Petra has been practising yoga since 1996 and has been teaching yoga in London since 2000. Over the years she has studied Iyengar and Ashtanga yoga, the two styles on which she bases her teaching. Petra is also a certified yoga therapist by the International Association of Yoga Therapists (IAYT) specialising in musculo-skeletal problems (bulging discs, scoliosis, knee injuries, etc.) as well as diesases of the organic system (asthma, bronchitis, diabetes, acid reflux, constipation, IBS, high blood pressure, low blood pressure). She teaches alignment based yoga, Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga, restorative yoga as well as pregnancy/postnatal yoga.
Petra says:
“Yoga is the only exercise that really focuses on allowing the mind and body to release tension and anxiety, leaving you re-energised and relaxed. I have studied, practised and taught some of the very different yoga styles. Ashtanga, for example, has a dynamic and flowing quality; Iyengar is renowned for its attention to alignment and great use of anatomy; whereas Restorative yoga does exactly what the name states, it relaxes and restores the body and mind. When deciding upon what to teach a student, I ask them what they expect to get from yoga. Then using my knowledge and experience I try to come up with the practice which will bring that person into a more balanced state. If there is a specific health issue, we address not only physical practice, but also nutrition and lifestyle.
Everything I teach comes from my personal experience with yoga. After suffering serious back and knee injuries and giving birth to my three children, I used yoga as a powerful tool to help me repair and restore my body and mind and to make me stronger when facing challenges of a modern life. I try to make my students experience the same benefits that I have gained from my practice in their yoga journey.”
Since staring Petra Yoga, Petra has successfully alleviated pain from problems such as bulging lumbar discs, ruptured discs, scoliosis and sacro-iliac pain.
Petra also holds a Ph.D. degree from Imperial College, London in mechanical engineering which is often reflected in her teaching.
Alignment Based Yoga: Petra is a keen student of Iyengar yoga which helped her through her own lower back and knee injuries. She tries to help her students using that knowledge in her alignment based yoga classes. Her teaching is based on a continuous study with the world renowned teacher, Aadil Palkhivala. Her own personal experience with bulging lumbar discs, led her to a clear realisation that no two bodies are the same and that an individual approach should be applied to yoga practice to deliver beneficial results.
Pregnancy and Postnatal Yoga: Being a mother of three, Petra knows first hand, the benefits of Yoga during her pregnancies and labours. She is a qualified Birthlight pregnancy and postnatal yoga teacher and her main advisor is one of the leading pregnancy gurus, Dr. Francoise Freedman. Petra has helped many women achieve more enjoyable pregnancy and an easier labour, and specialises in teaching women with SPD (Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction) to help them feel better and empowered in labour.
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga: Petra practices Ashtanga yoga 5 days a week under Hamish Hendry’s guidance. She is currently learning the Third Series. Petra finds the physical challenges of Ashtanga Vinyasa lead to the mental clarity and focus needed with today’s hectic lifestyles. When teaching Ashtanga, Petra is particularly focused on precision and alignment of the postures, combined with the flow of breath and movement.