My journey so far has taken me to live all over the world from a young age. I was blessed to grow up running free in the meadows of Dedham Vale, with annual solo flights to visit my father in detroit, michigan, chicago, montreal and Kingston, Jamaica. At the age of 12 my family relocated to Los Angeles where I briefly attended junior high school before going with my Mother to Japan, just months after my 13th birthday. I then spent a year immersed in Japanese culture and language as the first and only gaijin foreigner in my school.

when I returned to LA after a year at hanaguri Junior High School, I was so fluent in Japanese that I was dreaming in it. That year in Japan profoundly shaped who I am today, taking me on so many creative adventures. in my mid 20's I returned to Tokyo with a BBC camera crew to produce a series of documentaries about youth culture in Japan. My fluent japanese also took me back to my birthplace of Manchester to work on commericals for Tokyo Beauty Center featuring David and Victoria Beckham.

In 2003, I was called back to Los angeles to help Sony launch the high definition format Blu-ray Disc, starting at the very beginning helping the head of advanced technologies at Sony Pictures translate menus while also playing a key role in drumming up support for the format from other movie studios and high profile filmmakers in the industry.

During the decade working as a marketing executive in Hollywood, Yoga gradually became more and more important until it basically saved my life. Then in late 2014 I was offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to take over the management of our family home The Tallow Factory, a beautiful Tudor candle factory in the heart of the idyllic village of Dedham. My whole being wanted to leave LA and come back to my roots.

So here I am.

My lifetime exploration of yoga has taken me on many explorations of different styles but when I discovered YogaWorks I knew I had found the perfect balance of alignment-focussed Hatha yoga and energising Vinyasa Flow.

In January 2015 I completed a 200-hour teacher training with Yogaworks and received the RYT-200 certificate with the internationally recognised Yoga Alliance. By the Autumn of 2015, I opened my yoga and meditation studio in a beautiful room at The Tallow Factory in Dedham. I deepened my philosophical knowledge of the practice by completing the 500-hour diploma with the British Wheel of Yoga in 2017.

In 2018 I added Thai Yoga Massage to my training and later that year I also discovered the revolutionary ELDOA™ myofasical stretching invented by osteopath Guy Voyer, D.O. In 2019 I completed ELDOA™ Levels 1 & 2 with Somatraining, UK. Over the past few years, my daily meditation and yoga practice has connected me with more miraculous teachers, supporting my soul growth with Craniosacral Therapy, Crystal Reiki Healing, kinesiology, kundalini and astrology. I have organically integrated all of their teachings while also strengthening the voice of my own inner teacher to develop a unique practice that helps to reduce tension in the body and facilitate the flow of shakti life force within and without.

My intention is always to honour and embrace each of my clients' search for holistic well-being by providing the highest quality yoga and meditation classes to people of all ages and from all walks of life. As the mantra of my Alma Mater states, Yoga works for every body. Literally. So if you think that you're "not good at yoga" or "not flexible enough to do yoga" then come to one of my classes and I will show you how to make a start on the journey. It's by no means a quick fix solution, but with regular practice and dedication you will see improvements to your physical, mental and spiritual health.

I am filled with gratitude for all of my Angels, Spirit Guides and Teachers, and their Teachers, who have inspired me to reach where I am today,

Stephanie Phelan, Dearbhla Kelly, Amy Lafond, Janice Chiou, Jasmine Lieb, Elaine Fletcher, Wendy Shubin, Peter Bodi, Kate Pryor, Paula Rose, Cheryl Fenner-Brown, and Maggie Dewis.

Let your inner light shine.

Love and Light,

Lou

xoxo

New Yoga Studio

Opening on Dedham High Street September 2023

STEADY ON YOGA