Isabel Jones Fielding

Bio:

Bio Senior Intermediate Level 1 2019 Junior Intermediate Level 3 2011 Introductory Level 2 2001 Co-Director Iyengar Yoga Studio West Bridgford, Nottingham My first Iyengar Yoga Class was with Mira Mehta at Maida Vale in 1988 while I was studying at Goldmiths in London, and have been a very enthusiastic Iyengar teacher for more than 26 years. Iyengar yoga is an amazing subject and my passion for it seems to grow and grow. I am very grateful to two amazing senior teachers who have helped me in particular to develop my practice and enthusiasm; Margaret Austin and Jayne Orton. I have studied with Geeta Iyengar at 4 conventions including Crystal Palace 2001, Billingsgate 2009, Yoganusasanam in Pune 2014, and at Yoganusasanam 2018, and took part in the 100 year celebrations for Guruji. I've also spent 3 months studying at the RIMYI Institute in Pune, attending Prashant Iyengar's inspirational classes, and had the opportunity to assist in medical classes there in 2014, 2017, and 2020 for the month just before the pandemic broke out. After gaining my senior level certificate, in December 2019 I also travelled to Pune to learn, study, contribute and help represent the UK on a 7 day intensive Yoganushasanam run there for senior yoga teachers and mentors, on the subject of mentoring and on how to implement the new teachee reaining system brought in by Abhijata Iyengar in 2020. I work alongside my husband Geoffrey Fielding, who is an Intermediate Iyengar teacher and registered Osteopath. We co-direct 'Iyengar Yoga Studio West Bridgford' in Nottinghamshire, which is affiliated to IY(UK). We established our first small Iyengar studio at home in 1999,and in 2017 we opened the new studio which we built and designed by hand next door to our home. The studio is a fully equipped Iyengar yoga studio welcomes with a rope wall for 17 students. I have been teaching and studying movement all my life, first starting whilst at the Royal Academy of Dance, aged 13, then later as a professional choreographer / composer setting up a company dedicated to inclusion and creation of art in collaboration with Blind, Deafblind and VI people. In 2000 I qualified to be an Iyengar yoga teacher and focus my movement practice on Iyengar Yoga. I am a deeply committed Iyengar Yoga practitioner and teacher. I continue to have a successful professional career as a composer, soundartist, musical interaction therapist and voice artist. I am also interested in devotional music, to support the inward journey into yoga rooted in the principles of equality in all living things, connectedness to the breath, and the purpose of yoga: the Patanjali Yoga Sutras. I also practice Kirtan. I make socially engaged work where ethics and aesthetics go hand in hand to bring about the well being of self and others. I am also an active advocate for change and inclusion in Iyengar Yoga. Specifically, to raise awareness of limiting attitudes to Equity Diversity and Inclusion. Between 2013 – 2024 I was the IY(UK) Convention producer and organised 14 annual yoga conventions, including 4 online conventions, and 1 hybrid attracting over 600 – 1000 teachers and practitioners at each event. I am also a mentor qualified to train teachers, and an assessor, working with the guidance of my mentor Jayne Orton. I am also a member of the ATC, and the PD group, responsible for Exchange of Learning (EL Days) as CPD for all teachers annually. Since 2022 I have helped introduce Equity and Inclusion into the programme content, as well as creating a shadowing programme to improve the education, skill, and diversity in the delivery team.