Meet Your Teachers

We are Ben and Jo, the founders of Yoga Nature (est. 2004). We have academic backgrounds, with degrees ranging from prehistory, eco-sciences, to education, geography, and philosophy. Between us, we have more than 40 years of study in the history and practice of yoga. Additionally, we hold a strong value that health and wellbeing are fundamental in living a full and complete life. Without good health nothing else really matters. Like many Sheffielders we love nature. 

It is through our experiences that we have questioned and explored what it means to be a human being, our relationship to other beings and whether our current patriarchal capitalistic model benefits and supports all of us.  

We discovered that yoga is a complete and holistic pathway that encompasses our values and beliefs. Neither of us had any intention to teach yoga and if it wasn’t for our dear friend Joan setting up our first class we probably wouldn’t be here today. You will find that our classes are inspired from our great love of nature and reflect an organic, sensual, gentle, quiet, and inner reflective practice that encourages slow comfortable growth and change in one’s body, mind, and actions. It takes time to grow into a mighty tree! 

We define ourselves as a small community yoga school and teach a limited number of adult and primary school classes. We ensure our room rental feeds back into the Sheffield school community and take quite a bit of time off to be outside playing in nature and snorkelling in Greece.  

Yoga Nature’s ethos is centred around one word ahimsa or non-harming. It is a reminder that we are yoga, we are part of nature, and that our lives should reflect this sacred reciprocity. Every breath both on and off the mat helps regenerate a world where all beings are honoured in their sovereignty, loved in their difference, and seen as vital participants in this divine interplay of life.  

Jo's Experience and Qualifications

  • Jo has a four year Dru Yoga Teacher Training qualification, gained in 2008;

  • Jo has been a student of yoga since 1991 and has been teaching since 2004;

  • Jo has had the great honour to share yoga with children as young as 2 right up to adulthood;

  • Jo has taught yoga in primary & secondary schools, for over 10 years;

  • Jo has taught yoga to children & adults with special needs;

  • Jo is committed to CPD and attends post graduate yoga courses on a yearly basis;

  • Jo completed a year long Kriya Yoga course at Mandala Ashram in 2019;

  • Jo has been immersing herself in the advanced practice of Prana Vidya by going on 10 day yoga retreats at Mandala Ashram in 2016, 2017 & 2018;

  • Jo completed her six month Pranayama course with Philip Xerri in 2017;

  • Jo completed a year long course on the chakras at Mandala Yoga Ashram in 2015;

  • Jo gained her Dru Yoga Antenatal yoga certificate in 2013;

  • Jo underwent an eighteen-month long training in yoga therapy for back care in 2011;

  • Jo completed a two year Dru Yoga Sound and Mantra course, certificate gained in 2010;

  • Jo has completed two modules to teach Dru Yoga Dance, gained in 2008 and 2011;

  • Jo has a YogiYou certificate to teach yoga to kids and teens, gained in 2007.

View and Download a full list of experience and qualifications

Ben's Experience and Qualifications

  • Ben graduated from a two-year long British Wheel of Yoga accredited teacher training course at Mandala Ashram in 2017;

  • Ben completed a 10 day retreat at Mandala Ashram learning Prana Vidya in 2019;

  • Ben completed a course on the ‘Vasistha Method of Pranayama’ at Sheffield Yoga School in 2018.

  • Ben has attended many other yoga workshops and retreats. These include most recently: 'The Power of Stillness' at the Sheffield Yoga School; 'A Day Of Awareness' and 'Nada Yoga' with Swami Gyandharma; 'The Tattvas' with Swami Brahmananda; and a three day retreat with Swami Pragyamurti. Ben has also attended several retreats at the Dru Yoga School;

  • Ben has co-organised Sheffield's first and only Bhakti Yoga Festival, Ganapati Groove;

  • Ben has led numerous Mantra Groove Dance & Yoga Workshops;

  • Ben has given talks at many Satsang gatherings here at Yoga Nature Sheffield;

  • Ben has read countless books and watched countless talks on the history and philosophy of yoga and has created two courses: ‘In Search of the Essence of Yoga’ and ‘The Yoga of Philosophy’.

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