I’ve been involved with the study and practice of Yoga since 1971. In 1979 I was among the first yoga teachers in N.Ireland trained in the Satyananda tradition. As a Satyananda Teacher, I had opportunities to live and teach in India, Singapore and the UK.
Deepening
By 2000, drawn to the teachings of TKV Desikachar, I started individual tuition with Hanne Gillespie, Director of Clonlea Yoga Studio in Blackrock, Dublin. Supported by Hanne, I embarked on a new phase of training with Paul Harvey at the Centre for Yoga Studies in Bristol (www.yogastudies.org) and became a registered Association for Yoga Studies practitioner in 2006 ( www.ays.org.uk).
To nourish my personal practice and support my teaching, I started to work with Danish teacher Peter Hersnack ( www.art-of-yoga.fr) in 2008. For 8 wonderful years I enjoyed regular one-to-one sessions with Peter and had the privilege of joining a group of senior teachers who worked with him in Denmark, France and UK.
Sadly Peter passed away in 2016, and Hanne in 2020: they both live on in my daily practice and I continue to feel their support, guidance and inspiration.
Distilling, integrating, making new connections
Against the backdrop of a well established Yoga practice and a secure base in Viniyoga, I have studied many, many related approaches. Endlessly fascinated and committed to deepening my grasp of body-mind approaches my trainings have included Stress Management Therapy, Gestalt Practice, Reflexology, Sacred Dance, Psychosynthesis, Mindfulness Meditation (MBSR), Feldenkrais, and Somatic Experiencing. All of these modalities have informed and enrich what I offer – I have delighted in the constant process of distillation, integration and making new connections.
Alongside my studies, there has always been a keen personal search – indeed I’ve managed to be both a Yoga Swami (1979 – 88) and a Catholic nun (1990 – 97) – I guess you could call me a seeker!
Highlights along the way:
- 1969 Discovered Yoga, thanks to Richard Hittleman and Lynn Marshall on BBC!
- 1971 First Yoga class whilst studying in Queen’s University, Belfast
- 1979 First Yoga Teacher Training with Swami Satyamurti Saraswati, Bihar School of Yoga
- 1979 – 89 Teaching, travelling and assisting on BSY Teacher Trainings in Ireland, Singapore and India
- First training in Circle Dancing with Anna Barton, Findhorn
- 1990- 1999 Exploring Christian Spirituality as member of St Louis Congregation in Ireland
- 2020 Discovered ‘Viniyoga’. Met Hanne Gillespie (my personal teacher), Paul Harvey, DKS Desikachar
- 2002-2006 Four Year Viniyoga Practitioner Training with Paul Harvey in Bristol. Certified by Association for Yoga Studies, UK and British Wheel of Yoga
- 2007 – 2016 Post Graduate studies with Peter Hersnack in UK, Denmark and France
- 2010 Diploma in Reflexology, Sheila Nugent School of Reflexology
- 2012 Mindfulness Teacher Training (MBSR, Bangor University)
- 2013-2016 Training as Somatic Experiencing Practitioner with Ireland SE
- 2017-2018 Training as Gestalt Practitioner with Belfast Gestalt Centre
- 2019 Training in Dance Meditation with Suzanne Anders Bartholomai
- Currently: studying Vedic Chant with Sheela Shankar and Dave Charlton
Breathing Space 