movement breath stillness
Amy Hughes Yoga

about

Yoga with Amy

If you are new to Yoga, it originates in India and incorporates meditative postural sequences, breathing exercises and stillness practices to steady the mind, balance the energies in the body and take refuge in the present moment. There is no single correct way to practise. As we learn in yoga we are exploring a broad variety of techniques to establish which practices support us. Your yoga practice might centre around stillness in meditation or the flow states of dynamic postural sequences. When we find the practice that supports us, it provides comfort: to feel at home in our bodies and minds, to meet our daily experiences with greater equanimity and to become more present in our lives. Hopefully, practice also evokes zest not zeal; we can take it seriously, without taking ourselves too seriously.

I teach Ashtanga Vinyasa in the assisted self practice (Mysore) method online for Ashtanga Yoga Edinburgh and in person for Lime House Yoga. I aim to help people to build an Ashtanga self practice suited to their constitution and life, making it accessible and maintainable.

I also teach vinyasa, gentle and recuperative classes, which are delivered with warmth and humour and are themed and are often sequenced around specific bio-mechanical alignment principles to help students to practise intelligently and pain free. Pranayama and meditation are woven into the fabric of these classes.

Amy

Other than my early attempts (me above), I began yoga with my mum in 1997. It’s been a refuge for grounding, healing and awakening ever since. I trained as an Anusara Yoga Teacher with Bridget Woods-Kramer in 2005. I have remained connected with Bridget throughout the years; her teaching still informs my vinyasa and restorative offering.

Then, in 2008, I met John Scott and began daily Ashtanga practice. I trained and apprenticed with him. In 2016, I moved to Scotland and studied for the next five years with Sarah Durney Hatcher. I took a deep dive into the Ashtanga Advanced Series with John and Sarah and finished fourth series.

Since 2021, I have been practising with Joey Miles, whose alignment focused teaching has refreshed my Ashtanga enquiry, whilst tending to a deep yearning to ‘unlearn the culture of effort’ and complement my Ashtanga practice with more restorative practice, pranayama and meditation.

I have a masters in Philosophy and continue to avidly read about the history and philosophy of yoga. Though the histories of both Anusara and Ashtanga have been marred by the behaviour of their founders, these practices have offered me solace throughout my life. It is this I attempt to share. 

BA and MA Philosophy
BA and PGDip. Literature
500 Hours Training and Mentorship with Bridget Woods Kramer (Anusara)
200 Hour Training and subsequent Assisting Apprenticeship with John Scott (Ashtanga)
40 Hour Training with David Swenson (Ashtanga)
50 Hour Trauma Informed Training with Lorraine Close/Edinburgh Community Yoga

Short Courses
Outreach Training with Edinburgh Community Yoga
Chair Yoga Training with Special Yoga

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