Hi,

I'm Stef, owner and founder of this lovely space. I found my way into teaching yoga late in life. After 35 years largely within banking, health and beauty and food manufacture, in various commercial and marketing roles, it finally dawned on me that it didn't make me happy, it didnt really matter to anyone and I was feeling like a cog in a wheel, a number and meaningless. I had neglected my health as a full time working mum of three, and was heading down the wrong path. I lost my Mum and suddently life felt so much more fragile and precious. 

 

So I joined a gym, retrained to be a yoga teacher, went on to complete my qualifications as a Sound Healer and then I quit the day job and took the plunge. Was it hard? Yes - working seven days a week from 6am often until 9 or 10pm at night due to the drop in income, not to mention the physical demands my change of career had on my neglected body, as well as the pressure it put on my husband and son - it was a very steep learning curve. But would I change anything? No! I have met so many incredible, inspiring, wonderful people along the way. I have found a life with meaning. It's not changing the world but it is changing my world and in some small ways, changing the world of my little community. 

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Spending the last four years working for different studios, gyms and renting space in village halls was the best research for my studio. It showed me the type of space I wanted to create. I came across the old derelict squash court in my village that had laid empty and rotting away for nearly a decade. With the backing of some prominent local officials, and with the help of so many incredible people, turned it into a yoga and wellness studio. I designed it to be :

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- Quiet residential area with little disruption from traffic, loud people, loud music or toxic noise. 

- Spacious but cozy, class numbers small enough for everyone to be noticed and supported, big enough for people to feel like they can breath. 

- Clean and tidy with nothing to take away from students experience - no worries about cleanliness of floors for hands and feet, or storage of 'stuff' to distract or cause subconscious stress. A purpose built, fit for purpose space.

- Tranquil and clutter free with a separate space for the outside world - shoes, bags, phones all stored safely outside of the studio - to leave the space around the mat free. 

- Calm and serene - a place where people can feel the tension drop from shoulders when they walk in. Lovely decor in gorgeous warm colours - soft peach, teal, copper, warm wood; billowy curtains; plants and atmospheric lighting. 

- Healthy air - not air conditioned, not full of incense fumes or artificial musks, not full of traffic fumes. Scented only with subtle pure essential oils.  No petrolium candles or artifical scents. 

- Props for all purposes - to increase or support range of motion and to create a practice that allows the nervous system and mind to soften as the body is supported. 

- A space for more than yoga, for an holistic approach to wellbeing - with time and space for creativity, crafts, books, community, ceremony, learning and laughter. 

- Accessible with ample free parking right outside and ground level. (Sadly the building has not been able to be adapted for wheel chairs)

- Personal not clinical - Without being cluttered, I wanted to be surrounded by meaningful things - the little cast iron mouse from my son, the fruit bowl from my mum, the yogi lamp from my lovely student Sam, the original notice board from when the studio was a squash court in a former life, the crochet yogi from my student Gill, the glass, pottery and copper flowers from my wedding, my sound healing instruments, book art from Rich, treats for students and seasonal accents. In short, I wanted this to feel like a space filled with love. 

- With Teachers that embodied the values I hold dear. At Yogi Sanctuary, we believe yoga is about people, not performance. Every class should leave students feeling welcomed, capable, calmer and more connected to themselves than when they arrived. We teach with humility, kindness and professionalism. We value consistency over charisma, encouragement over intimidation, and community over ego. We are committed not only to delivering excellent classes but to contributing to a studio where people feel they belong

 

​​I do so hope you love this space as much as I do. Should you ever have any constructive feedback as to how I can improve the space and your experience please never hsitate to let me know. 

 

Much Love

Stef x

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