Body and Soul Yoga
Hi, I'm Mary
My yoga journey started in the 70s when I was 15 and discovered Lyn Marshall's "Wake up to Yoga" TV show on Sunday mornings. I was particularly impressed by her claim that anyone can do yoga and it doesn't matter how far into the posture you go, as long as you reach your own comfortable limit you are getting the same benefit. Although I continued to "do" yoga at home it took a particularly inspirational yoga teacher to show me that yoga is much more than just a series of movements.
Looking to take my practice further, I was drawn to Dru Yoga at the Om Yoga Show in 2009 and went on to complete the BWY (British Wheel of Yoga) Foundation course in 2012. I qualified as a L3 Hatha Yoga Teacher in 2014 with Yoga Professionals Diploma in Teaching Yoga and then decided to do further training with Dru in order to incorporate their gentle, flowing style with the use of energies and visualisation into my teaching.
My style of yoga is fun and accessible to all ages and abilities. I teach a blend of classic Hatha, flowing Dru sequences (think Tai Chi meets yoga) and Yin inspired stretches. Groups are small (usually between 8 to 12 students) with chairs and blocks available to adapt poses. Venues are chosen for access to outdoor space (the RAFA has its own garden and is situated directly opposite a park while Thames Chase is surrounded by forest and interesting nature walks).
I recently stepped back from my "day" job teaching ESOL (English to Speakers of Other Languages) to focus on building the Body and Soul yoga community. However, for non native English speakers, I am about to launch ESOL Yoga, combining my passion for yoga with language teaching.
When I'm not practising yoga I enjoy cuddles with my cat, spending time with my family and watching "Mind your Language" on YouTube.
Mary



Professional Yoga Qualifications
Diploma in Teaching Yoga
CYQ L3 - 500 hours Yoga Professionals/YMCAfit
and
Dru Yoga Teacher Diploma
Meditation Training
Dru Foundation Modules (meditation)
Swami Saradananda - Meditation
(Yoga Alliance Professionals accredited)
Professional CPD Qualifications
Certificate in Adapting Exercise for Pregnant/Post Natal Women- YMCA
Dru Social Prescribing:
Backcare and Wellness specialism
British Wheel Workshops (BWY)
Foundation Course (60 hours)
Adjusting Students in Postures
Yoga for People with Cancer
Restorative Yoga
Working with Forward Bends
Strength in Asana
Working in Pairs
Preparing for Backbends
Assessing and Observing Student readiness for challenging poses
Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs
Teaching One-to-One
Chair Yoga x 2
Emergency First Aid at Work L2
Other Workshops
Dru Dance (Parts 1&2)
Yoga for Women's Health
CACDP - Communication Tactics
with Deaf People
Dementia Awareness (Tapestry)
Dru Meditation for Concentration
Our Mala - Trauma Informed Yoga
(working with asylum seekers & refugees)
Museum of Happiness (Facilitator training)
Yuva - Chair and Accessible Yoga
Other Workshops
Dru Dance (Parts 1&2)
Yoga for Women's Health
CACDP - Communication Tactics
with Deaf People
Dementia Awareness (Tapestry)
Dru Meditation for Concentration
Our Mala - Trauma Informed Yoga
(working with asylum seekers & refugees)
Museum of Happiness (Facilitator training)
Yuva - Chair and Accessible Yoga
General Teaching Qualifications
Cert in Education (Greenwich)
CELTA (Cambridge) - ESOL
Literacy Subject Spec L5
JEB (ICT Prin and Prac)
Community Roles
Havering Health Champion (L2 Cert)
Nutrition for Health Cert (L2)
Mental Health Awareness training
Dementia Friend
Community Roles
Ongoing workshops (BWY and Dru)
Arhanta (50 hrs) Yin Yoga
Chi Ball
Laughter Yoga / EFT
500 Hr GYTA