Come and roll out a mat, breathe, practice and connect with yourself for a while.
The Space is a beautiful community-based yoga space in a very special part of Dorset, Studland. It's surrounded by stunning countryside and just minutes from the beach. This former Wesleyan Chapel has been renovated to create a light, bright and warm practice space, with underfloor heating and a woodburning stove to keep it cosy on Winter mornings.
Our aim to to create a warm, nurturing environment in which anyone, whatever their experience, can have the space to explore their practice, developing deeper awareness on all levels as they focus on breath and movement. We share this beautiful and empowering practice in a very traditional and authentic way, in small class sizes so that we can offer plenty of individual attention. Our teachers are highly experienced and teach everyone in a way that meets their individual needs, as we have been taught ourselves by our own teachers.
We opened our doors in July 2014, and offer a range of regular classes, workshops, retreat days and private yoga classes for all levels of ability and experience. Our weekly sessions include Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga assisted self practice classes, Hatha Yoga classes, Beginners' courses and classes, Meditation and Yoga for Pregnancy. We also run specialist workshops, intensive practice weeks and private classes and non-residential retreats, both with our own team of experienced teachers and some amazing teachers from our international yoga community too.
People often say to us 'I'm not flexible enough to do yoga' but you really don't need to be. We welcome all new students here, whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced practitioner we are here to support your practice. It doesn't matter what age you are or whether you can touch your toes or not. This is an incredible wellness system and is as much about breathing and awareness as it is flexibility. More than everything else we believe that it is a wonderful tool for life. There is also something quite special about creating a sense of community as people come together to practice.
Helen practises and teaches Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in Dorset and is director of 'Yoga at the Space' here in the beautiful Purbecks. She runs the morning Mysore programme as well as teaching Yoga for Pregnancy and running regular retreats and workshops.
She started practicing yoga in 1991 when she was working in the film industry and had just had her first daughter. It has played a major part in her life ever since. She completed the BWY 3 year teacher training course in 2005 and subsequently both level 1 and 2 teacher training courses with her main teachers John Scott and Lucy Crawford, for whom she owes huge gratitude. She is recognised by Yoga Alliance UK as a Senior Yoga Teacher and has recently been given the privilege of a 500 hour accreditation from John Scott.
Helen aims to bring a mindful and gentle approach to sharing this practice and the powerful tool which it can be for everyday life. She is also passionate about the importance of building community. Her own practice and exploration of yoga is ongoing as she continues to learn not just from her own teachers but also from all the people that she has the privilege of sharing yoga with. As a mother of two grown up daughters the involvement with the Urban Yogis UK project which looks to share this practice with young people is also very close to her heart. The brilliant thing is that it is accessible to everyone … you don't have to be flexible or have any experience to start.
Sandra is a GP and long term practitioner of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga as well as being a keen cyclist. She has completed both Level 1 and Level 2 teacher training with John Scott and Lucy Crawford and we are really lucky to have her at the Space sharing yoga with our community here.
Yoga is a beautiful practice which I have been fortunate to learn under the guidance of Helen McCabe since 2008. In May 2015 I completed my Level 2 Yoga Teacher Training with John Scott and Lucy Crawford (asana teaching), David Keil (yoga anatomy) and Greg Nardi (yoga philosophy). For me yoga is a wonderful journey. It challenges my discipline and patience, fosters humility and gratitude and encourages me to explore the relationship I have with myself and others. I have been a GP for 22 years and over this time I have been increasingly aware of the impact that our daily living patterns have on our bodies, minds and general wellbeing. I believe yoga can provide enormous physical and mental health benefits all from the simplicity of a small space and a mat! I am a keen cyclist and director of Blue Sky Cycle Tours. A company which takes small groups on personalised Alpine road cycling adventures. With this in mind I teach specific Yoga for Cyclists classes in addition to traditional Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow. I wish to thank all the students and teachers who enrich my journey and as Guruji said "Practice, practice and all is coming".
Clare has been practitioner of yoga since 2001 and a lover of the philosophy and stories of Sankhya and Vedanta since 1988. She is passionate about sharing her understanding of these teachings.
Clare is also an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher as well as practising Ashtanga vinyasa yoga. She has studied through sruti parampara for several years in Mysore with Dr M.A Jayashree and Professor Narasimhan, continuing her studies into the precise chanting of the yoga Sutras and the Gita and exploring its myriad philosophical and theological themes. It is with their blessing she shares her knowledge of chanting and yoga philosophy, in the spirit of service and exploration and we are very lucky to have Clare here as part of our team at the Space.
Ella has grown up surrounded by yoga in her family and has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga since 2012 when she attended her first beginners course under the Guidance of Scott and Ozge at Stillpoint Yoga London. Since then yoga has become a more and more prominent part of her life and has guided her through completing a degree in textile design at Chelsea School of Art and working subsequently in the Interior design industry. She has recently completed her Level 1 and 2 teacher training with John Scott Yoga, and has had the privilege of practicing under the guidance of John both here and in India as well as with Lucy Crawford, David Keil and Greg Nardi.
Ella feels that Yoga is about learning to be in touch with where life is in each moment. For Ella, this breath, body and mind practice is not about conforming to other people's ideas of yoga but simply developing awareness in our relationship with ourselves and those around us as we embark on a powerful journey of self discovery.
I discovered Ashtanga yoga after the birth of my first child in 2007 and have been practising ever since. When I subsequently moved to Dorset I was unable to find an Ashtanga teacher. So I decided to enrol myself on a teaching course with the renowned John Scott. Since then I have been lucky to meet a wonderful yoga community in Dorset and find a fabulous teacher in Helen. I completed my teacher training with John Scott Yoga in 2015 and am registered with the Yoga Alliance Professionals.
Steve Taylor is a psychiatrist and yoga teacher Dorset. He has been practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Helen for the last 5 years and is currently completing the teacher training diploma with Yoga Campus in London. He studies yoga philosophy and chanting with Greg Nardi at Ashtanga Yoga Worldwide in Florida.
His own practice has brought him to a newfound stillness, peace and contentment in this hectic world. He strongly believes that the practice of yoga is for everyone and especially useful for those suffering with stress or other psychological challenges. One of his goals as a teacher is to incorporate more this healing practice into his work in mental health. He is profoundly grateful to all his wonderful teachers, but in particular to Helen who's kindness, strength and depth of knowledge are a continuous inspiration.