Who is Louisa Bird?

Louisa took her first yoga class in Kathmandu, Nepal, just before her 21st birthday.  When she returned from travelling, she moved to London to start her first proper job.  She took regular classes with Sharon Nemes, above the Windmill Wholefoods restaurant, Fulham Broadway.  This was the early 90s, and through Sharon, she was introduced to Asthanga Vinyasa Yoga on a retreat with Godfrey Devereux.  Several years later, Louisa was an Anthropology student at Goldsmiths’ College and regularly attended Glenys Shepherd’s Iyengar Yoga Institute of South London.

Soon after graduation, there was a gap in her yoga practice.  It was the 2000s, and everyone was at the gym.  Ironically, during those years, a life event provoked her to explore her spirituality.  She was fortunate to re-establish connection with her dear friend and mentor, Mary-Jo Radcliffe (Committee Member, Guild of Pastoral Psychology).  Through Mary-Jo, she has been able to explore spirituality, psychology, the cosmos, and the desire to be part of community.  

The gym proved unsatisfactory when Louisa hurt her lower back and she felt drawn to return to yoga, taking classes at Bodywise, Bethnal Green.  She moved to Amsterdam in 2010 and discovered Jivamukti Yoga.  From her first class with Patrick Vermeulen at Svaha Yoga, something just “clicked”.  It was a light bulb moment.  She was receiving both the physical and the spiritual all in one method, right there on the mat.  With Patrick’s beautiful chanting, and Krishna Das on the playlist, Louisa couldn’t help but feel her soul rise.  Through Patrick and his partner, Gösta van Dam, she took workshops with their friends, Rusty Wells, and Katchie Ananda.  She returned to the UK in 2013, and in 2016, completed the 300 hour Certified Jivamukti Teacher Training at Omega Institute, under the supervision of Jill Abelson.
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In everyday life, Louisa works in the pharmaceutical industry.  Teaching and practicing yoga enables her to move out of her head and return to the physical, warming her heart, and embracing our true nature, which is joy.  Louisa has a deep respect for the Forrest Yoga method, and she is honoured to be a member of the team at Equilibrium Yoga.
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What does Louisa do at Equilibrium?

Louisa teaches Jivamukti in Huntingdon and often can be seen on the mat attending Jivamukti classes taught by Janet. 
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Fascinating Facts about Louisa...

  1. Lived in Amsterdam.
  2. Has been to Burning Man 4 times.
  3. Worked in HIV and Sexual Health.