Matt Ryan

I have now practiced Ashtanga yoga for over 12 years and taught for the last nine, although based in Manchester now — I have also taught in both India and Europe as well as hosting retreats in the UK.

It feels like an honour to be able to pass on what I have learnt to anyone who is interested. My time on the mat has taught me everything from humility to having a sense of humour. I have also learnt that there are no short cuts in yoga — you can read all the books in Waterstones (there's plenty - I've bought most of them!) but at the end of the day my realisation is that there is no substitute for time spent on the mat.

I have been authorized to pass on the Ashtanga Yoga method by the late Sri K Pattabhis Jois.It is an honour to receive Guruji’s blessing I will endeavour to pass on the method as I have been instructed to do so , staying true to the Ashtanga Yoga form as realized by Sri K Pattabhis Jois. My studies will now continue with Sharath Rangaswamy at the KPJAYI in Mysore south India. I am currently working on the advanced B of the Ashtanga system having already completed the first 3 sequences.

Tara Barton

Yoga has been a constant in my life since I began practising with Mike Nevitt in 1997. It brings me moments of great peace and clarity in the crazy world in which we live. Physically it has sculpted and strengthened my body – mentally it has calmed my mind.

I have had the good fortune to train and learn from many great teachers including David Williams, Brian Cooper, Sharon Gannon and David Life. I teach from several traditions including Ashtanga Vinyasa, Jivamukti, Sivananda, Satyananda and Bihar. My classes consist of flowing sequences of physically demanding yoga postures. I also use breathing and deep relaxation techniques which help still the mind.

I also teach pregnancy yoga, mum and baby post – natal yoga, yoga for fertility, and children's yoga (age 0-16.) I am also a fully trained masseuse – Swedish, sports, pregnancy and children's peer massage.

Leonie Clements

I discovered Yoga in 2003 after a repetitive strain injury caused by typing for too many long hours forced me to give up a career as a writer in advertising. Initially recommended by my physiotherapist, I took a serious interest in Yoga when I found the combination of asana work and relaxation and meditation elements made a big difference to my chronic pain symptoms.

I started stretching and strengthening my body every day with Yoga and Pilates, and soon decided I would like to become a teacher. I trained initially as a fitness instructor with YMCA Fit in 2003 then as a Pilates teacher (OCR Unit 9 Certificate, 2004). I hold a BWY Yoga Diploma after completing the British Wheel of Yoga three year Diploma course.

Studying with The British Wheel has deepened my understanding of Yoga on every level, from anatomical knowledge and asana modifications/adaptations to philosophical understanding of the roots of Yoga.

My take on Yoga is that it should be taught and practised with a relaxed, gentle and non-competitive attitude, with complete body awareness.

Combining my background in Pilates, I teach Yoga in a gentle Hatha style with an emphasis on postural alignment and strengthening the back and core muscles. As I’m particularly interested in using Yoga and Pilates to help heal and ease pain conditions, I also teach one-to-one sessions at Gatley Physiotherapy Clinic in addition to regular group classes.

Paul Jones

As a professional Chartered Engineer I have spent my career working in industry. I was never keen on competitive sports and exercise consisted of swimming and walking. However, when I moved to London in 2001, I was lucky enough to have a philanthropic employer who provided a gym and various exercise classes for its employees. One of those was a Sivananda yoga class. As a bloke, I wasn’t sure if this would be the right thing for me but as I had gone through a lot of changes in my personal life and was generally finding London quite hectic and stressful, I went along out of curiosity and to see if it would help me relax.

I was surprised but I just felt great after the first class. The fact that at first I could not even sit up straight without support didn’t matter, it was a real challenge and focussed my mind completely. I was hooked and began attending regularly.

Since then I have experimented with various different styles of yoga and many different teachers. For now my preference seems to be Ashtanga yoga because it is physically challenging and seems to suit my personality. Yoga has become an active meditation and has helped me deal with all sorts of challenges in my life. It keeps me on the straight and narrow!

I have been teaching yoga in Liverpool since the beginning of 2007, becoming involved initially as a way to deepen my own practice and thinking it was a great opportunity to help others gain the benefits that I have already discovered. My classes are based on Ashtanga vinyasa flows but also incorporate an essence of the other styles I have practised. Ashtanga yoga is the perfect antidote to stress and I highly recommend it to anyone.

Kirstin Robertson

Yoga for me began 6 years ago. Living & working in London, like many people I would alleviate the stress of the day with a glass of wine or a visit to the gym. When I saw an ad for a yoga class thinking it might be more beneficial I decided to give it a go. After the first class I was captivated & have not looked back since!

I was introduced to Astanga Yoga later that year when I started attending Matt Ryan’s classes in Heaton Moor. I loved the physical challenges & the light hearted approach of the practice. My body felt open & stretched, my mind was clearer and I felt relaxed yet energized. I was conscious of how focused I was when I was on my yoga mat. This realization inspired me to look at my life and to make changes to achieve a better balance.

In October 2009 I completed my 200 hour teacher training with Michael Gannon. My own practice & knowledge continues to develop with Matt’s guidance & support. Astanga Yoga has become an intrinsic part of my life, part of me. I have changed physically and grown mentally during my yoga journey. I am reminded daily of how much there is to learn both on & off the mat about this amazing practice.

I base my principles on where it all began for me, on breathing and movement. Ultimately, if you can breathe then you can do yoga. You can feel the benefits……and have fun too!

Nikki Kelham

I have been a Chartered Physiotherapist for seven years and have been practising Ashtanga yoga for over four. I became interested in Pilates as a method of prevention and treatment for all problems relating to core stability, not just back pain.

I started attended Pilates classes regularly to explore this and I found there was a lot of crossover between my professional work and Pilates. I took my interest further and studied at the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute for a year. At the Institute I learnt the Modified Pilates technique, a system that teaches a realistic framework of exercises that can be used in both a clinical and class setting.

I am a fully qualified APPI Instructor for beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. I also specialise in ante and post natal pilates. I run regular group classes as well as one to one sessions that are casual and friendly with a focus on individual attention and modified movements tailored to each attendee.

Gena Powrie

I have been practicing Ashtanga yoga for eleven years, and teaching since November 2006.

I started my Ashtanga practice under Mike Nevitt’s tuition in March 1998. I remember that after the first lesson my legs gave way on the steps going out!

The first few months were tough because I was accustomed to striving for goals, and I would set myself goals of flexibility rather than of deepening into the practice as a whole. As this changed, I began to appreciate yoga for the pleasure of the session itself as well as for the wonderful feeling it gave me afterwards: a feeling of calm, poise, strength and energy that would last for days; I have also felt a kind of bliss at points in my practice.

Yoga is now an integral part of my life. In good times it keeps me fit, slim, toned and energetic, with a positive frame of mind, and in bad times it does all of the same but gives me comfort and confidence as well.

After training with Mike Nevitt, I began practising weekly Ashtanga with Rod Watson in 2000, alongside my own self-practice. I trained under Rob Leadley in York for one year in 2005-2006 and since 2008 I have been developing my practice in Tara’s classes at Yoga Manchester. I have also attended day workshops with John Scott and a weekend workshop with David Williams.

Vicki Shields

I began practicing yoga in 1998. I was searching for something holistic that would give me relief from the demands of a stressful lifestyle. In 2000 I discovered Ashtanga. The vinyasa approach began to have quite a profound effect on my physical and mental wellbeing, the most noticeable change was how much calmer my mind became. I noticed that my usual pattern of thinking of 100 things at once began to slow down and I was able to concentrate and focus on my creative work (as a graphic designer) with better results.

I've trained extensively in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as taught by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. I have had the good fortune to study both with him and his grandson Sharath.

My devotion to this practice continues in Manchester with Matt Ryan and I study every year with Paul Dallaghan. I am in the process of completing my 500 hour advanced Yoga Alliance teacher training at Centred Yoga in Thailand. This includes instruction of Pranayama and Philosophy by one of the few remaining masters in the world today, O.P. Tiwari, who is head of the Kaivalyadham, a yogic research institute near Bombay, India.

I feel very blessed to have the opportunity to pass on the teachings of those I have studied with. My deepest respects go to those teachers who dedicate their lives to the path of yoga and continue to be my daily inspiration to get on the mat and practice.

Katy Bromberg

I was first introduced to Pilates through my ballet training, and have been taking classes for over 10 years. I find the connection and interaction between mind and body in Pilates (and dance) both invigorating and relaxing.

 I completed my Matwork Pilates training in 2009 with Modern Pilates’ Cherry Baker. I am fascinated by anatomy and kinesiology and look forward to extending my training.

 I still take ballet classes regularly and have taught dance to students from 3 years to 18 as well as being a qualified pointe shoe fitter.