About Alison

I have been practising Hatha yoga since 2001 and was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa by June Mitchell in 2005. Ashtanga Vinyasa is my home practice for the strong connection between breath and movement. These two components are essential to encourage the flow of prana, life's vital energy. If prana doesn't flow freely energy gets blocked and this can manifest itself both physically and emotionally within the body. There is a saying, "our issues are held in our tissues." Yoga helps to unblock our physical and emotional issues.

I am a regular at Tayside Yoga Association seminars and believe strongly in continued professional development. The teacher training with Chi Yoga School provided me with a springboard to deepen my practice and knowledge of the ancient practice of yoga. It has been a privilege to have been taught by truly wonderful teachers like Paul Dallaghan, John Scott, David Keil, Manju Jois and David Swenson (40hr Ashtanga Teacher Training). With the recession putting a stop to any foreign trips, I decided to take specialist training in Yoga for Pregnancy. This is an area which has interested me since I greatly benefited from practising yoga through both my pregnancies. The course was through YogaCampus with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli in Bristol, a truly wonderful nourishing course. My Ashtanga practice has deepened in 2009 with a workshop with Paul Dallaghan and Mysore classes with David Keil.

Please note that whilst I practice Ashtanga Vinyasa (Primary Series) and teach classes based on the Ashtanga Vinyasa sequence, I have not been authorised by http://www.kpjayi.org/ in Mysore, India. This is the only place which can authorise Ashtanga teachers. The only authorised Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher in Scotland currently is Rowena Warren in Edinburgh. That said I am a fully qualified yoga teacher who follows the tradition as taught to me by authorised and certified Ashtanga Vinyasa teachers. An authorised Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher can only teach the Primary Series and has generally made at least four trips to Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore of 3+ months. Certified teachers have completed at least the first three series of Ashtanga Yoga. These students generally have made 8 or more annual trips to AYRI Mysore and have at least 8-10 years of daily Ashtanga Yoga practice.

I personally find Ashtanga Vinyasa (Primary Series) a very beautiful and challenging practice which connects the body, mind and soul. My aim is to introduce students to the opening and closing mantras, ujjiya pranayama, awareness of bandhas (energy locks), dristis (looking place), the vinyasa count for Surya Namaskara A&B, Sanskrit for all the postures covered in class. Within this framework great emphasis will be placed on correct alignment with modifications for those who need to work up to the full posture. By paying attention to correct alignment we not only prevent injury and release tension within the body we aid the flow of prana, our life's vital energy. Aligned joints are free joints. You will be encouraged to never compromise the breath, this is your foundation.

We are all students of yoga, regardless of our level we must continue to study. I thank all my teachers and students for their insight, happiness and humour.

With two active boys aged four and half and seven years old who enjoy practising yoga, I completed specialist training with The Life Centre (tutor: Jo Manuel) "Teaching Yoga to Children" in 2007. This six day course covered all aspects of teaching yoga to children from two to teens. In 2008  I completed  the Bodymind For Children course with Sue Woodd and Tina Hedren.  This course provides primary aged children with fun and interactive ways in which to understand how their bodies work, and introduces them "to the study of nature, human nature and the natural forces in and around them."

Training

Yoga Scotland Foundation Course (2006)

CYS Scotland/200hrs Yoga Alliance Certificate (2007)

Paul Dallaghan Ashtanga Workshop (Oct 2006)

15hrs Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training

(Sept 2007, Yoga Alliance accredited, tutor: Seane Corn)

Teaching Yoga to Children (Nov, 2007, The Life Centre, London)

Bodymind for Children (April 2008)

Paul Dallaghan Ashtanga Workshop (July 2008)

Manju Jois Ashtanga Weekend Intensive (August 2008)

David Swenson Ashtanga Primary Series Teacher Training (Nov 08)

Paul Dallaghan Breathwork/Pranayama, Restorative yoga and Satsang (May 09)

Seasonal Flow Yoga (ongoing 2009/2010)

David Keil, Ashtanga Day and week of Mysore (June 2009)

Yoga for Pregnancy with Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (July 2009)

IAIM Baby Massage (pending 2009)

Samadhi Postnatal Yoga (pending 2010)