... a place of spiritual practice & healing
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Teachers
The Shala Teachers
The yoga teachers at the Shala all share a deep love and respect for yoga and have a passion for sharing their knowledge with the students at the centre. They come from all walks of life, have travelled widely and have spent years studying yoga and working on their own practices. Most have worked with Gingi Lee in his self practice mysore classes for years and have became strong and respected teachers in their own right. They have also grown with the centre making it the special hub and community it has become.
Gingi Lee
Gingi founded the Shala, (formerly the Sangam Yoga Centre in Battersea), as a dedicated ashtanga yoga centre in 1998. He has been teaching yoga for nearly 20 years and is one of the country's most established ashtanga yoga teachers. Gingi began studying and teaching martial arts in the 1980s with his father, Sensei Richard Taibong Lee who currently lives and teaches in France. During an early trip to India, Gingi came into contact with yoga and spent many years returning to India to study and devote himself to the discipline. For two years he apprenticed with the late Derek Ireland, completing a final training course in Goa. He then went to Mysore to continue his studies with Sri Pattabhi Jois and then completed a two-year teacher training course with Graeme Northfield of Australia.
Gingi has hosted many yoga holidays and workshops in this country and abroad, including combined retreats with John and Lucy Scott, and Kristina Ireland. He continues to run regular workshops and retreats, which regularly include elements of pranayama, meditation and tai chi. He is a well-respected teacher who has remained at the forefront of the ashtanga yoga community. He has taught, trained and inspired many British ashtanga yoga teachers and has played a key role in popularizing ashtanga yoga in the UK. His teaching is characterised by sensitivity, warmth and a deep commitment to the practice. Click here for testimonials.
Kath Roberts
With over 20 years experience of yoga, Kath has incredible knowledge of the yoga practice; this combined with her lovely manner make her teaching particularly special. Her strong sense of alignment comes from years of studying Iyengar yoga. Her formal training includes Iyengar Teachers Training Course, Yoga Therapy Diploma and a three year Teacher Training course with Graeme Northfield. She has also worked with Dona Holleman, who has greatly influenced her yoga and style of teaching. Kath is now working on the third series in the ashtanga system.
Nikos Klironomos
Nikos has been teaching Ashtanga Yoga since 2003. He has studied the system with Hamish Hendry, Roberta Giannotti, Denise Christian and Anna Wise and through his ongoing apprenticeship at Astanga Yoga London he has gained invaluable knowledge and experience in teaching it. He is also a qualified Reiki Master and classical musician.
Graham Stones
After practicing, teaching and competing in Kung-fu for many years Graham begun studying ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Derek Ireland in 1995. Since then Graham has continued his study with Gingi Lee at the Sangam and with John Scott.
Graham has dedicated many years of practice in martial arts, yoga and massage to bring together a natural, sensitive, thoughtful style to his teaching. His deep knowledge and understanding of therapeutic work allows him to offer helpful ways of exploring new openings to a more enriched and healthy life.
Andy Gill
Andy has been practicing yoga since 1991, covering both the iyenger and ashtanga vinyasa yoga styles. His studies have seen him practice with John Scott, David Williams, Danny Paradise, Rolf and Marci Naurojat, Dena Kingsberg, David and Doug Swenson and Gingi Lee with whom Andy has served a teaching apprenticeship. Andy brings an informed and non-dogmatic approach to his teaching whilst remaining consistent and true to the ashtanga vinyasa yoga system. Students will find his approach to the practice of yoga both challenging and rewarding. Andy strives to understand the individual needs of each of his students and is passionate about the healing power of yoga, something he has experienced himself in his recovery of two spinal injuries. Andy's classes are full of joy which comes from his generosity as a teacher and his natural approach to teach from the heart.
Ingrid Lewis
Ingrid's love for yoga began in 1989 when she took initiation into Kriya Yoga in Varanasi, India. She then trained as a Sivananda Yoga and Birthlight Yoga teacher & tutor and with Donna Farhi. Ingrid is also a qualified Physiotherapist, Public Health Professional, Reflexologist, Reiki-Teacher, Bach Flower Practitioner, Chinese Quantum Method Practitioner and Doula. As a Birthlight Trustee & Tutor she helps to make the Birthlight approach available in English and German speaking countries. She teaches regular classes and workshops in London and runs teacher training courses in England and abroad. Ingrid also works in public health in developing countries and complementary medicine specialising in perinatal and women's health.
Ingrid has worked in Germany, the UK and Central Africa in both, allopathic and complementary medicine for over 20 years. While living in Congo (Central Africa) she was initiated by Aka hunter-gatherer women into their secret knowledge and ancestral rites. It is vital to reconsider ancient knowledge about the unique female power of reproduction & birth if we are to change the current trend towards intervention during pregnancy, labour and birth. The Aka women have allowed Ingrid to share their wisdom with women in the West to help them birth well. Ingrid's aim is to enable women to be in charge of their own bodies, birth in dignity and rejoice in their femininity and motherhood. Visit Ingrid's website for more information or click here for testminials.
Ori-Shemma Shombe
Ori-Shemma has been a practitioner of yoga for over 10 years. She first encountered pregnancy yoga whilst carrying her daughter, (now 7yrs) and was overwhelmed by the benefits. Feeling a heartfelt passion that all women should have the opportunity to be empowered physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually during pregnancy and childbirth, she trained with the world renowned Francoise Babira Freedman of Birthlight to become a perinatal yoga instructor in 2005. After having her son in 2006, Ori-Shemma trained as a baby yoga instructor. Her classes are engaging, filled with vitality and joy but always leaving you with a feeling of serenity. Ori-Shemma is also a holistic health therapist with disciplines including: homeopathy, nutrition and massage.
Nathalie Hrayssi
Nathalie began her yoga journey in 1997, taking her first class in Paris with Gingi Lee. Further on, she studied in India at the Bihar School of Yoga and trained with the Sivananda Yoga Organisation. She worked and taught in International Teachers Training Courses and Yoga Kids Camps for over 8 years. She is now pursuing an Ashtanga Yoga practice with John and Lucy Scott with whom she has trained and with Gingi Lee in London. Nathalie has taught numerous Yoga and Philosophy classes and workshops all over the world. Her teaching and practice rest upon dedication, simplicity and joy. She is an enthousiastic and intuitive teacher whose contact has inspired many students to build and maintain a regular yoga practice in their daily life.
Nathalie has been teaching kids yoga since 1999. She has taught in Kids Camp in South India and Canada, and taught Kids Yoga in Europe. She trained with Rainbow Kids Yoga and the Sivananda Yoga Centers. Over the years she has developed a unique teaching style and her teaching is primarily based on her experience of Yoga for Children. She is a warm and sensitive teacher, her classes are filled with joy, laughter and fun while kids learn to practice Yoga in a friendly and peaceful environment.
Marylou Watson
Marylou works as a yoga teacher and a holistic McTimoney Chiropractor*. She began her yoga journey with Mr Iyengar when he first came to London in the 70s, and has been a regular ashtanga practitioner at the Shala for many years. She has practiced as a McTimoney Chiropracter for 17 years. Her qualifications include: Member of the British Wheel of Yoga; Graduate of Yogacampus; and Diploma in Chiropractic (she is registered with the General Chiropractic Council).
Marylou is passionate about correct alignment and the benefits that it brings. Using her observational skills and innate knowledge of the structure of the body, Marylou bring a unique blend of yogic and chiropractic knowledge to her classes. She is a believer that going back to basics always yields results and prevents injuries from bad habits.
Marylou has a caring, down to earth style of teaching and she adapts postures to each individual's needs. "It's not just about touching your toes… it's about what you learn on the way down!"
"Going to Marylou has changed the way I walk, the way I feel and the way I think. I cannot recommend her enough" TR
"Marylou is a miracle worker." PB
"The treatments which I have received from Marylou have made an enormous difference to the quality of my life". EW
*McTimoney Chiropractic is a particularly gentle and effective whole body manipulative technique. It aims to correct the alignment of the bones of the spine and other joints of the body to promote natural health.