I was in my 50ies, when this very special moment happened! Yoga entered my life and it became a passion, a source of deep and great joy, of increased vitality and enthusiasm, uplifting and enhancing every moment. It  changed the flow of my life. I became a Yoga teacher,  first Hatha yoga, then Kundalini yoga. I acquired as well the  skills as a remedial Yoga therapist and Hormone Yoga teacher.

I like the dynamic flow  of Hatha Yoga sequences and equally the dynamism and spirituality of Kundalini Yoga.

Time passes quickly and in the meantime I am  a Senior, turning 80 in a few month.

i have a special appreciation for all l’ve learned in more than two decades of teaching yoga, how to adapt the practice to older bodies, minds, and  hearts. 

And I practice what I preach. As an older woman, I no longer do or teach poses that present an increased  health risk.

I use props to help  the students with a posture if necessary and I love to work with a chair. ( chair yoga)

To finish a class, a 10-15 min Deep Relaxation, Yoga Nidra, will give the students a feeling of rejuvenation and calmness

Hi, I am a yoga teacher at Atlantic flow, my name is Claire Tilson , I have been teaching yoga at the studio for over 18 years. Ever since I was six years old, I knew I wanted to be a yoga teacher. I stepped onto my first yoga mat at age 15, and I’ve been a dedicated yogi since 1996. Yoga has been my sanctuary, a practice that centers me and carries me through life’s ups and downs. I love the breathing and I love teaching breathing (pranayama), I love the physical and mental release you get in a pose and the way they resonate within, radiating strength, sometimes even pain, and peace into my body and soul, I teach this awareness in my class too. I love the community that yoga fosters, a space for connection, growth, and self-awareness.

Yoga, at its core, is about understanding oneself. I believe everyone, should practice yoga, my classes are designed to hold a space for anyone who gets onto a mat, regardless of age, shape, or background. I believe everyone in the room dictates the energy, you might not get what you want in my class but you might get what you need…. That’s my one philosophy for my class and the other is “the body speaks to those who listen!” I often feel modern marketing often glamorises the physical aspects, sometimes distorting what yoga truly is. It’s far more than a trendy workout, it’s a holistic philosophy rooted in tradition and spiritual growth and that’s what I offer.

After attending a festival and learning a very modern, flashy routine, I few days later I went  to my ashram in Cape Town to teach a class. I demonstrated three postures as part of a sequence, and in that moment, I had a profound clarity “what am I really doing here?” I realised I was in a sacred space, and it was important to honor that. I decided to set aside the superficial, festival style routines and focus on preserving the integrity and depth of yoga. This was a turning point for me an affirmation to keep my practice authentic and rooted in its true spirit, drawing from my training, my yoga influences, and my background in kinesiology. I aim to honor the discipline’s purity and depth.

I have been privileged to learn from the teachings of Sivananda yoga, which I consider one of the most authentic forms. True yoga should be practiced on a stable, even surface to prevent injury and that’s why I teach in a studio and not on the beach. 

My personal relationship with yoga has seen it carry me through anxiety, grief, and even the near loss of a child. It’s been my anchor, my refuge and my best friend. Through yoga, I’ve learned that I am my own greatest ally. I believe yoga’s true essence lies in its spiritual and healing benefits, and it deserves respect as a sacred, transformative practice, and that is what I offer. Yoga is medicine for life….. and more …. yoga is a holistic approach to unity of body, mind, and soul. A lot of my focuse is on the practice of simple, classical postures (asanas), with a few sequences, breathing exercises (pranayama), relaxation, and meditation to promote health and spiritual growth. My classes are accessible to all levels and seek to foster a space to hold you, through the pose and through your life journey. If you resonate stay , if you don’t find your teacher!