Meet the teachers
Kerry Allsop
Kerry has been practicing Iyengar yoga since 2010 and qualified as a L1 teacher in 2023 under the mentorship of Sue Lovell. Kerry’s initial training was in contemporary dance and improvisation and has a wealth of teaching experience, working with people of all ages and abilities. She continues to run a Contemporary Youth Dance Company within her role as Creative Learning Director at Buxton Opera House.
Kerry brings a great energy and sense of fun into her teaching, whilst retaining attention to detail and creates a safe and accessible space for everybody to practice yoga.
E: kerryallsop@icloud.com
Sacha Cash
As well as her love for yoga practice Sacha is an avid walker, swimmer and freediver. Sacha has many years teaching experience and has a fun and dynamic approach to yoga study with a keen focus on breath work and its benefits. Sacha also teaches 1-2-1 sessions during the day time or at weekends for those not able to attend group classes or with a specific aim in mind for bespoke practice plans.
She has been an active committee member of the first Iyengar institute in the UK, in Manchester for the last 5 years. Sacha holds a Junior Intermediate 2 certificate.
E: buxtonyoga@gmail.com
T: 07595 051 000
Ewa Norman
Ewa’s first yoga lesson was in 1999 and it was a revelation for an unsporty, non-competitive musician – yoga is for everybody! After exploring several different branches of asana practice - including annual trips to India – she found she loved the clarity of the Iyengar method and completed her Introductory training at Manchester and District Institute of Iyengar yoga in 2014.
Ewa really enjoys fostering strength and stability in her students, from little kids in primary school enrichment classes, to mums, climbers, and the High Peak's fantastic community of retirees. She also loves running and walking in the hills, playing the violin and going to gigs.
E: ewanorman72@gmail.com
T: 07758 825 996
Susie Savage
Dance/movement and sport has been the lifeblood in Susie’s life but yoga has become the pinnacle in delivering an enthusiastic interest for exploration into the vast subject of Iyengar yoga. Susie began her yoga journey 23 years ago, joining classes at the Manchester & District Iyengar Yoga Centre which led on to attending teacher training thereafter. She completed her Intermediate Junior 2 accreditation in 2019.
Susie recognises the value of ‘community spirit', yoga classes create among students. She sees friendships blossom and a sense of well-being established as students regularly attend their classes. Students remark on a positive outlook yoga practice provides including the increase in strength and agility. She teaches to all levels - from beginners to intermediate level. All are welcome.
E: susiesavage102@gmail.com
T: 07713896622
Jenny Burnham
Jenny started Iyengar Yoga when she arrived in Sheffield in 2005. She love the focus on precision and alignment, as well as the physical, mental, and emotional benefits of regular yoga practice. Jenny passed her Level 1 teaching assessment in 2024 and teaches on Wednesdays in Bamford in the Hope Valley in Derbyshire.
E: jennyburnhamyoga@gmail.com
Elaine Bull
Elaine is currently a Level 2 teacher, able to teach beginner, general and intermediate classes as well as offer 1-2-1 sessions.
She came to yoga in her early 30s, and remembers her first Iyengar class as inspirational. Back then, she saw it as balancing her love of outdoor activities – climbing, cycling, skiing and walking. She embarked on teacher training as a way of expanding her own understanding, and soon found great pleasure in bringing the benefits to others.She takes an active interest in the wellbeing of her students and values this sense of community. She currently works as a walking guide when not at home teaching regular classes and workshops in the Hope Valley and online.
E: elainebull2@gmail.com
Heidi Sherwood
Heidi has been an Iyengar yoga student for 23 years and first started teacher training in 2013. This was brought to an abrupt end following injuries sustained in a near fatal car accident in 2014. Through determination and tenacity, Heidi returned to teacher training in 2018 and qualified in 2020 and is now working towards level 2 of the Iyengar syllabus.
Heidi loves being able to extend her knowledge to teach a variety of students that range from the local football and cricket clubs to HGV drivers, plumbers and office staff, her view is that we all benefit from doing something each day.
Heidi is a popular face in Buxton and has a very down to earth teaching style without losing the essence of Iyengar yoga.
E: Heidi.sherwood1972@gmail.com
T: 07971 516 285
Darel Turney
Darel has been practicing Iyengar yoga for 25 years and teaching since 2006. Darel holds a Junior Intermediate Level 1 certificate. He is a joint partner in Peak Yoga with Sue Lovell.
Darel teaches classes to beginners and improvers of all abilities and ages, with a style to make everyone feel at ease and able to progress to their true level.
E: darelyoga40@gmail.com
W: Peak Yoga
Rebecca Baron
Rebecca has been an Iyengar yoga student since 2003 and recognised very early on the beneficial effects it had on her both physically and mentally. Rebecca was a GP in Stockport until 2016 and continues to work in education for GPs in the north west, where she particularly focuses on leadership and resilience work. Rebecca is a walker, gardener and skier, and recognises how well yoga supports other activities. As a yoga teacher she particularly enjoys being able to share the joy of yoga with other people.
Rebecca’s classes take place in High Lane and are suitable for beginners as well as those with some yoga experience.
E: rebeccayw@dower24.co.uk
Jaimella Espley
Jaimella started practicing Iyengar Yoga in 2012 to increase flexibility for climbing and running. She soon discovered the sense of serenity and total absorption that yoga brings and is keen to share it with others. Jaimella’s other pursuits mean that she has first hand experience of the physical and psychological effect of injury, which brings a sensitivity to her teaching.
Jaimella is a workshop facilitator and agile coach who uses play to improve teamwork and creativity. She brings the same principles of curiosity, inclusivity, playfulness and self reflection to her classes.
E: jaimella.espley@outlook.com
Noelle Riggott
Noelle’s professional background as an occupational therapist in mental health services has informed her approach of working alongside people to unlock their potential whatever their starting point may be. Aside from her regular classes Noelle works in partnership with Buxton Civic Association in summer to deliver free yoga sessions in Grinlow woods. She also enjoys providing bespoke yoga for special occasions and events.
She has a role as Safeguarding Lead for IY(UK) and is now working towards the Level 2 syllabus.
Everyone is welcome to Noelle’s classes: just arrive with an open mind, a sense of curiosity and a willingness to have a go and see what happens!
E: noelleriggott@gmail.com
T: 01298 871479
W: www.yamayogacoaching.com
Dave Swinhoe
As well as practising and teaching Iyengar yoga, Dave is also a doctor. Yoga has lots to offer all ages and Dave was first drawn to it from a martial arts background.
Since then Dave has discovered the mental and physical health benefits associated with practice and tries to promote this in his teaching. Above all, it can be fun!
E: djs.abbotside@gmail.com
Sue Lovell
Sue has been practicing yoga for over 30 years and teaching since 1997 – together with Darel they formed Peak Yoga. Sue holds a Senior 3 Iyengar teaching certificate. Sue’s approach to teaching classes and workshops is to introduce a sense of serious fun, generating an eagerness to learn, adding layers of understanding and clarity to student’s practice, helping them to realise their full potential. She has a particular interest in yoga philosophy and introduces aspects of this to students as both information and inspiration for yoga practice.
E: sueyoga40@gmail.com
T:07851 195 208
W: Peak Yoga
Lizzie Nicholls
Lizzie is a former West End/TV dancer, British gymnastics coach and judge, and student of Iyengar yoga for over 20 years. Lizzie aims to bring together clear and simple teaching methods alongside her deep, tried and tested understanding of asana practice and movement, to inspire and enable her students to realise their own potential.
Lizzie understands ill health and injury. An asthmatic and bronchiectasis sufferer, Lizzie has learnt how to strengthen both her lungs and mind-set to deal with the difficulties poor health can bring, and to sensitively work with such challenges.
E: lizzienichollsyoga@outlook.com
T: 07749 386 822
Cath Rowe
Cath began to practice Iyengar yoga in her mid-40s. Inspired to try yoga when, whilst on holiday, she came across a yoga student practicing outdoors. She admired the simplicity of the student and her mat, her confidence, gracefulness and sense of withdrawal from her surroundings. In the in-flight magazine there was an article about the benefits of yoga, so, on returning home, Cath was lucky to find Iyengar yoga in Buxton and didn’t look back.
Recently qualified, Cath teaches beginners and those with some experience. Whether your motivation is to aid flexibility, balance or to boost confidence and wellbeing, she looks forward to meeting you. All welcome.
E: Cathrowe67@gmail.com