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Our Teachers & classes

When you start practicing you’ll notice that our teachers soon recognise you, know your name and support your experience at the studio. Our teachers are all different, with diverse lives, styles and backgrounds but what is consistent across the studio is that all our teachers are kind, committed and inspirational. We recommend practicing with as many teachers as possible to find the ones who have the greatest impact on your practice and your life.

Yasmine Say is a Level 3 Personal Trainer, Pilates Instructor and Mobility Coach based in West London. Yasmine’s Pilates classes are dynamic, with a strong focus on the Pilates breath (and how it can help control movement). She has a keen interest in Yoga, so you can expect some elements of Vinyasa practise in her classes to help improve flexibility and create interesting transitions. She wants her clients to leave class with a good understanding of their bodies, as well as a knowledge of the benefits Pilates can bring to help them cope with everyday physical tasks.

Yasmine Say

Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced Yogi, Brodie will inspire and empower your journey towards personal growth and well-being. 

His classes build strength, confidence and flexibility through intelligent and creative sequencing, safe alignment and calm focus - cultivating a deeper connection & understanding of yourself & others - on & off the mat. 

Be prepared to challenge your BODY, engage your MIND and liven your SPIRIT. 

Brodie Bass

Zeena is an Ashtanga yoga teacher who has been practising yoga for over 25 years and teaching for more than a decade.  Zeena is one of the co-lead teacher trainers on our teacher training and is dedicated to passing on the ancient teachings of yoga in an authentic way which honours the traditions, cultures and peoples from where and whom yoga has evolved.  Her classes are places where you will hear and see the embodiment of Sanskrit, Indian mythology and ancient mantras within modern yoga classes. Zeena runs the YW Ashtanga Mysore programme where she has developed a committed community of students.  Her intention is to pass on the teachings and energetic therapeutics of the Ashtanga Mysore method one student at a time, one body at a time, adapting the teachings to meet the student in front of her.  Her teaching method is rooted in the traditions of the teachings of  Krsnamacharya, in that the healing benefits of the breath are the foremost focus of all asanas.  Her hopes for all students is that yoga will forever change their lives for the better, will help all to access the path of self-realisation and bring about collective healing. 

Zeena Kalisperides

Jeff is one of London’s leading yoga teachers. He has been teaching at the capital’s leading studios for over 15 years and has also trained people to become yoga teachers for many years. He teaches a mindful ‘slow flow’ challenging style of yoga.

Jeff Phenix

A classically trained musician, sound & crystal healer, yoga teacher and music therapist, Charlie draws on her experience to weave uniquely beautiful sound compositions to move & soothe energies organically within her gong baths/sonic  sound symphonies. Within her Yoga classes, she is influenced deeply by the teachings of classical tantra and her teacher Sianna Sherman. Charlie’s classes are Prana infused with Mantras, Mudras and breathwork. 

Charlie Merton

Yildiz teaches dynamic Vinyasa, grounding Slow Flow, and restorative Yin classes. Intelligently sequenced with a focus on the breath to safely navigate the body, building strength and flexibility in both body and mind. It is the integration of the physical, mental and spiritual practice of yoga that inspires her teaching, offering something for everyone. Expect to feel both challenged and beautifully restored.

Yildiz Atan

Ellie has a huge passion for holding creative space which translates into her Yoga Teaching, with an extensive background in dance and choreography she brings creativity to her sequencing, holding an enthusiasm for organic and intuitive movement whilst still integrating her Ashtanga & Vinyasa training to develop fun and strength building classes.

Ellie Gordon

Huma grew up in Islamabad, the majestic Himalayan foothills of Pakistan and this is where as a teenager the initial seed of Yoga was planted.  At 21 she moved to London and completed an MA in Social Anthropology at SOAS University. This passion for and interest in the mystical and messy human condition continues to nourish and inform her practise. Her classes focus on breath awareness, alignment, and the interconnected nature of matter, mind and spirit.  The methodology is multidisciplinary, intuitive but also steeped in the traditional aspects of yoga reflecting her many years of study and personal practise.  She views the science and art of Yoga as a sacred life long journey revealing to us the extraordinary and infinite within the rich, interwoven tapestry of our everyday lives and the natural world. Huma feels blessed to have found this path that guides us back to our hearts, heals the body and elevates our consciousness, while creating a counter balance to the stresses and distractions of modern life.  

Huma Jalil

Movement has always been a grounding and uplifting force in Maggie’s life. Maggie teaches from the heart to those who seek the tranquility and wisdoms that lie within. She encourages students to be present and honour what they need in this present moment. Students can expect a meditative flow with focus on inner experience 

Maggie Czerny

Elissia is passionate about helping students connect to their breath through movement and stillness. When connected to our breath, we embrace the present moment and stop worrying about the past or fixating on the future. When taking time to enjoy the moment, we create more space to notice and appreciate the beauty in everything, including ourselves.  You can find Elissia teaching well-balanced, strengthening, fiery Vinyasa flows alongside healing, meditative Yin Yoga. Always offering optional challenges and modifications. Expect to feel a blissful release that leaves you feeling uplifted, grounded and with a deeper connection to self when you step off the mat. 

Elissia Roberts

Mia has been teaching yoga for 4 years now and loves how versatile the practice can be. You'll find her teaching fun & creative vinyasa classes incorporating inversions and the odd handstand workshop. No matter which class you make it to, whether online or in person, expect to sweat, smile & leave feeling relaxed and uplifted. 

Mia Gemmecke

Harriet first came to yoga as a way of rehabilitating her body after being diagnosed with Arthritis. Harriet firmly believes that yoga was the missing piece to the puzzle which not only enabled to her to regain physical strength but discover a deeper mental strength too. Harriet wants to breakdown the barriers around yoga which make it seem intimidating, make it accessible to all and encourage everyone and anyone to explore its incredible life-changing benefits. Harriet’s classes are playful and challenging; focusing on using breath and anatomically precise movement to help students reconnect to their body and feel their best; you can expect to learn, sweat and have fun all at the same time. Harriet judgement and leave your mat feeling energised, nurtured and with a little more Santosha in your life.

Harriet Taylor

Imogen has been teaching Yoga for over 7 years. Her classes are both accessible to be-ginners and engaging for movers with developed skills. An Animal Flow and martial arts enthusiast, she values exploration, fun and diversity in movement. Imogen is a qualified mobility specialist and employs her knowledge to create classes that bring ease, fluidity and functionality to the modern western body. From her training to be a psychotherapist, Imogen can tune into her students with a fine sensitivity. She takes great joy in bringing a sense of ease and freedom to those she teaches.

Imogen Parry

Our class levels

Every teacher and every class at Yoga West is unique; these levels are just a general guideline. Sometimes classes will be different to other classes within the same level. Whatever the level, all of our classes at Yoga West finish with at least five minutes of savasana so however demanding your practice you should leave us feeling calm, relaxed and centred.

LEVEL1

Suitable for beginners, those returning after a break or those wanting a slower class to focus on their foundations, level 1 classes involve simpler poses and sequences that do not require a level of pre-existing strength and flexibility.

Teachers will ensure asanas (yoga poses) are being practiced as they should be and a range of alternative options will be offered for those who require it. Classes may include periods of physically demanding activity but will always be accompanied by periods of more gentle activity or rest. Students will learn the basic building blocks of a yoga practice

LEVEL 1 - 2

Suitable for those with some experience of yoga or those who are already fit, healthy and regularly active, these classes are more physically demanding and most people should expect to sweat. Sequences may move at an energising one breath per movement pace to help invigorate your whole system, or will build your strength and stamina by holding more challenging poses for longer.

Students will expand on the basics and begin to work towards more advanced asanas (poses) and learn practices such as pranayama (breathing exercises) and meditation.

LEVEL 2

Level 2 classes are for those looking to deepen the connection between their practice and their life. These are our most physically demanding classes and are not suitable for total beginners. We recommend students only attend this class if they have over 6 -12 months regular yoga experience or if they have an existing level of strength and flexibility.
Creative or dynamic sequencing will provide students with the opportunity to explore more advanced physically demanding asanas, arm balances and inversions. Classes will regularly include pranayama, meditation and will touch upon yoga philosophy. Students will be able to expand and deepen their practice on many levels.

Class Descriptors

Yoga Basics

This vinyasa-style yoga class is designed for those looking to learn or return to the foundations of yoga postures (asanas), alignment, breathing and technique and is a great class to attend if you are currently on or just coming off our foundation course. Classes build heat, endurance, flexibility, and strength in a supportive environment, encouraging the link between mindful body movement and the breath and will help you gain the confidence and strength required for a more regular yoga practice. Appropriate for beginners as well as those with an ongoing practice.

Slow Flow

Our slow flow classes are the perfect antidote to a busy lifestyle. Slow flow classes allow you to be taken through each pose slowly and mindfully, linking movement and breath. When we take our time, our nervous systems relax, our minds slow down, our muscles become more supple and our breath deepens. These classes will help you build a stronger body while releasing tension and allowing you to explore deepening your breath and how it anchors you in your body, helping you to live more in the present moment. This class is suitable for beginners with little or no yoga experience, however, the most experienced yoga student will also be challenged as you are reminded that sometimes less is more.

Slow Flow Pregnancy Friendly

Open to all students but designed to accommodate pregnant women in their second trimester, these are a pregnancy-friendly version of our slow flow class. If you have an existing yoga practice and a non-complicated pregnancy you are welcome to attend these classes, provided you speak to the studio about your pregnancy prior to arriving for your class. Please call or email the studio with any queries.

Flow & Yin

Spend some time to connect with your body awaken your senses and clear your mind. These classes start off with an energising sequence and then move to a Yin practise - a quiet, inward practice that uses long, passive holds to get into the body’s fascia - the deep inter-connective tissue under the skin that connects all of our muscles and organs. A beautiful and powerful method to let go of the demands and tensions of your day.

Yin Yoga

Yin yoga comes from the Taoist tradition and focuses on passive, seated postures that target the body’s fascia – the deep connective tissue that connects our body’s organs and muscles - resulting in a profound balancing of your ‘inner’ strength and ‘outer’ flexibility. Poses are held for anywhere between one and 10 minutes and the aim is to increase flexibility and encourage a feeling of release and letting go, both physically and mentally. Yin classes are a wonderful way to learn the basics of meditation. Ideal for athletic types who need to release tension in overworked joints and great for those who would like to relax and find balance.

Restorative

Our restorative classes focus on relaxing the body in restful postures. Props are used to support the body so that you can hold poses for extended periods, allowing you to open your body through passive stretching. Restorative postures are adapted from supine or seated yoga poses with the addition of blocks, bolsters, and blankets to allow for gentle opening and stretching. These classes are deeply relaxing, the perfect antidote to a busy life and perfectly complement the more dynamic physical practices at Yoga West.

Vinyasa Flow

Vinyasa Flow - likened to a dynamic dance - is a practice where postures or asanas are connected through the breath for a transformative and balancing effect. Classes build heat, endurance, flexibility and strength. The creative sequencing found in a vinyasa class is often built around repeated surya namaskar (sun salutations). Teachers weave together dynamic sequences, yogic teachings and music that can inspire physical, energetic, mental and intuitive states.

Ashtanga Yoga

The original power yoga, Ashtanga yoga is a fast-paced series of sequential postures designed by yoga master Shri K. Pattabhi Jois. Intended to be a daily routine, this powerful healing practice is a specific sequence of postures (asanas) linking breath (pranayama) and movement (vinyasa). There are five Ashtanga asana series and each student must master every pose of the first series before moving onto the second series. Ashtanga is an athletic flow combining strength, flexibility and stamina.

Jivamukti

Jivamukti classes integrate a vigorous and challenging vinyasa asana practice to inspiring soundtracks accompanied by pranayama (breath work), meditation, Sanskrit chanting and an emphasis on Yogic philosophy. Jivamukti Yoga was founded in 1980’s New York by artists David Life and Sharon Gannon with the aim of communicating yoga to the modern world as a spiritual practice. Expect to be challenged physically and intellectually.

Pilates

The aim of Pilates is to restore the natural strength and structure of the body, and to allow the body to work to its full potential with the least amount of effort. Pilates draws inspiration from both eastern and western exercise regimes, working muscles on a focused, deep level to strengthen the abdomen, stabilise the spine and support the back. Pilates helps you to develop correct postural alignment and enhances flexibility. One of the strengths of the Pilates method is that it works so well for a wide range of people and supports other activities including yoga.

Parent & Baby Yoga

We welcome mums and babies to this 60-minute mixed level Yoga class, suitable from six weeks after giving birth until your baby starts crawling.
Post-natal yoga is a great opportunity for new mums to re-connect with their bodies, to strengthen their core, to stretch and release tight muscles (such as shoulders and neck from carrying and feeding), as well as finding some valuable moments of quiet and calm. The little ones are invited to come along and watch, and we often involve them as we move through the sequence, which can be a lovely bonding experience.
Your baby will rest in front of your mat on a blanket provided but please bring a muslin or two and some baby wipes! Your teacher will be more than happy to hold your baby if they need entertaining while you enjoy your practice. Come and join us for a fun return to yoga and activity and a fun informal way to meet some other new mums.

Pregnancy Yoga

Our Pregnancy Yoga classes are balanced and gentle with a strong focus on the breath. They will help you adapt to the many changes that pregnancy brings, and prepare you mentally, physically and emotionally for labour, birth and beyond. Suitable from 12 weeks until the end of pregnancy.

Flow & Restore

This class combines vinyasa flow with restorative yoga, creating an energising and nourishing balance for body and mind. The dynamic and fluid practices will heat the body and build strength, endurance and flexibility. These restorative postures will help relax the muscles, tissues, organs and nervous system, encouraging a release of deeply held tension while replenishing energy. A great class to help decrease negative stress and encourage healthy recovery for injury or illness.

Community Classes

Our community classes are taught by our amazing Yoga West Teacher Training Graduates, we are committed to the development of our TTs as they begin their teaching adventures. These community classes also do what they say on the tin, serve our community. We believe that Yoga is for everyone so in that spirit we offer two community classes each week for a drop in rate of £5 for both online and in studio.

our classes

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