Yoga and Natural Health Centre

Unit 4 Practitioners

Please find listed below the professional therapists who are currently practicing at Unit 4 Yoga and Natural Health Centre in Brighton.

Betina Hansen (Yoga)

Tel: 07941511246 or Email

Cara Bowen (Yoga)
Cara's teaching is inspired by the much-needed calm and clarity that her practice brings to her life. Over the years, her interest in the more meditative aspects of yoga has increased, and she is currently studying with Sarah Ryan on the British Wheel's meditation module. She has previously completed the British Wheel of Yoga teacher's diploma with Peter Blackaby and Ulla Allanson.
Tel: 01273 386403 or Email

Chris McHugh (Yoga)
Chris is a doctor who believes yoga has many benefits and should be accessible to all. Her particular interests are in exploring the relationship we have with our bodies. If that relationship has become unhelpful and fragmented ,then problems can occur. This approach uses awareness of unhelpful habits to bring about the possibility of change, leading to better integration and health.
Tel: 07771737416 or Email

Deva (Yoga, Massage)
Deva has trained in traditional Hatha yoga since 2001. He began his practice in Brazil at the Suddha Dharma Mandalam Yoga Ashram, under the tutelage of Dr. Jose Rugue Ribeiro Junior (Swami Narayanananda), and qualified as an accredited Yoga Teacher. After this he completed two advanced Yoga courses at the Khrisna Shakti Ashrama in Campos do Jordao, Sao Paulo. He lived in the ashram for two months, studying and practising the tradition of Bhakti yoga as a gaudya vaishnava, before he moved on to teach at the Prema Yoga school, Brazil, for one year. At that time his interest in Ayengar and traditional Hatha yoga started to develop to a more flowing, organic, free yoga style. He decided to travel to India, studying various styles of yoga, teaching methods and practices. He learned many techniques which he has since incorporated into his daily practice. He then returned to his hometown of Dracena and opened his own yoga school, which he managed until he moved to England in 2007. In England, he was introduced to 5-rhythms, which he has incorporated into his teachings, and in 2008 he trained in Ayuverdic Yoga massage. He teaches traditional meditation, pranayama and postures which flow with your natural breathing rhythm, incorporating Vinyasa flow sequences, in order to create an awareness and unity of the body, breath and mind.
Tel: 07707 087 571 or Email

Diane Farrell (Yoga)
Diane trained with Chloe Fremantle in London and is a member of the AIYP.Her primary interest is to encourage a lively curiosity in students about how we use our bodies both on and off the mat and how this reflects and informs the way we live our lives.
Tel: 01273-607662 or Email

Elaine Gibbons (Acupuncture, natural fertilty centre)
Elaine Gibbons is a fully qualified and experienced acupuncturist and a member of the British Acupuncture Council. She has been practising acupuncture since 1993 and received an Advanced Licentiate in Acupuncture in 2000. She is particularly interested in supporting women with gynaecological problems, fertility and through pregnancy and childbirth. She has three children with whom she had home births. She is a founder member of Brighton and Hove Natural Fertility Centre at Unit 4. www.naturalfertilitycentre.co.uk www.acupuncture4women.org.uk
Tel: 01273 562676 or Email

Houri Alavi (Acupuncture)
Since qualifying in 2004, Houri has undertaken postgraduate training in acupuncture for women, fertility and pregnancy, and worked consistently in this field. She has a particular interest in how acupuncture can support emotional health. She is a founder member of the Brighton & Hove Natural Fertility Centre and a member of the Acupuncture Childbirth Team, Brighton & Sussex. She lives in Hove with her family.
Tel: 07814 500418 or Email

Isabel Woods (relaxation)

Tel: or Email

Janaki (Yoga, Meditation)
Drawing from a variety of yoga traditions Janaki teaches flowing hatha yoga suitable for beginners and experienced yogis alike. Combined with relaxation and pranayama her classes encourage students to move at their own pace. Although known as a ‘gentle’ teacher, Janaki’s classes are challenging with more advanced asanas for students as their bodies and minds allow. Expect a varied class and enjoy allowing your body and mind to relax as you safely stretch with yoga. Janaki has been studying yoga for 16 years and after completing Teacher's Training at Sivananda in Kerala, has been teaching for over 12. Please visit my website in the links section for other classes, workshops and European yoga retreats.
Tel: 07905 494009 or Email

Jo Avison (Yoga, structural integration)
Jo teaches and practices Structural Integration (through Yoga, movement and manual therapy) and is passionate about everyone having lively access to their own most adaptable potential and resilience. Her classes are designed to restore and rejuvenate the body, in a natural and accessible way; peppered with the relevant structural anatomy to understand how individually the body works; with quiet time to reflect and absorb the relaxation and the changes. Jo originally trained in Yoga with Pete Blackaby, John Stirk and Sophie Hoare and is a member of the AIYP and an E-RYT500 (Registered Yoga Teacher) with the Yoga Alliance USA, European Yoga Alliance and the Indian Federation of Yoga. Jo runs a 500 hour Certified Yoga Teacher Training approved by each of these bodies. (Please email for information). Jo is also a certified practitioner and teacher of Structural Integration and Anatomy Trains. (KMI /CTK). She is as fascinated by what animates us, as 'how' our bodies are animated through movement. Her classes are a light-hearted exploration of how we use our energy. www.aocy.org
Tel: 01273 552341 or Email

Lisa McRory (Yoga)
Lisa practiced gymnastics and dance as a child and young adult, but suffered from back problems and injury as a result. Taking up yoga in her early twenties on the advice of a physiotherapist, she has been practicing ever since, and teaching since 1996. In her teaching Lisa strives to communicate with clarity the transformative power of Hatha Yoga, whilst respecting the anatomy of the moving human body, and the individuality of her students. Her approach is informed by the training she has been fortunate enough to receive over the years from yoga teachers Mary Stewart, Chloe Fremantle and Peter Blackaby.
Tel: 07968508647 or Email

Michael Gibbons (McTimoney Technique, Massage)
.Michael Gibbons MACM, BCMA, DC, CST, IHBC, IIHHT, IIST I qualified as a massage therapist in 1991 and work using many styles: Sports, Relaxation, Remedial, and Thai Yoga Massage. I am trained in Biodynamic Cranio Sacral therapy and Classical Manipulation inspired by the work of John McTimoney. I am trained as an Adult Education Teacher and teach Holistic and Sports Massage, and a variety of Advanced Massage courses. I also lecture on the Foundation Degree in Complementary Healthcare, for Sussex Downs College, validated by the University of Brighton. I am Director and Principal of the College of Classical Massage Ltd established in 1999. From all my different trainings I consider myself a well rounded body therapist and from it I now practice what I call Structural Rebalancing, which is a term I feel encompasses all that I do. I am a member of the Association for Classical Manipulation and the British Complementary Medicine Association. These run strict codes of conduct and govern insurance to all their members.I love the work that I do and it gives me great pleasure to be able to impart my knowledge to others and play an important part in the development of their skills. In my work I have strong beliefs of working ethically, competently and safely and since 1991 have continued to run my practice and the massage college based on these values. I run a successful practice in Brighton and can be contacted on 01273 562676 or 07949 674524 to answer any enquires or to make appointments. www.collegeofclassicalmassage.com I live in Brighton with my wife and 3 children.
Tel: 01273 562676 or Email

Michelle Cobbin (Yoga)
Michelle has been teaching yoga since 2001 and draws on her experience of practicing with inspirational teachers such as Diane Long, Sandra Sabatini and Pete Blackaby. She is particularly interested in mindfulness meditation and how we can stay aware of our thoughts and feelings as we practice yoga. Michelle has also practised as a reflexologist since 1993. www.michellecobbin.co.uk
Tel: 07960694376 or Email

Morgan Marshall (Yoga)
My approach to yoga is influenced mainly by the teachings of Vanda Scaravelli, working with the breath and gravity to find freedom of movement, particularly in the spine. I love the organic, sensitive nature of this type of yoga and the way it takes account of individual bodies. I see yoga as a journey of discovery, both physically and on many other levels. I like the idea of integrating yoga into our lives generally, so that we move in the world with more awareness and in a more integrated, harmonious and healthier way. My training in yoga includes a 1-year British Wheel of Yoga Foundation course, followed by a 2-year British Wheel of Yoga accredited Yoga Teacher Training Course, lead by Chloe Freemantle and Anne-Marie Zulkahari. Before training to be a yoga teacher I completed an 8 month Humanistic Yoga course with Pete Blackaby and an 8 week Astanga course with Sarah Miles, as well as attending a variety of different yoga classes over the years. Teachers who continue to inspire me and to inform my own yoga practice and my teaching include Cara Bowen, Lisa McRory, Pete Blackaby and Gary Carter. I am insured through the British Wheel of Yoga and have a First Aid certificate for teaching yoga. Please visit my website for more details - http://www.adogaday-yoga.co.uk
Tel: 01273 279193 or Email

nicola Fee (Yoga)

Tel: or Email

Peter Blackaby (Yoga, Osteomyology)
Peter Blackaby has been teaching yoga since 1983, his continuing enquiry into the subject has led him to approach yoga from a humanistic perspective. He has also qualified in Osteopathy, Naturopathy and crainial Osteopathy. He currently practices as an Osteomyologist.
Tel: 01273 559904 or Email

Rachel Miller (Yoga, Meditation)
Rachel Miller Yoga and Meditation. I trained with shara ryan on the British Wheel of Yoga diploma and also Satyananda Yoga(Bihar School of Yoga). 01273 241209 rachelmiller3@msn.com
Tel: 01273 241209 or Email

Ruth Polden (pregnancy yoga)
Ruth is a yoga teacher and an experienced specialist in the field of pregnancy and birth. She is an Active Birth Teacher & mother and has been teaching and accompanying women through pregnancy, birth and motherhood since 1992. She is a member of AIYP & Yogabirth.
Tel: 07966095928 or Email

Sabine Schmid Blackaby (Feldenkrais)
With a background in education and a strong interest in movement, I decided to train as a Feldenkrais teacher in 1993. Since becoming a practitioner in 1997 I have been developing my private practice alongside teaching regular classes and workshops. To deepen my understanding of the Method I took part in a 3years mentoring course in Amsterdam and I now also work with students taking part in a Feldenkrais training or with newly qualified practitioners. I am continuosly intrigued by the Feldenkrais Method's combination of movement, learning and psychology and by our latent human potential for self-development and growth. www.feldenkraisbrighton.co.uk (to be found in the links section)
Tel: 01273 239299 or Email

Sally Cranfield (Massage)

Tel: or Email

Taravajra (Yoga, Meditation)
I completed a three year British Wheel training with Pete Blackaby and Ulla Allanson. I also teach mindfulness meditation, please visit my website (www.mindfulyoga.co.uk)
Tel: 07821510884 or Email

The Brighton Shiatsu Centre - Uli, Debbie and Matt (Shiatsu, QiGong)
Uli Packer MRSS(T), BWY.Dip. Debbie Collins MRSS(T) Matt Woods MRSS(T)
Tel: 07806 944359 or Email