Teachers
Introducing our wonderful family of teachers who, along with our core team, deliver classes for BYRP
Sally Balfourth
(she/her/they)
I support people to feel into their own investigations with their bodies, through movement, breath and play. My personal practice, work and life is animated by creativity. It empowers me to continuously grow and discover. This diversity of influences weaves its way through my approach to facilitation.
After training to be a Yoga Teacher in 2015, I worked around the world hosting retreats, supporting teacher trainings and collaborating with individuals, charities and organisations. I’m now based in Bristol, UK.
Lildonia Laurence
(she/her)
Lildonia (she/her) is a yoga instructor and wellbeing coach specialising in wellbeing for women, young people and BIPOC folks.
She has a background in psychology and mental health and has been working in the field since 2009. Her mission is to inspire, educate and equip people with the tools for long lasting health and wellbeing. Her week consists of 1-1 coaching sessions, running wellbeing workshops and teaching yoga and movement sessions.
Seanie Smith
(she/her)
Seanie has been teaching with BYRP since 2019. She is a yoga teacher and artist, completely passionate about expression, psychology, expansion of self and our capacity to feel more, move more, and the ever growing awareness around how we all need connection and community. This has naturally led her to becoming a teacher for BYRP. With ongoing training and 6 years of teaching experience she is excited to be applying some of the skills and passion she has cultivated so far working for this project
Lena Grace
(she/her)
Whatever your starting point is, it’s perfect for you - this is my approach to yoga and movement.
I encourage you to be okay with how you are in this present moment. I’ll always remind you that it’s your practice and what you need may be different to the person next to you.
We are all uniquely unique, in different bodies, with different needs; how wonderful is that?
Sharing my passion for yoga is my purpose. Making yoga accessible and inclusive is important to me, so with that in mind I offer variations on poses and postures to cater for everyone.
Mental health studies, a degree in counselling and life experience underpins the practices I share.
I invite you to come exactly as you are, because how you are in this moment is perfect.
Rebecca Simms
(she/her)
I have always been passionate about creating social change which led to my career in International Development. Through my work I saw that few of us have been spared traumatic experiences and if each of us aren't able to find our own way to heal, large scale positive change is a distant dream. Now, as a yoga teacher and Thai massage therapist, I am equally passionate about supporting individuals through these healing modalities as I am about changing systems. Yoga is powerful and it should be for everyone. It can be uncomfortable to recognise and address the exclusivity of the yoga industry but I am happy to have found an organisation that is tackling it head on.
Marianne Swift
(she/her)
Marianne is a yoga facilitator and clinical hypnotherapist and psychotherapist (trainee), she is passionate about the value of yoga for mental health and her teachings are offered in a trauma-sensitive, open, playful and empowering way. She has a background of working in mental health, youth and adult homelessness, and the charity sector more broadly. Marianne believes that yoga can help us to cultivate connection with ourselves and each other, she enjoys sharing yoga with all who are curious to try it.
Sarah John (she/her)
I discovered yoga a bit later in life, it just wasn’t accessible in the south wales valleys growing up as it was an under resourced community, so fully understand and recognise the exclusivity of the yoga industry. I feel really lucky to have found an organisation such as BYRP to share my experiences and join them in championing change in the Bristol yoga community. I also work as a programme manager and support community outreach and mental health initiatives.
My vision is to make yoga accessible to all walks of life and help people feel good about themselves through a yoga practice which is mindful, enjoyable and down to earth
Stephen Lightbown
(he/him)
Stephen is a poet and yoga teacher. He writes extensively but not exclusively about his life as a wheelchair user. He is the author of two poetry collections for adults and in 2023 he will be publish his first collection for children as well as his first picture book.
As a yoga teacher he teaches yoga that is suitable for every body type, without judgement. Stephen specialises in yoga for helping you discover new things about your body and reconnecting with other parts you may have forgotten. He guides you through a calming practice which leaves you feeling empowered by what your body is capable of.
Eliana Stenning (she/her)
Eliana is passionate about creating inclusive yoga classes where everyone feels that they are welcome to join. She aims to reach those who might not usually attend a studio class and is delighted to be able to bring yoga to even more people now working with BYRP. Eliana has become fascinated by the relationship between yoga and the nervous system and how we can work with the practice to find deep connection to self, our own healing journey, and how that can impact our connection with others and the world.