Sarah Clover, Breathing Space Yoga
- Wife - Mum - Yoga Student - Yoga Teacher - Lover of Nature - Lover of Life
About me…
My name is Sarah. I’m a wife, mum, yoga student, yoga teacher, lover of nature, and lover of life.
I set up Breathing Space Yoga in 2013 because I wanted to pass on to others the benefits I had gained from making yoga a part of my own life. Having practised yoga since 2001, through my two pregnancies and with my babies, I was inspired to change career and train as a yoga teacher in 2013.
Yoga helps me to create space for my mind as well as my body. It’s not only about moving my body with awareness, but also time to connect to myself fully. My classes are designed so that you can do the same.
My Yoga Journey
I discovered yoga in 2001 through joining an Iyengar Yoga class recommended by friends. I immediately felt the benefits of the stretching, toning and calming effect it had on my body and my mind. It was fantastic for making a bit of space for ‘me’ and relieving the stresses of work and daily life.
As a child through to late teens I had been a dedicated dancer, and yoga was a natural more gentle replacement for the physical and mental work out that I had missed as I studied for my degree in Chester. I went on to enjoy a career producing theatre for children and young people at Theatre Porto in Ellesmere Port, yoga became a regular part of my life, helping to balance out the demands of my job.
After a few years of Iyengar Yoga classes, I moved with my husband to California for a couple of years and joined a yoga studio just round the corner. This was a key time in my yoga journey as I was able to explore other types of yoga and see a softer side of Hatha Yoga not just the alignment based and pretty rigid structures of Iyengar practices I had been used to. I started to find the mindful and meditation side of yoga (it’s original practices) and my practice deepened from simply enjoying the yoga poses to feeling a full min and body connection. The seeds of teaching yoga at some point in the future were sown.
On our return to the UK I joined pregnancy and postnatal classes as our family grew and our boys were born in 2010 and 2012 at one of our local hospitals Leighton Hospital. Yoga was a fantastic aid for the journey of labour and birth. When my first son was born in 2010 I discovered Baby Yoga classes and really benefited from the time it allowed us to spend together, bonding, enjoying ourselves and relaxing. I used many of the fun movements during my day to day routine. This really did help calm my boys and increase positive sleep patterns.
When it seemed possible to change careers and work around the needs of my two toddlers I trained to teach yoga beginning with Mum and Baby Yoga in 2013 and then a 12 month Yoga Teacher Training in 2014. I looked for a yoga training that had the alignment values of Iyengar with the softer mindful practices I had grown to love– and found Bridget Woods Kramer and Anusara Yoga.
From there my classes have grown to the full timetable I now teach. My passion for slower, mindful yoga, the various teacher trainings I take regularly, and my own life milestones, influence the ongoing and organic growth of the types of classes and workshops I offer.
Yoga is a regular and essential part of my life for both my physical and mental wellbeing. For me the journey of yoga renews every time I come back to my mat or find space to breathe.
“It is clear that you have a deep understanding for the value of Birthlight Baby Yoga. Your dedication is obvious throughout and is reflected in the feedback from your families. I have referred your work as an exceptional piece of coursework.”
My Qualifications:
I completed my Yoga Alliance 200 hour teacher training with Bridget Woods Kramer in Anusara Yoga and also trained in pre-natal yoga with Bridget.
I hold a Yoga Alliance 100 hours Meditation Teaching Certification training with Mick Timpson at beanddo.
I trained with Birthlight, the organisation which originated baby yoga and am accredited with the Birthlight Level 2 Baby Yoga teaching diploma, the Birthlight Postnatal Certificate and Birthlight Perinatal Yoga diploma. My coursework was deemed ‘exceptional’.
I am trained in Baby Massage Teaching through To Baby and Beyond.
I trained with with Adelene Cheong in a 30 hour Restorative Yoga Teaching Immersion based on techniques from Judith Hanson Lasater
I am a Yoga Nidra Facilitator having completed a 60 hour Yoga Nidra Teacher Training with Nirlipta Tuli at The Yoga Nidra Network
I am a qualified Menopause Yoga Teacher, completing my 40 hour training with Petra Coveney of Menopause Yoga.
I continuously take training courses, attend workshops and retreats with local and international teachers, these have included Barrie Risman, Judith Hanson Lasater, Elena Brower and Jason Crandell, Noah Maze.
My learning never stops and I am always looking to extend my own practice and share my experiences with my students. I am delighted to be sharing my skills with others, helping them to begin, or add to, their own yoga journey.
I am also a proud founding member of Pregnancy, Baby and You Cheshire a network of independent professionals who provide support and services to expecting and new parents.
Join me on the mat!
Connect with me and find more inspiration and guidance on my Occasional Thoughts Blog & Social Media Pages:
