Our Yoga Teachers
Jo is passionate about yoga. She is a Yoga Alliance Senior Teacher and yoga teacher trainer running a 200 hr Yoga Teacher Training programme, training new teachers every year. She is also a 550 hour Minded Institute Yoga Therapist. The Minded Institute in London is a world leader in Yoga Therapy and their training is in an in-depth study of the neuroscience and physiology of how yoga works, paying particular attention to mental health.
She started practising Ashtanga yoga in 2006 and was amazed by the positive influence it had on her life: Jo's son has special needs and the physical and emotional benefits of practising Ashtanga enabled her to cope with the stresses and challenges she faced on a daily basis. She has practised and studied with dedication ever since, rising at 6 am 6 days a week to get on her yoga mat.
Jo qualified as a yoga teacher with the Chi Yoga School and has trained extensively in the Ashtanga method, completing two further Ashtanga teacher intensives. She continues to regularly study with some of the worlds leading Ashtanga teachers near and far and regularly advances her astanga studies. A highly qualified and experienced teacher with over 10,000 teaching hours and over 1200 hours worth of training, she teaches mainly ashtanga yoga, but can also be found at the studio guiding clients through seasonal flow yoga, and exploring the gentler approach in the hatha classes. She has completed many additional teacher trainings in meditation, anatomy and yoga for special needs children to name but a few.
Jo was involved in a car crash in 2011, suffering serious arm and shoulder injuries, which threatened to end her practice. Instead, Jo returned gradually to her Ashtanga practice as soon as was possible after surgery, practicing for many months with just one arm! Jo attributes her successful rehabilitation to her dedication to the astanga practice.
Since qualifying Jo has taught extensively in the local area, and has had the joy of introducing the practice of Ashtanga and flow yoga to hundreds of students. The lack of good teaching space and an ever increasing demand for classes from the growing yoga community convinced her that the area needed a dedicated, inclusive yoga studio providing yoga classes of all types to the entire community including those with special needs. Yoga Jo's community studio and its teacher training school is the result.
Melissa has always had a love for movement and attended dance classes throughout her childhood becoming a qualified teacher in her early twenties, whilst studying for a Masters Degree in Psychology at Glasgow University.
In 2007 she began studying yoga whilst working at an Eco village in Mexico that offered morning classes. Finding a discipline that intertwined movement with her interest in self-development and healing was a revelation. She has since experimented with many styles of yoga around the world and qualified as a Yoga Teacher in Rishikesh, India in 2010.
After spending two years working in Yoga Rocks Crete as a vegetarian chef and practicing with some of the world's most renowned Yoga teachers she returned to Glasgow in 2012 to teach yoga as well as running a vegetarian catering business with her husband Dan, The Yoga Kitchen.
Melissa teaches Hatha, Yin Yoga and Meditation at the studio.
Angela Meiklem
Angela started her yoga journey in 2003 and was instantly hooked on the light, open feeling that it gave to both her body and mind. In 2008 she graduated from Chi Yoga School with her teaching qualification (Yoga Alliance), keen to share the benefits of yoga practice with others. Angela was also awarded her 'Yoga for Kids and Families' teaching qualification from Rainbow Kids in 2011.
With experience of both Hatha and Ashtanga yoga styles Angela appreciates the benefits that a knowledge of various teachings offers. In 2011 she added to this a love of aerial yoga realising that there is even more fun to be had in the world of yoga!
She has had the pleasure of experiencing many teachers' styles including, Julie Hanson, June Mitchell, David Swenson, Paul Dallaghan, David Keil and James Boag.
Angela says: "It is my aim to spread the message that yoga is for everyone - not matter how flexible or inflexible!"
Emily Wallace
I first discovered yoga sixteen years ago and instantly loved everything about it, but It wasn't until my discovery of ashtanga yoga three years ago that the real transformation of my physical and emotional life began. It was primarily this change in my life that led me to train as a yoga teacher. I trained with Jo in her 200 hr training programme and have been assisting in her astanga Mysore class for some time now. I believe yoga is for everyone and can be whatever you want it to be, it is a personal practice. I am commited to creating a safe, nurturing and welcoming environment for students of all ages and walks of life to explore yoga at their own pace and hopefully gain a little of what I have over the years from this most beautiful practice. Alongside Jo I recently completed a course in Yoga Therapy for Post Traumatic Stress disorder with Heather Mason of the Minded Institute in London.
Richard Kerr
Yoga has been a part of my life for over 10 years, and my practice has helped me grow stronger, more flexible and fearless both on and off the mat. Yoga inspires me to live each moment more mindfully.
My classes tend to be physically demanding (you might sweat a bit) yet perfectly meditative and you will leave the classes feeling enlivened, renewed and ready to take on the day.
My primary objective besides turning more and more people on to a healthier, more peaceful lifestyle that continually challenges them to grow, is to teach a system of exercise that fully integrates the body, mind, and spirit.
I completed my 200 hour teacher training with Jo Lockhart at YogaJo's and during this time have been assisting her in her astanga classes. I will always be a student of the practice and am deeply grateful for the wisdom my teachers have shared with me.
I am currently living in Milngavie, Scotland with my wife and two kids, where I like to walk, do yoga, meditate and enjoy a simple mindful life.
Sinead Noble
Over the years Sinead tried out many yoga classes and left feeling they weren't quite right for her. In 2006 she wandered into an Ashtanga class and has never looked back.
Sinead completed her Chi Yoga School teacher training in 2010. She has continued to develop her physical and spiritual practice with a wide range of visiting teachers from around the world.
Sinead believes yoga has something to offer everyone - we just have to find the right style and teacher for us.
As well as her regular asana classes, she teaches our Introduction to Meditation Workshop at the studio.
Mairi Maciver
It is said that the teacher appears when the student is ready. Converging histories brought Jo back into my life three years ago, after her son had attended my Montessori nursery twelve years previously & my transformation from a fervent gym, marathon-running zealot began. My powerful Ashtanga yoga journey & the discovery of the magic of the breath continues to evolve having trained with Jo in the first of her 200hr-training programme. Fluid breath & movement is key to our attention, balance & coordination: “Since the spine protects the central nervous system, any improvement in the spine’s flexibility immediately improves the working of the nervous system itself.” My wish is to bring to students on their mat, what it gifts me - a heart opening feast of surprises; invariably breathing into the uncomfortable; countless humbling wonders in what our bodies can & cannot yet do; journeying where our thoughts take us; muscles & mind satisfyingly weary & yet energized; feeling grateful, inspirited & oh so eager for the next mat meeting!
Patricia McCarroll
I dipped in and out of yoga for many years until I found YogaJo's where I was inspired to take up a more regular practice. I now have a dedicated astanga practice and am to be found at the studio most days either practising or assisting with Jo. Doing the teacher training with Jo was one of the best decisions I have ever made. I have loved deepening my knowledge of the practice and learning how to share it with others. Having yoga in my life has changed me as a person, it has given me more confidence in myself and I'm now looking after my body and mind better than I ever have. I'm looking forward to sharing what I've learned with students of all ages, encouraging them to grow and find their confidence in life.
Sondra Ng
Being a non-native to this country, Sondra turned to yoga for solace more than 15 years ago. Whilst her natural flexibility makes her yoga appear effortless, she only found her true calling when she started practising astanga yoga with Jo. She loves the dynamic and focus of astanga and has also come to realise that the asanas (postures) are just the tip of the ice-berg.
Her curiosity drove her to further develop her yoga knowledge and she feels blessed to be a pioneer graduate of Jo Lockhart’s RYS 200 hour teacher training course. Yoga is a continuous journey and she will always remain a devoted disciple.
Sondra has an infectious smile and cheerful enthusiasm, whose classes are lively, engaging and heartfelt! She delights in watching rom-com and feel-good movies. She loves yoga because it gives her positive vibes and with her regular practice, it even allows her to indulge in sweet treats!
She strongly believes that everyone is entitled to happiness and contentment. Regardless of your background and body, she aims that when on the mat, you can leave your challenges behind, be truly yourself and enjoy the breathing and yoga experience.
Everything in moderation except love, laughter and (maybe) yoga!
Daniel Gronan
Dan's interest in yoga was sparked when working as a fitness trainer. Passionate about personal development, strength training and meditation he worked extensively with holistic therapists, combining meditation, mindfulness and reiki healing whilst experimenting with various forms of yoga. Continuing his curiosity he developed an interest in Yoga philosophy when he encountered a group of Monks from the Bhakti yoga tradition who taught him the path of love, devotion and service to others. It was then that he began to deepen his yoga practice through mantra meditation, philosophy and Kirtan (congregational chanting of mantras to music).
Dan began practicing with Jo in 2015 and will graduate from her teacher training in March 2017. He is now undergoing a mentorship with Jo at YogaJo's assisting in astanga classes, learning how to work with special needs children and developing his own personal practice. His classes combine pranayama, meditation and ashtanga principals in an aim to help students dive deeper into an understanding of yogic philosophy and the physical and energetic anatomy of the body to leave you feeling energised with a deeper appreciation of the subject of yoga as a life path. He particularly enjoys regularly playing Kirtan with Kirtan Scotland
Liz Young
As with many, yoga came to me when I needed it during difficult times in my life, and has helped me keep balance since then. To someone just trying yoga this may be a strange concept, however for whatever reason you are drawn to it, you will come to understand and feel it for yourself.
I have trained with Yoga Alliance UK, Rainbow Kids Yoga and currently with Apple Yoga as well as attending workshops with many well respected yoga teachers. This has opened me to different approaches and personalities within the yoga world and is reflected in my teachings. I also have over 20 years experience in health, fitness and sport, and currently work within gymnastics, specialist health and pilates. The knowledge and lessons gained from all my qualifications and experiences mould me into the person that I am today.
I am excited to be teaching the Kids sessions at YogaJo's and look forward to welcoming our young yogi's.
Joan Shearer
Joan is a qualified Humanistic Psychotherapist who works with people to help them live well and find acceptance and understanding of themselves. She runs our small group Yoga for Wellbeing sessions, which are specifically for those suffering from anxiety and depression who would find attending a regular class too challenging.
She bought her first yoga book as a teenager but only started practicing with more commitment in 2014 when she discovered YogaJo's and was introduced to an ashtanga practice. “I love my regular yoga practice and it has given me much more confidence, and a greater awareness and acceptance of my body.”
Her love of the practice led her to complete Jo’s 200 hour Yoga Teacher training at YogaJo’s learning and understanding more about yoga, convinced her how complimentary her work as a psychotherapist and her work as a yoga teacher could be.
Joan’s intention is that The Yoga for Well being class is an opportunity for people to enhance their lives, discover yoga for themselves, and find out what it may do for them. “ I see it as an individual experience - the yoga class providing each person with an environment in which they can find what they need – strength, balance, calmness, energy, grounding.”
Sally Stanley
"I can't quite say exactly how I came to visit Yogajo's for the first time. A leg injury, a recommendation, curiosity, or all three probably. What I distinctly remember from my first visit was the peacefulness of the studio and the warmth with which I was welcomed. It might sound unlikely, but I knew I had found something special, both in the people I found there and in the practice of yoga itself.
I suppose I will never fully shake off the lifelong habits of being a competitor, both in sport and business, but I am trying! Yoga has allowed me to be kinder to myself, less intent on outcome and more focused on the here and now. It has taught me contemplation alongside physical activity. Yoga has become my friend, not my rival and for me, that's saying something!
What yoga can offer people may vary from a new weekly routine to a life-changing and life-long practice depending upon the individual and their needs and circumstances.
With Jo's support and encouragement, I was lucky enough to qualify as a yoga teacher in her first teacher training group during 2015/16, a precious experience in itself.
I enjoy all forms of yoga and meditation and offer cover for my fellow teachers as required. This allows me to meet lots of new faces and to practice all types of class. I hope to see some of you soon in our lovely studio."
Nicola Macnaughton
Nicola first experienced yoga in 2002 when she went to university in Edinburgh and attended a weekly led astanga class in a church hall in Morningside. Over the past 15 years she has attended lots of different classes and styles of yoga at various gyms and studios. She also spent a year living in India doing a voluntary service overseas programme where she got lots of opportunities to experience yoga and meditation.
She began her working life in public relations dealing with some of Scotland’s leading brands. She loved coming into contact from people from all walks of life and sharing and promoting their stories. One of the things she loves about yoga is that it enables her to meet and share experiences with other people.
Working in public relations can be a high pressure environment and during this time in her career Nicola attended yoga classes to help her relax and unwind – yoga became a way of life for her and a necessity. However, it was only once she went to YogaJo’s that she found an environment where she really felt her yoga could flourish and she was inspired to embark on Jo’s teacher training course in 2016.
Initially Nicola wasn’t sure if she wanted to teach her own classes but the supportive, enriching and inspiring environment which Jo created encouraged her to start two weekly class in her local community – something which she takes a great amount of pleasure and happiness in doing.
One of Nicola’s passions from a young age has been gardening and the outdoors. She recently turned this into a full time job by starting her own gardening business. The joy she gets from watching plants grow is similar to that of what she gets from watching students and fellow yoga enthusiasts progress and develop their practice.
Diane Kelly
My personal yoga journey began in 2014 with a class at Yoga Jo's. From that first visit I knew there was something special about yoga, and something special about Yoga Jo's.
The ambiance within the studio, the welcome from teachers and fellow yogis, gave a feeling of being at home. Over time and through repeated practice, I began to appreciate the power of yoga to: cultivate a feeling of being at home, of finding peace, within our own body/mind; and to allow us to grow, to evolve, to develop balance.
Through practicing and exploring different styles of yoga, I became aware of a keenness to deepen my experience with, and understanding of, the practice and philosophy of yoga. Initially unsure how to go about this, after speaking with Jo, I decided to enrol on her 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training programme in 2016-17.
The year was a personally transformative, and life enhancing experience. It led me to appreciate yoga as a very ancient, beautiful practice. It meets you where you are, offers you what you need and are ready for, and supports you in your life journey.
Since qualifying, I am committed to developing my own personal practice, to deepening and expanding my learning and to supporting others in their own journey. Having worked in healthcare for over 25 years, I am increasingly interested in how we can keep ourselves well and the ways in which yoga and all it's components might assist us in this.
Elaine Harris
Elaine Harris is a 500hr certified yoga teacher studying Integral Hatha Yoga in London and taking Advanced Yoga training with Ciara Cronin in The Yoga Room Dublin. She offers pregnancy yoga and is trained in Vitality PregnancyYoga with renowned pregnancy teacher Tara Lee in London. Her pregnancy class works is a mix of gentle and dynamic movements linked with the breath designed to create space and ease and comfort in the changing body while building strength and preparing for birth. The class incorporates movements and breathing practices useful for labour and ends with a lovely relaxation.
Elaine is originally from Ireland but has lived in London, Melbourne and now Glasgow studying and teaching yoga.
Her regular yoga class is a dynamic hatha flow focusing on linking movement with breath using fluid sequencing building heat in the body to prepare more dynamic movement incorporating pranayama, asana, yoga nidra and meditation.
Elaine is a very experienced kids yoga teacher and has taught yoga to hundreds of children in the UK, Australia and Ireland. She is passionate about spreading awareness about the benefits of therapeutic yoga for children with special needs and practiced yoga with many children with Down Syndrome, Autism, ADHD, Dyspraxia, Cerebral Palsy, Learning Difficulties and many other special needs. Elaine has studied directly with the internationally renowned teachers Sonia Sumar (Yoga for Special Child™) and Jo Manuel of Special Yoga London taking intermediate training in special yoga.
