Barefoot Body’s unique and accredited entry-level teaching qualification takes an embodied approach to yoga practices and philosophy, weaves trauma-sensitivity throughout, and nurtures your personal enrichment as well as your professional development.

Apply now for 2024.

This post was originally featured on the Barefoot Body Blog written by Beverley Nolan.

Embodied, trauma-sensitive, and inclusive with small groups, generous financial assistance, and above industry standard graduate support, our yoga teacher trainings are unique.

On our teacher trainings, we aim to help you discover your own unique style through embodied learning, and to ensure you acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence you need to share your preferred style of yoga in a safe, accessible manner with the communities that matter to you.

We know that our approach is unique. Here's how…

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Our Embodied Approach

Taking learning off the page and into your own felt-experience.

We take an embodied approach across the whole discipline of yoga. We apply it to anatomy, asana, pranayama, philosophy and even ethics because we believe that experiential study is the most effective way to integrate learning experiences.

Embodied practices involve your whole being: 'head-heart-hands'. It's about taking learning off the page, interacting with information beyond the cognitive level and bringing it into the felt experience.

So each individual who participates in a learning encounter with us is held as a holistic being, as someone who has capacity for thinking, feeling and acting. This enables you to take what you have discovered off the mat, out of the training, and into your life at large.

By teaching and learning in an embodied way, we empower you and your future students to use your own experiences as a means of defining your yoga practice. It's a co-creative process that's non-hierarchical, inclusive and accessible.

Exceptional Tutors

Learn from experts in their fields who think outside the box.

Our faculty comprises a core team of highly experienced teachers committed to bringing the very best of themselves to the training room. They have been working and studying together for more than 10 years and are passionate about their own particular fields of interest.

You will also meet Guest Tutors, friends of Barefoot Body, who bring to you specialist and current scholarship in the fields of Yoga History, Culture & Philosophy, and engage you in conversations on contemporary themes and practical, professional Ethics.

In addition, you will have access to two world renowned yoga anatomy tutors for our online anatomy course - Amy Matthews and Leslie Kaminoff.

Meet the tutors.

Small Groups

A more personal, tailored training with limited numbers.

Many teacher training providers have around 30 trainees in their cohorts but we prefer to keep things small, with a maximum of 16 people at any one time.

We limit places because we believe that face-to-face teaching in small groups means everyone participates in co-creating a dynamic for a fully embodied learning experience, breathing new life into tried and trusted lesson plans and content every time.

There's a place for every voice in the room, knowledge and experience is shared, and respectful connections are forged. Small groups also allow us to offer you a deeper level of personal enrichment.

Trauma Sensitive

Teaching and learning that is sensitive towards the impact of your life experiences.

We understand that life impacts each of us in different ways. That's why everything we do  is informed by an awareness of the potential impact your experiences might have made. We believe this is the most respectful and compassionate way to fully empower you and your students.

Inspired By Inclusivity

Open to all with support in creating your own Outreach Project.

We believe in yoga for all and for every body so if want to share what you love about the practice, then we’d like to help you get the skills and confidence to do this.

Our embodied, trauma-sensitive approach means that everyone can access our teaching, regardless of the forms we inhabit, the communities we come from, or the circumstances we experience. There are no pre-requisites about your ability to do complex forms/asana or to fit any pre-conceived image of what a yoga teacher looks like. We are all learning and creating our practice in our own way.

Ongoing Support After You Graduate

Teaching and business mentoring, outreach assistance, reunions and more in your first year as a yoga teacher.

Our support and enthusiasm doesn't stop with awarding our graduates a well-earned glossy certificate and wishing them luck at the end of their 200-Hour Yoga Teacher Training. We take a genuine interest in each of our trainees and our investment in their journey from student to teacher continues well after graduation.

With mentoring hours that continue during your first year of teaching, graduate discounts on further education, and reunion events, no other teacher training provider offers quite the same level of ongoing support that Barefoot Body provides when it comes to yoga teacher graduates.

Generous Financial Support

Bursaries and flexible payment plans.

We're committed to minimising financial barriers to learning, which is why we offer interest free payment plans to support you as well as an Early Bird booking period - don't miss it! View early bird offer >

We're also proud to offer not just two bursary places for each of our teacher trainings. So if you are on a low income or identify/work with underrepresented communities in yoga teaching you may very well be eligible for bursary support.

Bursary Support Award Form

An Exploration of Somatics

Deepening your experience of yoga and movement.

We weave the thread of somatics in our trainings, using movement modalities beyond yoga as a method of exploration.

We believe that this enquiry-based practice encourages you to get curious about your own experience of the forms of yoga, and develop a new understanding about how your body meets them. In turn, you may begin to discover new ways to think, feel, move, and teach. ⁣

Somatics is the study of the self from the perspective of one’s lived experience, encompassing the dimensions of body, psyche, and spirit’ - Thomas Hanna

Personal Enrichment

On-to-one mentoring, peer networking and self-coaching techniques.

The path to becoming a yoga teacher is more than a professional journey in which you develop the knowledge and tools you need to teach yoga. It's also a deeply personal experience that can be very rewarding.

As well as dedicated hours towards one-to-one personal mentoring, our trainings are also enriched with peer networking and embodied self-coaching techniques that offer valuable tools not just for your teaching but your life as a whole.

No Essays or Written Exams

Assessments that capture your learning at its best.

We don't believe that long essays or written exams are a good indicator of the way you teach. That's why our assessments are carried out through a combination of online worksheets and written assignments related to class planning, self-practice, and understanding common Sanskrit terms.

We also ask you to design a 6 week beginners course to teach to friends, family or colleagues as well as take part in an observed practical assessment which takes the form of teaching a mini-class to your peers.

Did you know? Barefoot Body is our Teacher Training partner and we are thrilled that they have brought their unique offerings to CAMYOGA.

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Latest blog posts

This post was originally featured on the Barefoot Body Blog written by Beverley Nolan, view it here.

A prop-lite guide to blanket folding to enrich your restorative yoga practice for those that don't have the luxury of bolsters or blocks.

Blanket folding, or blanket origami, is a great tool when it comes to a restorative practice, particularly if you don’t have a cupboard load of props available at home.

Believe it or not, all blankets weren’t created equal. At least not when it comes to folding and rolling to support the body in restorative yoga forms.

Here are the types of blanket we recommend:

1. Cotton blankets and/or throws wash well and sustain their quality over time. Their softness and closely woven fibres mean they are quite firm and hold their shape well when folded offering you support as well as comfort

2. Wool blend blankets also hold their shape well depending on how finely woven they are.

3. Fleece blankets feel beautifully soft and fold well initially but given the texture of the fibres, they have a tendency to collapse which isn’t as beneficial when it comes to supporting the body

You may not have any of these blankets available but worry not, there are other prop-ready items you may have at home that will do the job.

• bathroom towels that are made of cotton, particularly the big ones as they can be rolled into a replacement style bolster quickly and easily. Hand towels may also come in handy to support the back of the neck

• flannels or face cloths are very useful as they are small and can be rolled into compact shapes

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TOP TIPS FOR BLANKET ORIGAMI 💡

1. Use the right blanket — softly woven cotton

2. Take your time

3. Keep the material smooth

4. Be precise with your folds

5. Be ready to unfold and refold if it’s not quite right… It’s worth it!

We cover all blanket origami, prop-lite practice and more on upcoming IN-PERSON Restorative Yoga Teacher Training course with our training partner Barefoot Body held in our Central Cambridge studio. The next training course is coming up in May 2023. There is still time to apply.

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Ready to get started with blanket origami?

We’ve put together a few instructional videos to give you inspiration and help you to get the right blanket shapes to fit your practice.

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Latest blog posts

This post was originally featured on the Barefoot Body Training blog and written by Beverley Nolan, view it here.

By Geni Ebbetts

I met Brigitte about 15 years ago, not long after she had qualified as a yoga teacher, when I attended one of her classes in Milton Keynes. I’ve been practicing yoga since I was 13 (which is a lot longer than 15 years), yet Brigitte’s teaching just resonated with me like nothing had before and that one class, even though I didn’t realise at the time, began my journey towards qualifying as a teacher. Brigitte trained initially with Anusara Yoga, a style renowned for its focus on good alignment and spiritual expression and she was until 2012, an Anusara Inspired teacher. She has so much knowledge and has studied with the most amazing teachers like Tias Little and Rod Stryker and is qualified to teach therapeutic, somatic and yin yoga, most of all she teaches from her heart! I have been so honoured for her to be part of my journey, I have studied with her both before and after I qualified and we have been students together, including many mad road trips to workshops and trainings with other teachers.

When it came to adding more workshops for teachers to our offer at CAMYOGA it was a no brainer for me, Brigitte had to teach them. I have attended all of the workshops that she will be teaching for us (to which she’s added even more detail since I did them) and can guarantee that you will leave each workshop with so much knowledge and so many techniques to use in your classes, I can honestly say that I use something that I have learned with Brigitte in pretty much every class I teach and have shared just a tiny bit of what I have learnt with the students I have taught on our 200 hour teacher training. The great thing about all the workshops that Brigitte is delivering is that they are totally experiential so you get to feel and understand why the techniques you’ll develop will help your students get the best out of your classes and keep them coming back to you for more.

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 Here’s what you can expect from each workshop:

USING PROPS IS USING YOUR INTELLIGENCE
May 11 - 12, 2019

You’ll use every prop imageable and probably a few you’ve never considered. Working in a multitude of asana you’ll discover how to use props in every situation to enhance your students practice. You’ll get to experience what if feels like to use props in so many different ways so that you can get it right with your students. A whole lesson on my beginners course was based on what I learnt in this workshop! Genuinely what you learn will change the way you think about using props in your classes. Book now.

HANDS-ON ADJUSTMENTS AND TRANSLATING ENERGY THROUGH TOUCH
July 13 - 14, 2019

Whilst my 200 hr course included some hands on adjustment techniques this workshop changed how I thought about adjusting students, with their permission, in my classes. It helped me understand not only when students will benefit from adjustment, but also which type of assist will work best on any given occasion. Book now.

A PATENT TO CHOREOGRAPHING CLASSES AND SEQUENCING TOWARDS AN APEX POSE
September 14 - 15

I have used what I learnt in this workshop so much – this really is a common sense approach to building vinyasa classes to a peak/apex pose. You’ll concentrate on an anatomical and energetic approach to fitting postures seamlessly together and your students will love it! I use this approach in all my classes and it never ever fails! Book now.

All of Brigitte’s trainings that I have attended have been so rewarding, she has a wonderful way of making you work really hard without you realising it. You’ll learn and laugh I promise!

View fullsize

Compared to most I am fairly new to yoga. It is something that I have dipped in and out of over the years, but it wasn’t until recovering from a cycling accident in 2015 that I really found that a regular practice helped me to regain my strength, both mentally and physically.

My first experience of yoga was mainly through home practice, helped by online classes, books and the odd workshop. I fell in love with the practice and in 2017 I went to Greece on a magical yoga holiday, where after many conversations with the teachers, was inspired to look at teacher training myself.

The choice of courses was quite overwhelming, but as a CAMYOGA member it seemed an obvious choice to enrol with them and, being impatient, I liked the fact the intensive course could be completed within six months and was fairly local to my home in Cambridgeshire.

I’m not your average new teacher. For a start, my teacher training course was a 50th birthday present to myself.

I am also no gymnast and know too well the wear and tear that years of cycling and running can cause on the body as I am tight, lopsided and click a lot, so when looking for a training course I was very conscious of all of this and extremely nervous about what I was entering into! I shouldn’t have been, the other students were all lovely, I wasn’t the oldest (not that it would have mattered if I was!) and on the first day, everyone was apprehensive about what was to come.

This year has been truly amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed the training and am still in touch with all the other students. It was a tough, emotional and inspirational 6 months that I will never forget and it was well worth it. Since qualifying, I have reduced my hours as a management consultant to part-time and have started my own yoga and wellbeing business. Along with offering private nutritional advice I now also teach 5 yoga classes a week in Buckden and Stonely, Kimbolton in Cambridgeshire to a wide range of students and absolutely love what I do.

And the best bit?  All the doubts that I had about being too old, not ‘gymnastic’ enough and quite new to yoga have proved to be positives as they mean that I bring honesty, understanding and real-life experience to my teaching.

You’re never too old to follow your dreams.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/judesyogawellbeing/

Website: https://www.judesyogawellbeing.com .

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Emily, CAMYOGA graduate teacher decided to split her intensive training over two courses - she completed her first week on the July 2016 Intensive, and her second week (of the two weeks) was on the January 2017 Intensive. Here is her post-graduation story...

Emily, teaching her first cover class at our Shelford studio

If you’re thinking about splitting the intensive over six months, perhaps there’s a couple of things that might encourage you to do so.

Firstly, you get to know two groups of people who are there for the same reason you are; they are passionate about yoga and totally ready to delve into it with open minds, and that’s such an excellent way to bond with people. Obviously, if you have positive connections with these people, there’s lots of potential with the budding relationships; initiatives, shared sessions.

The other huge positive is that you have longer to marinade in the concepts that are introduced via the reading list. These concepts are embedded in really nice translations of classical texts, and to have longer to read and enjoy these is a pleasure.

Thirdly, you get longer to absorb what you have learned in the first part. For example, longer to think about what you want to do with your qualifications.  

There’s also the advantage of having longer to set up the business side of things; the taxes, setting up the company, the website. 

It’s a little over a year since starting training. 

Thankfully since qualifying in May, it’s been possible (though challenging) to re-organise things so that growing the yoga is a priority. Especially when transitioning from a profession such as teaching, this takes quite some determination and strength to stick with, as it’s a less reliable income (to start with only, hopefully) and with the added challenges of being a freelancer. If you are really passionate about it, it may be challenging, yet it doesn’t feel wrong, and that’s a very motivating place to act from.

The CAMYOGA faculty have been really supportive; offering the opportunity to divulge some of the concepts learned during the training to other trainees (allowing me to explore these concepts in even further depth and use skills from my previous profession, easing the path between the two).  It’s so refreshing to discuss moral codes, the sense of something bigger than ourselves, as adults. We are all too often confined to instructional, organisational dialogue.  Discussions about the spiritual philosophy of yoga enable me to verbalise what it is about it that is so meaningful. 

Cover sessions are gradually building up in the CAMYOGA studios; it’s a true blessing to be instructing alongside such fantastic role-models of the yoga community there. Setting up sessions independently of the studios takes a little extra in up-front fees, yet hopefully at it proves worth it; watch this space! There are certain niches arising; for example, offering yoga to those who are unable to attend regular sessions, particularly kids who need special medical or physical adaptations.  It’s a case now of keeping my personal commitments to a minimum in order to take up opportunities; practicing simplicity and keeping an open mind about when, where and how to instruct. 

On a physical level, it seems important to look after my health even more than ever. This equally means knowing when to have a rest, as much as when to practice asana. If it feels right, it may be appropriate to read rather than get on the mat. My focus has shifted from how many sessions I can attend, to broadening my vision; spending an hour on planning, or reading, or connecting with the yoga community. Taking vitamins, regular fitness sessions, meditating and avoiding alcohol (it seems way less appealing than ever!) keep me feeling bolstered.

Of course, I’d adore to go on further trainings, for example, the level four or Ashtanga training. I practice patience and in best faith that all this will come when it’s meant to; it took 15 years of practicing yoga to train as an instructor, so I’m sure another few months to save and go further with studies won’t hurt! What’s so nice is that I am able to keep the learning going independently; with the amazing instructors I already know and also through avenues such as websites and literature. It’s so nice to dip into books on the reading list still, and beyond; such as David Swenson’s Ashtanga Yoga, Ana Forrest’s Fierce Medicine. They are a financially viable way to access some of the best wisdom without having to disrupt a schedule or dip out of instructing opportunities by attending CPD courses. 

The business element is a learning curve. Invoicing, promoting, innovating; these are all part and parcel of the instructing line of duty. I recommend asking for advice from the best places; it’s really important to look after your interests, as nobody else is going to do it for you! Among my favourite parts of this process was building a website. Please do check it out; www.emilyaliceyoga.com and let me know what you think! 

- Emily Leslie, 200hr TT Graduate 2017

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For more information about our teacher training courses click here or drop an email to tt@camyoga.co.uk

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Congratulations to our newly qualified pregnancy yoga teachers! Here are some images and impressions from the 4 day course. We run this course once a year and is open to 200hr qualified yoga teachers wanting to advance their teaching, PLUS it can also be part of the 500hr diploma!

Our 2018 dates will be announced shortly, keep an eye on the Teaching Pregnancy Yoga page for more info. Otherwise, just drop us a line to register your interest.

Love from CAMYOGA xx

“I learnt SO much more than I thought I would. We not only learnt about yoga poses, but also about stages of pregnancy, stages of birth, the anatomy of the pelvis etc. This gave me knowledge to explain WHY we teach certain things.”

— L.L

Officially a qualified Pregnancy Yoga Teacher!! 🙌🏼 #pregnancyyoga #prenatalyoga #baby #pregnancy #pregnant

A post shared by Lorna Lowe (@lo_yoga) on Apr 10, 2017 at 1:07am PDT

A very young (16 years ago!!!!) and very pregnant me (32 weeks) with my second gorgeous girl @_daisymoore when I was lucky enough to feature in the amazing Francoise Freedman book 'Prenatal Yoga for conception, pregnancy and birth' book To think I now teach yoga to mummas the beautiful gift of Prenatal yoga and also training yoga teachers Pregnancy yoga still sometimes stops me in my tracks!! How bloody lucky am I that I get to share this wondrous, empowering practice 🙏✨✨✨✨🙏 #pregnancyyoga #prenatalyoga #yoginis #empoweringwomen #nourish #yogamum #yogastudent #yogateacher #yogateachertraining

A post shared by Ray🙏🏼 (@rachaelyogaflow) on Apr 7, 2017 at 11:22pm PDT

“I am very pleased that I chose to do the course, and I feel a lot more informed now. I won’t panic if a pregnant lady turns up in class!! ”

— A.D

✨ D A Y 3 ✨ #teachertraining #yogateachertraining #teacher #yoga #training #pregnancyyoga #pregnancy #yogateacher #yogateacherlife #inhaleexhale #inhaleexhalerepeat #camyoga #tara #whitetara #ukyoga #ukyogis #yogagirl #yogaeverydamnday #yogastudent #inspire #inspired #inspiredyogi #inspiredaily #instayoga #igyoga

A post shared by ⚜️ K A Y L E A L O U I S E ⚜️ (@kayleasutcliffe) on Apr 8, 2017 at 1:46pm PDT

D A Y 4 P A S S ✨So this happened today ✨#teachertraining #yogateachertraining #teacher #yoga #training #pregnancyyoga #pregnancy #yogateacher #yogateacherlife #inhaleexhale #inhaleexhalerepeat #camyoga #ukyoga #ukyogis #yogagirl #yogaeverydamnday #yogastudent #inspire #inspired #inspiredyogi #inspiredaily #instayoga #igyoga

A post shared by ⚜️ K A Y L E A L O U I S E ⚜️ (@kayleasutcliffe) on Apr 9, 2017 at 10:55am PDT

“Thank you Rachael! You were fantastic at teaching us all your pearls of wisdom. I loved every second of it and I feel so confident to safely teach pregnant women yoga and how to ease their labour!
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You learn so much more than just yoga poses. This course sets you up with the knowledge and expertise to safely teach yoga to pregnant women safely”

— L.L.

Enjoying the sunshine at the Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training 😘 #nourish #pregnancyyoga #pregnancy #yoga #camyogis #cambridgeyoga #camyoga #

A post shared by CAMYOGA (@camyoga) on Apr 7, 2017 at 8:14am PDT

Day 2 of 4 of my Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training. Already been to the gym for an early morning session now for some learning and relaxation. Happy Friday!! 🙌🏼 #pregnancyyoga #yoga #yogi

A post shared by Lorna (@girl_on_fitness) on Apr 7, 2017 at 1:30am PDT

Three Questions: Rachael Moore

Could you explain how you went about learning to teach flow? Are there specialist training programme?

RACHAEL: Although I have always been drawn to more of a 'flow style yoga practice' I opted for a more general yoga teaching training when I took my first 200hr teacher training. I felt I wanted to have a good grounding and understanding of 'yoga' and how to teach safely and effectively whilst leaving room for my personal growth and exploration . Once I had a few years of teaching experience and I had had the chance to see what style of teaching I was drawn to and what felt 'authentic' to me in my teaching and practice, I took the decision to embark on a second teacher training specifically in the art of Vinyasa flow yoga with Claire Missingham. This second tt offered me the opportunity to explore all the layers that go toward making a rounded, accessible vinyasa class. As both a student and teacher of yoga , I feel I am constantly evolving and making subtle changes to how I interpret certain aspects of this practice. Both tt courses have enabled me to do this and also provided me with sound theoretical knowledge so as I can continue to grow as both a student and teacher of Yoga.

Why does yoga always make me so emotional? Sometimes I feel myself on the verge of tears in savasana and I have no idea why! Is this normal?

RACHAEL: Bless you! Yes it is normal and If we are honest I think we have all been there at some point in our practice. A regular practice will help to align not only the physical body but also our subtle anatomy. Our yoga practice teaches us about the intwined relationship between our state of mind, our breath and our bodies so it stands to reason that our passed experiences and our current emotional state is imprinted in our bodies which will affect the balance of our our energy and the harmony of our whole being. Energy is constantly moving around the body but through habitual holding patterns in the body, or past injury/trauma (emotional or physical) ,this energy can get blocked in certain places in the body. In our yoga practice, we stretch, strengthen, twist and fold our bodies, our bones, muscle , organs and skin and in doing so help release this blocked/stagnant energy both physically, energetically and also emotionally It is partly for this reason that you may notice a release of emotional energy seemingly unrelated to the specific moment at hand. Sarah Powers a well respected Yin yoga teacher, says in relation to this that "Yoga is a great way of moving these patterns through you... I suggest neither blocking nor seeking to mentally figure out these feelings as they emerge during your practice. Simply stay with the feeling-tone itself and notice the way it affects your experience in your body……There is nothing wrong with emotional release during our yoga poses, this is healing."

Q5) Do you think it's important to be able to do advanced poses? Should we always try to work towards these?

RACHAEL: Hmm…. Do I think advanced poses make you an advanced student of yoga? An emphatic 'no'! Do I think it is important to be working towards something and enjoy experiencing the journey as you travel toward the destination? An emphatic 'Yes'. It is good to challenge yourself, to take yourself out of your comfort zone , to work towards a different place from where you started, but at the same time, it should be done with a clear intention and approached in a mindful way. Yes some of the advanced poses will offer you increased strength and focus but only if your ready for them, otherwise there will be no sukha (ease) in the body, just Dukha (heaviness and dis-ease). There are many, many 'advanced' poses that I continue to practice and work towards. Some of these I may one day be able to achieve, others I will not. As Desikachar states 'we start where we are and with what we have, and whatever happens, happens". Enjoy the challenge of some of the more advanced poses but don't make it the goal of your practice. There is so much joy in discovering all the subtleties of this practice that to get hung up over never being able to perform an unsupported handstand (for example) would be such a shame!

Rachael Moore teaches Yoga Flow and Pregnancy Yoga at Camyoga. She is also a member of our esteemed teacher training faculty. Click here to view her class schedule.

Get to Know Camyoga Teacher: Rachael Moore

Name: Rachael

Age:  38

Occupation: Mum and yoga teacher

What brought you to yoga?

As with many people, I first came to yoga as many people do, to help combat 'stress' as a result of my job. I worked as a speech and language therapist for children with profound medical and learning difficulties and although hugely rewarding, it was also at times highly emotional and stressful. Yoga helped me find a way to deal with the challenges I faced in a calm and grounded manner, reacting to situations in a more balanced way.

As a teacher what is Yoga about and not about?

Oooh how long have you got!!!! It is probably easier for me to say what I personally think it is not. Yoga is not about being the best in the room, yoga is not about being competetive (even with yourself), yoga is not always the glossy images you see in the magazines, practising yoga, does not  mean that you no longer experience hardship or tough times (unfortunately). The practice of yoga is far greater and deeper than all of that. Yoga gives you the tools for everyday living, it helps you on every level of your being. Yoga releases your tired stiff body from sitting at a desk all day helping you re-find that childhood softness and agility. In helping you re-claim physical flexibility, this flexibilty then leads to greater flexibility in the mind and how we react to life situations off the matt. It leads you towards a truer more honest you! Wherever you are in your life, yoga can be there for you . It can transform the body physically, energeticly and emotionally. It can energize, detox, heal and nourish you . It can be a soft landing when you fall.

What do you do when you are not doing yoga?

Being mum to my three gorgeous daughters and being taken for a walk by my two huge labradoodles Molly and Floss! What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Wow! It's almost impossible to choose one as depending where I am on any particular day will determine my favourite pose!. Generally though, I absolutely love and standing balance, especially Natarajasana for its openness and grace and Garudasana for that beautiful feeling of opening up the shoulders.

What is your least favourite yoga pose and why?

I know it sounds cheesy and a bit of a cop out, but I really don't have a least favourite pose. If pushed though, I probably shy away from strong core work a little more readily than I should do!

What is one quality you have taken off the mat and incorporated into your daily life? Patience

An interesting fact about Rachel that you may not know is:

I used to do synchronized swimming as a teenager!!

To book into Rachel's classes click on link

Name: louise lloyd Age: 41 Hometown: cambridge Training Background: BWY Foundation Course with Tara Fraser. BSY teaching diploma. Camyoga teaching diploma. (Distinction Ed.) How long have you practiced yoga? 10 years

One Yoga Philosophy that means a great deal to you and why?

Mmmm hard to choose one, I would say that both satya (truth) and ahimsa (non harm) are both something that we could all spend our entire lives learning. If we all worked on just those two the world would be a far better place.

What brought you to yoga? 

Crazy as it sounds, I used to meditate regularly and around 2002 every time I sat to meditate I just kept getting 'teach yoga.' After quite a bit of resistance, and the fact i didn't even practice asana at that time, I eventually gave in and went to my first yoga class and here I am!

What does teaching on the Foundation and Diploma course mean to you?

I love teaching on these days.  Seeing students deepen their own enquiry into yoga is so inspiring whether they are doing the courses for their own interest or to go on to be amazing teachers.

What do you do when you are not doing yoga?

I love spending time with family and friends - usually involving eating nice food and drinking nice wine. I also love being outside, occasionally running (have entered the cambridge half marathon so better be a bit more regular now!) and I have just come back from skiing which I really loved!

What is your favourite yoga pose and why?

Ardha Chandrasana - I love the feeling of being grounded, centered and open and in this pose I feel all of these and truly expanded beyond the physical body.

What is your least favourite yoga pose and why?

I can honestly say I don't have a least favourite pose - there are loads of poses I can't do myself but I get to enjoy them anyway by seeing students practice them with ease.

What is one quality you have taken off the mat and incorporated into your daily life?

Self enquiry - the more I learn about myself the more I can make better choices to become more loving, open and generous. I try to see my own insecurities in life where I may act from a place of fear rather than love - it is a working progress of course! ;-)

An interesting fact about Louise that you may not know is…

Before yoga I rode horses for a living and hold my HGV driving licence as I used to drive a 40ft horse box to competitions - this skill definitely helps parking in the central centre's carpark!

As well as classes and teaching on the Diploma and Foundation Courses Louise also leads workshops and retreats for Camyoga

Louise's Classes

Diploma Courses

Apply Now For Diploma Course

Foundation Course

Apply Now For Foundation Course

Retreats

Workshops

Have you been thinking about taking your practice to the next level and becoming a yoga teacher? You will be pleased to know that our Yoga teacher training and Foundation courses still have a couple of places left.

 

Louise Lloyd, whom we are sure we don't have to introduce, is excited to meet you and your fellow yogis during training sessions:

 

"I am really looking forward to starting this year's TT and FC - always fun to see inspired students working and learning together. It is so great to watch the FC students delve deeper into their yogic experience and also seeing the next generation of teachers evolving throughout the TT course."

 

Those hesitant because they feel they are not quite "there" yet may be relieved to know that Yoga training, like yoga is about more than just flexibility and strength.

 

We caught Berverley Nolan in the cafe during her two day Pregnancy Yoga teacher training course, who made it clear that its not all about those very impressive poses you see in magazines:

 

"it is not about your ability to do crazy asana, but about your commitment to your practice and being part of a supportive student group. It is an holistic learning experience which prepares you to guide others."

 

So do you have the passion to take it to the next level and share the experience and joy of yoga with the world?

 

Talk to us about signing up !

 

See you soon

 

Camyoga