The origin of my path
My first love as a child was music, spirituality and Art. As young as the age of three I often remember sitting at home, motionless, gazing towards the unseen for a long time while my mother listened to classical music or opera. Sometimes I would also draw or cut figures out of coloured paper while tuning in to my own 'Divine connection', entering a world that felt more real to me than reality.
These moments remain precious in my heart as they became the foundation of my whole approach to life, intuitively knowing that the energy of the Universe is much greater than we can conceive with our limited awareness, and is also our greatest teacher.
By the age of seven I felt naturally drawn towards poetry and often spoke to myself in poetic language while walking or cycling through the French countryside. Inspired by Nature or by my emotions I would create simple rhymes and repeat them on my way to school like little mantras.
Around the age of fifteen a friend gave me a book on Yoga, some of the asanas looked intriguing but it was reading about the philosophy that created a greater impact on my mind. I embraced its concepts quite easily because it was reflecting what I always felt and experienced on a personal level. At that time I never imagined that I would become a yoga teacher, I just wanted to be an artist and a traveler, my gypsy soul always drawn to foreign lands.
Yoga is a path that is often inside us even before we acknowledge it, and it can manifest more strongly at any stage of one's life. In my case I felt I could not escape the calling and followed it almost blindly. My path has had many curves, making me doubtful or critical at times, but also inspired, uplifted with a growing faith in the journey.
Shortly after arriving in London at the age of 18 I enrolled for yoga classes, but I remained disappointed because the focus was too much on the physical aspect, with no mention of the inner journey that Yogic texts were describing. I kept searching for an inspiring teacher and after a few years I came across Velta Snikere-Wilson. She was already much older than the teachers I had met before but I was intrigued by her energy and poise. I found what I was looking for in her teaching, and within no time I enrolled on her Yoga teacher training course and philosophy sessions, and received my British Wheel of Yoga diploma.
In the early 90s I discovered Ayurveda through various teachers in the UK and India . Around the same time I also developed an interest in esoteric Tantra. This path spoke to me at a deeper level which fed into my artwork. I am a professional artist and my work explores essentially female identity, childhood and symbolism.
Art website: mariannesimonin.com
Every moment of life becomes a sadhana. It is no longer the difficulty to set aside time for my practice, it is more the exhilarating challenge to use every aspect of my everyday life as an opportunity to practice.
ShivaShakti - Oil on canvas by Marianne Simonin
About the offerings
Instead of teaching I prefer to think that I facilitate an environment where it is possible for each person to discover one’s wisdom, to listen to one’s body, and to let one's mind reflect a peaceful awareness by the end of the session.
Asanas and pranayama form the core of the practice in my general classes, and I am often guided by grounding myself first deep within, and let the wisdom of the body take over. I then allow myself to become receptive to the group energy, the time of the day, the season, and I have full trust in the creative process that will unfold during the class. I never prepare my sessions, as the manifestation of Yoga takes place in the NOW (as indicated in the first yoga sutra written by Patanjali - Atha Yoganusasanam) . I offer Yoga Nidra and meditation separately, and from time to time workshops in Ayurvedic principles, and retreats in the UK and abroad.
My interest is to understand the more subtle aspect of the human being, its energetic field and chakras, exploring ways to release physical and psychological blockages, in order to create a deeper sense of ease in one’s life. I use a combination of therapeutic approaches rooted in Yoga, Ayurveda and holistic massage.
I have taught now for over 30 years people of all ages and ability. My teaching has also changed as I matured and I have different priorities about what I view as a good yoga practice. I am especially interested in helping people reconnect with their higher self, tap into their core energy to heal any traumas or fragility. Lack of directions, chronic health issues, digestion and joints problems, are some of the issues that I can assist with.
Since 1988 the source of my offerings stems essentially from my personal practice and also many stays in India (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Assam have held a special place in my spiritual development).
I hold qualifications from the British Wheel of Yoga and the Massage Training institute. I have a Masters degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Middlesex University, including a three months internship in Ayurvedic hospitals in India.
I hold a deep respect to my teacher Velta Snikere Wilson for having encouraged her students to discover their own path. If you are interested please take a little time to read about her, and watch the short video when she recited one of her beautiful poems about Yoga at her home.
Instead of teaching I prefer to think that I facilitate an environment where it is possible for each person to discover one’s wisdom, to listen to one’s body, and to let one's mind reflect a peaceful awareness by the end of the session.
Asanas and pranayama form the core of the practice in my general classes, and I am often guided by grounding myself first deep within, and let the wisdom of the body take over. I then allow myself to become receptive to the group energy, the time of the day, the season, and I have full trust in the creative process that will unfold during the class. I never prepare my sessions, as the manifestation of Yoga takes place in the NOW (as indicated in the first yoga sutra written by Patanjali - Atha Yoganusasanam) . I offer Yoga Nidra and meditation separately, and from time to time workshops in Ayurvedic principles, and retreats in the UK and abroad.
My interest is to understand the more subtle aspect of the human being, its energetic field and chakras, exploring ways to release physical and psychological blockages, in order to create a deeper sense of ease in one’s life. I use a combination of therapeutic approaches rooted in Yoga, Ayurveda and holistic massage.
I have taught now for over 30 years people of all ages and ability. My teaching has also changed as I matured and I have different priorities about what I view as a good yoga practice. I am especially interested in helping people reconnect with their higher self, tap into their core energy to heal any traumas or fragility. Lack of directions, chronic health issues, digestion and joints problems, are some of the issues that I can assist with.
Since 1988 the source of my offerings stems essentially from my personal practice and also many stays in India (Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, West Bengal and Assam have held a special place in my spiritual development).
I hold qualifications from the British Wheel of Yoga and the Massage Training institute. I have a Masters degree in Ayurvedic Medicine from Middlesex University, including a three months internship in Ayurvedic hospitals in India.
I hold a deep respect to my teacher Velta Snikere Wilson for having encouraged her students to discover their own path. If you are interested please take a little time to read about her, and watch the short video when she recited one of her beautiful poems about Yoga at her home.
Professional profile
Along Ganga in Varanasi in 2010
- Master in Ayurvedic Medicine at Middlesex University, 2011/2015 - M.CM Ayur (Hons)
- British Wheel of Yoga teacher diploma & Anatomy/physiology 1990
- Massage Training Institute certificate - 1993
- Certificate in Ayurvedic studies. Correspondence course with Dr Robert Svoboda, 1996
- Reiki certification – Level 1 LPG certificate, 1997
- Ayurvedic massage certificate (Atreya Abhyanga) 2005
- Ayurvedic facelift certificate from Ayurveda Pura, 2008
I have practiced yoga since 1980 and started teaching my first class in 1988 at the Central London Polytechnic. For several years onwards I taught people from all background at the following:
- The Life centre, Notting Hill Gate, London
- TriYoga, Chelsea and Ealing
- Adult education centres.
- The Core Trust rehabilitation clinic in Central London for people suffering from depression, alcohol & drugs.
- Hospitals and elderly people’s homes.
- HMP Wormwood Scrubs Prison, to male inmates for 4 years. Very interesting experience.
- The Light House AIDS /HIV sufferers in Ladbroke Grove,& Hammersmith
- GLA (City Hall) and LGA, and in different offices to help with stress related issues.
- The 1st Yoga festival in Egypt as a teacher/lecturer.
- Until now: teaching private classes in London.
- Yoga retreats and workshops in the UK and India.
- I have also worked as a massage therapist in different London clinics including the L.C.A.S in Harley Street.
- My clients have included: Sean Connery and his wife, Naomi Campbell and Sadie Frost, Bob Dylan.
At home in 2008.
