Laura Karadog

Yoga has been an important part of my life for over two decades and I’ve been sharing yoga with others since 2005.

With the increase in yoga’s popularity in recent years, it’s easy to think that the aim of yoga is to contort the body into complicated postures or to perform handstands on exotic beaches. The truth is far more radical.

Initially, our main motivation for practicing yoga may be a desire to seek balance and stillness in our loud, fast and chaotic society. And it’s true that Yoga practice gives us a beautiful opportunity to turn down the volume on life – to move, breathe and connect with the present moment. But beyond that, the main purpose and meaning of  yoga is to guide us on an inner, spiritual journey – one that encourages us to seek and to be curious about who we really are. The word, yoga, stems from the Sanskrit verb, yuj, which means to bind, harness or connect. Through the practice of yoga, we are seeking to (re)unite the various elements and layers of our being which guides us to the realisation that we are always, already whole and an integral part of the boundless river of life that flows through and beyond us.

My own Yoga practice and ongoing  education includes the following elements: physical movement and postures (asana); breath explorations and practices (pranayama); deep relaxation, contemplative and meditative practices; explorations of sound and voice (mantra); study of yoga philosophy and texts. 

I aim to teach in a way that integrates all the above elements whilst also seeking to meet the needs of each student in the class.

I believe that the most important teacher in a yoga class is the one inside each student, and with regular attendance and practice, I will assist you to develop a firm foundation of knowledge and experience that will help you to develop a yoga practice that is tailored to your individual needs.

As a mother to two young children, I understand how challenging it can be for many people to find time for a practice that nourishes ourselves, but I also know how essential it is. When we treat ourselves with love, respect and kindness, we learn how to treat others in the same way. And if we build our yoga practice on a foundation of self love and compassion, yoga can become a healing and nourishing practice that sustains us at all stages of life.