Avani Yoga Therapy responds sensitively and holistically to your individual health issues, creating a personal yoga practice to support your well-being.  

This  begins with a one-to-one consultation with Gilly Thirlwell , a qualified experienced yoga therapist. It may include assessment of your physical mobility, posture, breathing and general physical & mental health. 

We then work together to create a yoga routine suited to your individual needs.  This will include yoga poses (asana), breathing techniques and relaxation practices.

It may also include guided meditations and medicine walks in nature to support you in finding inner peace and balance.  

You will be provided with resources, including videos to guide you in practising at home.

Please click Testimonials for clients' experiences.

Each class begins with guided relaxation to release tension and anchor your awareness within your breathing body. This enables you to practise yoga safely and effectively. Yoga poses (asana) and sequences (vinyasa) improve strength, stability, flexibility and balance. Breathing techniques (pranayama) help to calm, de-stress and energise your body and mind.  Guided meditations gently focus your attention in the present moment, attuning you to inner peace.   The whole practice is gentle, unhurried and mindful. 

The word 'Yoga' means to unite or bring together - Practising Yoga integrates mind, body and spirit, bringing a sense of 'wholeness' and well-being.  Regular practice improves core strength, balance, flexibility and concentration. Physical and mental tension can then be released and this helps the mind to rest peacefully in the present moment.

Hatha Yoga balances the fiery energy we need to be active and full of life, with the cooling energy we need to rest and relax.  Avani Yoga has five aspects:

Relaxation - As life becomes busier we need to develop healthy, effective ways to relieve stress.  Taking time to simply ‘be’ in the present moment, tuning in to one's own body and consciously letting go of tension promotes deep healing and connects us to inner peace.

Gentle exercise - Yoga postures are called asana, yoga sequences are called vinyasa.  Asana and vinyasa practice is accompanied by deep, gentle conscious breathing. The benefits are absorbed by resting for a few breaths between each asana.  Practising a balanced set of asana and vinyasa, preceded by a thorough warm-up, is deeply beneficial for the body-mind.  It releases tension and improves strength, stability,  flexibility and balance.

Yoga breathing / life-force expansion (pranayama) - Subtle energy/life force (prana) is drawn in with each breath and controlled through breathing practices called pranayama. Practising pranayama has a profoundly positive effect on the nervous system and therefore on all of the body's systems. Pranayama increases vitality, balancing energy and enthusiasm with the ability to remain gently focused and relaxed.

Healthy eating - Prana (life-force) is also assimilated through eating.  Fresh, simple, unprocessed food is rich in prana.  Healthy diets contain the right balance of proteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, minerals, fibre and water.  It is best not to eat two to three hours before practising yoga asana and vinyasa.  It is beneficial to sip water regularly throughout the day, particularly whilst exercising.

Mindfulness and meditation - with full attention gently focused in being present, we experience depth, freshness and beauty.  This helps us to let go of worries about the past and future, accept ourselves as we are and awaken to our connection with the whole of life.

Enjoy a relaxing day of Yoga with an experienced teacher in a beautiful place. 

This day includes:

A hatha yoga class suited to each person's needs and abilities 

A guided medicine walk to connect with the wisdom and healing power of nature

A light vegetarian lunch (with our own home-grown produce when available)

Sitting together in council 

A guided relaxation practice such as Yoga Nidra