About Tricia Daniel

Tricia’s Background

Tricia Daniel BSc (Hons) has practised yoga since 1978 and started teaching in 2002.
She obtained the Integral Yoga teaching qualification at the Bath Integral Yoga Centre in 2001.Her 28 years of yoga practice includes Viniyoga, Integral Yoga, Sivananda Yoga, Therapy Yoga and Chi Gung (gentle breathing and movement practices from the Tai Chi tradition).

Tricia is on the Register of Exercise Professionals and regularly continues to study. Recent workshops attended Structural Yoga Therapy and Yoga for preventing accidents and injuries and also Yoga for Anxiety and Depression with international trainer, Heather Mason. She has attended seminars on Osteoporosis, Fibromyalgia and a BME Health awareness day which included talks on diet, stress, depression and diabetes. She also studied Yoga for ME and Chronic Fatigue with UK expert Fiona Agombar.

Get to know Tricia

When did you first hear about Yoga?
When I was at college, a friend gave me a book and I loved practising the poses.

When did you first take it up seriously?
I did a couple of years in my mid twenties and then at the ripe old age of 29 I decided that I needed to do some regular exercise to keep healthy! Plus I’d had back problems and a stressful job as an accountant. I felt so relaxed after the classes and found that I didn’t need to visit my osteopath for a number of years because the practice kept my spine flexible.

Why did you give up your accountancy career to become a yoga teacher?
When I was 41 I had Glandular Fever followed by Chronic Fatigue. This was a life changing illness. I continued to work facing the challenges not only of a demanding job but also my physical body slowed down and the brain fog slowed my mental capacities so I spent all my spare time relaxing and doing yoga. I learnt so much on this journey that I felt I wanted to share it with others so that they could benefit from a healthier life.

How has Yoga helped you?
I gained a greater understanding and acceptance of myself and this included accepting the illness that I had and it’s limitations. It also helped me to understand and empathise with people who had health problems. I learnt how to have a healthy balanced diet and a wonderful toolbox of ideas on how to calm and control the mind!

Any life changing moments?
Many!
In 1997 I first met my Guru, Swami Satchidananda and my heart melted. I felt so peaceful in the presence of his unconditional love. He gave me the yoga name Abhaya which means Fearless!
In 2005 I went down to Bournemouth for a beautiful day of Integral Yoga. I had the misfortune to have my car locked in the multi story car park for the weekend! So, completely unplanned (my plan anyway, the universe had a different plan!), I stayed overnight. But this was another blessing in disguise! Here I met Satyananda and I found myself dissolved in the beauty of his presence.

Why GentleLight Yoga?
I teach Extra Gentle Restorative Yoga. The approach is soft and gentle with everyone being made to feel welcome and encouraged to relax deeply into the poses and not to strain. Relaxing and letting go is the purpose of each class.
The Light refers to the inner light that allows us to recognise our own true nature which is a sense of inner peace beyond our every day experiences.

What are your plans for the future?
Whatever inspires me I would like to share with people I meet so that they can tread the beautiful path of yoga with joy, courage, love and light.

Is there anyone you’d like to thank?
My husband Tony for his encouragement, love, support and wonderful sense of humour!
All the yoga teachers and friends I’ve made on this wonderful journey.
And to my Guru for sustaining me and inspiring me.
And finally to my yoga students whose smiling faces make the job all worth while!