
Welcome to Sanctuary Yoga Darlington
Are you feeling a bit frazzled and burnt out?
Perhaps at the peak of your career and tired of giving 100% of your energy?
Maybe you're exhausted trying to balance work and parenthood?
Or your kids have grown, and you now finally have a bit more time for you?
You are so in the right place! My yoga classes are for you. How do I know? Because I am all of the above.
If a bit of time just for you, helping you get back into your body and finding a deep sense of relaxation is what you are craving, then look no further.
Sound interesting?
Please get in touch or feel free to have a look through my website. There are some free classes on my YouTube channel (icon at the top) where you can get a bit of a taster for what I offer.
I'm so pleased you are here,
Rachel xx
My name is Rachel and I offer Hatha yoga classes in Darlington, Co Durham. If you’re looking for a friendly yoga class in Darlington that is suitable for all including beginners, you’re in the right place.
I was first introduced to yoga through a colleague back in 2003/4 when I embarked on an Ashtanga workshop and immediately signed up for weekly classes. My first baby was born at the end of 2005, which lead to me taking a substantial break from yoga. Four children later and a very good friend of mine got me back into it in 2016. Fast forwards three years and the opportunity arose for me to register for Yoga Teacher Training (200hrs) in my home town of Darlington, which doesn’t happen very often and I took this (eventually) as a sign from the Universe to train!
I qualified in January 2020 and was ready to start my real learning with a small weekly class in a local village hall. But then COVID hit. During the next two years there had been some inside classes, outside classes, some socially distant inside classes and online classes. It has certainly been a learning curve and an emotional roller-coaster to boot! Thankfully things are now back to normal.
My classes are taught in a vinyasa flow style, but are not ashtanga or power yoga classes. The aim is to connect body, breath and soul. Creating space both physically and emotionally both on and off the mat. So although we work through the flow we tend to take things at a slower steadier pace, you may still get a bit hot and sweaty though! It’s really important to me that my classes are as accessible to as many people as possible, so there will never be any headstands, handstands, and you absolutely do not need to do all the poses if they do not work for you. I invite you to modify and work within your mind and body parameters.
If you think this sounds like your kind of thing and would like to join me, take a look at the classes page or contact me via the contact page.
See you on the mat,
Rachel xx

Yoga offers ways to keep the mind and body healthy and happy by moving us out of the fight or flight response and into the rest and digest response. It helps to:
Supports our nervous system
Supports other systems such as endocrine, immune, respiratory, circulatory etc
Promotes strength and flexibility both mentally and physically
Improves posture and breathing patterns
Relieve mental and physical tension
I teach Hatha Yoga. But what is Hatha Yoga? Hatha includes yoga philosophy, pranayama (breathwork), asana (the postures), bandha and mudra (energy locks and seals).
We practice in a vinyasa flow, meaning we sequence poses together in a certain way. The beauty of Hatha means we don't need to stick to the same sequences.
I also specialise in restorative yoga and yoga nidra. Restorative yoga is practised with props and poses are held for around 5 minutes enabling your body and mind to soften into the shape. Yoga nidra is yogic sleep although the aim is that we don't fall asleep but find a deeply meditative state through a guided practice.
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