Koa Yoga & Mindfulness

01/06/2025

🌟 BIG NEWS! 🌟

We're delighted to share that we've been recommissioned for another 12 months to deliver our bespoke Menopause Yoga programme for University Hospitals of Derby and Burton (UHDB)🧘‍♀️

Since October 2023, we've had the privilege of supporting UHDB staff with this specially designed programme, and it’s been incredible to witness the impact it’s having 💙

💫 Free to all UHDB staff, the programme appears weekly on the Trust's extensive Wellbeing Timetable and runs every Thursday morning from 8am–8.30am. It includes:

🧘‍♀️ Bespoke Hatha, Yin & Restorative yoga sequences
🧎‍♀️Mindfulness & breathing techniques

✅ Helping to manage menopause symptoms such as:
🌡️ Hot flushes
😣 Irritability & anxiety
🧠 Low mood & overwhelm
😴 Fatigue & insomnia

To be selected again to deliver this programme for the NHS is a huge honour, and we're incredibly grateful to continue supporting such a vital part of our community ✨

🙏 Thank you to everyone who has supported the programme so far - with HUGE thanks to the incredible Steph Thompson for your unwavering support throughout 🤩

We're also deeply grateful for the wonderful feedback received from everyone attending - your kind words and the noticeable improvements in managing symptoms have helped keep this firmly on the timetable 💬🧡

We're passionate about supporting women through menopause, and we're absolutely thrilled to be continuing this vital work for another 12 months 🤸‍♀️

📣 If you’re part of and haven’t joined a session yet, we'd love to welcome you to the mat. Join us on Thursday mornings via Your Wellbeing Timetable 🧘‍♀️

18/05/2025

🌿 Support your physical health and mental wellbeing with our inclusive, calming yoga classes 🧘

But don’t just take our word for it...

With classes running across Derbyshire, we’ve been asking our yogis what they love most about practising with us - and how it’s supported them physically, mentally, and emotionally.

The responses have been incredible 💛

Here’s what Harriet shared:

“Such a lovely way to end the week! My university course is very stressful and it really helps to have a little escape and relax my body and mind.

A lovely, relaxing class combining active movement and stretches with breathwork.

Helps you feel both relaxed and invigorated at the end which is such a fantastic way to start the weekend!

Brilliant teacher, guiding through variations for all abilities.”

Thank you, Harriet — your kind words mean so much 🙏

✨ We’ll be sharing more of these beautiful testimonials over the coming weeks. Keep your eyes peeled! 👀💙

05/05/2025

🧘‍♀️ How’s your balance?

On a recent trip to the National Trust Calke Abbey we came across a “Test Your Balance” activity – and of course, we couldn’t resist giving it a go!

Balance is at the heart of every class we teach. Whether we’re breathing to calm the nervous system, moving mindfully through flows, or wobbling (gracefully... or not!) into Tree or Warrior 3 – we’re working on improving our balance.

Why is that important❓

We’re not trying to make perfect, Insta-worthy shapes. We practise balance because it helps:

✨ Improve posture, coordination, and joint strength
✨ Prevent falls and injuries – especially as we age
✨ Strengthen your core, building stability in everyday movement
✨ Build resilience (& humour) as we embrace the wobbles

Balance isn’t about perfection – it’s about showing up, trying again, and learning to embrace the wobbles with a little humour and a lot of kindness.

Improving balance can be challenging, so we always encourage the use of props, walls for support, tapping in and out of poses - and above all, practising kindness to yourself.

So, how’s your balance today?
Come and join us - we’ll work on it together. One foot at a time👣💛

Images show my two “helpers” making sure I’m practising safely🐾

04/05/2025

🌿 Join Us for Mindful Yoga 🌿

Support your physical health and mental wellbeing with our inclusive, calming yoga classes.

✨ What to Expect:

You will be guided through a series of poses that build strength, flexibility, and balance — while incorporating mindfulness and breathing techniques to help you relax, de-stress, and re-set.

🧘‍♀️ All levels welcome — we offer modifications to suit your needs.

📅 This Week’s Classes:

🔹 Mon – Exertion Fitness, Mickleover | 6:30–7:15pm
🔸 Tues – Dalbury Lees Village Hall | 6:30–7:30pm
🔸 Weds – The Breathing Space Yoga Studio, Derby | 6–7pm
🔸 Thurs – Menopause Yoga for NHS staff | 8–8:30am
🔹 Sat – The Workhouse Gym, Castle Donnington | 10–10:45am

📩 For more info or to book, send us a message or email: koayoga@outlook.com

24/12/2024

✨ Huge thanks to everyone who joins us on the mat – we are privileged to have met so many wonderful people and to learn some incredible stories and feats 🧘

From those who join us occasionally, to those who come without fail every week, we’re grateful for your continued support, friendship and incredible feedback 😍

We LOVE what we do and we’re proud to be making a difference, helping to support your physical and mental health and wellbeing and building local communities where people can come together, enjoy a mindful practise, and make new friendships along the way 💙

We’re taking a short break now to enjoy the festive season, but we’ll be back again in the New Year.

Wishing everyone a Very Merry Christmas and a Happy & Healthy New Year 🎅🎄✨

23/12/2024

🎄✨We’ve enjoyed some fab Festive flows over the last couple of weeks, with this Saturday’s class at THE WORKHOUSE GYM concluding our last full week of classes.

Thank you to everyone who joined us for our Festive sessions, enjoying some much-needed calm during this busy period 🧘🎄✨

22/12/2024

✨🎄 Our Dalbury Lees class has been full of Christmas sparkle over the last couple of weeks, with the hall looking very merry and bright ✨🎄

It’s a shame our festive selfies didn’t quite go to plan 📸 😁Hopefully Santa might bring us a selfie stick this year... 🎅🙏

16/12/2024

🎄 Find some Christmas calm this week with one of our special festive flows 🎄🧘‍♀️

Join us for a calming and mindful yoga practise with a magical festive theme - designed to leave you feeling relaxed, refreshed and ready for the busy days ahead 🧘‍♀️

For more info & to book, please get in touch ⬇️

10/10/2024

It’s World Mental Health Day and the theme this year highlights the importance of addressing mental health and wellbeing in the workplace.

Did you Know❓

Our Menopause Yoga Programme runs weekly as part of an incredible timetable of wellbeing support for local NHS workers across University Hospitals of Derby and Burton NHS Foundation Trust & Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust

This bespoke programme, a series of specially adapted yoga sequences, mindfulness and breathing techniques, is delivered virtually and is designed to help local NHS staff manage a range of menopause symptoms 🧘‍♀️💙

We are now offering this support programme, along with a range of additional programmes to support mental, physical and emotional health and wellbeing, to local businesses in the Derbyshire area.

To find out more about how our programmes could help to support your workforce, please get in touch.

Please note: All our programmes can be delivered on site or virtually, with current availability across Thursdays and Fridays 📆

08/09/2024

Lovely morning spent at the Breathing Space Yoga Studio, teaching the Yoga Teacher Training students 🧘📖

With a focus on vinyasa style sequencing, we looked at ways to build, link and theme a series of sequenced blocks, helping the students to create well balanced class plans suitable for beginners.

Best of luck to this lovely group who are almost at the end of their YTT course. It can be daunting when you’re just starting out, but I’m sure they’ll go on to be great teachers ⭐️

Join me every Wednesday from 6pm-7pm at the Breathing Space Yoga Studio - where you can attend in person or online. Bookings for this session can be made directly through the studio.

For more info about the classes we offer in and around Derbyshire, please get in touch.

14/05/2024

JUCD health and social care colleagues can access our bespoke programme - every Wednesday morning from 8am -8.30am online 🧘

It's Mental Health Awareness Week, with the theme 'move more for our mental health.' We're highlighting some of the physical activity sessions available FREE to colleagues, to help you move more to support mental health.

13/05/2024

This week is with the theme

We specialise in yoga for wellbeing, with tailored mindful movement designed to promote physical and mental wellness 🧘‍♀️

Join us to for
DM for booking details