KMI structural integration,
YTTC, LTG Dip
Gary has been teaching yoga, personal training and physical therapy for 20 years and currently runs a Yoga Teacher Training programme. He created Natural Bodies yoga, treatment and movement centre in Brighton - it is one of the first centres to be dedicated to the work of Vanda Scaravelli coupled with Gary's own unique approach to bodywork, movement and training. Gary lectures and teaches throughout the UK and Europe and his yoga & anatomy of yoga workshops have been seen by yoga teachers, school teachers, pilates groups and other educational organisations.
Suzanna Daw
B.Sc (Hons) M.C.S.P., M.H.P.C.
As a trained Physiotherapist, Yoga teacher and complementary therapist Suzy brings together a unique blend of wisdom from both conventional and complementary teachings offering holistic, experienced and sensitive guidance in classes and individually.
"Natural movement is our birthright and the language of the soul, however, tension can be created both in the body and mind which can make us feel blocked, unbalanced and disconnected physically, emotionally and spiritually.
Practising yoga in a conscious and mindful way helps us to ‘let go’ of the holding. As we connect and open ourselves with our breath, gravity helps to release tension from the spine and rest of the body, our natural movement awakens and we can start to feel lighter and experience more freedom and joy. This profound way of practising yoga leads us to discover a wonderful place of stillness and deep rest which is profoundly healing, nourishing and transformational".
Charlotte Watts
Charlotte’s De-Stress yoga class gives you the chance to unwind after your day and also help provide practical antidotes to the stresses of modern life - from the postural issues of sitting on chairs and hunching over computers to the ‘busy brain’ effects of constant stimulus and psycho-social pressure. You will be guided to let go and relax with the breath to prepare the body for stronger postures to release built-up tensions and come down to restorative postures and deeply. Charlotte is also a Nutritional Therapist, specialising in the effects of stress and author of The De-Stress Diet (Hay House 2012).
Charlotte began yoga over 15 years ago, coming to the practice after years of ill-health, fatigue and postural issues. From the moment she started she knew this was what her body and mind needed to help cope with life. She studied at the Vajrasati School of Yoga, Brighton with Jim Tarran – an approach with strong roots in the practical application of yoga philosophy to still the mind, connect with the breath and find space and exploration in all postures.
With a strong emphasis on alignment, Charlotte’s teaching gives clear instruction on how to move and stay in postures with supported strength but no force. This means you can work to the level that suits you and will always be offered adaptation or props where needed to be able to open up your body intelligently and feel safe to breathe as your body needs.
Specifically in the De-Stress Yoga Classes:
We will be working meditatively to promote absorption even in stronger physical postures and finding breath-body-connection.
We practice non-judgement, so no one will be comparing you or making you feel self-conscious.
The focus is about body intelligence – stepping back from ambitions of ‘the perfect pose’ and letting your body open up as it is designed to do.
We will be using props (blocks, belts etc) to facilitate moving intelligently into poses – we work deeply into poses, but not forcefully.
This class is designed to help promote:
Unity with body and mind, which can make our responses to the stresses around us more appropriate and leave us feeling ‘grounded’.
Calming of the nervous system to help relieve tension, headaches, muscle pains, fatigue.
Better posture and alignment can lead to improved circulation, digestion and hormone balance.
Breathing awareness that can help your mechanisms of detoxification, circulation, immunity and tissue repair.
Pennie Woodfall
In 1985 Pennie started yoga at the Satyananda Yoga Centre,London with Swami Pragyamurti, senior U.K. teacher of the Bihar School of Yoga.
By 1990 Pennie commenced her Iyengar training with Ruth White at the Surrey Iyengar Yoga centre. However,by 1995 she encountered Ashtanga Yoga and proceeded to train at The Life Centre,London with Godfrey Devereux.
By 1996 she was attending Ashatanga classes with Derek Ireland in Goa,India and The Practice Place in Crete. After living in and teaching in Spain Pennie returned to the U.K in 2001 and settled in Brighton where a friend introduced her to Gary Carter and the Natural Bodies Centre. As well as working with Gary, Pennie has trained with Diane Long and John Stirk.
This "Scaravelli inspired" approach to yoga has been to her a 'revelation'. Her teaching comes from this concept of endeavouring to liberate the body from habitual tension and to become more mindful of our bodies, to invite the postures rather than 'imposing' them from the outside. We approach the postures from the inside quietly and attentively.
As Vanda says in her book'' Awakening The Spine''
''In Yoga the participation of the brain in the functioning of the body during the asanas is indispensible,as the brain has to watch and follow each movement of the body. This connection of the brain to the action of the body is a fundamental part of this teaching''
Pennie feels that it is with this attentiveness that maybe we can begin to invite that 'quietness' into our practice. That sense of being at home to yourself...mind and body...body and mind.
Tracy Strassburg
Tracy has been practicing yoga since the mid 90s and teaching since 2002. Her practice has varied over the years from many forms of Hatha yoga including more dynamic flowing moving meditations to sitting and holding poses. She has no favourite style, but is particularly interested in observing both herself and her students as transformations happen.
To pre-book Tracy's classes
Tea McKernan
Tea has 20 years’ experience in yoga. She trained in Santa Monica with some of the most influential Vinyasa Flow teachers, including Shiva Rea and Erick Shiffman. Tea offers a highly skilled and intuitive approach to assisting students towards liberation and grace.
