About Naomi

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, understanding expectations, and moving 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 including Elena Brower, Jo Tastula and 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 have practised complementary health and holistic therapies for over 25 years, focusing on aromatherapy, holistic massage, reflexology, and Indian head massage. I am also a Usui Reiki master, all of which enriches my own life and yoga practice. I love sharing healing art therapies and practices to support and guide individuals to find greater wellness, health, and balance through all stages of life and circumstances.

I’ve taught yoga and wellbeing classes for over 25 years, and am registered with the British Wheel of Yoga. I continue to be passionate and dedicated to about deepening my own teaching and personal practice. In recent years, I’ve the  meditation teacher at the award-winning Yeotown wellbeing retreat, alongside facilitating reiki/healing sessions. I’ve taught mindfulness and yoga sessions on NHS programmes for people with cancer, also being asked to develop and facilitate a wellbeing 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 sessions at the Green Man and Big Green Gathering festival over several occasions.

The founder of the Wheels of Ananda CIC – a grassroots non-profit organisation to bring inclusive and accessible wellbeing to different groups across our community, I’m currently supporting  patients and carers of those living with cancer at North Devon Hospice, and 60+s who are isolated in the Ilfracombe area with One Ilfracombe, and are developing new projects to facilitateinclusive wellbeing to other hard-to-reach groups facing difficult life circumstances that impact on physical and mental health. You can find out more through this link: www.facebook.com/wheelsofananda

I also prepare delicious, healthy, authentic Indian Vegetarian Thalis 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
• 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.