* QiGong Instructor - Health Qigong Ba Duan Jin (8 Brocades) & Health Qigong Liu Zi Jue - Six Healing Sounds
* Reiki Master & Teacher
* Qualified Sound Therapist
About me...
My name is Lorena and I am originally from Spain although I have lived in the UK since 2000. I discovered yoga at a very early age when I came across a book in my house called "El Yoga - aprendalo por si mismo" (or Teach Yourself Yoga and by the way I still have the book). At the time I was really into Gymnastics and I was able to do most of the poses but I was deeply impressed by the serenity of the asanas and how they seemed to be performed with almost no effort at all.
My first proper yoga class was when I was at University in 2003 and after that I was on and off the mat for about 10 years but my true love for yoga came after a long illness "wake up call". A very slow recovery and a restrictive injury in my left arm made my yoga practice very challenging both physically and mentally. But I was very lucky to find an amazing and caring teacher, Dre Ferdinand, who looked after me throughout my journey of recovery and supported me when I decided to become a yoga teacher. Since then, I have kept a regular daily yoga practice and meditation and this has taught me a great deal about how to deal with my thoughts, fears and insecurities. Yoga has become not just a form of exercise for me, but a way of life. Yoga has helped me to heal long term injuries and has given me a profound sense of empowerment and freedom both on and off the mat.
About my classes and my training...
With a regular practice and a love for yoga that has spanned more than a decade, the natural progression was for me to begin teaching. I decided to study Ashtanga Vinyasa at Yoga London training school, following the recommendation of my then yoga teacher, Dre Ferdinand, who had also trained in the same school. Since the completion of my course I have developed my own style of Vinyasa Flow, combining elements of Ashtanga and Anusara traditions together with philosophy, meditation and sound healing. I have done extensive training with amazingly gifted and inspiring teachers from a variety of backgrounds but two years ago I was lucky to attend one of Lisa Sanfilippo's classes at the Life Centre and I was instantly hooked. Since then, I have become her mentee and I can only express deep gratitude and reverence for how she has shaped my life and asana practice. Lisa has made such a difference and I feel so honoured to be able to study with her and be her humble student. I have also completed an Anusara Immersion with Susana Garcia Blanco, two courses in Aromatherapy and one in Thai Massage, a Reiki Master course with Michael Kaufman & Yoga for Cancer Survivors Teacher Training Course with Amy Dara Hochberg All of these training courses have deeply enriched my practice and teachings and given me confidence to guide others in the practice of yoga and to find the best within themselves.
My classes aim to:
Be fun, dynamic and powerful, linking breath with movement, deepening bodily awareness through good alignment and building strength and flexibility resulting in a balanced physical and mental challenge.
Blend gentle yet invigorating Vinyasa-Flow sequences that enable people to connect deeply with both stillness and movement in their bodies.
Create clarity and clearness in the mind and be well-suited for all abilities.
Incorporate a theme, intention or Sankalpa for my students as a contemplation point and help them take yoga off the mat and beyond the classroom.
Bring awareness to the breath and the body. This, combined with Savasana or final relaxation at the end of the class, allows the body to deeply relax, let go and heal, often leading to profound experiences.
Make sure that my students leave the classroom feeling better than when they entered, calmer and more relaxed and loving towards themselves.
I love sharing this ancient wisdom of yoga. Yoga found me and helped me grow into the person I am today. It brings joy into my life, freedom into my body and connects me to my more spiritual side. Having experienced for myself the transformational benefits of the yoga practice, I would like to share my knowledge and experience with others. I hope to help people live authentic lives wherever they are, finding freedom through practice both on and off the mat. I
My background is in Business & Tourism and I also work for the Responsible Business department of an international law firm. I weave all of my knowledge and experience together with my spiritual awareness to question what it really means to be alive here now.