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om ajnana-timirandhasya jnananjana-salakaya
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
'I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him'
- Srimad Bhagavad Gita
caksur unmilitam yena tasmai sri-gurave namah
'I was born in the darkest ignorance and my spiritual master opened my eyes with the torch of knowledge. I offer my respectful obeisances unto him'
- Srimad Bhagavad Gita
Yogaprema teachers are passionate about the teachings of yoga, we are yoga practitioners not preachers. We live and breathe yoga as a way of life, as a means to perfection, happiness and realisation. Through direct experience, daily practice and study we humbly share the teachings as it has been given to us by our spiritual Masters, Swami Sivananda, Swami Vishnudevananda and the senior disciples of the International Sivananda Yoga Organisation.
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Yogaprema teachers
Lila Conway
Lila was first introduced to yoga in the early eighties through a book, ‘The book of YOGA’ by Sivananda, this was her first teacher. Asana (posture) practice felt very natural, but it was the chanting and philosophy that really fuelled an intense desire to learn more. Lila continued her study and practise of yoga and naturally went on to complete a Yoga Teachers Training Course at the Sivananda Ashram, Kerala, India in 2001. Having lived within the Sivananda yoga ashrams and centres in India and Canada for the best part of eight years, it was during this time of service that ashram life deeply transformed her and sparked an intense love for yoga, chanting and devotional service.
Lila returned to the UK in 2008 and currently leads yoga classes, retreats and workshops in the Bristol area and beyond. Her classes can be dynamic and challenging or soft, nurturing and meditative. As a result of years of practise and study Lila shares from the heart and has an intuitive and compassionate teaching style, offering presence, love and attention to each individual. Lila is trained to Advanced Level and has been the main teacher of Hatha Yoga on the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Courses in both India and Canada since 2008.
Lila writes Yoga articles for Inspired Times Magazine, an ethical living and lifestyle magazine. www.inspiredtimesmagazine.com.
With a profound gratitude for the gift of life, Lila’s inspiration comes from the service of others and the path of love and devotion. Lila believes that we can best serve others and heal ourselves when our hearts are open and pure.
Chant and be happy! Surrender to Love.
Lila was first introduced to yoga in the early eighties through a book, ‘The book of YOGA’ by Sivananda, this was her first teacher. Asana (posture) practice felt very natural, but it was the chanting and philosophy that really fuelled an intense desire to learn more. Lila continued her study and practise of yoga and naturally went on to complete a Yoga Teachers Training Course at the Sivananda Ashram, Kerala, India in 2001. Having lived within the Sivananda yoga ashrams and centres in India and Canada for the best part of eight years, it was during this time of service that ashram life deeply transformed her and sparked an intense love for yoga, chanting and devotional service.
Lila returned to the UK in 2008 and currently leads yoga classes, retreats and workshops in the Bristol area and beyond. Her classes can be dynamic and challenging or soft, nurturing and meditative. As a result of years of practise and study Lila shares from the heart and has an intuitive and compassionate teaching style, offering presence, love and attention to each individual. Lila is trained to Advanced Level and has been the main teacher of Hatha Yoga on the Sivananda Yoga Teachers Training Courses in both India and Canada since 2008.
Lila writes Yoga articles for Inspired Times Magazine, an ethical living and lifestyle magazine. www.inspiredtimesmagazine.com.
With a profound gratitude for the gift of life, Lila’s inspiration comes from the service of others and the path of love and devotion. Lila believes that we can best serve others and heal ourselves when our hearts are open and pure.
Chant and be happy! Surrender to Love.
Simon Martin
Simon started practising yoga in 2001 when living in London. Soon after he visited India and was introduced to yogic philosophy which unbeknown to him at that time was laying the foundations for a future of deeper yoga practice. During his second trip to Indiain 2007 he spent time at the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerala where, immersed in the 5 points and 4 paths of yoga from teachings of Swami Sivananda and Swami Vishnudevananda, he awakened to the profound healing effects of yoga. The following year his training took him to the Sivananda Ashram Yoga Farm in Californiawhere during a 3 month period he completed the Teacher Training Course under Swami Sitaramananda, Vidya Chaitanya and Mani Chaitanya.
Now living in Bristol, Simon regularly teaches Hatha Yoga classes and participates in Satsangs. He simply wishes bring to others the teachings he experiences from the many great and wonderful teachers before him. He is gratefully encouraged by family, friends and fellow yoga teachers who are profoundly appreciative of the transformational process of following yogic traditions.
'Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate and Realise. Om Tat Sat'
Now living in Bristol, Simon regularly teaches Hatha Yoga classes and participates in Satsangs. He simply wishes bring to others the teachings he experiences from the many great and wonderful teachers before him. He is gratefully encouraged by family, friends and fellow yoga teachers who are profoundly appreciative of the transformational process of following yogic traditions.
'Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Meditate and Realise. Om Tat Sat'
Debbie Thomas
Previously a professional dancer and teacher, I have practiced yoga for over 15 years having first engaged with the Iyengar style in London and Bristol. I then discovered the Sivananda style suited me, my body and mind. I trained for 5 years with a small gap when I ruptured my achilles tendon dancing( not through yoga!) In 2009, I qualified as a teacher at the Sivananda Vedanta School in the Himalaya, India. Since then, I have established a Health at work weekly yoga lunchtime session for Bristol City Council and have joined Yoga Prema as an occasional teacher. I aim to empower students, challenging them to safely find their edge and expand themselves physically and spiritually. Over a year into my yoga teaching journey, I feel blessed to be able to pass on what I have learnt. Through gentle guidance and facilitation I am excited by and honoured as to how I can play my part in assisting people to lead a healthier lifestyle and fulfilling life. I am seeking out new traditions and continuing my experience and development with inspired leaders absorbing their teachings rather like a sponge! Going deeper in my knowledge and maintaining my yoga practice has transformed my own vitality and focus and I hope to share this with more people with mindful teaching.
"No Yoga, No Peace. Know Yoga, Know Peace." Namaste
"No Yoga, No Peace. Know Yoga, Know Peace." Namaste
Devaki (Denise Boot)
Devaki is a Sivananda trained yoga teacher as well as an Ayurveda Therapist & Nutritional Therapist. Devaki graduated from her teacher training at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India in 2005. Since then she has undertaken further training in Pranayama & Integral Yoga for the Back. Additionally, after an inspirational month at the Sivananda Ashram in The Bahamas in January 2011 she is currently developing a Yoga of Recovery course.
Following her teacher training programme, Devaki taught various yoga classes in Devon, England. Between 2008 -2011 Devaki lived in yoga ashrams, serving and teaching yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Centres & Ashrams in America, India & Spain. Devaki is now based in Bristol and is currently offering classes across the City as well as in Bath and Somerset. She also supports her fellow yoga teachers by covering a variety of classes across Bristol. Additionally, Devaki is the founder of Yoga for Peace Day, an annual event held in Bristol which celebrates peace & raises money for charities supporting people affected by war.
Devaki’s international experience brings a wealth of knowledge of the Sivananda tradition, as well as a passion & commitment to supporting people in developing/deepening their experience of yoga. She feels blessed to be part of the yoga community here in Bristol, enabling her to share with others the joy & peace that yoga has brought her. For Devaki's classes please click here
'What happens on the mat is a reflection of what happens off the mat'
Devaki is a Sivananda trained yoga teacher as well as an Ayurveda Therapist & Nutritional Therapist. Devaki graduated from her teacher training at the Sivananda Ashram in Kerala, India in 2005. Since then she has undertaken further training in Pranayama & Integral Yoga for the Back. Additionally, after an inspirational month at the Sivananda Ashram in The Bahamas in January 2011 she is currently developing a Yoga of Recovery course.
Following her teacher training programme, Devaki taught various yoga classes in Devon, England. Between 2008 -2011 Devaki lived in yoga ashrams, serving and teaching yoga at the Sivananda Yoga Centres & Ashrams in America, India & Spain. Devaki is now based in Bristol and is currently offering classes across the City as well as in Bath and Somerset. She also supports her fellow yoga teachers by covering a variety of classes across Bristol. Additionally, Devaki is the founder of Yoga for Peace Day, an annual event held in Bristol which celebrates peace & raises money for charities supporting people affected by war.
Devaki’s international experience brings a wealth of knowledge of the Sivananda tradition, as well as a passion & commitment to supporting people in developing/deepening their experience of yoga. She feels blessed to be part of the yoga community here in Bristol, enabling her to share with others the joy & peace that yoga has brought her. For Devaki's classes please click here
'What happens on the mat is a reflection of what happens off the mat'
Dory Walker (Daya Devi)
Life is a journey. Finding herself on her first asana mat at 18, Dory has experienced the true spirit of yoga as transformational practice. She believes in the power of yoga to guide conscious evolution, individually and collectively. She brings the essence of the ancient teachings to her classes in fun and creative fusion of dynamic hatha flow, meditation, profound relaxation and chanting. A global adventurer Dory teaches regularly in Canada, New Zealand, India and Egypt, teaching retreats and teacher training courses. She is an Advanced certified teacher and has practiced and studied many forms of Hatha Yoga (physical yoga) all of which influence and enrich her teaching. Her classes are fun and encourage students to discover their edge and use their practice as an art of transformation.Through her own practice she has discovered that regular practice promotes effective, positive and healthy living. Dory believes strongly in making the yoga (union) adventure joyful, keeping it light and remembering to laugh!! Dory is also a practicing therapist and Reiki Master. Her treatments are intuitive and draw on her wide ranging experience and knowledge from a broad spectrum of healing modalities. Through her own self-practice and study she continues to develop experience and knowledge gaining fresh inspiration for her teaching and treatments Living in beautiful Gloucestershire and travelling worldwide, Dory gets lots of Inspiration from Mother Nature!
Her motto: Expand the Heart; it’s all about the Love.. Don’t take yourself too seriously!
Love to all Beings, may Peace Prevail on Earth. Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu. Om Shanti xx
Her motto: Expand the Heart; it’s all about the Love.. Don’t take yourself too seriously!
Love to all Beings, may Peace Prevail on Earth. Loka Samasta Sukhino Bhavantu. Om Shanti xx
ॐ नमो भगवते वासुदेवाय
Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya
