About Naomi Chunilal

 

Thirty years after first sitting on a meditation cushion and stepping onto a yoga mat, I continue to explore the paradox of understanding a little more, yet knowing less…

My daily intention is to meet life as it unfolds – with open mind and heart – letting go of expectations about what should be, and what may come next.

All life in essence is Yoga. As mind awakens, the heart opens to know love, compassion, and insight. Vipassana meditation has become an anchor and compass, in experiencing life with freedom, awareness and contentment, whilst navigating through the flow of life. I continue to draw inspiration and guidance from a diverse community of teachers at Satipanya Buddhist Meditation Centre.

 
As the founder and specialist facilitator of the Wheels of Ananda CIC – a grassroots non-profit organisation – this project nowadays lies at the heart of my work. Our aim is to bring inclusive, accessible and free Mindful Wellbeing support to marginalised groups across our community lies at the heart of my work.

We currently facilitate Mindful Wellbeing programmes in partnership with the Fern Centre for people living with cancer, (North Devon District Hospital), also at North Devon Hospice. We run specialist trauma-informed women groups, and very popular, fun weekly sessions for people aged 60+, all supported by Sports England and National Lottery funding. We are continually developing new projects to enable other hard-to-reach groups to improve physical and mental health and wellbeing. You can find out more here: www.facebook.com/wheelsofananda

Also a holistic health practitioner, I offer Aromatherapy massage, Reflexology, and Reiki energy healing as an Usui Reiki Master. I’m committed to supporting others to find more joy, health and wellbeing at every stage of life. Over the years, I’ve worked as a  Meditation teacher and reiki therapist at the award-winning Yeotown wellbeing retreat, supported NHS mental health teams, and delivered NHS pilot wellbeing projects, taught yoga at local secondary schools, SEN settings, and facilitated workshops at national festivals such as the Green Man and Green Gathering.

I’m registered with the British Wheel of Yoga, and trained as a Mindfulness Breathworks Facilitator, with specialist training in trauma-informed yoga. My teaching and personal practice continues to evolve, guided by nature, the changing seasons, and the often messy, yet beautiful expression of our shared humanity.

An author of the Mindful Mother: a Practical and Spiritual Guide to Enjoying Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond with Mindfulness’ (Watkins Publishing May 2015), you can find this on Amazon or  Waterstones.

When not practising yoga or meditation, I love spending time in or under salty water, in rain or shine, walking and dipping on Exmoor or along our beautiful South West Coast path, and immersing in wild natural spaces. I live in the North Devon countryside with my husband, nearly grown-up-and-away family, a dog called Ivy, and a very noisy black cat called Jupiter.

Some qualifications: 

  • British Wheel of Yoga: Professional yoga teaching diploma (3 year course)
  • Mindfulness Breathworks Facilitator 
  • Trauma Informed Yoga Training, Manchester Trauma Therapy Centre
  • Pregnancy Yoga teaching diploma, facilitated by Uma Thuli Dinsmore
  • IFPA: Clinical and Holistic Aromatherapy Practitioner Diploma
  • IFR: Reflexology Practitioner diploma
  • ITEC: Practitioner diplomas in holistic massage, Indian head massage, reflexology
  • Usui Reiki Master: Dharamasala, India
  • B.A.Hons, Modern History (Oxford University, Trinity College)
  • MSc. Development Studies (London School of Economics)
  • A.L.C.M. Classical Piano Performance Diploma (London College of Music)

Selected publications: 

  • The Mindful Mother: a guide to pregnancy and early motherhood, Watkins Publishing, 2018
  • 5 ways to be a more mindful parent, The Green Parent, 2024
  • The Immigration and Asylum Act, support for children and families: setting a fairer, faster and firmer agenda, Children and Society, Vol 13, Issue 5
  • A Practical Guide to Reintegration for Schools, The Children’s Society & Portsmouth University, 2000
  • School Exclusions and the Race Factor, Naomi Chunilal & Linda Appiah, The Runnymede Trust, 1999

Please contact me if you would to know more about YogaDevon yoga and healing arts classes, workshops, and complementary therapy treatments.