Annie Beatty, Yogapushpanjali co-founder:

“When I became an Iyengar yoga teacher in my mid twenties I already had three children, and as a young student mother found that parenting and young adulthood made sense through the practice of Yoga. I was fortunate to be involved with a dynamic Iyengar Yoga community based in Edinburgh and my journey was supported by many senior teachers from the UK and India.  I was always aware of the challenge for parents in developing themselves in their yoga, but leaving the children behind.  I am really delighted to see the advent of this first national Iyengar yoga event for whole families to enjoy. 

Since 1998 when I qualified as a primary school teacher I have supported my professional life as a primary school teacher with yoga teaching.  As my own family grew from three to five children, I found myself involved with teaching yoga to my children and their friends and within school.  It was from a wish to widen the understanding of yoga education at different stages of our lives, with a particular focus on children, young adults and families, that, together with Sarah Delfas, I formed the Children, Young Adults and Families committee as part of our national association, IY(UK). 

My work as a primary school teacher has continued to deepen my understanding of child development and I am continually amazed at how children inspire new ways of exploring the subject and the art.  We have fantastic and extensive guidelines from the Iyengar family on how children should be taught and I am passionate to share the golden gem of yoga with children and open a connection to a world seen through the eyes of yoga.”