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.
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, then we chant OM together. 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
Rolwaling Yoga-Trek
Sunday 26th October - Friday 7th November 2025
This year's Yoga-Trek took us to the stunning Rolwaling Valley, a sacred Himalayan valley close to the border with Tibet. The sparsely populated region is predominantly Buddhist and we passed numerous monasteries and manis (prayer walls) as we went deeper into the valley.
We climbed - to begin with in the rain - though rhododendron forests, across alpine meadows and over rocky terrain to reach Na, one of the oldest villages in Rolwaling. From here we hiked in glorious sunshine up into the snow towards to Tsorolpo, a beautiful glacial lake. Morning and evening yoga sessions against the towering backdrop of snow-capped peaks completed this truly epic adventure.
There are exciting plans afoot for 2026 as we aim to schedule two iconic yoga-treks: Annapurna Base Camp and Everest Panorama. Watch this space for dates and details.
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.
2024 led us to the iconic Annapurna region. We flew from Kathmandu to Pokhara, then trekked for eight days 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. Then back to Pokhara, Nepal's lakeside gem for more in-depth yoga and recuperation.
'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
Dorset Yoga Retreat
Friday 19th - Sunday 21st September 2025
Many thanks to those who joined me for a late summer weekend of yoga, hiking and good company at Bonhays Meditation Centre, a beautiful eco-retreat at Whitcurch Canonicorum, just two miles from the Dorset Coast. We enjoyed wonderful vegetarian meals prepared by Bonhays’ chef from local ingredients, we practised yoga together in the spacious, well-stocked yoga room and dipped our toes in the heated indoor swimming pool; some of us even braved a brisk swim off Charmouth Beach. All in all a perfect seasonal re-set.
Watch this space for upcoming weekend retreats.
