Claire Best

Yoga has shaped my life.

The practice of meditation triggered my inward journey of finding out who I was and to be in charge of my life decisions. When I was in my 20’s, anxiety and panic attacks took over my normal day functioning and I was forced to help myself. I joined a meditation group and counted my breaths as I walked the streets of London. I attended an Iyengar Yoga class and gradually experienced the deep affect of the practice. I learned the art of deep relaxation by lying on the floor daily to release the layers of tension. I gradually got my life back and felt in control of my body and mind.

Training

Having experienced the highly disciplined training to be a classical ballet dancer at Central School of Ballet, practising yoga was like being held by a nurturing Mother Earth. There was a non-judgmental approach and a supportive force of encouragement for me to be my fullest potential in the postures. I had a back injury that I was managing and yoga eased the pain. I was being kind to my body.

In the 90’s, I attended Iyengar Yoga classes at the bingo hall, Kilburn & later at the renowned Iyengar Yoga Maida Vale centre. I remember being part of the grande opening of Maida Vale in 1997 and seeing Guruji Iyengar entering the studio with an entourage of people. He displayed a huge energy and a loving heart. Lots of smiles and laughter all around.

With the help of my teacher Alaric Newcombe, I spent the first few years in yoga exploring which postures helped my lower spine compression and which did not. I looked forward to my weekly classes and wanted to learn more about the details of the postures, so in 1995, I did the 2-yr teacher training with the Iyengar Yoga Centre Maida Vale, London. But I didn’t start teaching the Iyengar Yoga method until later in my yoga teaching life, not until after another 2-yr training with Alaric Newcombe, in 2009. After a long pause of having children, I received my Junior Intermediate 1 in 2019. I am now known as a level 2 Iyengar Yoga teacher.

Experience

Earning a living from teaching was a constant struggle to make ends meet whilst living in London. I had a busy timetable of teaching about 10-15 classes a week. I taught Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa Flow yoga at Triyoga, a drama school & many health clubs in London. I went to a weekly ashtanga yoga class led by John Scott & delved into my practice with Shandor Remete. I was a yoga model for yoga videos, yoga magazines and yoga books. I also had a short time as a model for channel 4, The Big Breakfast.

I taught yoga to students at Webber Douglas Drama School, London and during that time was a performer with Tripsichore Yoga Theatre. Edward Clarke {director of the group} trained me extremely well and gave me confidence to perform the most advanced postures in yoga. I had a wonderful 6 years performing yoga dance in yoga studios and yoga conferences across the States. One of the best times in my yoga life was spending a year teaching at the Santa Barbara Yoga Studios in California.

In 2005, I returned solely to Iyengar Yoga because I decided it really worked for me. The sequencing and holding of postures are transformative and healing. The attention to detail kept my mind absorbed. I really felt change in myself after a class. I’ve learnt and am still learning so much from such amazing, inspirational Iyengar yoga teachers. I am so grateful that I spent a week being taught by Guruji B.K.S Iyengars’ eldest daughter, Dr Geeta S. Iyengar & granddaughter Abhi in Harrogate, London convention in 2009.

My philosophy

Teaching yoga is an art and a gift. My students are my teachers too. I am a devoted practitioner to the art & science of the Iyengar Yoga method & enjoy building the sequences for my class. I enjoy seeing students evolve in their practice & how yoga improves their life. Yoga is so transformative in the way that it enables one to see life differently. I will always question how did the students experience my class, how could I have helped them better? I am really inquisitive about the physical and mental benefits of yoga from my practice of asanas, pranayama & self enquiry. I like to make students aware of the many layers of our being; our physical body, our breathing, our mindset, our self enquiry. In my spare time I am always reading the yoga sutras & other yoga philosophy!

Shiatsu

I trained as a Shiatsu therapist for 3 years in 2003 with the London College of Shiatsu. I gained a MRSS status after a year post-grad training on ‘working with trauma & chronic conditions’ with Bill Palmer. I found Traditional Chinese Medicine fascinating and still use acupressure points on myself today.

During my early training days, one of the great benefits was having regular ‘palming down’ my back. This truly released many years of ‘holding on’ in my muscles. One session in the 2nd yr, my teacher held my spine & abdomen & I observed years of pain dissipate away. It did feel a miracle! At the time of studying shiatsu, I was practising yoga every morning. I would still have to roll out of bed onto the floor to do a few stretches before I could even stand up. My spine was so compressed causing a lot of pain. I got used to it. It is amazing how resilient we can be. I will always say, it was the shiatsu that sorted my back out. I still have to be careful now & know which asanas I have to be mindful about when getting into/out of.

I gave shiatsu treatments for 6 yrs in a clinic in Chiswick & experienced a few months of voluntary work for carers of alcohol & drug misuse with the TASHA foundation, London. I intend to restart my shiatsu treatments some time in the future.

Sound Healing

Learning about sound and how it affects our many layers of being is fascinating, transformative and rewarding. I completed my 2nd year of training with The Sound Healing Academy in October 2023 and have been awarded a Diploma in Integral Sound Healing with groups. I am willing to work with others in the health field and share these healing methods to help others.

Now

Presently, I am a certified Intermediate Level 2 Iyengar yoga teacher. I teach yoga classes for complete beginners through to Intermediate level at Cowdray Hall and The Spread Eagle Hotel, Midhurst. I am a member of IY(UK).

I attend a regular Intermediate level class with senior teacher, Andrea Smith in Chichester and deepen my knowledge further at IY (UK) week long conferences & workshops in London. Currently, I am attending on-line workshops from senior teachers of RIMYI, the home of Iyengar yoga in Pune, India. I am also learning how to teach children & teenagers yoga in a more fun & dynamic way!

I live in West Sussex, juggling my life teaching yoga, walking my dog and raising young twin boys with my partner.

I teach studio classes in Midhurst & Easebourne. I am also available to teach privately at your office or home.

My practice is my backbone in life. I feel more grounded and mentally clearer after. Yoga is my passion, guiding me through life & I wouldn’t function without it. I’d love to share my knowledge with you.

Namaste x