A woman whose life was transformed by yoga is now reaching out to help others in Southport.
Alison Fiddler, the dancing yogi was teaching her Yoga Panacea brand of yoga in London for 12 years and for the last two years has been teaching her classes online. She is delighted to be restarting her face-to-face classes once again – now in her new home of Southport..
Alison worked in the NHS for many years, initially as a registered nurse and then for 22 years as a midwife, ward manager, matron and then more recently as a midwife adviser for hospitals and maternity units across London. Her vast experience within the health service really helps in what she is doing now. Particularly within her specialist pregnancy yoga and birth preparation classes.
Alison’s love of yoga began 20 years ago when she was living for several years in New Zealand working as a midwife and dance teacher. Yoga changed her life, and gave her the inspiration to know that she could help other people too.
She said: “At the time I was a long and painful distance away from being able to touch my toes, and wondered if I would ever manage to do this again!
“Yoga really helped. I was left amazed at how my shoulders and the whole of my back felt pain-free and comfortable for the first time in many years.
“I learned a lot over the next few months through regular yoga practice.
“Yoga is really not about the stereotype of being flexible but about bringing connection within yourself, bringing body, mind and heart back into alignment for more health, strength and peace.
”Yoga became my survival tool for life – mentally and physically.
“Yoga Panacea was born out of my experiences and observations that yoga is the closest thing to a panacea for health and wellbeing.
“No matter whether you are seeking healing, fitness, or inner peace, or all of the above, you discover that the right kind of yoga guided by the right teacher will help you achieve your goal and usually so much more.”
Alison now offers a range of yoga classes and services, both in-person and online:
- Hatha Yoga classes (group / private / corporate)
- Meditation and mindfulness workshops (FREE 15 minute meditation at 7am Monday-Friday)
- Pregnancy yoga classes (including breathwork, birth preparation and hypnobirthing)
- Postnatal yoga
- Hypnobirthing and birth preparation workshops for couples and birth partners
- Yoga holidays and retreats
Alison grew up in Warrington and has lived in Leeds, London, New Zealand and Australia, before finally moving back to the North West and setting up home in Southport.
Now she is eager for people to know she is here, and how she can help them through Yoga Panacea.
She said: “I recently moved to Southport and am so excited to have at last started up my pregnancy yoga and hatha yoga classes and a beginners salsa class.
Alison is also an accomplished dancer of salsa and tango, after beginning her dance journey as a child with ballroom dancing, passing many exams and winning several competitions. Then one night whilst at university Alison found herself in a salsa club in Leeds and has not stopped dancing salsa since. She discovered tango a few years later and went onto twice win the NZ tango championship and represented NZ twice in the world championships in Buenos Aires. Alison has been helping people learn the joy and fun of social partner dancing for over 20 years.
Alison, who has spent so much time in places such as London, New Zealand and Australia, has been enjoying returning ‘home’ to the North West – and she has discovered Southport to be just wonderful.
She said: “I grew up in Warrington, and have finally come home to the North West after 30 years away!
“I am coming back to the North West, but this is the first time I have lived in Southport.
“I wanted to come and live close to my family, but also near the beach too.
“I love Southport! It has so much vibrancy and energy to it. There are lots of good things happening here. I have just completed a 14km run around Hesketh Park, Marine Lake and up the Pier, it’s so beautiful, just stunning.
“Before coming to Southport I was in London for the past 12 years, teaching yoga. I lived in Peckham, around where they did the filming for Only Fools and Horses!
“I have taught yoga for many years in conjunction with working as a midwife.
“I have been present at more than 1,200 births over the years!
“I worked as a midwife all over London, including at Royal London Hospital and University College Hospital London. And then for my final 6 years as a midwife I worked as a government adviser for hospitals across London.”
Alison’s journey began in Warrington before taking her across to Yorkshire, and then onto the side of the world. She has been busy learning lots of skills and experiences along the way.
She said: “When I left Warrington, I studied at Leeds University for eight years studying nursing, midwifery and teaching.
Alison has completed multiple yoga teaching training qualifications in London and several times studying in India.
Alison is delighted that falling Covid cases means that face to face classes can now resume, although she is ensuring that online classes remain available.
She said: “Over the last 2 years, I have offered all my classes online and am so happy to have now restarted face to face classes.
“My online classes are all still continuing though.
“I have discovered that online suits some people better. Eg. they don’t have to arrange childcare, and for many different reasons some people just prefer online classes and practicing in their own home whilst still having the support and guidance of their teacher.
“My online classes are continuing, as they work really well and it is nice for people to have that choice.
“I am really keen for people to know that Yoga Panacea is here for them.”
- For more details about Yoga Panacea, please visit: www.yogapanacea.com or email: alison@yogapanacea.com or call: 07982060858.
- Please Like Yoga Panacea on Facebook and Follow Yoga Panacea on Instagram.
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