I believe that the rich ethical principles and practices of Yoga and Buddhism are meant to be easily accessible to everyone to facilitate health and personal growth.
In 2015, I founded THE YOGI, an award-winning wellness blog and mobile studio. The first of my teachings were based on the standard eight auxiliaries of Rāja Yoga (Pātañjala Yoga), traditional Haṭha Yoga, Dr Pillai's system of kriyā, prāṇāyāma and meditation, with a spiritual blessing from Svāmī Śivānanda Paramahaṃsa (of Kerala, India). Later classes combined meditation (dhyāna) with physical exercises (āsana), deep relaxation (śavāsana & nidrā), mindfulness, breathing and purification techniques (prāṇāyāma & kriyā) as well as lifestyle guidance (yamas & niyamas) to promote physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, overall health, clarity, balance and peace.
Paula Kaminska, Teacher & Founder at THE YOGI.
At THE YOGI, every part of an individual is perceived as intimately interconnected and fully understood only within the context of the whole. In this holistic approach, all aspects of one's whole being are nourished and balanced through the heightened awareness and integration of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual self-development. Intending to experience balance within every aspect of one's being, it's a way of life that anyone can put into practice!
AVAILABLE SERVICES
Research Papers
Philosophy Talks
Events & Festivals
Yoga Retreats
Mindfulness Yoga
Corporate Yoga
Yoga for Sports
Haṭha Yoga
TOP YOGA BENEFITS
(as reported by my students)
Feeling joyful & energised
Improved health & wellbeing
Better stress management
Clear thinking
Feeling calm & relaxed
Work-life balance
Elevated compassion
Better sleep
Improvements to stamina
Strength & flexibility
Corrected body posture
A great supplement to sports activities
TESTIMONIALS
Testimonials
“A very well-informed and insightful essay. It draws on a truly impressive range of primary sources, introduced effectively through quotations. Likewise, the essay draws on a good selection of high-end secondary sources which serve as a framing narrative for the examination of the primary sources. Most of the interpretations are balanced and reveal careful reflection. The essay makes some use of the footnotes for layering and thus introduces texture in the exposition.”Professor Ulrich Pagel
“This is a very solid piece of work which provides a persuasive, well organised and thorough answer to the set question. The essay is very well structured, fluently written, and the argument is developed in a deft and economic fashion. All in all, a thoughtful and well-formulated piece of work with a comprehensive engagement with the relevant literature. Your essay is a careful, nuanced piece of work. Very well done!”Dr Sian Hawthorne
“In many ways this is a truly outstanding essay. It is well paced, carefully argued and draws on many excellent sources. The individual ideas are neatly held together by a strong master narrative. The paper draws on an impressive range of primary sources from which it quotes at several key junctures. The level of engagement is very high indeed, producing many original ideas and careful scrutiny. Clearly, a great deal of though has gone into this paper: there is not a single paragraph or section that drops from the high level.”Professor Ulrich Pagel
“Paula is an excellent yoga teacher – so relaxing and calming. I have really enjoyed working with her and the classes she has facilitated have been well received by our team.”Beth Rogers
You instantly warm to Paula. She had a natural calmness and bubbly charm that makes you want to find out more. A talented yoga teacher introducing a diverse range of skills and techniques to cater for all abilities and tastes. I’ve been practicing yoga for a while and found this still reached quite deep. I left feeling refreshed and inspired with a natural curiosity for more. Paula is a delight.”Lynne Sander
“Paula has a remarkable talent at creating a safe and peaceful environment for attendees to relax in, suitable for a mixed ability group. We look forward to many more yoga sessions.”Samantha Chidley
“Love your classes! It is not something I had ever thought about doing before, but am hooked now. I think it really complements the other activities I do and makes me feel great.”Andrew Rowe
“Thank you for this incredible experience and your generous gift of your time. Exceeded all expectations. I loved this yoga session and look forward to more.”Tanya Harris
“Paula's passion for yoga comes across in all her teaching. She is dedicated to her own learning, development and growth and is creative and clear in her yoga instruction.”Annie Metcalfe
“It is mentally light and airy – the class teacher keeps it very open. Whilst the movements can be difficult the whole experience is one of a feeling of strength and openness.”Anonymous
“My flexibility is terrible from years of heavy weight training. Yoga has totally loosened me up and corrected my caveman posture!”Sam Wrigglesworth
“Paula has been an excellent student. She is a very good communicator, is well liked by her peers and has already begun teaching yoga in her community.”Duncan Hulin
“Paula has definitely changed my life for the better through her passion for yoga and our yoga practice!”Maureen Gori de Murden
“Lovely (generous!) teaching, weather that held perfectly through the session, beautiful view. Lovely atmosphere. Thank you very much!”Olivia F
MY METHODS & APPROACHES
Academic Research
Ethics
Sanskrit
Cognitive Science
Mindfulness
Counselling
Sattvic/Plant Diet
Prāṇāyāma & Kriyā
Rāja Yoga
Haṭha Yoga
Karma Yoga
Bhakti Yoga
My deep interest in personal development was revealed very early with a love for martial arts.
I was drawn by recurring themes of spiritual and philosophical development achievable through individual meditation and training. There was a particular recognition of self-consciousness, intent, inner peace, breathing techniques and medicinal practices.
MY BACKGROUND
I am a registered, insured and fully qualified Holistic Yoga Teacher trained by the Devon School of Yoga (500 hours), following on from successful completion of the DSY's Foundation Yoga program.
"The word 'Mahatma' it means great soul
and it's inside of us just waiting to unfold."
MC Yogi, musician
In 2008, I completed my first Yoga-based personal development program with the Art of Living Foundation which inspired me with a desire to join the community of teachers.
Since then I have been seeking out my path through various schools of Buddhism, Yoga, relaxation, meditation, mindfulness, personal development, and psychology.
MY LINEAGE
My Yoga lineage can be traced back to Svāmī Śivānanda Paramahaṃsa, the founder of the Siddha Samaj path. He greatly influenced Dr B. Padmanabha Pillai in his early years, who soon became a Yoga and martial arts adept. In 1949, Dr Pillai became the director of the Institute of Yogic Culture in Kerala, India.
The principal teacher, founder and director of the Devon School of Yoga, Duncan Hulin, spent three consecutive Winters in South India studying with Dr Pillai. Duncan's input into the world of Yoga inspired me to move to the South West of England in 2013, where his school is based. I have been learning Duncan's approach to Yoga ever since then.
Svāmī Śivānanda Paramahaṃsa
India
Dr B. Padmanabha Pillai
India
Duncan Hulin
United Kingdom
ON MY WELLBEING BLOG...
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