Gillian Shippey

I began practicing yoga in the 1990's whilst training at the Northern School of Contemporary Dance in the UK. After completing my degree I travelled to India to study Advaita (non duality) at the Krishnamurti Foundation and with Ramesh Balsekar. During this time, I also studied yoga at the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram (KYM), receiving private tuition on a daily basis in all areas of yoga including postures, movement, breathing, meditation, therapeutic applications of yoga, vedic chanting, sanskrit and philosophy (Patanjali's Sutras). On my return to the UK I began teaching yoga and since then I have returned to train at the KYM as well as with various other teachers.

My Story

In 2006 I took a year off teaching yoga to recover from a brain haemorrhage and brain surgery. During this time I immersed myself into meditation and nidra, and began learning and understanding more about the brain and the nervous system, as well as trauma, shock, panic attacks and anxiety.

I have completed teacher trainings in the following areas of yoga:

Yoga Therapy
Yoga Nidra
Dynamic Yoga
Womb Yoga
Pregnancy Yoga
Birth Preparation
Baby Yoga

I have completed further training in neuroscience, philosophy and therapeutic applications to yoga nidra, structural anatomy, yoga and emotional conflict (trauma), restorative yoga, vedic chanting, mudra, pranayama, meditation and mindfulness. I have a particular interest in using yoga to affect the brain neuroplastically to help soothe the nervous system, and also using music and storytelling as a therapeutic tool.

In March 2020 all of my work disappeared into a puff of smoke as the pandemic began, and after a month of shock I bravely entered the online world of teaching. A whole new universe opened up for me online. I find the online yoga space profound and magical with the potential for a paradoxical, yet deep sense of connection.

Qualifications & Training

Intermediate Teacher Training, 500 hours, Windfire Yoga, 2000
Donna Farhi Intensive, 5 days, 2001
Vedic Chanting, 60 hours, Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram 2005
Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training, 40 hours, Sitaram Yoga, 2010
Postnatal Yoga Teacher Training, 40 hours, Sitaram Yoga 2010
Creating Menstrual Health, 7 hours, Alexandra Pope & Associates, 2012
Yoga for Menstrual Health and Fertility, 7 hours, Sitaram Yoga, 2012
Yoga Therapy, Self Knowledge and Emotional Conflict, 40 hours, Marc Beuvain, 2013
Well Woman Yoga Therapy Course / Womb Yoga Teacher Training, 30 hours, Sitaram Yoga 2013
Yoga Therapy Diploma, 315 hours, Yoga Campus, 2013
Anatomy Awareness in Asana - Upper Back, Neck, Shoulders, 2 days, Julie Gudmestad, 2013
Anatomy Awareness in Asana - Foot, Ankle, Knee, Hip, 2 days, Julie Gudmestad, 2014
Yoga Nidra, 60 hours, Total Yoga Nidra, 2017
Therapeutic Applications for Nidra, 2 days, Ben Wolff and Nirlipta Tula, 2017
Breathing School Foundation, 2 days, Ben Wolff, 2017
Myths, Storytelling and Creativity, 7 hours, Andrea Kwiatkowski, 2018
Restorative Yoga, Adelene Cheong, 2020
The Craft of the Storyteller, Roi Gal-Or, 2020
Bring Your Stories to Life, Roi Gal-Or, 2021