Meet Flo
Summary of yoga background:
UK’s youngest yoga Teacher in 2019 aged 16.
200hr Hatha yoga trained, SEN yoga trained. Teen Yoga CPD. Studying Philosophy at University of Nottingham.
Flo’s Story:
Yoga has been a practice that I can keep coming back to whatever is going on in my life, whether I'm feeling stressed and anxious, down and lonely, joyful and supported, or happy and content, my practice is something I can always find comfort and expression in. I find that the movement, breath and mindset is a refuge I always feel better having turned to. Through my practice I feel that I have developed a stronger and more positive relationship with myself and my body, and in turn a better relationship with the people and the world around me. I love the fact that I am able to share this practice with others, and it never fails to feel like a privilege!
Yoga Strengths:
I like to term my teaching as kids yoga for adults! I try to make my classes a fun and safe space where people can be themselves and let go. I use lots of imagery and creativity to get my students to let themselves be silly and playful as well. My classes can range from being very gentle and sensitive, to being big and powerful, but always based on what my student(s) want and the energy they have. Lots of flows with the breath, sometimes quite long and sometimes fewer movements repeated on the breath.
Interesting Facts:
I love long walks and getting out of nature, I love watching birds (my favourite are long-tailed tits), I've started karate at uni and am really enjoying it, I'm also a qualified rescue scuba diver - kind of like an underwater life guard.
Why are you passionate about being on the Shift Team?
I've been passionate about sharing yoga in schools the whole of my yoga journey and working on and developing the shift project has been a really exciting way of making this happen. Yoga is the perfect tool for enabling young people to deal with the stresses of school and just being a teenager, which I feel I can vouch for as I am so glad I found yoga as a teenager myself. I attended the Robins Stroud Teen Class from the age of 13 and when I was 15 I became the next UK’s youngest yoga teacher. I think the Shift Movement is such a fantastic way of getting yoga into schools. I really believe that the mindset and tools that having a yoga practice furnishes you with can transform a school environment into a calm, safe, welcoming space for young people and for teachers as well. It's been really exciting seeing this project form and transform and I feel inspired whenever I get to work on it or spend time with the amazing shift team!