My name is Claire and I am the founder /Director of Forest Yogi Minds.
I live with my husband and two boys in Dorset where I was born. When I have been away studying or living in Spain I have always come back to Dorset. I feel we have so much on our doorstep in terms of the Great outdoors and are able to access so many different types of landscapes such as the Jurassic coast, the beach, the New Forest, and the rolling hills and greenery of our lovely country side. we are so lucky to live here. Dorset kept calling me home!
We love animals and have a dog, two cats a tortoise so we are a busy household with lots going on!
I love spending time out and about in nature, sea dipping, paddle-boarding and yoga are some of my favourite things to do.
I created Forest Yogi Minds as a company in 2019 whilst I was still a classroom teacher.
I first started primary teaching in 2003 and have experience across nursery; primary and years 7,8 and 9. My teaching was in mainstream and special educational needs schools. I was previously a nursery nurse back in 1995. (Wow ages ago!) I’ve always been interested in development and learning and people!
Nature for me is a key component to a more peaceful and calm life and mind as well as providing a sense of well-being. I have always LOVED being outside and incorporating nature within my planning where possible. So whilst still teaching I studied for my first children’s yoga qualification and my Forest School Level 3 Leader qualification.
Having worked with children since 1995 I felt there was a need for more than just regular teaching in school; a need to address the whole child and well-being and provide opportunities to develop life skills that go well beyond the classroom.
I felt drawn to and also completed children’s mindfulness training with The British Mindfulness Institute. This complimented my qualification as children’s yoga teacher which was completed through Kids Rainbow Yoga training.
I also hold a forest school first aid qualification , level 2 food hygiene and a DBS and regularly keep up to date on allergy training, safeguarding and relevant courses.
When competing by forest school training the importance for me of the ethos being based around holistic development just sang to me as it covers all elements of the learner, and the starting point is wherever they are at in at that moment. The flexibility of approach and learner led focus is also a key element of running successful sessions as the session is therefore accessible and suitable for all…wherever they are in their development. I am continuously learning within this role and I love that.
I feel very grateful to be able to do what I love and am grateful to the other leaders who work alongside me to provide sessions that encapsulate the forest school essence.
Forest School, Yoga and Mindfulness 