I am Catriona, a teacher of Hatha and Pregnancy Yoga, and a mother of four. I have been practicing Yoga for 20 years, and teach Hatha Yoga from my beautiful private Garden Studio in Strawberry Hill.
Why Yoga? Over the years, I have had many different motivations for practicing Yoga. In my years working in Financial Services I found it helped on a physical level, relieving the aches and pains of sitting at a desk all day. During my pregnancies I discovered the deep relaxation and restorative benefits of Yoga. Post pregnancy, it was about gently bringing strength back to my body, and giving myself permission to rest. There was also the fun and camaraderie of Mum & Baby Yoga.
However, it was in dealing with the shock of my daughter’s bone cancer diagnosis (she was just 7), and the subsequent gruelling surgeries, that some of the most profound benefits of my sustained yoga practice became apparent, helping me to manage my health, mental and emotional state and be strong for my daughter through the hard times.
Having experienced the boundless benefits of Yoga on body and mind through different stages of my life, when my daughter’s continued medical requirements meant that I could not return to my corporate job, I felt that this was my opportunity to share the gift of Yoga with others. I completed a 6 month BWY Foundation Course in February 2016. I then completed the Level 3 Certificate in Anatomy, Physiology and Pathology for Complementary Therapies (ITEC, QCF) at St Mary's University, Twickenham, before starting my Yoga Alliance Professionals 245 hour Hatha Yoga Teacher Training qualification with Louise Cashin (Yoga-Yoga) in Twickenham, which I completed in December 2017. The following year, in January 2019 I went on to complete a Pregnancy & Postnatal Teacher Training with Yoga Mama in Putney. In 2021 I completed an Advanced Teacher Training with Donna Farhi, globally renowned Yoga 'Teacher of Teachers' based in Christchurch, New Zealand.
In 2022 I added Sports Massage Therapy to my offering. Gaining an ITEC Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy from St Mary's University, and further training in Massage in Pregnancy, I have been able to expand my holistic offering to my students and referrals.
I am privileged to be able to share the wonderful calming, healing and strengthening benefits of Yoga with my students. I have a strong belief that Yoga can profoundly benefit everyone, whatever their physical condition, and in many different ways. It is important that students know that Yoga is inclusive and feel welcome in a class which means teaching with love, patience and kindness.
Qualifications & continued professional development include: 2016-17 Yoga-Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Alliance Professional certified) 2017 The Philosophy of Healing (Yoga Therapy Foundation) 2018 Total Yoga Nidra Immersion Experience: - Uma Dinsmore-Tuli 2019 Yoga Mama Pregnancy & Postnatal Teacher Training 2021 Donna Farhi Advanced Teacher Training 2021 Donna Farhi - Yoga for Lower Back Pain 2022 Donna Farti - Yoga for Core Integration 2022 Level 3 Diploma in Sports Massage Therapy (St Mary's University, Twickenham) 2022 Massage in Pregnancy Certificate (St Mary's University, Twickenham) 2023 Menopause Awareness Certificate for Yoga (Petra Coveneney (Founder of Menopause Yoga) 2023 Level 4 Certificate in Nutrition (St Mary's University, Twickenham)