Wenche Beard – founder
Wenche was born in Norway, has lived and worked in California and now lives in the UK with her husband and two children.
Wenche is a fully qualified British Wheel of Yoga teacher(BWY), Angel Therapy Practitioner (ATP), Sound Healer, Emotional Freedom Technique Practitioner (EFT), Meditation and Inner Journey Work Facilitator, Thai foot Massage Therapist and a Reiki Master.
Her refreshing and empowering teaching style allows us to discover that yoga can be fun as well as meaningful!
She also holds retreats in the UK and abroad where she incorporates her passion for yoga with self development. Wenche is a gifted healer and therapist who loves her work.
Wenche shows great love and compassion to the people she works with thus creating a calm and safe environment for healing. Her aim through yoga and other practices is to help us find our self love and acceptance thus bringing us back to who we really are.
Lucy Newport, yoga
Lucy Newport – yoga
I decided to try a beginners yoga course in 2003. My motivation was to find and cultivate the skills to calm down and live life more peacefully. I quickly felt and enjoyed the other benefits that come from a regular practice of yoga, for me this included toned muscles, a more contented heart, clearer mental well-being and in more recent years, a spiritual outlook on life. Taking a Vinyasa Flow Yoga Teacher Training course in 2009 seemed the natural progression on my Yogic journey and now I am able to pass on the knowledge and benefits of yoga, to others.
Sally Sampson
Sally Sampson – yoga
Like many I came to yoga due to pain and suffering in my life. After years of stress, my physical body decided it had had enough, and yoga beckoned me to its doors. This was the start of an incredible journey, a magical way of life that has enriched and restored me to this present day and beyond! I am so grateful that I was given this chance to transform through my suffering.
I trained with the BWY, and qualified in October 2008, and have currently been teaching for 3 years. My practice is called Lunar Rhythms, as I honour the different cycles of the moon and the effect it has on our bodies as it flies through the universe. As a result we learn to live in harmony with the natural rhythms of nature, rather than forcing against them. We thus become whole again.
Namaste xx
Martin Wong yoga teacher
Martin Wong – yoga
Martin is a yoga teacher as well as a yoga therapist. He offers classes and private sessions supporiting individual needs.
Martin’s Classes are devised to give people an understanding on how to increase their strength and flexibility on a physical level. Although the emphasis is on the spine, the class takes in the complete physical body, mental energy and emotional aspects of the self, to promote a more balanced understanding of Asanas (postures) breathing (Pranayama) and relaxation techniques (Yoga Nidra), for people who want to nurture, and empower themselves towards a position of self healing.
The class still caters for students from beginners to intermediate level without injuries, by taking you through each level in all Yogic aspects of each session, in a more in-depth way to understand Asanas – Pranayama – Yoga Nidra techniques, and why we practice them. So hopefully, you take away something from each class to put into your own practice, or use to in rich your everyday lives.
Yoga Therapy can help to bring back the alignment, strength and flexability of your body, so that everyday task don’t leave you feeling tired and stressed, both physically & emotionally. Learn how to keep and maintain your core strength and stability within your spinal area, so that your energy is able to move more freely around your whole body, so giving yourself the possibility of living a more positive & energized lifestyle.
Gabrielle Baker – Bowls and Gongs
Gabrielle Baker
Once a month at the YLS Gabrielle will be facilitating sound with ancient and majestic GONGS, alongside Wenche and her crystal bowls ~ and occasionally surprise guests!
Gabby also specialises in Reiki treatments/teaching, Indian head massage, NLP and passing on the beautiful Munay-Ki Rites.
The Gongs are ancient and timeless and sing the primordial sound of Aum/OM, the ‘first sound’ a plethora of frequencies…all meeting as ONE in the infinite vibration of life. They travel us deep into self, the heart of Source/God/I AM (the unnameable with so many names!)…their fragrance is love. They reveal truth as they wash illusion away (hence the name gong ‘bath’) ~ inner peace and stillness remains, a feeling of oneness, wholeness. They are powerful tools, not to be underestimated ~ they have revealed ‘mind made me’ for I AM to see, enabling me to let go and surrender, a journey of love back home to heaven in the heart. I facilitate sound baths because they ‘speak all languages’.. from the core centre of source.. heart to heart” ~ Gabrielle.
Janice Styles – yoga
Jan began practicing Yoga when she was 18 and is excited to have discovered DRU Yoga. She was so impressed by the immediate meditative effect of the flowing sequences that she was inspired to teach them to others.
Jan is currently a student member of the Professional Register of DRU Yoga Teachers. Jan has over 25 years experience in holistic health as an aromatherapist, she gained a medical background during 7 years of paediatric nursing and is now completing the BSY Professional certificate of merit in Holistic Diagnosis Skills.
Jan specialises in guiding clients towards the most appropriate complementary therapy for their health needs and offers one to one yoga sessions.
Elizabeth – performance story teller
Elizabeth is an experienced performance story teller who captures your imagination beautifully. She brings an extraordinary passion and joy to a story that allows you to be completely taken in to the magic. Elizabeth is also a founder member and regular teller with the Guest House Story Tellers in Newhaven.
Elizabeth has lived in Sussex most of her adult life and now lives in Old Town, Eastbourne; though she spends time regularly in New Zealand telling stories to her two half Maori grand children.
There is a story teller in us all.
Jude, reiki healer
Jude – reiki
Jude is a Qualified Usui Reiki Practioner as well as Angel Reiki Practioner, she is currently studying a Animal Healing Course with BSY which she is throughly exited about! Jude is very passionate about animals and has always been surrounded or worked with them. Jude is starting a Animal Meditation Group here in Eastbourne and is honoured to bring it to the Yoga Studio.
Genevra Jolley, reiki healer
Genevra Jolley – reiki
Genevra practices Reiki & Energy Healing and is also a teacher and facilitates workshops, courses and groups. She has worked in the field of helping people to heal themselves for over last ten years. She began her training in Energy Healing during 1999 and is a fully qualified Reiki Master Teacher. Genevra has a wealth of experience working with people from all walks of life, in group situations and on an individual basis.
Genevra is based in Brighton and works across Sussex. Available for one-2-one treatments and holds a monthly Reiki Share Group at the Yoga Life Studio.
Genevra is trained in Meditation, Inner Journey Work, Indian Head Massage, Shamanic Healing, Chakra Balance and Cleansing, Motivational Interviewing and is a Reiki Master trained in Traditional Usui and Tera Mai. Coming highly recommended by her clients; working intuitively and holistically with individuals, combining counseling skills, relaxation techniques, and energy work.
Val Orringe yoga teacher
Val Orringe – yoga
I have been involved in the fitness profession on a part-time basis since the mid-80s fitting this around my full-time job.
I started out teaching aerobics and step aerobics but had to give up due to a genetic back fault which was becoming more debilitating both physically and mentally.
I sought the help of health professionals who said “have you tried yoga?” – so I did. The consequence being that, through it’s practice, not just my mobility and confidence have been returned but I do believe I’m healthier in both mind and body. I wanted to give back to others what yoga has given to me so I took the British Wheel of Yoga teaching diploma.
I have now been teaching yoga for 8 years and I hope that you will join me in experiencing the many benefits of yoga practice.
Safia Bowley – yoga
Safia is a keen yogini sharing her passion for yoga both on the mat and behind the scenes supporting the growth of the studio. She grew up in Edinburgh, where she studied Fine Art. She has been practicing yoga for ten years, including Mother and Baby and Mother and Toddler Yoga classes with Wenche, and is currently completing a yoga teacher training course with the British School of Yoga.
Eva Kristlova – yoga
I discovered yoga while escaping from a busy world of being a new mum to a woderful Baby Yoga class led by Wenche. For me something just clicked and I couldn’t wait for my weekly practice and me time. The baby yoga class was followed by a toddler yoga class and when it was time for my son to start nursery I properly dived into my yoga practice and realised what an amazing treat it really is. Wenche and the Yoga-Life team were the true inspiration to me and one of the reasons why I am at the beginning of my yoga teaching journey – I started my diploma teaching course with the British Wheel of Yoga in October 2011 and can’t wait to share my experiences with others. I also love helping out behind the scenes as we are a really busy yoga studio and I also am your e-mail contact.
Kate van der Meer
Kate van der Meer – Ashtanga Yoga
As a child I trained in gymnastics, then began ballet & jazz dancing in my teens. I went on to study contemporary dance at university as part of my degree course, then stumbled across an Ashtanga yoga class at a gym whilst working in London & I was utterly inspired & hooked by this dynamic, energising yet elegant form of movement, it seemed to make so much sense to me.
I gained my Ashtanga teaching qualification in 2005 & since then have been so fortunate to train with some inspiring teachers such as David Williams, Brian Cooper, John Scott, Matthew Sweeney & even Patthabi Jois, the man who brought Ashtanga Yoga to the West. I love that I can pass on the teachings of these amazing teachers to others & I enjoy seeing the journey people take once they experience a yoga class.
Since having my 3 children I am excited to find myself in a privileged position with the flexibility to teach yoga alongside looking after my kids.
