LESSONS IN FEELING GOOD
Local yoga instructor Tessa Clemson shares her incredible journey and explains the benefits of practicing yoga. Photography: Robin Lyndon
Tessa Clemson, 29, is a local yoga teacher with classes in centres across the region including Whalley, Brockhall Village, Great Harwood and Rishton. In September 2018, Tessa set up her own business ‘Tessa Clemson Yoga’, providing yoga sessions to people of all ages and abilities, including classes in schools, nurseries and workplaces.
After finishing her studies at the University of Liverpool in 2011, Tessa moved to South Korea and Thailand teaching English. Deciding to pursue a career in education, she returned to England and worked as a primary school teacher before moving to Dubai. There she took up the practice of yoga under the instruction of Indian teachers, and in 2017 returned to England to fulfil her dream of teaching the ancient practice.
Now a fully-qualified, full-time yoga instructor, Tessa is grateful for her experiences around the world, helping her to gain insights into a variety of cultures, backgrounds and ideas. “I had two amazing teachers, Hari and Babu, who were really supportive and encouraged me to travel to the south of India to refine my practice. Since then, I have gained my 200 hours Vinyasa Flow qualification and have been privileged enough to study and train with teachers such as Michelle Almond, Taylor Harkness, Jason Crandell and Kirsty Gallagher. Last summer I completed an 85-hour Pregnancy Yoga training with Sally Parkes, enabling me to facilitate Pregnancy and Mother and Baby Yoga classes.”
Also proving popular are Tessa’s one-to-one sessions. “The great thing about one-to-one sessions is that they can be personalised. We can alter the pace and tailor the movements to your needs. If you’re having trouble with particular areas of the body, muscles or joints, or if you want to make specific improvements, we can modify sessions so that your practice works for you. One-to-one classes can even take place in your living room, wherever you feel most comfortable!
“For me, yoga is about making yourself feel good, being happy, healthy and feeling alive. It’s important to take time away from the busy lives we lead to rebalance and check-in with ourselves, which is another reason why sessions are growing in popularity in the workplace. My classes focus on positions and their alignment, on finding stability, better focusing your energy, increasing flexibility and most importantly, tuning into the breath.
“I love sharing my passion and enthusiasm with people, I think it’s really important to emphasise that anybody can do yoga, it’s accessible to everyone. Yoga isn’t about tying yourself up in knots, it’s about undoing them.”
Tessa Clemson Yoga
07496 581591
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