“We are so lucky to have such qualified and passionate teachers on team AYL”
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Lin Leong
Qualifying as a Physiotherapist in 1998, Lin specialized in Neurology, and Rehabilitation. Working with a wide range of neurological conditions, in both acute and community settings, she has over 25 years’ experience as a Physiotherapist within both the UK’s National Health System and private practice. She completed her two-year Yoga teaching diploma in 2012 focusing on the therapeutic application of combining Physiotherapy and Yoga for deep and profound benefits to health and rehabilitation. “Seeing people be empowered to manage their own health is a great joy to me and I am passionate that everyone can find a way to live in optimal health and wellbeing.”
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Paulo Concepcion
Is an expert yoga teacher. He has completed the 500-hour yoga teacher training with Yoga Alliance to become 500RYT Yoga Teacher Certified. He has studied Hatha Yoga, Vinyasa Flow Yoga, Pregnancy Yoga, Tapasya Hot Yoga, and is specially trained in Adaptive Yoga. He believes yoga is a personal journey. “My philosophy is to share the joy of yoga so that the student can explore, experience and empower both themselves and others through yoga practice.”
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Karen Russell
Has made helping people to live a fitter, healthier, lifestyle her passion for more than 25 years. After a long career as a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer, Karen qualified as a Fitness Instructor and worked as a Personal Trainer. She qualified as a yoga teacher in 2005 - long after discovering yoga’s ability to re-address imbalances in her body. “I am learning from my adaptive yoga students in every class I teach. It is a truly wonderful and enlightening experience.”
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Paola Merlassino
Trained in India where she discovered a love for Akhanda yoga, a form of yoga that focuses on sound, vibration, and meditation practices. Paola has just completed accessible yoga training with Jivana Heyman out of San Francisco. She also specialises in teaching yoga to children and young adults in primary and secondary schools. Paola’s class is suitable for people looking for a slower pace of yoga that focuses on the inward journey rather than the physical accomplishments of yoga.
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Basma Gale
Left a career in Physiotherapy to retrain in Complementary Therapies after the debilitating effects of post-viral fatigue in 2003. At this point she discovered yoga, finally completing her teacher training in London, in 2017. Basma aims to make classes fun and accessible - to reconnect students to their true nature of ease and peace. “I want to demonstrate that yoga is truly for everybody. I love seeing students embrace their uniqueness and find freedom in acceptance and self-compassion".”
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Paige Murray
Paige, an adaptive yoga specialist, began practicing yoga in October 2019 to explore a non-competitive, inclusive approach to movement. As a disabled person with a neurological condition, she sought to redefine what yoga could look like for her, discovering newfound peace and freedom. Inspired by her experience, Paige completed her 200-hour Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training online in February 2022. She now teaches at the Matt Hampson Foundation’s Get Busy Living Centre, supporting individuals with serious sporting injuries. Committed to inclusivity, Paige continues her education through adaptive yoga workshops and is also a certified Oxygen Advantage breathwork coach.