Certification level: Level 1
Laura has been regularly practicing Iyengar yoga since 2012. She first discovered Iyengar Yoga at a time of change in her life, and found it provided her with a sense of space, balance and strength. As her practice developed it became more central to her life. A sense of well-being, motivated her to share with others and to train to teach.
Laura teaches with warmth and humour, creating a welcoming, enjoyable and encouraging atmosphere in the class.
She says: “I have not been blessed with a supple or flexible body but with continued regular practice have experienced some changes and transformations as more space and movement has been created. I love that I can move more and do Asanas in my 50’s that I couldn’t do in my 40’s! I had heard teachers say that stiffness is a blessing and although hard to see at first I have come to understand this. It has taught me in many ways including focus, perseverance, kindness to self, patience, and then when things do move and change there is the joy.
I am a social worker for people with learning disabilities, I enjoy my job and am lucky to work in a great team, however, at times it can be stressful due to the responsibility and volume of work. I practice yoga as soon as I get home, giving myself physical and mental space before I get on with doing mum things. How I feel after my day often decides and prescribes what I practice, so if I’m really in my head and have had a challenging day I will practice mostly standing poses to ground me, or if I feel I need replenishing I will practice restorative Asana and Pranayama, backbends to invigorate, twists if I feel stuck.
I love Iyengar Yoga for many reasons but I think the main ones are the clarity and passion of instruction which focuses the mind, deepens the practice, and makes it less injurious, and the social worker in me values how the clever use of props makes poses accessible. I look forward to sharing my love and respect of Iyengar Yoga to students at Zagyoga. “