1 Educators providing Public Health courses in Ledbury

allison maxwell

Allison Maxwell was first introduced to the great benefits of yoga 26 years ago while studying at university. She was pretty hyperactive, had frequent headaches and difficulty sleeping. A friend suggested she should try yoga, so they both joined the local College of Further Education class in Oxford. After just one course Allison was hooked and made it her priority to get to her weekly yoga class. Since then Allison has tried just about every type of yoga on offer and since qualifying as a teacher some 15 years ago has developed her own style that reflects her personality. Picture Picture Qualifications Allison's teaching qualification is from the British Wheel of Yoga (BWYDip) where she holds a diploma, which she completed in 2000. The British Wheel of Yoga is the UK’s largest yoga community and is renowned for it’s 500 hour yoga teacher training courses that are also accredited with the Yoga Alliance and take approximately two years to complete. Following this she trained to teach yoga to mother and babies and obtained a certificate from Cambridge Active Birth in 2002. She then went on to train to teach yoga to children studying with the Calm for Kids institute and completed this in 2005. As a qualified BWY yoga teacher Allison maintains a current First Aid certificate, is fully insured and attends regular CPD training days. The Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs Teacher Training course (YHLB-R), is accredited as a Recognized Centre of excellence in training and standards by The British Wheel of Yoga (the national governing body for yoga for Sports England and Sports & Recreation Alliance UK) - view www.yogaforbacks.co.uk. How yoga helped me - Allison's own words " During my role as Health Clinic Manager in a busy private clinic in central London, my health started to suffer. I often worked 12-hour days, managing staff, dealing with clients and meeting press deadlines. The one aspect of my life I never gave up was my regular yoga classes and I found that yoga was an escape from my busy schedule enabling me to 'recharge my batteries' for the next week ahead. With so many of my high flying clients suffering with addictions to alcohol and anti-depressants, I was so glad I found yoga as my release from stress! Following this I decided to study for a Master's degree at Southampton University. On completion of my MSc in Public Health Nutrition I decided to treat myslef to a yoga retreat in South India. I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life and it was life changing in many ways. Firstly, I had been plagued by almost daily headaches for over fifteen years, since suffering a neck injury from a trampolining accident at school. On my return to England my headaches has disappeared. Despite spending a fortune on other therapies over the years it was yoga that got rid of them! Also I felt more in control, happier and focused for the first time in my life. The positive impact yoga had on my life inspired me to train to be a yoga teacher. The first yoga class I taught was for Lewisham Council in London, for a group of people suffering stress and anxiety. I was thrown in at the deep end and it was a memorable experience. However, I was delighted at the benefits enjoyed by many members of the group. After moving to Berkshire I then taught in a variety of venues in Marlow, Wokingham and Reading, including Reading University (staff and students), schools, nurseries and exclusive health clubs and spas. In 2008 we moved to Colwall and shortly after we arrived I set up my first yoga class in my home and now offer two classes a week and one-to-one sessions. I also teach at three further classes in Malvern and run regular retreats at The Clover Mill Spa."