Hi, my name’s Denise and I’m a qualified yoga teacher based in Essex in the UK. I completed my 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training with Yoga Campus London and graduated in April 2023. I mainly teach Hatha yoga (a slower, gentler style of class) but also teach vinyasa flow (typically a bit more fast paced). I offer one to one sessions in the comfort of your own home with classes tailored to what you want to gain from your very own yoga practice. As well as regular group classes. I incorporate yoga asana (the poses), breath work and guided relaxations in to my classes and sprinkle in a little of yoga’s vast & fascinating history & philosophy.
I have been practicing yoga for about 10 years and my journey started when a friend introduced me to a yoga DVD that I would practice along with at home. When I changed jobs I had a colleague who was also a yoga teacher who held weekly classes in one of our meeting rooms and this is when my interest really sparked. I then moved on to practicing hot yoga for a time before finding a yoga studio that introduced me to different styles and teachers and where I found the teacher who I still practice with today. In January 2022 I started my teacher training. 200 hours over 15 months! It was intense and hard work but I enjoyed every second. I graduated in April 2023 and now want to offer to people the wonderful and empowering practices of yoga that I love and I know can benefit everyone.
I can honestly say that yoga has changed my life. I grew up being very shy and quiet, and although my height (just under 6 foot and has been since early teens) made me stand out amongst almost everyone all I wanted to do was shrink away and not be noticed. For most of my adult life I believed that no one would want to hear what I had to say and I had nothing of value to give to a conversation or situation. I thought people wouldn't be interested in me and I was reluctant to speak out of fear that I would say something stupid. It has taken me a long time to start to realise that I am worthy of taking up the space in this world that I deserve and that what I have to contribute matters. It’s yoga that has really helped me grow in to the much more confident person I am today and continues to offer me valuable lessons as to how I can cultivate self-acceptance and the true belief that I can stand tall and be proud of who I am, just as I am.
I believe that we can all be Tall Yogis. Anyone and everyone who practices yoga in some way, whether that be a physical practice, meditation, breath work or maybe integrating the teachings and philosophies of yoga in to every day life can use these practices to find confidence and inner strength, to not be afraid to take up space in this world. To stand tall and proud of who we are!
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