About Carley Oates
‘What is a teacher?....it isn’t someone who teaches something, but someone who inspires the student to give of her best in order to discover what she already knows.’ Paulo Coelho
From a foundation of intelletual study, martial arts and aerobic fitness training, I encountered yoga in my early twenties when pregnant with my first child; I found yoga to be an effective and gentle way to maintain a healthy environment for my unborn baby and myself. I soon discovered that yoga is much greater than a 'keep fit' method. Continuing with over a decade of practice and study, I am deepening the understanding that yoga practice is a way of getting to know body, mind and the energy (prana) which is interwoven through the very fabric of existence. Yoga supports me in acknowledging strengths and weaknesses, to maintain balance in my life, to observe how I can help myself through the challenges met in everyday situations, yoga percolates through all my relationships and encounters. Yoga beautifully and gracefully reveals the spirit which connects all. I have been lucky to meet and study with some wonderfully inspiring teachers and I honour them and their teachers, for enabling the vibrant current of yoga to keep flowing.
Qualifications and Training
Completing a combined honours degree in Human Biology and Applied Psychology in 1995 sustained my desire to understand the science of body and mind and how they might interact to influence our state of health. During these formal studies I suspected that the western scientific viewpoint might be missing something, it was not a holistic view of reality and I continued to investigate esoteric subjects alongside conventional teachings. While at University, I took courses in Buddhist meditation, Gnostic psychology amongst others, my university final dissertations concerned complementary therapy. After graduation my interest in holistic approaches to health and self understanding grew. The discovery and immediate trust of yoga in 1999 was intuitive and definite, and I have no doubt that this path is worth a lifetime of exploration.
I completed the 3-year British Wheel of Yoga (BWY) Teaching Diploma in June 2008. The BWY are recognised by the Central Council for Physical Recreation (CCPR) and Sport England as the national Governing Body for Yoga in the UK and provide the hightest level of qualification for yoga teachers (NVQ Level 4) . I consider the BWY to offer the most comprehensive yoga teacher training courses available, and I was blessed to be able to train with Derek Thorne. I am committed to my continuous professional development regulated by the BWY and my teaching benefits from the wide range of high quality training opportuinites provided by the BWY as well as trainings from outside of the BWY.
Additional training in pregnancy and postnatal yoga was directed by Uma Dinsmore-Tuli (Sitaram Partnership). This training is equivalent to the BWY Post-Diploma Module for yoga in pregnancy, and I have attended update training days with BWY pregnancy and postnatal module tutor Wendy Teasdill.
Derek Thorne guided my initial teacher training and as personal teacher he continues to guide me through the profound teachings of jnana yoga. As a member of the YogaLiving Community Ashram, my personal yoga practice is supported by association with regular satsang and active participation in the vibrant creative energy of YogaLiving.
I have been teaching yoga classes in my community since 2006 and love every minute of it! You are welcome to join me and discover yoga for your Self.
