About me
Hello.....
I’m Debbie Bartholomew, a Level III Iyengar yoga teacher. I was born and raised in Lancashire and have been practising Iyengar yoga for over 30 years and teaching since 1994.
How I came to Yoga
I attended a local class and was hooked. I loved how it made me feel, my joints and muscles all light and free. Unbeknown to me at the time it also quietened my wandering mind.
After a few years of practising I decided I would quite like to become a teacher so that I could learn all the “secret ways” of improving my yoga – not altruistic at all!
My first yoga teacher Pat James, advised that I go to Jeanne Maslen’s classes at Manchester and District Iyengar Yoga in Dukinfield. She would advise me if she thought I was proficient enough to enrol on the MDIY teacher training course. I studied with Jeanne for a while and she subsequently agreed that I could enrol on the course. The two year course was taught by Jeanne Maslen and Tricia Booth both of whom are two of the most senior students of BKS Iyengar.
I will be forever grateful to Pat for getting me started and Jeanne and Tricia for teaching and persevering with me! I can’t thank them enough for changing my life!
Qualifications
I gained my (Introductory) Level I certificate in 1994 and started teaching. As my students improved I realised I had to improve too so I studied the more intermediate levels of yoga and subsequently studied and gained my Junior Intermediate Level I certificate in 1998, Level II in 1999 and Level III in 2000. After a while I took my Senior Level I, II and III and qualified as an Intermediate Senior teacher in 2007.
Yoga is a lifelong study and I continue to attend classes at MDIY in Dukinfield, attend workshops around the country and go to our mother institute in Pune, India regularly.
I have been lucky enough to be taught by BKS Iyengar, his daughter Geeta S Iyengar his son Prashant Iyengar and his grand-daughter Abhijata.
Teaching
I will teach anyone, beginners or more experienced students. I try my best to make the poses simple, clear and easy to understand so even if you can’t do the full pose you know what you are supposed to be doing! I try to teach which actions are required to achieve a safe, accurate pose. That’s the beauty of the Iyengar method. We value alignment, precision and correct extension. So that you achieve the pose safely. The study of alignment, precision, extension and the breath brings your mind to a quiet state. Definitely not to be missed! This all sounds very serious and we do work hard but we also have fun, playing around with the poses.
Honestly, if I can do yoga anyone can!! You don’t have to be bendy, you don’t have to be fit. You don’t have to be tall and willowy or slim. There is no “secret way” of learning the art and science of yoga! Just being on your mat, studying and playing with the poses as much as you can! I just help you understand yoga a bit more when you come to class.
I teach weekly classes at Manchester and District Iyengar Yoga (MDIY) and also teach weekly classes in and around Manchester and West Yorkshire. As well as classes I also teach regular workshops throughout the year in and around the UK to help students explore the subject in more depth.
I teach a weekly therapeutic class at MDIY for students who have more specific needs and as well as this I teach yoga to patients on Mental Health ward for the NHS and also teach students with Multiple Sclerosis for Oldham MS Society.
Mentoring
I mentor students who wish to become teachers. I also Mentor teachers who wish to study towards the next level of certification up to and including Level III.
Nationally
As part of the national governing body of Iyengar yoga in the UK – IYAUK I have the following involvement:
A member of Assessment and Training Committee of the IYUK.
A member of the Mentor and Assessor Support Group, a sub-group of the ATC.
An Assessor for the IYAUK.
Other interests
When not on my mat I love music, having adventures and learning new skills. (At the time of writing this I am attending a blacksmithing course).