Teacher spotlight: Anne Marie Newland

Anne Marie Newland, founder of Sun Power Yoga, admits that her discovery of yoga turned her life around - and continues to do so. Here, Anne Marie gives her thoughts on the joys and challenges of teaching.

What led you along the yoga path? How long ago was this?

I was dragged to the path of yoga through sheer lack of options and it being the end of the line for me! Yoga turned my life around and continues to do so. 

I made my first step in the hot summer of 1976; and then in 1977 I had a traumatic personal time. I borrowed a book from the library and survived in silence and practice.

How long were you practising before you trained as a teacher?
If we include my library book, then on and off for about seven years. I say 'on and off' because it took that long to discover the spiritual aspects of yoga!

Which training course did you do and why?
I was lead to the doors of the Sivananda Yoga Centre in London. It was then in Notting Hill Gate. I had a fashion business in Kensington. Perfect!

As soon as I walked in I knew this was serious. I felt very safe and scared...all at once. I knew from my depth that there was no turning back. My spiritual path laid ahead clear and well lit.

What type of yoga do you teach and what drew you to this style?
I teach and train in Sun Power Yoga. I founded this style back in 2000. It grew from my own frustration and feeling of limitation.

I practised iyengar with Maxine Tobias in the 70s. She was a good teacher but I felt the focus was all on the body. As a past professional dancer I needed that like a hole in the head!

I discovered Sivananda and I had stayed true to the Sivananda format strictly for 10 years. It had been so good for me that I was almost scared to make a change.

I began to study the work of Derek Island, Beryl Bender Birch. I loved the flow of the sequences and the power of the poses in Astanga. However I also felt that the strict idiom of not moving on until I was told I could was also very rigid.

So I put them all together, putting parts that worked for me in a flowing sequence of poses around the salutations and called it the Sun Power Series. And so after a surge of packed classes and a change of direction Sun Power Yoga was born!

How do you fit your own practice around your teaching?
With a lot of difficulty! As a single mother of four and a busy job its really hard; however I make sure I do a full practice at least twice a week and ‘other yoga's' in between.

The ‘other' yoga being...sitting still, reading a spiritually enlightening book, looking inward and asking questions, being attentive and forgiving myself for indiscretions or just downright wrongs!

What do you enjoy about teaching?
I love the results I see in my students, their passion and their achievements. I started teaching body work at 19 and I see myself as blessed; t's a wonderful life!

What makes a good yoga teacher?

A good yoga teacher is one who is real about life's ups and downs. Honest about their limitations and aspirations.

Teachers who do not look you in the eye are hiding something! I see my role as much as the student than as a teacher. Swami Sivananda said, 'a good teacher is s good student'. That's the truth!

A practitioner and not a preacher!

To you, what are the most important elements of yoga - and what are the challenging elements?

The most important elements of yoga are the minds relationship with the breath and the body.

The mind and breath cannot be separated - they are inter-dependant. Angry thoughts produce harsh breath, gentle mind still breath. I see the breath as a bridge between the mind and the body.

Once the breath is controlled the mind is mastered and the body releases.

Do you think we in 'the West' give enough time and attention to meditation?
I think we do the best we can. I believe the West is tolerant of the East's relationship with the mind but does not always see the best results: so often meditation is confused with religion. Big mistake.

Spiritual practices can and are practised by all. That includes the anarchist; the priest and the criminal...we all have our own path to salvation.

How is yoga perceived in the UK now? Do you think it will continue to grow in popularity?
Yoga has no role in the idea of popularity. In fact it sits and watches with amusement. Yoga just is and we just are.

Is it feasible to earn a reasonable salary as a yoga teacher in the UK?
Yes as long as you work every hour God gives you and you accept things change constantly and take nothing personally!

I feel very fortunate that at my age and level of experience I am in the right time in the place! 33 years of body work is a great CV. We never know where we are going to we get there!

What advice do you have for someone currently training, or considering it as a future career?
My advice would be that if it's a calling then don't waste time  - get on and find the right training.

Having said that; the right training is not always what you expect it to be. Some have the idea that yoga training is all light and bliss; actually its more about blood and tears.

A teacher training course will give you what you need at that particular time in your own personal growth. Accept responsibility for all you are and do - and don't blame others, just learn.

www.sun-power-yoga.co.uk