“My wife and I have been running our own business for over 15 years in the fashion industry. Because it’s our own work and because it has a very a busy work schedule with unpredictable deadlines, it’s very hard for us to create spare “me” time.
We always talked about starting Yoga, but not knowing where to start plus potential intimidation the group yoga classes might present always stopped us. Then one day we met with Sarah. Her gentle spirit and her calm aura made us overcome the excuses that our mind created and we started our private yoga classes with her almost 3 years ago.
I think the “yoga changed our life“ cliche statement would not be just an understatement but also cannot fully describe how great we both feel at the moment.
Sarah’s approach to yoga and the way she sees our individual potential in what we can do (more then we can ever acknowledge ) made us push ourselves and abilities. Our yoga classes were built up in a system that the things we felt so far far away became the things we could do in our regular classes without even noticing how we got there.
Thanks to Sarah our yoga classes became the highlights of our week. Physically we feel much more balanced and fitter for sure but also mentally we feel much calmer in situations proven to be very challenging in the past.
Now we come to a stage that our yoga classes are truly the most beneficial and enjoyable activity we ever had. Despite how busy our week is, our yoga classes with Sarah became a shelter that we could pause the outside world and give this time as a gift to ourself. I could only describe it as like a nice warm hug, the feeling stays with you always….”
Bora Aksu, fashion designer
“Sarah is an excellent teacher, calm and instructive. She is a really great role model. You do not feel pressurized in her class. Everyone is encouraged to work within their own limits, which is very good.”
Fawzia, 44, Doctor
“I’ve been doing one-on-one yoga with Sarah on a weekly basis for nearly two years. She is a fantastic teacher, who is very thoughtful about tailoring a class to my specific strengths and weaknesses. She is extremely experienced and knowledgeable but also creative in terms of coming up with new and different classes. If you are looking for one-to-one yoga teaching I can’t recommend Sarah highly enough!”
James, Finance
“I recently completed the ‘Complete Beginners’ Hatha Foundation yoga course’ with Sarah. It was a great start point for my Yoga journey. Sarah Burgess was a skilful, patient teacher who helped us move forward each week. I enjoyed the experience so much I’ve signed up for another course! I highly recommend Sarah’s teaching and courses.”
Cembre K
Juliane, lawyer
“Sarah is a gifted yoga teacher who has the ability to nurture and develop her students in so many ways. Her calm and poised nature has a definite impact in making every pose achievable with practice. Her approach has definitely planted the seeds to practising yoga for a lifetime.”
Clarence, Banking
“I recently attended Sarah’s Complete Beginners Course in Ashtanga Yoga. It was an absolutely great course, and Sarah is a very knowledgeable and supportive instructor who I learned to respect very quickly. I went in to the course with no real expectations as it was my first Yoga course and found myself welcomed and guided through the practice at a calm and relaxed pace. Every session resulted in me feeling more confident and part of the class. Once the course finished, I have been attending a number of classes with Sarah and each class has helped me grow in confidence and my physical ability, I intend to carry on attending classes with Sarah over the years to come.”
Zee, 40, Digital Marketing
“I went to Sarah’s pregnancy yoga classes every Sunday while I was pregnant from 16 weeks to 39 weeks and I loved it!
Sarah was amazing, she started the class with asking every mum-to-be how we felt and how many weeks we were at. It was great to hear what the other mums felt and sharing things at every stages.
I was looking forward to my Sunday class each week and it really helped me to focus on myself and my baby. I only stopped working one week before I gave birth and life in London is always so busy that it was good to be able to make time for yourself during this precious time of our lives, especially as the 9 months went by so fast!
Focusing on the breathing and learning a lot of yoga poses was really helpful to ease the aches that we have during pregnancy but also during the early stage of the labour, to manage the pain of the contractions and to dilate quickly. It certainly worked for me as my water broke and 3 hours later I was at 6 cm already.
My baby is very calm and I do think that yoga contributed to it so thank you Sarah 🙂
I went to Sarah’s yoga postnatal class on Friday and loved it to! It is so good to meet other mums and babies and to be able to do something for myself with my baby. I do highly recommend both classes!”
Marie D, attended both pregnancy and postnatal mum & baby classes with Sarah
“You are a wonderful yoga teacher and you are a wonderful person and I’m so grateful to have gotten to know you and “gone through a journey” with you during my pregnancy and new motherhood. I am also so grateful that I met such lovely people at your classes and made a very good friend as well. It was such a wonderful time and I enjoyed every minute of yoga. I always left class feeling so relaxed and very happy. Thank you.”
Sheena F, attended both pregnancy and postnatal mum & baby classes with Sarah
“I recently participated in Sarah’s Beginners Courses in both Ashtanga Yoga and Hatha Yoga. Sarah is a very knowledgeable and supportive instructor who explained and demonstrated the poses very clearly. As well as this, her patient and welcoming approach meant I was always comfortable asking questions to gain further clarification. I have thoroughly enjoyed learning from Sarah and have found her to be an exceptional yoga teacher! She takes the time to help you develop which is key for someone who is just starting their yoga journey. As a result of her beginner courses, I’ve grown in both confidence and physical abilities. Since completing both courses, I have now been attending regular weekly classes with Sarah and am really feeling the benefits of this.”
Kim
“I’ve been doing yoga with Sarah for a couple of years and enjoy every single class. It has become my blissful Sunday routine, which gives me a great boost for the week ahead. Sarah makes yoga very relaxing through her soothing tone and well-planned sequences, which have helped me progress in many ways.
I really like the pace as it gives time to sink into the asanas and yet stay in the flow. And of course, Sarah is a really nice and supportive teacher, which makes a big difference.”
Daria K
“I re-started yoga this year, after 12 plus years of not having done it. The last time I took it seriously was pre- and post-natal sessions in the early noughties. In May 2016, I completed a 5-week beginners’ yoga class, with Sarah Burgess, and regained my belief that I could benefit from yoga and make the effort to attend classes. I’ve kept with yoga since then because Sarah is a very reassuring and inspiring teacher who gives everyone confidence that we will achieve our goals with some commitment, effort and self-belief. Her classes are very popular, but even when they are full, there is still room to complete poses, and not feel overwhelmed. I always feel better about and within myself, when I complete one of Sarah’s classes. I intend to continue with beginners’ yoga until I’m told that I’m no longer one. Thank you, Sarah.”
Helen, regular student in Sarah’s beginners’ class
“I attended the weekly pregnancy yoga classes with Sarah from my second trimester until I was 40 weeks into my pregnancy. The class was the highlight of my week! The studio is spacious and bright and Sarah is an excellent instructor. I had a very relaxing pregnancy without aches and pains as a result. I highly recommend it!”
Sandra, attended pregnancy yoga classes with Sarah
“Having had nearly 2 years of yoga tuition from Sarah, I can highly recommend Sarah’s classes and courses. They are very calm, with clear direction and encouraging even for yoga beginners like me! The classes are totally inclusive and Sarah’s approach really puts you at ease, especially if you are new to yoga. Having never really been a sporty person, I am totally hooked on yoga thanks to Sarah’s classes.”
John S, 50, Contracts Manager
“After this short beginners’ course with Sarah I am definitely more aware of yoga philosophy and poses and it helped me a lot through one of the most stressful periods of my life. Having attended various yoga classes at different gyms before I must say Sarah was amazing and made this a very relaxing and mind opening experience. I just regret I had not tried this before.”
Despoina
“Attending the yoga classes with Sarah was my best treat during pregnancy. Lots of useful exercises, relaxing environment and I was very relieved when I got rid of a hip ache just within a few days. Definitely recommended!”
Sofia
“Sarah is technically very good and classes with her are also a good workout every time! She is also very nice and always takes time to answer questions. A very good yoga teacher who I would really recommend, and someone who motivates you to keep practising yoga.”
Lulu Liu
“We really enjoyed the mum & baby yoga classes we did with you. It was a really lovely, warm and caring environment to be part of as a new mum. Thank you so much.”
Camilla & baby Roberta
“As a newbie to yoga I attended the 5 week Complete Beginners’ Foundation Course in Yoga with Sarah, immediately followed by the 7 week Ashtanga Yoga course for beginners.
I would highly recommend Sarah as a great yoga teacher. As a near beginner I felt welcomed and at ease by Sarah’s gentle, softly spoken and patient teaching style and warm and positive energy. Sarah has an exemplary and calming teaching style whilst at the same time ensuring all students are fully engaged. Sarah really strikes a perfect balance between calm relaxation and a solid work out (Ashtanga) – I always left Sarah’s classes feeling energised.
Sarah’s teaching is grounded in clear instructions and astute observations in providing posture adjustments as necessary and she has a real sensitivity to teaching in a down- to-earth, non-competitive manner. The pace and content of both courses were perfectly pitched and of a very high and professional standard. Sarah’s classes have benefited me greatly in learning correct technique and alignment from the outset (and so much easier in a small class size) and also greatly assisted me with my coordination and proprioception. For someone who struggles to sit still for too long, I find I reap the benefits of feeling like I’ve had a great workout (especially Ashtanga) and relaxation at the same time, it really is a ‘moving meditation’ as they say and that’s what I love about it and that you can do yoga anywhere. My heartfelt thanks Sarah for starting me on my yoga journey, I feel truly privileged to have had you as a teacher, your passion for yoga is inspirational as is your gentle and positive energy and fantastic instruction.”
Dominique, 46, Legal Secretary
“I enjoyed the pregnancy yoga classes which I took with Sarah very much, especially the balance of relaxation, stretching and pelvic floor exercises. All exercises were easy but effective during pregnancy. In addition, she often brought the baby into the exercises which was nice and helped with bonding even though he was still in my tummy. It was also really nice to meet up each week with other pregnant mums-to-be and hear how they were experiencing their pregnancy.
Sarah is a great teacher who teaches the class in a relaxed and caring way. She would always ask at the beginning of her class how we were feeling and if we had any pains. Depending on our answers she would teach the class focussing on the painful areas in order to make them less painful. Also she gives you tips as to what exercises you can do at home. She always makes sure that you listen to your body and finds an alternative for you if a certain exercise is hard or uncomfortable for you.
The main benefits of the pregnancy yoga class I felt during my pregnancy was the relief and avoidance of pregnancy pains, especially back pains. Especially after a class I would feel great, so relaxed and had more energy. As for the benefits during labour and birth they were that I could control my breathing and with that the pain and that I stayed relaxed during the whole labour and birth. I would highly recommend these classes to all pregnant women wanting to find more ease in their bodies during pregnancy and birth.”
Maureen T
Attended weekly pregnancy yoga classes with Sarah for 6 months
“The pregnancy yoga classes that I attended with Sarah at Yoga Creation were very beneficial both during my pregnancy and labour, and also very enjoyable. Sarah is a really great teacher. She is very welcoming and makes you feel immediately very comfortable and at ease. I would highly recommend her classes to all pregnant women.”
Raquel
“I regularly attended pregnancy yoga classes with Sarah during my pregnancy. The classes were a perfect size, so you got lots of personal attention. I was pregnant with twins, and Sarah was very good at giving me adaptations or alternative postures to do as I became heavier and less mobile towards the end of my pregnancy. The classes were a really good mix of breathing, relaxation and movement, and became a highlight of my week, especially towards the end of my pregnancy.”
Trish, now mother of two wonderful twin boys
“My journey to the yoga mat has been a long and winding one!I injured my lower back in 2008. My GP did not find anything conclusive and as a course of treatment I was referred to a Physiotherapist. Unfortunately, I did not follow through with the recommended exercises choosing instead to consciously avoid certain situations that I felt would impact negatively on my back and generally thought that it would “just sort itself out”.
I knew that my sedentary working life of sitting at a computer desk for long hours and stress contributed in part to my physical situation. I joined my local gym working out for an hour four to five times a week. But despite the improvement in my fitness levels and religiously ensuring that I spent ample time doing warming up and cooling down stretches, I was still experiencing twinges of back pain.
At the beginning of 2013 a friend recommended that I try Pilates. It proved to be beneficial at first, but as the classes progressed and became more advanced; my lower back became strained and agitated by some of the exercises. It was then that I realised that the joints and muscles in my back needed to be stretched or manipulated passively … enter yoga!
I finally arrived on the yoga mat in April 2013. The first ever yoga class I attended was Yin Yoga at the Yoga Creation studio with Sarah. Practicing yoga has been transformational! After only a couple of months I had gained greater flexibility and range of movement, improved alignment, greater physical strength and focus of mind. I also felt balanced, as yoga complemented the other forms of exercise that I enjoy such as jogging and boxing.
What I love most about yoga is the freedom – you can practice it anywhere, you can practice whatever poses or sequences you want, there are no mistakes and no set rules. On the mat it is just YOU and YOUR body. And in its movement I found stillness – a place of calm, a moment to unburden your-self from the stresses of life and a break from the sedentary ways of my current working life.
I feel very fortunate to have had Sarah as my first “proper” yoga teacher. Arriving for my first ever class, I was greeted by her welcoming smile and positive energy. She is non-judgmental, accepting, and patient. She listens and is mindful of any physical limitations that students may have and is happy to suggest modified poses to help students achieve their own yoga goals. Sarah is always willing to share her knowledge, experience and love of yoga with all her students.
Listening to stories of her yoga journey and seeing her strength encouraged me to start my own yoga practice at home. She taught me that yoga was “not a competition; there is no need to compare yourself with the person next to you or in front of you. There is nothing to be gained when you feel uncomfortable or try to push through pain. Just respect and acknowledge where your body is right now and BREATHE.”
What a fantastic teacher!”
Nancy, 35, Online Business Owner
“I thoroughly enjoyed attending Sarah Burgess’ pregnancy yoga class, it was something that I looked forward to each week. The atmosphere in the class was very calm and welcoming. I learnt loads of really useful poses that helped me throughout the pregnancy and during labour. Sarah is a great teacher and I would heartily recommend the class.”
Steph
“Yoga was first recommended to me by one of my friends. I suffered from a strong lower back pain at the time and I was desperately trying to find a way to get rid of it. Yoga helped a lot – I remember feeling so much better after my very first class. Now, having practised yoga for a while, I don’t really know what back pain is!
I love the unique combination of physical exercise and meditation that yoga provides, and the wonderful feeling of being relaxed and simply ‘feeling good’ after each practice. Thanks to yoga, I am also very happy with the fact I now realise how important my breath is… I have never thought about my breath before!
The main benefit of yoga for me is that with every yoga class my body becomes more flexible and my mind gets quieter and calmer.
Sarah is a fantastic, very dedicated teacher with lots of positive energy. I very much enjoy her classes. And I particularly appreciate Sarah’s patience and individual attention to each student when explaining what needs to be done.”
Anna, 40, Compliance Director
“My wife introduced me to yoga a year ago and I started practising yoga as I wanted to experience something new and start feeling good both physically and mentally.
What I enjoy most about yoga is the challenge of physical exercise. I also enjoy the struggle to be in control of my own thoughts during practice (and then outside the studio!)
In terms of benefits, with every practice I gain physical and mental strength. I also put more attention towards breathing well and more deeply.
Sarah is an enthusiastic teacher who cares about everyone’s progress. Always with a smile on her face, she brings a lovely, welcoming and very relaxing atmosphere to every single class she is running.”
Kris, 41, Banker
“I started yoga as a final option in trying to cure my recurring lower back stiffness. Since turning 30 I had experienced lower back stiffness every morning. I tried, Physio, Osteo, Chiro, Acupuncture, MRI scans and medication, and whilst most things helped for the time I was doing them, they did not provide a long term fix.
Yoga has really helped to fix my lower back stiffness. After about 2 months of doing yoga, I noticed that I was waking up in the morning with no back stiffness. I came to realise that working in an office has contributed to having tight hamstring muscles, and yoga has helped me stretch these, which in turn has relieved pressure on my lower back.
In addition to really helping with my back, I’ve also noticed that I’ve lost weight around my waist as a result of practising yoga. I have dropped around 1.5 inches in my trouser waist size. I’m also feeling younger, I can sit more comfortably, get out of bed easier, stand longer without having to sit down and I find that I can stretch just that bit more when I need to.
Overall yoga has been life changing for me and I will try to do it for the rest of my life. I would recommend to anyone that it’s worth doing some form of yoga as we get older.
Sarah has been a wonderful teacher since I began my first yoga classand she has always been very encouraging during my time as a student with her.”
Richard, 37, IT Manager
“I started to practice yoga out of curiosity. I find that yoga is a really great way of getting to enjoy both a physical activity and relaxation at the same time. I get a real sense of satisfaction from my yoga practice.
I also really love the beautiful art of yoga! And I feel very impressed by and grateful for Sarah’s patience with my limitations!”
Olga, 32, Banking
“I started to practice yoga as I thought it was a good exercise that I could do indoors.
I really enjoy the slowness of yoga and the stretching. It is also good for practising breathing. I am usually stressed about something, and I have found that the breathing in yoga helps me to feel calmer. I also find that through yoga I am stretching all the muscles that I never normally use.
I really enjoy classes with Sarah. She is a patient teacher, and softly spoken which always provides a calming effect!”
Alice, 26, Project Analyst