Claudia Smith

Claudia continues to further her studies and deepen her understanding of Yoga as a Therapy. More specifically she has completed: Fiona Agombar‘s training – ‘Yoga for ME and Chronic Fatigue’; 4 days with Uma Dinsmore–tuli on ‘Well Woman Yoga Therap’y; two modules of Siva Rae’s teacher training, Rod Stryker’s course on ‘Yoga of Fulfillment: yoga and the path of destiny ‘; Tias Little‘s ‘Lymphatic Yoga’ and Judith Lasater’s ‘ Practicing and teaching from the organs. Total Yoga Nidra Teacher Training with Uma Dinsmore-Yuli and Nirlipta Tuli Although she is dedicated to teaching Vinyasa Flow, Claudia is becoming more and more interested in the therapeutic benefits of Yoga on a gentler level for those who are unable to practice more vigorous styles of asana but whose lives are greatly enhanced by a more tailored practice. She has experience in teaching Yoga to male residents of a psychiatric recovery unit as well as to resident women on an acute psychiatric unit both within the NHS Mental Health Trust and to adults living with HIV and AIDS with the charity Body and Soul. Claudia comments that “Every body is different and there can be a whole variety of things going on emotionally and physically at any given moment, therefore everybody’s practice is different and can also change daily. Claudia suggests that you “challenge yourself in class but listen to your body. As ‘Yogis’ we strive to be truthful with ourselves and avoid trying to mould ourselves to social or external expectations. Our bodies are complex and intelligent; we have to trust the signals that they give us and “Listen to the body’s whispers before they become shouts”.” Claudia lives in London where she continues to study and teach. She is currently continuing her studies in Transpersonal and Intergrative Psychotherapy at The CCPE (http://www.ccpe.org.uk/) and hopes to integrate this new skill into her yoga practice and teaching.