My Journey

My Yoga journey began in Prague, back in 1997, whilst volunteering at an eco-centre.  My partner and I were invited to the home of a Yoga teacher.  She shared some practice and cooked us a delicious Indian meal.  I was surprised to discover that moving the body with awareness brought me into a quieter space.  As I continued to practice I began to experience what it is to feel well and balanced after the many years of ill health with anxiety and chronic fatigue.    It was a memorable beginning to a long winding road of healing towards greater integration and wholeness.   Finding my true nature beneath the armour of defences has been such a relief and continues to inspire my work as a Yoga Therapist.

In 2023 I completed a fascinating and rigorous Yoga Therapy training with The Minded Institute which blended neuroscience, anatomy & physiology and psychological skills with yoga practice, psychology and philosophy and mindfulness.

Excited by the potential of Yoga Therapy in healing trauma and creating positive outcomes with people with chronic health conditions, I am now training to become an Integrative Yoga Psychotherapist with the Minded Institute and seeing clients as a trainee.  Unique internationally, this is a pioneering course  designed to prepare Yoga Therapists to be Psychotherapists using a new model of Yoga Psychotherapy.

Along the way I have completed many Yoga Teacher Trainings exploring different styles and teachers to enrich my understanding and practice.  I completed a 200 hour Hatha Yoga training in 2003 and then a four year Yoga training.  I became a tutor with the Anahata

Since 2009 I gained deeper insights from training in Scaraveilli-inspired Yoga with Marc Acquaviva of the Acquaviva School of Yoga and was introduced to the work of Pete Blackaby.  This period opened up the landscape of functional movement and brought my awareness to my physical armouring.  The work was slow and intense and my tension began to dissolve.  My body became less armoured whilst also stronger, creating a more robust yet flexible container to hold my life experiences.

My life and yoga practice has been greatly enriched by working with Mindfulness and Compassion.   This has been a huge source of healing, helping me notice and let go of my inner ‘shoulds’.

Since 2010 I have trained in secular Mindfulness, Compassion and Insight at Samye Ling Tibetan Buddhist centre with Rob Nairn and the Mindfulness Association.  I have studied the science and practice of Self-Compassion with Dr Kristin Neff and Dr Chris Germer.   I have trained in teaching the 8 week Mindfulness Based Living Course  and the 8 week Compassion Based Living Course.

Each time I teach these courses they reveal more depth and I continue to be nourished by the practices.

In 2018 I completed a 3 year Shamanic Practitioner training with Carol Day and the Centre for Creative Vision, where I particularly loved the constellation work.   The course continues to resonate and bring depth and colour to my life and work.

Over the past few years, I have been exploring the somatic meditation teachings of Reggie Ray drawn from the Vajrana Buddhist tradition, studying the work of trauma experts Peter Levine and Irene Lyon and am regularly inspired by the Yoga approach of Yoga Therapist Kristine Weber.

My current approach encourages people to tune into their felt sense, when it feels safe enough.  It focuses on self-enquiry and choices, being aware of how movement affects our nervous system, our choices in posture and everyday movement.

I love using Yoga to ‘try out’ or ‘try on’ new ways of being.  Embodying them in our practice before wearing them in our everyday life.

 

Sally Galloway

I am fascinated by what neuroscience has to teach us about yoga, mindfulness and compassion.   How do they rewire our brain and effect our well being?.  How do they help us to heal trauma and relieve chronic pain? I m constantly curious about how to use my toolbox of practices effectively, for my own and others healing and happiness.  The question I keep coming back to is:

‘How can we create the conditions to relax into our bodies, live fully, authentically and with more awareness?’

Sum 2013 GB Compass retreat 093

Growth, nurture and nature have been the main themes in my life and work for over two decades.

In the late nineties, as a community education worker for Stoke on Trent City Council at Bentilee Neighourhood Project, I worked firstly as a Women’s Support Project Worker and facilitated a Women’s Support Group. Later also at the Bentilee Project,  I set up and facilitated an intergenerational project called 'Growing Together'.  We created a community garden,  grew our vegetables and cooked and ate the fruits of our labour.  

At home our own well loved vegetable garden roots me in the earth and connects me to the rhythms of the seasons.  5 Rhythms Dance practice, Movement Medicine, wild swimming and being in nature are continual sources of inspiration and healing.

Sally Roach

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