About Jane
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"I would like my life to be a statement of love and compassion - and where it isn't that's where my work lies."
Ram Dass About Jane
She teaches in the U.K. and has also taught in Sweden, Florida, Turkey, San Francisco, and worldwide student yoga teachers undergoing their yoga teacher training , with The Yoga Academy, at Santillan Wellness Centre, in Spain. See aside for Jane’s professional movement training. Further studies include Yoga Therapy Fundamentals Training ( graduated 2015) and Workshops with Doug Keller.She has also studied with Donna Farhi, Julie Gudmestad and Roger Cole, amongst others. Jane has benefited from regular classes and 1-1 sessions, with Gary Carter, for over nine years. Once also a Yoga Academy faculty member, Gary’s Scaravelli inspired teachings, also influence hers. His in depth and up to date knowledge and teachings of anatomy, physiology, and most of all his expertise in the fascial system of the body, have influenced Jane’s practice as well as her teaching. Jane is also the Quality Assurance and Internal Verifier of The Yoga Academy, yoga teacher training, whose Principal, Simon Low , says “ You are an excellent teacher, Jane, and I enjoy coming to your classes.“ She has also studied intensively with him for over 12 years and undertook her initial teacher training, and her Yin and Yang teacher training, with him. Together Simon and Jane have Co-hosted Yoga and Somatics CPD courses in The Netherlands and Spain. Two 2hour recorded sessions of their teaching in Utrecht are available on www.home yoga.life, as are many of the recorded classes taught by Jane when covering for Simon. Jane says My experience of practising yoga has been good health, vitality and regaining mobility after several sporting injuries and operations, including a hip replacement. I've been practising for over 35 years and have an extensive background in education, specialising in teaching sport, dance and back care. At a young age, I had spinal problems, which has resulted in my lifetime interest in safeguarding the health of the spine, both in myself and students. Having taught, played and participated in many individual and team sports, I have an in-depth understanding of how impaired and inhibited breathing can impact on us, and the anatomical and physiological impact, of postural habits and sporting activities, on the body. This knowledge enables me to assess imbalances, and unhelpful holding patterns, not only in the breath, but in the muscular skeletal system. I then develop individual maintenance and rehabilitative practices, re-educating the neural pathways, for sports men and women and for those whose posture causes them problems in daily living. After my hip replacement, I was not able to practice any asanas and I experienced my journey back to strength and mobility very much as if I was a complete beginner, as if I had had an incapacitating injury and as if I were someone whose mobility had decreased with age. This experience gave me much insight into the challenges of practising yoga for those with reduced strength and mobility. It was a humbling experience and one which I believe has given greater depth to my teaching. Keeping current with the latest research and development in anatomy and physiology, and applying it in my teachings, is important to me so that my students benefit from the very best ways to practice safely and with ease. The latest understanding of the fascia, the connective tissue within the body, underpins my teaching and has had a huge impact on my own practice. As well as learning from the teachings of others I draw upon my own inner teacher to guide my practice and my teachings. Enabling others to develop flexibility and strength, to move their bodies with greater ease, and to develop their ability to relax, inspires me to teach yoga and Somatic Movement Education. Also, enabling my students to become their own inner teacher, so that their practice suits their own particular needs, mentally, physically, and spiritually inspires me. Each individual's journey is different and being sensitive to this, and acting as a guide, is how I see my role. I encourage students to find what works for them through direct experience. What works for and suits one, does not necessarily resonate within somebody else. Personally, I have become increasingly empowered, through my studies and daily yoga and Somatics practices, to care for my body, in such a way that it imposes no restriction s on how I like to live my active life. I appreciate how, through my studies of yoga philosophy, breath control, meditation practices, I feel more relaxed physically and mentally, more fulfilled and contented. The wonder and wisdom of Thomas Hanna have added an additional, deeper and more profound layer. |
Training and Teaching in Somatic Movement Education
Together with Simon Low, I was fortunate to study in person with the US’s leading somatic trainer, Martha Peterson and continue to study with her on-line. The qualities of touch, and finely co-ordinated motor skills, resonated with my previous dance training, an area also studied by Martha. I have also graduated in Thomas Hanna somatic movement education with Lisa Petersen, Ireland’s most experienced somatic trainer. My passion, for practising and teaching somatics, parallels the one I have had for yoga for over 40 years. It enhances my yoga practice and my inner teacher has become even more finely tuned. I experience an even more joyous, and lighter, sense of being through its continued daily practice. I find that blending Somatic practices, into how I work with yoga interventions, also enhances outcomes for my 1-1 students. For me, one outcome has meant being able to cancel two planned procedures on my spine and sacroiliac joint. My personal experience, of how yoga and Somatics support my well-being, physically, mentally and emotionally, brings me joy and motivates me to continue sharing with others. I’m a huge fan of how restorative yoga, and somatic movement practices, can reduce the impact of stress in busy lives, counterbalance the impact of sporting activities, unhelpful movement patterns, held tension and support us to age well. I have made a commitment to myself to never stop, as my desire is to continue dancing through my next 30 years! Thanks I am much indebted to many teachers who have shared their wisdom and knowledge with me on both my yoga and Somatics journeys, particularly Simon Low, Yoga Academy Principal, Donna Farhi, Doug Keller, Gill Lloyd , Julie Gudmestad, Marc Beauvin, Narelle Carter- Quinlan, Peter Blackaby, Roger Cole, Gary Carter, Martha Peterson , Lisa Peterson and all students, past and present, who have entrusted me with their development and care , without whom these journeys would not be possible . |
