I am Chantèl and I live in Hersham, Surrey. I am married with one child and a dog; both are very boisterous, so life is never dull!
I started practising Ashtanga Yoga in 2008, initially as a way to keep fit only. At the time and until very recently (two decades) I worked in safeguarding. Although I truly loved my job – it was intense, challenging and rewarding in equal measure. I sadly witnessed the emotional and physical impact of trauma and abuse on a daily basis, not just for those individuals who suffered first hand, but also for those professionals who worked with them.
Yoga provided me with a safe space, where I could find calm and peace, where I could relax and recharge, which made me more robust to cope with the constant stress and pressure I was under at work. My husband will also testify, that it made me less grumpy at home! My yoga practice has evolved a lot over the years and nowadays I mostly practice Hatha Yoga, Yin Yoga, Restorative Yoga, Yoga Nidra and Pranayama. I strongly focus on connecting my breath with movement, which helps me to be more introspective and present in the moment.
Retraining as a yoga teacher has allowed me to still work with people, which I love, but just in a different way. Importantly, it has also made me more physically and emotionally available to my family and it has given me the opportunity to have a slower pace of life and to be kinder to myself.
My two main aims as a yoga teacher are:
a) To use my professional and personal knowledge and experience to create a calm, safe place in yoga for those who need it: whether you are on the verge of burnout, whether you have suffered pain or trauma or whether you just need a little re-charge.
b) As a bigger person, I know that I do not look like the typical yoga teacher and often people like me may feel uncomfortable or out of place in a yoga class. So I want to reassure you that yoga is for everyone and EVERY BODY including yours, no matter your: shape or size, fitness level, physical ability, age or gender. Know that you will always be welcomed and included in my class!
BE YOURSELF,
let people see the real, imperfect, flawed,
quirky, weird, beautiful and magical person
you are.
– Mandy Hale –
My Training:
- BWY 60-hour Foundation Course with Jackie Dyson and Cathy Mae Karelse
- BWY 300-hour Yoga Teacher Training with Clare Gibson
- 85-hour Pregnancy and Post Natal (including Baby & Me) Yoga Teacher Training with Sally Parkes
- 30-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Kassandra Reinhardt
- 10-hour Yin Yoga Teacher Sequencing Workshop with Jo Phee
- 35-hour Accessible Yoga Teacher Training with Jivana Heyman
- First Aid Training 2019
