Carmel

My name is Carmel and I  qualified as a yoga teacher in 2010 with a 500hr certification in Hatha Yoga from Yoga Therapy Ireland.

I established Swan Lane Yoga in 2012 and since then I have been joined by my daughters Naomi and Clodagh.

I am a qualified Yoga and Pregnancy Yoga tutor and a therapist in Indian Head Massage, Holistic Massage and Reflexology. I became a tutor at Green Tara College having gained training qualifications from ITEC and NUIM(Maynooth University). I also hold qualifications in Pregnancy Reflexology, Reflexology for Cancer Care, Yoga for Cancer Care, Yoga for Sport, Infant/Baby Massage, Mindfulness Meditation, the Art of Stillness in the Classroom, Hot Stone Massage.

My love of yoga started in 1995 when I was pregnant with my third child Clodagh. My first introduction to yoga was under the tutelage of Ann Marie McGlinchey who is a founder of the Yoga Society of Ireland. Although this was not a Pregnancy Yoga class; the breathing practices, the relaxation and the emphasis on increased ‘awareness of body’ helped me greatly with the physical demands of pregnancy, labour, birth and recovery. I continued to go to Yoga classes on a regular basis and my love of Yoga grew. After completing a Hatha Yoga Teacher Training Course with YTI(Yoga Therapy Ireland) and two great tutors Elma Toland and the late Linda Southgate, I then went on to complete courses in Yoga for Cancer Care and Pregnancy Yoga. 

I have been working in Complementary Therapy for a number of years now and have always had a great interest and belief in Holistic Health and Healing. In order to function in the world as well-adjusted and happy individuals we need to achieve an interactive harmony between mind, body and spirit. Our emotions often have an indelible effect on our bodies over time. When our emotions impact negatively on us; our bodies can help us to heal using various therapeutic techniques. It is, therefore, vital that we nurture our bodies by adopting a positive attitude, eating a balanced diet, keeping as fit as possible and living in as healthy an environment as possible. The philosophies of the peoples of the Eastern cultures are often more focused on health and wellbeing as part of a daily regime. While we in the West frequently tend to wait until our bodies are under stress or we are suffering before taking positive action. But we can alter our philosophy of life and health to be more in keeping with that of the East by looking towards the benefits of prevention and daily healthy practices.

Over the last couple of years I have become interested in  Meditation and have completed courses in Mindfulness Based Approaches with The Sanctuary and Oscailt, and Loving Kindness meditation with Sharon Salzberg. I have spent some time in India learning and practicing Japa Meditation on an Ashram with Fr Korko Moses. I incorporate ‘mindfulness meditation’ and ‘loving kindness meditation’ practices into my Yoga sessions to help us find that ‘still’ place within us where our deeper wisdom resides

I have completed a number of CPD(continuing professional development) courses including Reading the Feet with Pat Hickey and Chris Stormer, Injury Prevention & Management in Yoga with Jason Crandell, Somatics with Brian Ingle, Yin Yoga with Mel McLaughlin, Restorative Yoga with Sue Flamm, Yoga Nidra with Uma Dinsmore Tuli and Yoga Therapy Training in Pranayama with the Minded Institute. 

I have had regular classes in Navan, Trim and Kells and worked with The Rutland Centre and Tabor House. I’ve also had corporate classes with the HSE and OPW.

My Yoga classes focus on learning physical postures or Asana and breathing techniques or Pranayama as well as meditation practices. I believe Yoga is a lifelong journey, a process of integrating and balancing body, mind and spirit leading to peace, harmony and self awareness. I have discovered for myself that the daily practice of hatha yoga helps alleviate many of the symptoms of stress and anxiety which are so prevalent in daily life. My interest and love of Yoga has enhanced my own life and opened me up to the experience of true joy and peace.

My ethos is one of support and warmth and I believe that my Yoga and Meditation Classes and Therapies revolve around helping those that join me to find balance and harmony in their lives; to help them create a sanctuary – where mind, body and spirit get a chance to recharge and relax; to reap the benefits of Yoga and of the Treatments offered in a fun and enjoyable way.

I deeply believe in the power of the practises I teach and I am passionate about my work and continually endeavour to expand my knowledge & skills.