Iyengar Yoga
with Debbie Rivers-Moore
In-person and online classes in the South West
About Debbie
I first discovered Iyengar yoga 20 years ago. I was running my own publishing company and working all hours, so really came to value the head-clearing and renewed vitality that yoga gave me.
It was always a challenge to squeeze the study into my busy working life. When my publishing career came to its planned end, I was delighted to have more time to practise and deepen my understanding of this boundless subject. I began teacher training in 2017 and am qualified as a Level One Iyengar Yoga Teacher.
Over the years I’ve been fortunate to study with senior teachers from the Iyengar world both in the UK and in India, in regular classes, workshops and yoga intensives.
I now enjoy sharing the positive effects of Iyengar yoga with my own students and showing how the benefits are accessible to all, regardless of level of fitness or flexibility.
"I just wanted to let you know how much I enjoyed Debbie's class this morning! Great teacher! She gave us wonderful instructions and made it all very enjoyable."
"Great class! Debbie is a lovely teacher, taking time to demonstrate each step of a pose before you try it out yourself."
About Iyengar Yoga
Yoga is the union of the body, mind, breath and spirit. As we position the physical body in asanas (yoga postures), the breath becomes even, the mind becomes calm and the spirit is rejuvenated.
Developed by BKS Iyengar, one of the world’s foremost yoga teachers, Iyengar Yoga places great emphasis on precision, alignment and detail, not only of the external form of the body, but also of the internal workings and their impact on your state of mind. Its aim is to bring the body and the mind into harmony. Regular practice promotes strength and suppleness, improves concentration and enhances a sense of wellbeing.
In order to explore a pose fully we can use props such as belts, blankets and blocks to support the body. This enables us to discover the benefits of the pose without overstraining or incorrect action. It also allows less flexible students to experience the pose in more depth than might otherwise be possible.
Iyengar teachers undergo a rigorous and continuing training, which enables them to convey the principles, practices and philosophy of yoga with clarity and precision. These high teaching standards are part of the reason Iyengar yoga is the most widely practised method of yoga worldwide.
The Certification Mark is the guarantee of this quality.
In-Person Classes
Clifton, Bristol
Tuesday evenings, 7.30 to 8.30pm
A general level class suitable for those with some experience of yoga, those returning after a break and beginners who are keen to explore yoga further. All equipment provided, but please bring your own mat if you have one.
£10 per class. Discounts for block bookings are available. Contact me for more information.
Scout Hall, Pavey House
Waterloo St, Clifton, Bristol BS8 4BX
Yogatree, Corsham
Wednesday mornings 10 to 11.15am
A 'beginners plus' class, suitable as a step up for beginners. Fully equipped studio. All equipment provided.
For prices and booking please go to www.yogatree.co.uk.
Yogatree
Alexander Terrace, Corsham SN13 0BW
Yeofit Studio, Blagdon
Wednesday evenings 7 to 8.30pm
A general level class, suitable for those with some experience. Entrance to the gym is on the lower side of the building, facing the lake.
Please bring your own yoga mat, bricks, blocks, blanket and belt.
£11 per class. Discounts for block bookings are available. Contact me for more information.
Yeofit at Yeo Valley HQ, Rhodyate, Blagdon, Bristol BS40 7YE
Online Classes
My weekly online class runs on Tuesdays from 6 to 7pm on Zoom. These sessions are suitable for beginners and those with some experience of yoga. Set up your camera where I can see you and your mat clearly. Have your yoga bricks, blocks, blanket and belt
(or equivalent household items) to hand.
Each class costs £7. To pay please email me for my bank account or paypal details. You will receive a Zoom invitation link. Simply click on the link just before the scheduled start time.
These classes are also available via MoveGB.
The online class is recorded. You're welcome to follow the recording if you can't make the Tuesday evening session. This also costs £7 and is available for one week after the class. This will be your own personal recording so thank you for not sharing it elsewhere.
from your first yoga class
What to expect
Perhaps you think you need to be young, fit and flexible to do yoga. You're wrong! The only requirement to step on a mat is an open mind.
If you're considering trying out a class, here are a few things that might be useful to know:
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we start each class with quiet breathing to get our mind and body ready for yoga. We finish with a few moments of deep relaxation lying on the mat.
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come to class with an empty stomach; a light snack two hours before is fine.
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wear comfortable clothing; stretchy leggings and a t-shirt are perfect. We'll be practising barefoot, so we remove socks and shoes at the start of the class.
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don't worry about what anyone else in the room is doing. We all start from where we are. If there are difficulties, we'll find some additional support to make a pose more manageable.
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you'll hear Sanskrit names for the poses, which might gradually become familiar. But we use the English names too. And everything is clearly demonstrated and explained, to make it easy to follow.
Revitalise your body
calm your mind
restore your soul
Yoga-treks
Nepal yoga-trek
Sunday 3rd - Friday 15th November 2024.
It was hard to imagine beating last year's wonderful Nepal yoga-trek to the beautiful Langtang valley. But this autumn's yoga-trek to Annapurna certainly matched and maybe even surpassed it, in terms of glorious scenery, amazing mountain yoga and invigorating trekking.
We convened in Kathmandu, then flew to Pokhara from where headed into the middle hills of the Annapurna range. For eight days we trekked through isolated mountain villages, experiencing the traditional way of life of the Gurung people of Nepal, practising yoga morning and evening against a stunning mountain backdrop. Highlights were our two pre-dawn treks to viewpoints where we watched the rising sun gild the surrounding mountain tops. A magical and breathtaking experience. We rounded the trip off in Pokhara, Nepal's lakeside gem for more in-depth yoga and recuperation. Truly the trip of a lifetime!
Watch out for information about our upcoming 2025 Nepal yoga-trek! Email me to request details as soon as the trip is launched.
How we got here...
Our inaugural yoga-trek took place in Nepal in November 2019. The 18-day trek centred around Mount Manaslu and the Tsum valley. Staying in lodges in small villages gave us a fantastic insight into local culture and enjoyable contact with our friendly hosts. We incorporated yoga into our daily routine in regular post-trek sessions – perfect for easing those sore muscles and reviving the spirit, in mid-trek stretches to reinvigorate us for the route ahead and in the occasional up-with-the-sun early-morning class.
Our second yoga-trek, originally planned for November 2020, finally took place in autumn 2022. We spent 15 days together, travelling, trekking and practising yoga in the dramatic Himalayan region of Langtang in Nepal, close to the border with Tibet. We combined the Helambu, Gosaikund and Langtang treks for an amazingly varied adventure in a gorgeous landscape.
Our third yoga-trek departing October 2023 took us back to the beautiful Langtang Valley on a 12-day adventure, following the Langtang Khola river for the whole length of the trek to see it change from a roaring torrent into glacial ice. En route daily yoga sessions aligned perfectly with trekking, as we practised outdoors against a backdrop of snow-capped peaks.
'I cannot begin to thank you enough for our amazing trip to Nepal.
The combination of yoga and trekking was a match made in heaven.
We have returned feeling uplifted, stronger and inspired.'
CG Nov 2023
