Hi, I’m ellie
I found yoga at a time of traumatic grief in my late 20s, when I lost my Dad and my boyfriend within the space of 7 months.
I became fascinated with how and why meditation and yoga helped me to heal through turmoil and went on a mission to uncover how the body, mind and psyche hold onto, transmute and transform through stupendous emotional pain.
These days, I’m a medical yoga educator and trauma informed yoga teacher trainer with over a decade's experience in teaching and lecturing on the subject.
I hold an MA in Yoga Studies from LMU, California where my research focussed on the effects of grief and trauma on the mind and body and the ways yoga, meditation, nature and writing can support healing and create social change.
During my studies I developed and taught an Introduction to Yoga course for undergraduates at Loyola Marymount University, California and lectured on their Science & Theology program.
I went on to develop my Yoga for Wellbeing & Social Change medical education program and delivered it to 500+ students at Queen Mary University London, where I saw how needed and how impactful these teachings were within the medical system. I now run it at The University of Bristol in collaboration with The National Centre for Integrative Medicine and at The University of Glasgow and The University of Nottingham.
I’ve trained over 100 yoga teachers in my trauma informed yoga and social change program using an evidence-based approach underpinned by neuroscience and what I think of as a common sense, heart-led and inclusive approach to teaching. I offer lectures and online courses for healthcare professionals on trauma informed yoga and regularly contribute to conference discussions, panels and podcasts on my subject matter. I also serve on the Board of Directors for The Yoga for Life Project, a charity that provides therapeutic yoga to support physical and mental health conditions.
Over the years, I’ve worked with private clients, war veterans, health clinics, yoga studios, community groups, students, doctors, charities and socially-minded organisations seeking to create a sustainable, human-centred culture inspired by yoga ethics.
I’m also a meditation teacher - find my popular guided meditations here and for free on the Insight Timer platform.
Organisations I’VE WORKED WITH
training & experience
Lead Tutor, Yoga for Wellbeing, University of Glasgow
Lead Tutor, Yoga for Wellbeing, University of Nottingham
Lead Tutor, Yoga for Wellbeing, University of Bristol
Lead Tutor, Yoga for Wellbeing, Queen Mary University, London
Keynote Speaker, Trauma Informed Approaches to Integrative Healthcare, National Centre for Integrative Medicine, Bristol
Panelist, Integrative & Personalised Medicine Conference, London
Fellowship Graduate, The School for Social Entrepreneurs, London
Graduate student of Master of Arts in Yoga Studies, LMU CA
30hr Yin Yoga Teacher Training with Norman Blair, Yoga Campus, London
100hr Yoga, Mindfulness & Social Change certificate, LMU CA
50hr 11th Step Yoga for Trauma and Recovery Program, LMU CA
14hr Prison Yoga Project certification with James Fox, San Diego CA
14hr Mindful Resilience Training with Veterans Yoga Project & Dr. Dan Libby, Venice CA
14hr The Power of Breath in Clinical Practice & Mass Disaster Conference, Semel Institute, UCLA
24hr Mindfulness in Business and at Work Conference, Frederick R Lenz Foundation , LMU, CA
50hr Ayurveda Course: Food as Medicine, Sivananda, Grass Valley CA
12hr Teen Yoga Instil Conference: Yoga, Education & Wellbeing, London
12hr Confer conference: Yoga: A Key to Mental Health?, London
200hr AYT-certified Sivananda Yoga Teacher Training, Bahamas
learn with me
Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Training: A 6-week, online training for teachers wishing to become skilled, confident and impactful teachers of trauma informed yoga.
Trauma Informed Yoga Teacher Mentorship Day: A day-long mentorship for trauma informed teachers to get support with finding your voice, expanding the reach of your teaching and make a lasting impact bringing yoga to underserved communities.
Yoga for Medical Student Wellbeing: University-credited courses for second and third year medical students on the neurophysiological benefits of yoga and yoga as a tool for social change.
Trauma Informed Yoga for Healthcare Professionals: Online courses for healthcare professionals wishing to learn about the value and application of yoga as a tool for healing trauma.