Yvonne O'Garro - Restorative & Hatha Yoga Teacher

Curiosity took me into my first yoga class, where I can recall saying “next week I’ll try it for a laugh”. Balāsana (Child’s Pose) was the pose that made me fall in love with yoga in 2006 at David Lloyd gym, Enfield. Vicki Scarlett was the yoga teacher responsible for, unbeknownst to me, a life changing experience. May Vicki rest in eternal peace.

My yoga practice deepened over the years and I started to take an interest in philosophy and noticed I was far less stressed, more patient and grounded than before. Anna Ashby, Senior Faculty Teacher at triyoga, is my teacher, I have practiced with Anna since 2007 and am proud to have completed my 350 hour Yoga Teacher Training diploma under Anna & Tony Watson’s guidance, which is accredited by both the British Wheel of Yoga and Yoga Alliance. My practice has moved from more dynamic to quieter styles in recent years and am most connected to Restorative yoga of which I completed both 33 hours of  Level 1 & 22 hours of Level 2  Restorative Practices with Anna.  I also hold 50 hour Ying & Yang Practice completed with MoreYoga.

I have attended intensives and workshops with Anna, Dianne Bondy, Faith Hunter, Donna Farhi, Simon Low and experienced a wonderful tour of South Indian temples in 2018 with Leila Sadeghee where I had the pleasure of meeting and spending time with Jonelle Lewis and Gabriella Espinosa.

My Hatha Yoga teaching is mindful, grounded and alignment focused, encouraging a conscious breath during classes to keep connected to self.  Students are invited to notice how āsana (postures) feel different between right and left side of the body; given subtle differences we have between sides. Suitable for Beginners.

Restorative yoga is a passion; I love the use of props in the longer held positions, allowing students to move from "fight or flight" mode (Sympathetic nervous system) into pure relaxation (Parasympathetic nervous system). Gratitude to Mr Iyengar for both the creation of yoga props and devising this slower practice, to restore yogis back to health.

Restorative yoga poses are mostly supine and are held between 5 - 15 mins; using bolsters, blankets, and blocks to aid your relaxation and allowing you to reconnect with your breath whilst being fully supported by the props. The practice increases your well-being as the calming environment lifts your mood, contributing to stress relief. During a 60-minute class I will guide you into 4 or 5 postures: both symmetrical and asymmetrical, providing the body with a total sense of ease. I believe that Restorative Yoga can also contribute to workplace well-being and decrease the 15.4 million days lost to stress related sickness absence in 2018, 44% cited reason as Workload*

I had a long career as a HR Business Partner where I switched to full time yoga teaching, just before COVID, to achieve both personal balance and to increase the opportunities to share the benefits of Restorative & Hatha Yoga. Pre COVID, Yoga Assistant to Anna and Panilla Marott at triyoga Camden. 

One of Pātañjali's sūtras really resonates with me and I often quote it in my classes to remind students that yoga is not just the physical practice, āsana. "Yogas-citta-vritti-nirodhah (Yoga is the stilling of the changing states of the mind) (1:2)". 

Proud to be Yogamatters Community Leader offering a FREE weekly class online as Yogamatters provides  space for the community to practice together and have discussions/ Q&A after practice. Sign up from the Yogamatters home page, scroll down until you see me!:)

I look forward to practicing with you soon, virtually, or physically. Be well.

*HSE: Work related stress depression or anxiety statistics in Great Britain, 2018