Sarah teaches Viniyoga, Yin and Yang Yoga classes, workshops and courses in London. Sarah's yoga teaching is strongly grounded in her studies of anatomy and theory. No two people are made the same - in the comical words of the renowned yoga teacher Paul Grilley, "I'm the only one, there's something wrong with me..."

Sarah approaches her yoga teaching with a strong sensitivity to the uniqueness of all body types and abilities. She is continually fascinated and shocked to discover that anatomically no two people are identical. Simple as this sounds, many yoga teachers try to make their students fit the posture, assuming perhaps that we are made the same.

On the contrary, Sarah encourages finding a way to enable the posture to fit the student. The form of the posture is secondary to the function of the pose.

Sarah's other interest in teaching yoga is to promote body awareness. We walk around with ourselves every day, yet we are so out of touch. Encouraging subtle awarenesses such as anatomical structure, tensions and compressions within the body, becoming more aware of physical habits that we may have adopted, parasitic behavioural patterns, etc, are all fascinating discoveries if we allow ourselves the time to explore.

Sarah encourages a healthy balance of both Yin and Yang in one's yoga practice and indeed life. Through yoga, the body and the mind are nurtured and nourished and our link back to nature potentially enriched.

Sarah teaches both Yin Yoga and Viniyoga in London and can be booked for private, group or corporate work. Private classes for individuals are priced at £45ph or £200 for a block of 5 hrs paid in advance. Prices for groups or corporate work can be negotiated and concessions can be given.

Please contact yoga@shapesinmotion.com for further information.

As well as teaching yoga, Sarah is an actor and movement coach, and founder of Shapes In Motion. In both her acting and her movement coaching she is hugely inspired by yoga and its applicable theories.

Yin Yoga uses the body, in a series of floor postures which are held, statically, for long periods of time. This enables the muscles (yang by nature) to relax, so as to stretch the deeper set tissues (yin by nature), appropriately.

Yin Yoga accesses this deeper, hidden, yin layer of the body, fascia, unlike any other forms of yoga or movement practices - this is what makes Yin Yoga unique. In turn, this deeper level of stretch, as well as increasing flexibility, also accesses a deeper level in our minds, which consequently leads to a deeper level of meditation.

Yin Yoga, complimentary to Yang forms of Yoga, helps us to maintain a healthy body and to prevent immobilisation of the joints. The distinction between tension and compression in our body parts can be explored through regular practice. A typical Yin class would last for approx 90mins and some classes may include a mixture of both Yin (Static) and Yang (Dynamic) forms of Yoga.

For more information please read this article in Yoga Journal by Paul Grilley, explaining the practice of Yin Yoga.

Pop up Yin/Yang Yoga class 20th July 1.30-2.30pm at Moving Arts Base.

Yin Yoga Course  15th September - 13th October 2013
Yin Yoga with live harp music - 6th October 2013

Email yoga@shapesinmotion.com for a booking form. Private group and one to one sessions also available.

Sarah has taught Yin and Yang Yoga at various leading corprate institutions in London, including HSBC Headquarters and Schroders Investment Bank.

Viniyoga focuses on a combination of both static and dynamic work, however the static work is minimal in comparison to that practiced in Yin Yoga. Viniyoga places its primary importance on the breath, linking movement to the breath.

Viniyoga encourages one to find the supports within the body to allow ease and comfort within the practice. A typical class would include predominantly dynamic work, followed by a short pranayama practice and a short relaxation.

Viniyoga specifically, again working in the same grain as Sarah's preferences, works very much on matching the yoga to the individual. Viniyoga means 'intelligent application' - the intelligent application of yoga to match the individual's needs, both in body and mind.

Group and one to one sessions available.

Sarah has taught Viniyoga at various leading corporate institutions in London including; HSBC Headquarters and Schroders Investment Bank.

Sarah teaches Children's Yoga for children aged 3 to 7. Sarah combines yoga, storytelling and movement into a 30-minute session, which encourages the children to move, play with yoga postures, be creative and expressive through movement, explore sound and breath, learn to find moments of stillness and rest, and ultimately to have fun.

Sarah will teach groups of a maximum of 7 students at a time and the children will also need to be supervised by teachers or parents. Adventures and stories may be read or created, using visual images to engage the children also. Class themes will vary and can be tailored to parents or schools requests, complementing the child's/children's learning needs at that time. Topics or themes may include Jungle Adventures, The Sun and The Moon, Ocean Adventures, Going to the Zoo, The body, up/down - under/over...

30-minute sessions are £40, and two 30-minute sessions in a 1-hour slot are £60.

Sarah is available for one-off classes, courses and children's parties. Party packages can be arranged including face painting and balloon modelling entertainers incorporated into the yoga party package - all serving the theme of your choice, whether it be frogs and fairies, pirates and princesses, animals, under the sea, jungle etc. We will work with you to bring your child's chosen adventure alive! Email sarah@shapesinmotion.com for further information.

We hold up to date enhanced CRB disclosures and first aid certificates.

Sarah recently taught Yoga for Children at Primi Passi Nursery in Holland Park.

• Sarah is registered with and insured by The British Wheel of Yoga (BWY)

• 500hrs - Yoga Teacher Training Diploma with Sadhana Mala, BWY, London (Dave Charlton and Ranju Roy)

• 100hrs - Anatomy and Theory - Yin Yoga Teacher Training 1- Paul and Suzee Grilley, California.

• 100 hrs - Chakras and Merdians - Yin Yoga Teacher Training 2- Paul and Suzee Grilley, Thailand.

• 30 hrs - Anatomy - Yin Yoga Teacher Training 1- Paul and Suzee Grilley, London.

• 30 hrs - Chakras and Merdians - Yin Yoga Teacher Training 2- Paul and Suzee Grilley, Hamburg.

• 60 hrs - Foundation Teaching Course - Tara Fraser, British Wheel of Yoga (BWY), London.

• REPs (Registered Exercise Professional) Level 3, Yoga Instructor.

• 200hr RYT (Yoga Alliance) and 500hr registered Yoga teacher with The British Wheel of Yoga.
 
• First Aid Certificate (Expires May 2016)

• Other credits include: BA(Hons) in Dance and Drama with English, UK and Introduction certificates in both Laban Movement Analysis and Bartenieff Fundamentals from The Laban Institute of Movement Studies, New York. Further credits can be viewed on the about page.

• Various courses and workshops attended including: Astanga courses with Nigel Jones (level 1 and 2), workshops with Ruth Gilmore (Anatomy), Paul Grilley (Anatomy/Yin Yoga), Suzee Grilley (Yin/Yang Yoga), Carlos Pomeda (History, Philosophy and Meditation), Tarik Dervish (Ayurveda) and Howard Napper (Residential retreat and workshops).

• Sarah continues to take classes in Anatomy, Hatha, Yin, Yang and Viniyoga Yoga.