About Jo
My earliest experience of yoga was at the age of 17 and almost immediately, it felt very different to any other form of exercise and relaxation I had ever come across before.
As my interest began to grow, I realised that no matter what happened in my day, as long as I had my yoga practice, I could enjoy a feeling of space and calm on the inside as well as benefit from a good work out on the outside.
With my life blossoming in all sorts of directions, I continued with regular yoga practise, nurturing myself and my babies through two pregnancies, first with my daughter Alice and later with my son, Isaac.
In 2004, I discovered Ashtanga Yoga and my practice entered a new phase and inspired me to seriously consider teaching the one thing that had helped me through life so far, yoga.
I found the thought of teaching extremely daunting but I felt passionate about sharing the benefits of yoga with other people.
With a young family and a house full of animals, I chose to study with the British Wheel of Yoga and joined its foundation course and later progressed to Yoga Teacher Training, a three-year part time course which was perfect for juggling home, family and study.
The course allowed me to begin teaching straight away and I soon began to learn to channel my own yoga experiences to others. I remember teaching my first class and feeling totally out of my comfort zone but knowing it was what I really wanted to do. Teaching continues to be to a process of deep self development for me.
My learning and training was supported by a wonderful teacher called Sarah Beck; it was such a blessing to have the guidance of an amazing individual.
In 2007 I began teaching at the YMCA on the Fylde. The environment of mixed abilities, ages and conditions provided me with the perfect environment to develop my skills and experience. I realised that my teacher training course was just the beginning of a journey and since then I have attended two Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training courses with David Swenson and Manju Jois and have also studied with Kino Macgregor, John Scott, Liz Lark, Richard Adamo and Brian Cooper, to name a few. I have an on-going annual study with Julie Gudmastead for anatomy.
To teach specialist pregnancy yoga classes I trained with Wendy Teasdill and Vivian Tallis from the British Wheel Of Yoga and have been running pregnancy classes successfully since 2011.
To gain a deeper understanding of breathing and how different breathing techniques are paramount to health and wellbeing, I completed the British Wheel of Yoga Pranayama module with Philip Xerri and in 2015 I became fully qualified as a Thai Yoga Massage therapist after studying with the Mudita School of Thai Yoga Massage. I recognised that all adjustments in yoga were derived from this ancient bodywork treatment.
I also teach specialist yoga classes for men who are sometimes reluctant to participate in what can often be female-orientated environments. I have also taught in schools, helping children and young people enjoy the benefits of yoga to reduce stress and anixety and promote a healthy awareness of the mind and body.
Qualifications
Summary of Yoga and Thai Yoga Massage Qualifications
- British Wheel of Yoga Foundation Course
- British Wheel of Yoga Teacher Training
- Ashtanga Teacher Training with David Swenson
- Ashtanga Teacher Training with Manju Jois
- Pregnancy Yoga Teacher Training with Wendy Teasdill and Vivian Tallis
- Pranayama Teacher Training with Philip Xerri
- Anatomy and Physiology with Julie Gudmastead
- Thai Yoga Massage Therapist Training with The Mudita School of Thai Yoga Massage
- Certified Restorative Yoga Teacher Training with Adelene Cheong
Jo lives in Wrea Green, near Preston, Lancashire, with her husband Jonathan, her son Isaac, her two Giant Schnauzers MiMi and Jack and also her cat Yogi-Bean.
"Beautiful session with Jo Eastham thank you for helping me break in my mat #yogalove"
- Claire, Poulton-le-Fylde
Regular classes are held across the Fylde in Lytham, St Annes, Poulton, Garstang and Wrea Green, Lancashire. For details click here. Private yoga classes are also available, click here for prices.
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