About Hilary Totah

I have been practising and working with yoga since 1978 – when I was expecting my first child and attended pre-natal yoga classes. In 1981 I began to study shiatsu bodywork and became a shiatsu teacher at The British School of Shiatsu-Do in 1986. As part of the shiatsu practitioner training, I taught yoga  to the students to help them develop body awareness and improve their own health and fitness. I became principal of The British School of Shiatsu-Do in 1999 until 2004.


I have a passion for working with the body, being especially interested in anatomy and body mechanics. I have studied with some of the leading bodywork, body-mind and movement teachers, including Saul Goodman, Wataru Ohashi, Bonnie Bainbridge-Cohen, and Gabrielle Roth. I constantly update my knowledge by attending workshops and reading relevant literature, when I can. I love to dance and attend a Gabrielle Roth 5 rhythms group in Hastings, continuing my involvement with dance and movement.

I have explored various different styles of yoga, including Iyengar, Hatha and Astanga – participating in Astanga teacher training classes at the Life Centre, with  Godfrey Devereux in 1990. For the past nine years I have been a student of yoga teacher John Stirk, who worked directly with Vanda Scaravelli. I find his way of working inspirational and challenging. It suits me – giving me time to explore the postures deeply, developing my inner awareness and allowing me to find my own pace. At the same time I can build my core strength and maintain flexibility. John's unique way of teaching has been influential in the development of my own style.

I like to use my knowledge of anatomy and structure to help my students visualise the body and come to an understanding of how dysfunctional patterns of movement can be changed through the practise of yoga.

I am a registered and insured as a yoga teacher with the Association of Independant Yoga Practitioners (AIYP).