Tidal Edinburgh Yoga Teachers: Alex Black

Hello, my name is Alex and I am qualified to teach Hatha yoga, Vinyasa Flow and Yoga for Pregnancy. I am registered and insured with the Yoga Alliance.

I first discovered yoga in my early 20’s, I’d go to the local gym with friends and we would do our step aerobics and on the way home I passed a studio and through the window would see people practicing yoga. Intrigued, I finally went in and had a go. From that moment on I was hooked. At this stage I practiced Hatha Yoga, and then began to enjoy the demands of Ashtanga Yoga. Life moved on and during pregnancies I found yoga a really useful tool and the breathing (pranayama) got me through the births of my children.  

I have left yoga a number of times but have always gone back and in 2017/18 my family lost significant people, this set us all back, I was mentally and physically exhausted and my body hurt, my yoga practice had to change significantly. However, it was the one thing I could hold agency over, I could roll out my mat, begin, breath, maybe include some asana and meditation and end. I slowly began to find a balance again and I am so grateful that I persevered, stayed with the mat and kept practising. I trained as a yoga instructor as a result of this period in my life.