About Naomi Chunilal

 

Thirty years after sitting on a meditation cushion and stepping onto a yoga mat for the first time, I still love exploring the paradox of understanding a little more, yet knowing less and less…My intention is to practise each day with an open heart with acceptance and gratitude, and move into space beyond any expectations of what unfolds. I continue to find inspiration and guidance on my life path from a diverse range of wonderful teachers, especially Bhante Bodhidhamma at Satipanya Buddhist meditation centre.

All life in essence is Yoga; a spiritual journey that leads the heart to know love, compassion, and insight. The mind awakens to the boundless source of love within us, mindfulness a compass to guide us through the uncertainty of living in a changing world of impermanence. In my practice, I am inspired by nature and seasons passing reflected inside our fragile and beautiful humanity. On a personal level, mindfulness is an inner compass to living, breathing and flowing through life with freedom and happiness in spirit, mind and body.

I’ve practised complementary health and holistic therapies for over 25 years, in particular Aromatherapy massage, Reflexology, and reiki and energy healing as an Usui Reiki Master, which all nurture my life and yoga practice. I am passionate about supporting people to find greater wellbeing, health, and balance through these healing art practices at all stages of life.

I’ve taught yoga and wellbeing classes for over 25 years, and am registered with the British Wheel of Yoga, also a trauma-informed Breathworks Mindfulness Facilitator. I continue to be passionate and dedicated to developing my teaching and personal practice. In recent years, I’ve been a meditation teacher at the award-winning Yeotown wellbeing retreat, alongside facilitating reiki/healing sessions; also delivering a mindful yoga support programme for NHS mental health teams.  I’ve enjoyed working with teenagers at our local secondary schools, and practised complementary therapies at North Devon Hospice, and the National Autistic Society’s residential centre for many years. I’ve also led mindful heart yoga flow sessions at the Green Man and Big Green Gathering festival over several years.

Nowadays, as the years evolve, I’m more focused on developing the Wheels of Ananda CIC non-profit group I set up to bring free, inclusive and accessible mindful yoga and wellbeing to marginalised groups in our community.

The founder of the Wheels of Ananda CIC – a grassroots non-profit organisation to bring inclusive, accessible and free mindful wellbeing to different groups across our community, we are currently supporting people living with cancer and terminal illness at the Fern Centre, NDDH, and North Devon Hospice. Also facilitating trauma-informed mind-body wellness groups for women survivors of sexual abuse and domestic abuse. We also run very popular, fun and free mindful chair yoga and wellbeing groups for 60+s in the Barnstaple and also the Ilfracombe area in partnership with Sports England and One Ilfracombe; our oldest participant recently celebrated her 98th birthday! We are currently developing new projects with other hard-to-reach groups to support physical and mental health and wellbeing. You can find out more through this link: www.facebook.com/wheelsofananda

Indian Thali Takeaways: I also prepare delicious, healthy, authentic Indian VegetarianThalis on a bi-monthly Friday evening basis for collection from our kitchen in Guineaford EX31 4EA, (by Marwood Milk & Gardens). A Thali includes a wide selection of different healthy, fresh Indian dishes, including 3 main curries, street food snacks, home-made chutneys/raitas, lassi and rice – all bursting with flavour and spice, inspired by Indian roots, family recipes and travels. You can find out about forthcoming dates here: www.facebook.com/NaomisIndianKitchen 

Also an author, the Mindful Mother: a Practical and Spiritual Guide to Enjoying Pregnancy, Birth and Beyond with Mindfulness’ (Watkins Publishing May 2015) is available to buy on Amazon, Waterstones or other bookshops.

When not practising yoga or meditation, I love spending time in or under salty seas, rain or shine, walking on Exmoor or our beautiful coastal path, and immersing in wild natural spaces. I live in the North Devon countryside with my partner, my two lovely, nearly grown-up and away young adult children, a dog called Ivy, and a very noisy black cat called Jupiter.

Along the way, I’ve gained the following qualifications: 

  • British Wheel of Yoga: Yoga teaching diploma
  • Breathworks Mindfulness Facilitator 
  • 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)

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