Yoga brings peace. Yoga helps us to navigate the challenges of being a parent. Yoga connects us with the world around us. I wouldn’t be without yoga now but it’s not always been the case. When I was younger I desperately needed the anchor of yoga but I was distracted by life, constantly looking for external things to fulfil me and bring meaning to my life. Over time yoga began to be a regular presence in my life. It calmed and helped me to disidentify from my inner critic. I liked that it always made me feel better, both physically and mentally.

In 2006, whilst teaching English in Japan, I started on my journey to becoming a yoga teacher. I spent one month living in a back to basics ashram in rural India, learning how to teach yoga in the Sivananda tradition. Free from distraction I was able to truly connect with the essence of yoga (and eat a lot of delicious curry!). I began to see all that it was, on and off the mat. Upon returning to the U.K. I trained with the British Wheel of Yoga and began teaching around London.

My yoga focus changed when I was lucky enough to do a life-changing, year-long apprenticeship with the renowned teacher, Dr. Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, a specialist in pregnancy yoga, post-natal and women’s yoga. The training had a profound effect upon me as I witnessed the truly transformative power of yoga during this time in a woman’s life. I went on to qualify in pregnancy, post-natal, mum and baby yoga and family yoga, with the Life Centre.

It was whilst pregnant with my son Sam, thirteen years ago, that I became interested in the healing benefits of baby massage. I completed my training with IAIM, the internationally recognised leader in massage training for infants. Sam and subsequently my daughter Lucy enjoyed the benefits, as have the hundreds of mums and babies who have taken part in the courses.

Lisa Upton, of Atma Alchemy joined Grow Yoga in 2021, bringing her wonderful knowledge and energy to our mum and baby yoga classes.

All classes take place at Sutton Green Village Hall. This lovely warm, clean hall is located conveniently between Guildford and Woking and there is free parking available.