“I think the one word I would use to describe Jessica is ‘authentic’. I’ve been practising yoga with her for over 18 months and I feel that she genuinely believes in yoga as a method to enrich one’s life, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Having said that, she never portrays herself as an infallible ‘guru’ figure and is refreshingly honest about her own vulnerabilities. This combination of skillfulness, both as a teacher and a practitioner, and her openess about her own flaws, makes her both inspirational and relateable at the same time.”
Bio:
I started my journey with yoga in London in the late 1990's. Going to a few classes a week, I soon fell in love with the way yoga could support me mentally, physically and emotionally.
When I moved to Ireland with my husband in 2000 I began my training as a yoga teacher with Contemporary Yoga a school run by Marianne Gabriel and Charlie Stevens.
My interests have always been in the mind body connection and have led me to specialise in Nervous system regulation
Mental health care is I feel essential to our overall health as individuals and as a society. That our mind and body is inseparable and totally interconnected is now not an idea but a fact. So, I believe, the value of an embodiment practice lie in its ability to support our mental and physical health in equal measures.
Vinyasa Flow yoga, Restoratives, Yin, Hatha and Yoga nidra are a big part of what I offer. But as I now include many somatic (brain-muscle conditioning) practices, nervous system regulation and meditations into my sessions, it is hard to call it just yoga…Its more like a yoga class with a therapy session and a deep rest!
For my first 10 years of teaching my speciality was pregnancy yoga and birth coaching. This work was supported by my experience as a mother of two girls and a pregnancy yoga teacher training at the Active Birth Centre in London.
My interests and focus then moved into Yoga therapy, after a foundation training with the Biomedical Trust London and with One to One supervision and support from my Psychotherapist. This yoga therapy work has helped me to understand the mental and emotional needs and health of myself and others.
I am currently on year two of a Counselling and Psycotherapy degree, which is supporting my teaching bringing more depth and resources to myself and my students.
Qualifications and Trainings:
2004 I completed my 2 year 500 hour training as a yoga teacher with Contemporary Yoga in Cork.
2006 Active Birth Centre London (Pregnancy Yoga)
2008 Foundation in Yoga Therapy with the Biomedical Trust London
2009 Women's Health Yoga Therapy with YTTC
2012 Breathing module at ATTC Dublin, with Lisa Peterson
2014 Foundation in Somatics with Brian Ingle of Living Somatics, in Dublin
2015 The Psoas muscles in Yoga, 3 day training with ATTC in Dublin.
2016 Trauma sensitive yoga teacher training, Cork
2016 Muscles and Connective tissues training with Amy Mathews in Dublin
2017 Two day Developmental Trauma training on the effects of trauma on the Mind, with Dan Siegel
2017 -2019 2 x 10 week Awakening the Body somatic meditation course with Dharma Ocean.
2022 One year Counselling skill certification at MTU
Irish Examiner Blog
Confessions of a Yoga Teacher
I’m Jess a senior yoga therapist, specialising in NSR (Nervous system regulation) embodiment and somatics.
I offers tender, insightful practices that invite students to dive deep into their bodymind.
Guiding you with a caring confidence that comes from my 21 years of teaching experience, 30 years of practice and current training in Counselling.
Through yoga practices, somatics and meditation. Supporting you to build a stable physical and emotional container for all of life’s experiences.
In my weekly classes, day retreats and workshops my aim is to authentically share my journey with you and support you in coming home to yourself.
My love of the body mind, down to earth spirituality, tender but challenging movement and breath work and my deep interest in the nervous system will come through every session helping you to feel connected, centred and more open.
This is a Tedx talk I gave in October 2104 on Habits and Yoga:
“You’re probably the best Yoga teacher I have ever had, your explanations are always really on the ball. You seem to get inside my head and say just the right thing at the right time. You’re very in-tune with the class.”
“Jessica is an amazing yoga teacher. The way she interprets yoga and teaches it is a gift. She makes it understandable, reachable and rewarding, working with you to grow your physical, mental and emotional strength.”
Supervision is not a requirement in the field of yoga. But I believe it should be. I choose to have supervision from a clinical psychotherapist as I feel this support for my work enables me to provide support to you, the students in my classes. Having continued supervision keeps my teaching fresh and real, it allows me to teach from my own authentic experience, rather than just from the teachings of others.
Which is why I would credit my therapist as my greatest teacher so far.
Other teachers who continue to inspire and guide my work are:
Charlie Stevens and Marianne Gabrielle Esther Ekhart, Lisa Peterssn, Brian Ingle and Uma DinsmoreTuli
Teachers who I love and practice with online and through books are: Donna Farhi, Sarah Powers, Elena Brower, Jason Crandall, Sally Kempton and Rod Stryker, Tias Little, Reggie Ray.
“Jessica is an excellent yoga teacher and her passion for yoga comes through in her teaching. I have been practising yoga with Jessica for over 5 years and every time I go, I learn something new. Every class has a different theme and focus with creative and dynamic flows that are engaging and empowering. Jessica’s yoga classes are for body, mind and spirit, which makes me come back again and again!”
“The positive effect of my yoga practice with Jessica extends to my whole family and those around me. After her class, I feel calmer and more balanced, open and better able to deal with the challenges that present themselves. Each class is different, restorative, rejuvenating and challenging. I feel truly blessed to be able to practice yoga with a world class teacher like Jessica.
Thanks you for all you bring to my life, your brilliance is greatly valued and appreciated.”