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Class Teachers

Craig Norris

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Craig has dedicated his life to studying various forms of yoga, meditation and chanting, including Ashtanga, Sivananda, Iyengar, Satyananda, and Forrest styles. He has further deepened his practice and teaching with studies in meditation and chanting as well as in yoga therapy with Yoga Campus and the Yoga Biomedical Trust. He has great love for the traditional in yoga and has studied Sanskrit and Vedic chanting in London and India. Right now he is in the middle of studying an MSc in Consciousness, Spirituality and Transpersonal Psychology
Craig teaches a practice that challenges, uplifts and heals by allowing us to explore the playing field that is our own body and mind. Being able to see ourselves in a light and humorous way and flirt with our edge is an opportunity to grow from the relationship we have with ourselves.
Before coming to yoga Craig suffered from depression and lack of direction. Yoga and meditation have given him great stability and opened up a journey of growth, insight and joy. His intention is for everyone to experience the healing effects of yoga practice and to create an opportunity for change so that we can all live a life that feels empowered and confident. Craig is one of the founders of Renaissance yoga and wellbeing.

Michele Pianigiani

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Although practicing many styles of yoga Mickey's experience is mainly from the Ashtanga Vinyasa and Iyengar traditions. He has practiced for 12 years with various teachers and completed his 200hr teacher training with John Scott and Lucy Crawford. He has also studied Yin yoga with Norman blair and continues his study in vortex energy healing.

His approach to teaching is working with people from where they are at what ever their level of experience or ability whilst also keeping the tradition of the practice. A big focus of his is getting people to breathe in a way that brings them more life on and off the mat as well as using it as a focus to bring the attention within and finding a place of stillness. Michele is one of the founders of Renaissance yoga and wellbeing.

Andrea Ondruskova

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Andrea has been immersed in movement from a young age. She has been practicing Pilates for 19 years and has 13 years of teaching experience, working with people from all walks of life, in London and Sydney.
Her background is in Dance, Yoga, Pilates and Somatic Movement. She continues to study movement and applies it in her teaching practice from a health and fitness perspective. When she is not teaching, she works with movement creatively as a researcher at Kingston university.
Her Pilates classes are versatile, focused on building strength from the inside out, to support the body’s natural movement and function. Classes have the element of a strong classical Pilates alignment focus mixed with fluid sequencing geared towards getting a whole body workout in each class. Classes are suited to all levels of experience and exercises will be adapted for injuries or other needs.
“ You are only as young as your spine” Joseph Pilates

Amy Dudgeon

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Amy discovered yoga in 2015, whilst living in Geneva. She swapped pounding the pavement for the flowing in the studio. Amy is qualified to teach a range of styles including: hatha, vinyasa, pregnancy, mandala, yin and nidra. 

Amy believes in the importance of yoga for physical and mental wellbeing. She teaches her students about the benefits of a yoga both on and off the mat.

Her style is playful, energetic, and compassionate. Amy is a spoken word poet and so you will find poetry and music weaved throughout her classes. Amy regularly hosts yoga and creative writing workshops.

Caitlin Scott

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Caitlin trained with Polestar Pilates and is passionate about helping individuals reach fitness goals and find motivation, whatever their experience. Having recently graduated from drama school, she is enthusiastic about dynamic movement and is keen to combine her classical Pilates training with finding a sense of mindfulness during her classes. Caitlin is passionate about expanding her knowledge and understanding of pilates, and is currently training at Polestar in their Reformer course. She runs queer and trans-inclusive classes and is DEI trained.

Caroline Tautz

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Caroline came to Yoga from a background in Fine Art and Contemporary Dance. She worked as a dance lecturer, and choreographer for film. In 1994 she first trained in Ashtanga vinyasa and was a student of John Scott and in India of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. She draws from her many and varied influences and training, from the work of Feldenkrais, Alexander technique, Ashtanga vinyasa, and the work of Tom Myers.She is also trained in the gentle work of neuro dermo modulation.  She travels yearly to Kadermo in Finland to practise with KPJ level 2 authorised Stefan Engstrom. Also a trained bodyworker, somatic movement coach, and meditation teacher she weaves the language of embodiment and conscious awareness into her creative flowing style of practice. With over 25 years of teaching experience she brings a sensitive and compassionate approach, combining precise verbal cues with sensitive hands on touch. She works individually with therapeutic bodywork, as well as teaching small groups, retreats and teacher training with her colleague Lucy Crawford.

Delice Headlam

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Delice has explored movement from a young age, mainly through dance. Her yoga journey started after rehabilitation and the last year of university when stress levels were amplified - she found comfort in moving slowly and mindfully and exploring other holistic healing modalities to help deepen her personal practice.

As a Movement Psychotherapist, Delice implements the therapeutic principles whilst encouraging the use of breath, posture and embodiment to explore the journey of inner connectivity and self-discovery. Her approach to yoga highlights the mindfulness to lifestyle, physicality, mentality and emotional wellbeing that each person experiences on a day to day and so with this you are guided into finding a way to move.

 

"I work in accordance to you - creating a guided practice which is a stimulating experience you will explore and encourage emotional, cognitive, physical and spiritual aspects of Self."

Dora Kisyakova

Inspired by her teachers and personal experience of the healing effects of yoga practice, Dora aims to bring yoga to everyone. She has been practising yoga for over 15 years - helping her to deal with stress and her pregnancy.

After suffering from personal trauma, Dora developed an autoimmune disease (Rheumatoid Arthritis) which caused restriction of movement in my joints mainly from my wrists downwards. 

As she was dealing with the pain, her love for yoga led her to enrol in a BWY Foundation course to deepen her self-practice techniques and so she continued her education with IYTT.

Through the course Dora's health improved significantly, which re-ignited her passion for teaching,

 

Dora is fascinated by the human body, its anatomy and function, the interplay between the body and mind.

She believes that yoga should be accessible to everyone regardless of age and ability.

She teaches in a way that encourages students to focus on deepening physical awareness and alignment, to reveal and release the natural freedom of the body, particularly the spine, as well as to experience the benefits of yoga and enjoy, a calmer mind, increased energy, and ease of movement on their body.

Her intention in teaching is to create space and act as a guide for the students to let go, pause & breathe on the mat.

Dora has discovered that self-care is an integral part of wellbeing and this is a key element in all her teaching approaches.

Jocelyn Stockbridge

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Jocelyn began practising yoga when she first moved to London, finding that she needed a space to gain perspective and be present. Since her 200hr training in Vinyasa yoga Jocelyn has studied Forrest yoga and qualified as a massage therapist. Her classes build on the basics whilst cultivating playfulness and room for growth. 

 

Jocelyn offers modifications so that regardless of your ability you will be able to get the most from the class, whether you want to lie back on a bolster or work on strengthening your inversion practice. Jocelyn offers assists in her classes allowing her students to delve deeper into their practice. 

Laura Kinnunen

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Originally from Finland, Laura found yoga in her late teens after finishing her contemporary dance studies and fell in love with the strong, graceful, precise yet flowing movement of Ashtanga Yoga. She continued to practice this style on and off for many years and in 2008 after moving to London, began practicing with Norman Blair. It was Norman who first introduced her to Yin Yoga at one of his 3-hour workshops – the first hour of which she remembers as being ‘agonisingly slow’. With encouragement from her teacher, Laura embarked on her 200hr training with Norman & Melanie Cooper  and began teaching both Yin & Ashtanga around South East London and in the City. In 2018 Laura completed Sarah Powers’ Level 1 Yin/Yang Yoga & Mindfulness Meditation teacher training, and followed this with Sarah’s  Level 2 Yin Yoga & Inner Practices course. In July 2019 dived deeper into Yin Yoga & Meridians by completing a 7-day training with Murielle Burellier & Sebastian Pucelle of With-Yin Yoga.

 

Over the years Laura’s own practice has shifted away from daily dynamic yoga towards softer and more nurturing practices including daily meditation, and this is reflected in her style of teaching which is calming and nurturing, creating a space for her students to soften and slow down, allowing them the time and space for exploration of the physical body, the breath and the mind. Emphasis is placed on each student listening to their own bodies and letting go of expectations of what yoga should look like

Monika Kulara

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Monica is a full-time yoga teacher based in southeast London. She grew up in Brazil where she was introduced to meditation, but her Asana practice only started after she moved to the UK.

She was amazed by the changes that yoga brought into her life, so she began to develop daily self-practice and never looked back. Monica finished her 200 hrs teacher training in 2019 and since then has trained in Mandala, Rocket, Yin and Pregnancy yoga.

Her classes are focused on breath and body self-awareness, helping her students on the journey of self-discovery and acceptance. She brings a calm and soothing energy to the classes and provides her students with the tools to cultivate kindness towards themselves and find happiness in their day-to-day life.

 

Monica believes that movement should be about celebrating what the body and mind can do, carefully introducing variations and progressions, whilst honouring and respecting all diversity. 

Niki Puspoki

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Niki’s overall aim is to help people get know their body and to approach poses with focus and feeling. She thinks a good practice not only feeds the body but also nourishes the soul.

Niki has a warm, friendly and caring manner. She has trained in Dynamic Vinyasa Yoga, has completed the Forrest Yoga Advanced Teacher Training with Ana Forrest and is a Poppy Perinatal graduate.

Niki has an interest in yoga for women and how yoga can support women’s menstrual and life cycle.

Niki aspires to continuously develop herself through trainings, books and by learning from fellow humans.

Rebiye (Reb) Ibrahim

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Rebiye first discovered Pilates whilst working as a sport massage therapist for Charlton Athletic F.C. as part of the medical team. Seeing how important and how much of an impact pilates played in rehabilitation and performance, Rebiye went on to qualify as a Pilates instructor in 2012.
 

With years of experience working within a sports environment and also providing tailored 1-1 sessions, Rebiye works with clients from all abilities each with their own individual goals. Alignment, posture and strengthening is influenced in all her classes.

Although pilates is core focused, she believes in the mind and body connection. Her classes bring movement and breathing together, calming both our thoughts and emotions. Her classes are suited for all abilities focusing on a total body work out, helping and motivating clients reach their own personal goals. Rebiye is passionate about helping others to feel good about themselves, and wants her clients to leave the class feeling centred, happy with physical vitality.

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Rishin Paonaskar

Rishin grew up in India and although yoga was taught at his school, he didn’t take it up until several years later to recuperate from a cycling injury. In 2012 he left a career in banking to start his own food business and also completed his 200 hour Yoga Alliance training at Hot Power Yoga. He has since trained as a myofascial body worker with senior Forrest Yoga teachers Jambo Truong and Brian Campbell, in Restorative Yoga with Judith Lasater and in Yoga Nidra with Craig Norris

Sally Connor

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Sally is passionate about making yoga accessible for all body types and abilities. She remembers well the first time she walked into a yoga class and how intimidating it was – how loud the message was that this wasn’t for her body. Sally’s classes aim to break down those barriers and help everyone and every body access the benefits that yoga has to offer the body and the mind. 

 

Sally started practicing yoga around six years ago, drawn to it out of a desire to manage stress and anxiety from a busy City job. What she discovered was a practice that reconnected her to her body and her mind and has become a deeply embedded part of her life. Sally teaches from her own experience and trained so she could share the benefits that yoga has to offer with all people, regardless of body shape or ability. She trained in dynamic vinyasa yoga with Tom Hamilton and Craig Nadashakti Norris through The Yoga Edge in London in 2019. She has also trained with Jambo Truong in Forrest Yoga and Advanced Anatomy; with Craig Nadashakti Norris in Assisting and Yoga Nidra and with Norman Blair in Yin Yoga. 

 

Sally teaches a dynamic vinyasa flow, with an emphasis on modifying for different body types and abilities. She also teaches yin with a focus on embracing stillness and using the practice to come home to ourselves. Sally offers an accepting, fun and nurturing environment for students to break through their own limitations - come along to challenge your body and find out what it can do!

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