTURE
During my Vinyasa classes I focus on well-rounded sequences that include an initial breath-work exercise or short meditation to help integrate into the pracice and achieve inner quiet and stillness. This is followed by warm-up sun-salutations, standing poses, balances, twists and ending in seated postures rounded off with a 10-15 minute relaxation through savasana using fragrant and luxurious oils and Music.
My Yin classes are much more restorative, but again I usually start with a short mediation or breath-work, with 4-6 poses (held for 3-6 minutes each) all mainly mat based. My Yin classes ultimately provide a space to switch off from the outside world, slow down and develop mindfulness, whilst also providing stronger joints and flexibility.
pranayama and meditation
I am very passionate about breathwork, and will always incorporate breathing exercises into my classes as a way of quieting the mind and finding stillness..
We Build TOGETHER
Whether you are a beginner or seasoned yogi my classes offer a space in which you can feel safe, and deepen your practice to explore your own personal needs. I always provide various options and modifications, allowing you the freedom to choose the level of intensity that suits your practice.
