More about my philosophy
Click on each question to read more.
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When did you start practising and teaching?
I started learning ballet as a child, discovering a real passion for dancing in my teens. Later, thanks to a very nurturing and encouraging teacher of mine, I started to train as a teaching assistant. I have been teaching ballet to kids and adults since 2014.
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My yoga journey, interestingly, was an unplanned one. One day, my ballet teacher suggested offhand that I try yoga, as a means of cross-training. Having zero experience with yoga, a bit sceptical, and not knowing very much about it then, I went for my first yoga studio class in 2010. I never stopped since.
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Over the years and having experimented with a myriad of different yoga teachers, I have come to realise that yoga is so much more than simply trying to get into “perfect” poses. There is a huge repository of history and philosophy that comes behind it, together with understanding how the breath, body and mind all work together as one.
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In contemporary studio yoga classes, a large, or the only, focus tends to be on holding poses. This is partly due to yoga becoming part of a wider fitness industry which tends to emphasise certain aesthetic ideals (in the last couple of decades, likely exacerbated by social media as well).
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While there is certainly an audience for this aspect of yoga, my background in dance and somatic exploration left me unsatisfied with what I felt was a superficial understanding of yoga. I thus decided to take the step towards acquiring my yoga teaching certification in 2024, in order to better understand and communicate the holistic system that is yoga, alongside my ballet teaching practice.
What is the benefit of teaching both ballet and yoga?
While they are separate fields of practice, over my journey of learning and teaching both forms, my discovery is that regardless of the movement form you are practising, to ensure safe and efficient movement, the same principles of movement apply. An understanding of aspects like alignment, breath support, awareness of muscle engagement, and proprioception, is beneficial for everyone to cultivate.
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I bring my knowledge of such principles into all my classes, and where relevant, I do use one form’s wisdom to inform the other.
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Ballet and yoga are of course inherently different forms, due to their divergent cultural backgrounds and histories. So if you are looking for a class, it certainly depends on where your individual preferences lie. However, I would say that having trained in both, my teaching philosophy of emphasising safety and ease of movement has only strengthened.
These days a wide range of classes is available out there, especially for yoga. Why should I do private classes?
Studio group drop-in classes are the norm today, and certainly have their place in our overworked, overscheduled lives. Typical studio classes offer the flexibility of choosing from a wide range of classes according to one’s schedule, and relatively low stakes in terms of following along with a guided practice in a group setting.
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However, practising only in group classes, it is difficult to work on yourself in a personalised, targeted, way. This is because we are all extremely unique, and what works for one person might not work for another. Even if you are not a complete beginner to yoga or other forms of body work, in a group class you are expected to follow along with the teacher, regardless of whether what the teacher is proposing is actually beneficial for you. In some cases, certain movements might even be detrimental to a particular person. This is in no way the fault of the teacher, but is simply the nature of group classes.
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Private classes are beneficial for anyone, but would be especially useful if you have a recent injury, or a chronic (long-term) issue such as pain or imbalance/misalignment in a particular part of the body. In a private or small group (e.g. 2-3 participants) setting, the teacher is able to better understand what your needs are, and suggest areas of work to target those needs.
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​You thus gain a better understanding of movement principles, which you can apply to yourself to improve your general functioning in daily life.
How would a ballet corporate class work?
I think having a chance to move together is a great opportunity for co-workers to de-stress and just try something different outside of their usual work context! At an introductory level, ballet is relatively low-impact and inclusive, so it is a great option that can usually accommodate all of your team.
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I can conduct one-off ballet workshops, for example for organisational retreats or staff bonding sessions; or regular weekly lunchtime classes.
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In terms of logistical needs, a room on-site that can be cleared of furniture, and is preferably not carpeted, would be minimally required. Otherwise, or if your organisation prefers, an external studio can also be booked for the session(s).
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​Contact me to explore the options best for your organisation!
So what do you enjoy about teaching adults?
Adults often come with a curiosity and eagerness to find out more about themselves. The uniqueness of every individual is beautiful and should be respected and celebrated, an idea that is seldom at the forefront of our adult lives. This is therefore one of my guiding principles especially when I teach adults.
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We all bring with us particular movement patterns that have been accumulated over years, or decades of our lives. Usually at a certain point, if those movement patterns or habits are causing some tension or misalignment somewhere, we will notice because our body will certainly tell us!
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Working with movement, I treasure the endless possibilities to keep learning as I go, and to share what I have learnt in a practical way, helping every body move and function to their fullest potential.
