Lucinda Beatty
200-hour Course Leader
Luci was immersed in art from a very young age, which manifested in a range of media. Her photography took her all over the world for more than a decade and she currently is Head of the Art Department at a Central London school.
Luci is proof that yoga starts at any age. She began practicing yoga after receiving a book about natural healing on her 40th birthday that included a 12-week Iyengar based course. After a few months of self-practice, she switched to Ashtanga Vinyasa.
A couple of years after that infamous book landed in her lap, Luci travelled in India for 3 months, studying with various teachers. Following that, she taught drawing at Purple Valley as well as at Yoga Plus. After a decade of practicing yoga, she knew she had to pass on the practice that she loves. Within a week she committed to a YogaLondon 1-year course and two years after that, she did an apprenticeship under Rahoul. She’s now the Course Leader on the 1-year 200-hour course.
For Luci, art and yoga fit well together – she finds that drawing from the environment is a meditative process, bringing the present moment into focus. Being taught by Luci is similar to this sensation: outside distractions drop away and an inner stillness takes over.
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Francesca Sanlorenzo
200-hour Course Leader
Francesca grew up in Milan where she studied Art and Photography before moving to London. In her mid-20’s, she was invited to the Benetton’s Centre for Communication where she worked with Oliviero Toscani and other artists from around the world. Upon returning to London, she started a multi-media company with her partner called ‘Cacao’. They worked on social documentation and educational projects, including working with young people facing challenging circumstances. In 2005, Francesca was chosen to run the Art & Design department in Abbey Manor College for students outside of mainstream education. She has been teaching there ever since and was nominated as a finalist in the 2010 Teaching Award.
As yoga became a mainstay in her life, she found YogaLondon and undertook the 1-year training course. She then began teaching offering private and local classes in South East London. In Autumn 2014, she trained with TeenYoga in an effort to share yoga with her students and teach them the tools to deal with stress and self-regulation.
In 2015 she embarked on her Advanced Teacher Training journey with YogaLondon completing the Body Module, the Philosophy Module, and the Apprentice Module within two years time. Francesca trained in Yoga Nidra with Uma Dismore-Tuli in 2017 and also with the Satyananda School in 2019. During 2018, she studied yoga philosophy with the Oxford Centre for Hindu Studies. She is (clearly!) a keen student, enthusiastic about how much there is to learn in this life.
Francesca’s depth and expanse of knowledge make her a natural 200-hour Course Leader and she excels at teaching the 500-hour Philosophy and Asana Modules. Francesca’s openness about her journey, discoveries and philosophical inquiry appeal to students - her wicked sense of humor is the icing on the cake!
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Jess Leitch
200-hour Course Leader
Jess’ focus, aside from yoga, has been her dedicated work in grassroots community organisations to support some of the most socially disadvantaged people in both Australia and the UK. Her yoga journey began unceremoniously in a gym, where she didn’t instantly feel connected to the practice. However, with a little faith, dedication and patience, eight years later she found herself on a 200-hr teacher training in Bali. Jess has completed two separate 200-hr teacher trainings, one in Hatha Yoga based on T. Krishnamacharya’s approach, and the other with YogaLondon. Jess has also obtained a Pregnancy and Post-Natal Certification with YogaLondon and more recently completed a Yoga for Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Training with The Minded Institute, building on her extensive knowledge of working with people who have complex needs. Jess’ own personal story is one of overcoming social disadvantage and adversity. She feels it’s her Dharma to offer the gift of yoga to people who may not have the means to access it otherwise.
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Marta Simonetti
200-hour Course Leader
Marta grew up in Italy, living between Milan and Umbria. She moved to London in 1994 and studied at the University of Westminster, focusing on foreign language and politics. She’s spent time in Germany, Belgium, Russia, Poland, and the Czech Republic studying political systems and federalism. For years she worked for the European Bank in London. Most recently, she spent 14 months in Asia working on environmental and sustainable energy projects. Not your typical yogi! Marta has trained all over the world with YogaLondon, Sri Dharma Mittra, Denise Payne, and the Brahmin Priest Ratu Bagus focusing on the connection between tantra – yantra – mantra. She serves as Course Leader for YogaLondon on the 200-hour course.
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Jo Harris
200-hour Course Leader
“I’m Jo... I teach...it's fun!”says Jo, which belies how energetic, fun and knowledgeable she truly is. Jo grew up in Guilford, Surrey, and was introduced to yoga in 6th form. She moved to London when she was 19 to attend Central School of Speech and Drama, transferring later to Exeter Uni. The highlight of her week was always her movement classes.
Back in London after uni, she obtained a day job but quickly signed up for a yoga teacher training with YogaLondon. After completing her teacher training she was hired as assistant director for a show and couldn’t wait for it to be over. Afterward, she switched to yoga full-time.
Jo has done all of her training with YogaLondon, completing her 200-hr and Pregnancy TTC. She teaches 10 classes during the weekdays, Postnatal Courses, as well as being Course Leader on the 200-hr and Pregnancy Training for YogaLondon.
Jo recalls that her YL training felt inclusive and encouraging, something she strives to emulate as Course Leader. She wants to help students gain confidence and courage during their TTC, something she herself experienced.
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