Our Teachers

Calum Thomson

(Ashtanga Vinyasa 500hr & Rocket 130hr Yoga teacher)
Ashtanga vinyasa. Ashtanga full primary. Rocket. Mysore.

Co-Founder of Ashtanga Cheshire studios Calum found the practice of yoga in it's postural form in 2008 at a point in life when it was necessary to make some serious lifestyle changes and at first yoga became the tool to achieve this, it worked and the practice had a profound effect upon him early on so it didn't take long to become a dedicated practitioner.

After a couple of years Calum found the Ashtanga Vinyasa System as created by Pattabhi Jois. Having practiced the Primary Series and an introduction to the intermediate series for a few years he travelled to Mysore India in 2014 to practice under Sharath Jois at the KPJAYI, the birthplace and spiritual home of this practice, later travelling north to the Himalayas to gain his 200hr Yoga Alliance teaching accreditation in Ashtanga Vinyasa under the tutelage of Vijay Amar. In 2018 Calum returned to take his 300hr making him a 500hr accredited teacher in Ashtanga Vinyasa. Calum since has certified in over 130 hours of Rocket Yoga with World renowned David Kyle.
In 2022 Calum received initiation into Kriya Yoga from the Kriya Yoga Master Sri M.
Calum has surpassed over 7000 hours of face to face teaching across Yoga Studios, gyms and health clubs across Cheshire.
He runs a monthly Mysore session during the spring and summer months at Ashtanga Cheshire studios, continues to teach a variety of workshops at various Yoga Studios and offers one to one and small groups sessions at his studio space
Calum has continued to complement and strengthen his teachings undertaking Level 1 & Level 2 Reiki certification and the Emmett technique training which is a muscle release therapy, both of these have been useful tools in assisting yoga students with the development of their practice.
As well as continuing to practice the physical aspect of Yoga, meditation and energy work have taken a more prominent part in his practices. Calum endeavours to return to Dhamma Dipa Vipassana meditation centre on a yearly basis to attend 10 day silent meditation retreats.
"As a teacher it is my hope that the students who come to me reach their potentials, exceed their own limitations and to see how what they learn on their mats can be transferred to all aspects of their lives."

Kelly Mason

(1140hr certified Yoga teacher & classical mat Pilates)
Vinyasa flow. Power vinyasa. Ashtanga vinyasa. Rocket. Hatha. Slow flow. Yin Yoga. Classical mat Pilates.

Co-founder of Ashtanga Cheshire studios Kelly began her teaching journey in the city of Melbourne, Australia back in 2016 teaching throughout the city and suburbs. She has since taught in California, Manchester and India and is now based between Cheshire and London offering her services as a freelance plant based chef.

(Private clients and wellness retreats) and Yoga/Pilates teacher at Ashtanga Cheshire studios.

Hazel Young

(Yoga Alliance Senior Teacher & yogakidz RCYT certified)
Beginner. Vinyasa flow. Hatha. Slow flow.

Hazel is an immensely experienced senior-level yoga teacher with over 4000 hours of face-to-face and online classes under her belt.

She practiced yoga for several years before qualifying in 2015. Having taught for almost a decade, she has worked with professional athletes, football teams, absolute beginners, those working with injury, hen parties and everyone in between! So whatever you bring to the mat, you’re in good hands.

Her classes are warm, fun, and inclusive. Students are encouraged to find a practice that suits their individuality, and works for their mind, body and spirit. Her aim is to create a space in which each student can connect with their true potential, and leave class feeling a little more like themself.
As well as a registered yoga (and children’s yoga) teacher, she is a CMA-accredited Sound Healing practitioner and singer, holding regular sound bath sessions. Her dedication to learning extends far from her mat, and you will often find her writing, researching and deepening her knowledge through practice and theory. She has trained with (and assisted alongside) her mentor Claire Missingham, and continues to train and practice with other teachers to keep her teaching relevant and fresh.

Dr Imelda J

Myofascial FFF. Restorative.

Imelda is our energetic tiny ninja, a movement creator at heart.

She has spent over a decade practicing with some of the best teachers in the Yoga world and has completed her YTTC with Dylan Werner and Patrick Beach.

Her background in Medicine and Science allows her to intelligently sequence dynamic classes based around Myofascial Meridians to balance strength, viscoelasticity and flexibility.
Her flow classes are mindful, playful and dynamic focusing on accurate alignment and insightful transitions, her yin sessions are an equal balance of challenging and calming and her mat Pilates sessions are inclusive and energizing.

Donna Edwards

(330hr certified yoga teacher)
Vinyasa flow. Hatha. Yin. Mandala.

Donna’s passion for yoga came from a love for movement after many years spent in dance training.

After a spell of bad mental health she found a connection with yoga that was deeper than just the physical postures. Finding that the practice of yoga provided her with a pathway to come back to herself.

In January 2020 she completed her teacher training in Rishikesh so she would be able to help others learn about the practice of yoga as a way of life!
“Yoga has given me so much personally; I wish to help others struggling with mental health learn better ways of coping with their feelings and emotions”
In 2020 she completed her Yin training and took further studies into the language of Sanskrit.
“For me in each class I teach it’s all about creating a sense that yoga is more than just the physical postures”
Her classes interweave her love for movement and creative sequencing with gentle undertones of yogic philosophy.

Jess Fleet

(500 hr Ashtanga Vinyasa & 50hr Rocket inspired teacher). Ashtanga Beginner. Ashtanga Vinyasa. Vinyasa. Rocket.

Jess can often be found upside down and playing around with different arm balances. She is committed to challenging comfort zones and confronting self-limiting beliefs both on and off the mat and encourages her students to do the same. Jess’s style of teaching inspires her students to be present, to have fun and to push their limits.

Jess is a 500 hour Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher with 5 years teaching experience at studios, gyms and private venues across Cheshire.

She teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa, Ashtanga for Beginners, Progressive Ashtanga (aka Rocket), Vinyasa Flow, Slow Flow and Aerial Yoga classes. She has also taught on Yoga Retreats and Yoga Teacher Training Courses in Goa, India, including Workshops, Vinyasa Flow and Teaching Methodology classes for Yoga Teacher Training students.
Jess completed her 200 hour Ashtanga Yoga and Vinyasa Flow training at Kranti Yoga, Goa in 2019, and later returned to Goa to complete her 300 hour training at Palm Trees Yoga Resort. She has also completed training in Aerial Yoga (20 hours) with Richard Holroyd and Rocket Vinyasa Yoga (50 hours) with David Kyle.
She is a keen student of Ashtanga Yoga and has joined many workshops with teachers including David Swenson, Adam Keen and Kino McGregor. She is a committed student as well as being a teacher, and dedicates many hours to maintaining a consistent self-practice, and regularly attends classes with Ashtanga Cheshire.

Alicia Robinson

(200hr certified yoga teacher & Level 3 Mat Pilates)
Classical Mat Pilates. Vinyasa Flow. Mellow slow flow.

Her teaching style for Yoga is a ‘dynamic vinyasa’.

Alicia's teaching style for Pilates is a ‘dynamic fusion combining of both classical and contemporary movements’.

In her Yoga classes expect to hold a sequence of strong postures transitioned through an effortless flow. After a challenging practice students follow a restorative closing, long deep stretches held to focus on releasing any unwanted attention allowing us to unwind for a well deserved savasana.
Her Pilates sessions are Cheshire renowned. Expect to use muscles that you didn’t realise existed. The body is encouraged to remain engaged throughout each sequence of effective, controlled, yet challenging exercises.

Kelly Appleton

(200 hr certified yoga teacher) Hatha. Restorative.

Kelly loves to delve into: restorative, slow & subtle Yoga, the life science of the practice, the physiology behind each pose, aspects of Yoga neuroscience, biomechanics and Yoga history.

Her teaching approach is inclusive & accessibility for all.

She practiced Iyengar yoga for many years - a style of Yoga where you hold specific shapes for a longer time with a large focus on physical alignment.
Her focus completely shifted after she trained as she believed from the teachings that the focus of Yoga should be internal alignment; cultivating equanimity however one thing she did take from her Iyengar practice was heavy use of props!

Susy Walsh

(200hr Hatha & Ashtanga Vinyasa, 50hr Yin, 20hr Restorative certified yoga teacher)
Ashtanga Vinyasa. Hatha. Yin. Somatic Tantra.

Susy’s Yoga practice began nearly 20 years ago at University.

Like most, her initial interest was the physical aspect for building strength and flexibility but she soon noticed she wasn't suffering with the usual chest infections and colds she was once prone to and her energy levels and concentration levels greatly improved too.

The more she practised and studied Yoga, the more she realised how far reaching the benefits were…

This led her to make changes to her lifestyle to support the new exploration of Yoga at a deeper level, both physically and philosophically. Susy went on to qualify as a Yoga teacher in 2018 and has undertaken further trainings in Yin Yoga, Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga and Somatic and Tantra Yoga.
In 2020 she started to explore sound as a healing modality and has completed Sound and Energy Healing training.
Susy works specifically with crystalline sound to bring calm and balance to the mind, body and spirit.
In 2022 Susy wanted to expand her knowledge around health and healing further so she studied with the College of Naturopathic Medicine, qualifying as a Health Coach and going on to specialise in stress management and sleep solutions and is an Ambassador for the College of Naturopathic Medicine and registered with the Association of Naturopathic Practitioners.
Susy is passionate about the healing power of conscious rest and nervous system regulation and believes Yoga is a fantastic tool for helping us to achieve this.
Her offerings focus on creating an environment where people can truly enjoy their Yoga practice without judgement or expectations; whether that be in a dynamic, challenging class or slower, more restorative sessions.
She also encourages people to build a better relationship with their own bodies with a somatic approach to practising, inviting you to communicate with and explore your inner world through movement.
Making yoga accessible to all is also a priority for her so care is taken in each class to offer variations and support to ensure inclusion.

Yelena Baranova Chowdry

(200 hr certified yoga teacher) Hatha.

Yelena believes being a teacher comes from within. She felt she was ready to share her love and passion for Yoga to give others the same life changing experience she had with this practice.

In her classes Yelena likes a slow build up, warming up the joints and muscles, connecting to the breath, gradually developing into more dynamic sequences and finishing with deep relaxation.

Throughout her class she cultivates awareness of the breath and alignment.

Sophie Lovatt

(200hr Hatha & Ashtanga Vinyasa certified yoga teacher)
Ashtanga Vinyasa. Vinyasa. Hatha. Beginners. Mellow Flow.

Sophie began her yoga journey over 6 years ago, quickly developing a dedicated practise.

Soon after Sophie found Calum (ashtanga cheshire) teaching at the local studio and from there she never looked back!

The Ashtanga series offered a set sequence, which offered measurable progression, and soon took over most of her practise time. She started to attend workshops and retreats with some of her favorite teachers, before contemplating whether to do her teacher training.

After about a year of debating this and searching for the right course, Sophie enrolled on a 200 hour teacher training with The Yoga Academy Liverpool, specialising in Ashtanga Vinyasa.

The course throughly prepared her for teaching, and she began taking her own classes the very next day after graduation!

Since then she has been lucky enough to teach at multiple gyms, studios and leisure clubs.
Sophie teaches hatha, vinyasa and ashtanga vinyasa to beginners and experienced students alike.

Sophie has expressed so much joy over the fact she will be bringing her teachings to Ashtanga Cheshire Studios, coming full circle from her first ashtanga class all those years ago!