About Allison MaxwellAllison discovered the transformative power of yoga 35 years ago while studying at university. At the time, she was hyperactive, had sleep problems, and was plagued with neck pain and headaches from a trampoline accident at school. A friend suggested they try a local yoga class at the College of Further Education in Oxford - and from that very first class, Allison was hooked.
She continued exploring every type of yoga while completing her degree in Nutrition and Food Science. After finishing her first degree, she travelled to India for a yoga retreat. On returning to the UK, she noticed something remarkable-her daily headaches, which had persisted for over 12 years since the accident, had disappeared. After countless medical interventions had failed to relieve her neck pain, she realised that yoga had brought about not just emotional calm but profound physical healing too. Since then, yoga has been a constant in her life. Allison started off in Iyengar yoga and then explored just about every style of yoga before settling with the British Wheel of Yoga style of yoga. She then embarked on the 500-hour comprehensive British Wheel of Yoga training course. In addition, she trained with the Cambridge Active Birth yoga course and the Calm for Kids yoga course, enabling her to teach yoga from birth to 90+. After attending a yoga class for herself, Allison experienced a back injury. This sparked her curiosity to understand more about back pain and how yoga could help. In 2015, she completed the Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs course and now weaves everything she learned into all of her classes. A typical class with Allison places great emphasis on healthy backs, improving breathing, and finishing with a blissful relaxation-creating a space where students of all ages and abilities can feel supported, restored, and empowered. Allison has over 35 years of yoga experience and qualified as a teacher in 2000. She currently teaches six yoga classes around the Malvern Hills and runs one-day yoga retreats in Worcestershire and Herefordshire. |
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QualificationsAllison's teaching qualification is from the British Wheel of Yoga (BWYDip) where she holds a diploma, which she completed in 2000. The British Wheel of Yoga is the UK’s largest yoga community and is renowned for it’s 500 hour yoga teacher training courses that are also accredited with the Yoga Alliance and take approximately two years to complete.
Following this she trained to teach yoga to mother and babies and obtained a certificate from Cambridge Active Birth in 2002. She then went on to train to teach yoga to children studying with the Calm for Kids institute and completed this in 2005. As a qualified BWY yoga teacher Allison maintains a current First Aid certificate, is fully insured and attends regular CPD training days. |
The Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs Teacher Training course (YHLB-R), is accredited as a Recognized Centre of excellence in training and standards by The British Wheel of Yoga (the national governing body for yoga for Sports England and Sports & Recreation Alliance UK) - view www.yogaforbacks.co.uk.
How yoga helped me - Allison's own words
"During my role as Health Clinic Manager in a busy private clinic in central London, my health started to suffer. I often worked 12-hour days, managing staff, dealing with clients and meeting press deadlines. The one aspect of my life I never gave up was my regular yoga classes and I found that yoga was an escape from my busy schedule enabling me to 'recharge my batteries' for the next week ahead.
With so many of my high flying clients suffering with addictions to alcohol and anti-depressants, I was so glad I found yoga as my release from stress!
Following this I decided to study for a Master's degree at Southampton University. On completion of my MSc in Public Health Nutrition I decided to treat myslef to a yoga retreat in South India. I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life and it was life changing in many ways.
Firstly, I had been plagued by almost daily headaches for over fifteen years, since suffering a neck injury from a trampolining accident at school. On my return to England my headaches has disappeared. Despite spending a fortune on other therapies over the years it was yoga that got rid of them! Also I felt more in control, happier and focused for the first time in my life. The positive impact yoga had on my life inspired me to train to be a yoga teacher.
The first yoga class I taught was for Lewisham Council in London, for a group of people suffering stress and anxiety. I was thrown in at the deep end and it was a memorable experience. However, I was delighted at the benefits enjoyed by many members of the group.
After moving to Berkshire I then taught in a variety of venues in Marlow, Wokingham and Reading, including Reading University (staff and students), schools, nurseries and exclusive health clubs and spas.
In 2008 we moved to Colwall and shortly after we arrived I set up my first yoga class in my home and now offer two classes a week and one-to-one sessions. I also teach at three further classes in Malvern and run regular retreats at The Clover Mill Spa."
With so many of my high flying clients suffering with addictions to alcohol and anti-depressants, I was so glad I found yoga as my release from stress!
Following this I decided to study for a Master's degree at Southampton University. On completion of my MSc in Public Health Nutrition I decided to treat myslef to a yoga retreat in South India. I had no idea of the impact it would have on my life and it was life changing in many ways.
Firstly, I had been plagued by almost daily headaches for over fifteen years, since suffering a neck injury from a trampolining accident at school. On my return to England my headaches has disappeared. Despite spending a fortune on other therapies over the years it was yoga that got rid of them! Also I felt more in control, happier and focused for the first time in my life. The positive impact yoga had on my life inspired me to train to be a yoga teacher.
The first yoga class I taught was for Lewisham Council in London, for a group of people suffering stress and anxiety. I was thrown in at the deep end and it was a memorable experience. However, I was delighted at the benefits enjoyed by many members of the group.
After moving to Berkshire I then taught in a variety of venues in Marlow, Wokingham and Reading, including Reading University (staff and students), schools, nurseries and exclusive health clubs and spas.
In 2008 we moved to Colwall and shortly after we arrived I set up my first yoga class in my home and now offer two classes a week and one-to-one sessions. I also teach at three further classes in Malvern and run regular retreats at The Clover Mill Spa."
