Fiona experienced her first Yoga class as part of a stress management course and understood immediately its value not only in the field of stress management but also in the treatment of disorders like anxiety, and depression, and in chronic and progressive illnesses such as cancer.

Nine years ago Fiona was asked to teach in a palliative care setting and now teaches regular classes for people living with cancer and their carers. She undertook further training at St Christopher´s Hospice in London (the first hospice to link expert pain and symptom control with compassionate care and education) and in 2012 completed the British Wheel of Yoga module “Yoga for People Living with Cancer”. She is a member of the National Association of Complementary Therapists in Hospice and Palliative care. Her teaching aims to enhance the quality of life of people living with chronic or terminal illnesses. To this end she teaches gentle yoga combining breath work, relaxation and visualization practices both in classes and privately on a one-to-one basis.

“I believe that it is critical for us all to have some ‘breathing space’ and I am fascinated by the fact that something as simple as changing the rhythm of breathing can have a profound effect on diseases of the body/mind. Through my teaching I have found how relaxation and visualization can act in a profound way to bring the immune system back into balance and act as a vital element in the healing process. Body and mind can ‘let go’ and surrender themselves to inner stillness and peace, and this is extremely helpful when living with a serious illness”.

“I explored this further when I undertook a healing course with Swami Ambikananda and discovered the profound effect working with subtle energy can have on the mind, body and spirit”.