Gentle Guide, Nature Lover, and Yoga Teacher here at Transcend
We are shining a light on the wonderful humans who guide our practices here at Transcend, as we know it’s important to connect and resonate with your leaders.
This month, we are thrilled to introduce you to Anne, who teaches in Eccles and most recently brought her magic to our retreat. With a background rooted in Ashtanga and a teaching style that now blends strength with softness, Anne’s classes are an invitation to slow down, reconnect, and breathe.
We sat down with Anne to learn more about her journey, teaching philosophy, and why she believes yoga really is for everyone.
Hi Anne! Let’s start at the beginning – how did your yoga journey begin?
I started learning yoga in my early 40s in an Ashtanga class, and I’ve been practising regularly now for about 20 years. Ashtanga is quite a masculine, disciplined practice, and it really suited the driven world I was a part of at the time. It gave me a strong foundation.
But gradually, I became more drawn to Hatha yoga and more feminine, intuitive practices. They’re more in keeping with who I am now and offer a different kind of perspective.
And when did you make the leap into teaching?
In 2022, I felt a really strong pull to share yoga with others. So I trained with Casa Shambala in Alicante, completing a three-week intensive 200-hour teacher training that’s accredited by Yoga Alliance. It was a great experience!
What kind of classes do you teach at Transcend Tribe?
I teach a slower-paced Hatha/Vinyasa flow that’s very grounded and intentional. I often include restorative poses and sometimes a meditation that’s inspired me recently. It’s not rigid – I like to leave space for the class to unfold a little intuitively, depending on the group.
Right now, I teach two classes in Eccles:
- Morning Flow on Sundays, which is a more traditional hatha flow class
- Women’s Only Wise Woman yoga on a Tuesday, which has a more feminine energy to bring compassion to ourselves
What does yoga mean to you personally?
Yoga has been an anchor for me – physically, mentally, and socially. It’s changed with me over time. I’ve developed more self-awareness through it and come to accept the reality of the chattering mind, the waves of emotion, and just how human that all is.
It’s taught me that we’re all both unique and the same – and that’s really comforting, especially in community.
Why should someone come to your classes?
I want to create a calm, welcoming environment where we don’t take ourselves too seriously. It’s not an exercise class, though yes, your body gets stronger and more open. But more than that, practices like sun salutations blend movement, breath, and focus in a way that really shifts your energy and calms the mind.
If someone’s feeling unsure or self-critical, I’d say, just come. Try it. Stick with it for a while. Yoga has a way of working through you, quietly and steadily.
And outside of the studio, who is Anne?
I’m a big lover of nature. I feel most alive in dramatic landscapes – the wind, the sun, the water, the changing light. I find so much beauty in observing the seasons, the night sky, even the way light falls in a certain moment.
I also love music and art. All of these things – nature, creativity – they feed my soul. That’s where I feel the most connected to something spiritual, I guess.
Any last words for someone thinking about joining your class?
Yoga is truly for everyone who feels drawn to it. You don’t have to be flexible or calm already – that’s the point of practice. And even if you can only come once in a while, it can still make a difference.
Don’t let that inner critic put you off. Try a few different classes until you find one that feels right. That’s how the journey starts.
Come practice with Anne in Eccles – whether it’s your first time on the mat or your hundredth, she’ll meet you right where you are.
