Hello!
My name is Margaret Beck, born in Glasgow, I have lived much of my life in the beautiful part of the world that is West Cumbria.
As a young and curious child I remember finding a Yoga book in my aunt’s bedroom that really caught my interest. That was the beginning of a journey into Yoga – a journey that continues, and has become a source of grounding, connection and deeper awareness throughout my life.
At age eighteen, I began a career in Nursing training as a Registered General Nurse, and then as a Midwife. Following the birth of my first child I worked as a night nurse for Hospice at home, then as a Specialist Breast care nurse. I took a break from nursing completely after the birth of my second child, returning some years later to Hospice at home where I worked as a Complementary therapist for service users.
Alongside my nursing career another journey was unfolding, as I became increasingly interested in complementary approaches to health and wellbeing. Initially I trained in massage and reflexology, followed by aromatherapy. It was while working as a Breast Care Nurse that I discovered Reiki. I began learning this ancient healing practice and completed my Reiki Master training in 1999.
Throughout this time my own yoga practice continued to develop and was very supportive of all the experiences life graced me with. In 2004 I began my British Wheel of Yoga 500 hour Teacher training In Windermere with Betina Mitchell; I had realised that I wished to share the gifts of yoga with others. It was a deeply transformative process and I graduated in 2008. Since then I have been privileged to teach yoga in Cumbria to a variety of students, with differing abilities and have now been teaching yoga for almost 20 years. Across those years my understanding of yoga as a way of life that can support health and wellbeing through different stages and challenges has deepened. My own experience of the many tools yoga has to offer, evolving through years of sustained personal practice, ongoing study, and therapeutic training. I was very fortunate to spend a year studying with Julie Friedeberger, whose wisdom and teaching continues to quietly inform my work.
Encouraged by my own first hand experience to dive deeper into the mind I began training in mindfulness around 2009. I went on to train in different aspects of mindfulness, whilst studying alongside and completing my Postgraduate Diploma in Studies in Mindfulness.
With reflection I see how these two paths were never really separate, rather they were intertwined. My experience of working in clinical healthcare and palliative care taught me about the physical realities of illness, suffering, treatment, recovery, death and dying. It also taught me about the importance of compassionate human connection. My exploration of complementary and contemplative practices opened my understanding of other ways of supporting wellbeing, resilience and our relationship with ourselves.
Yoga has become the meeting point where these two approaches can perhaps support one another.
Having completed the Professional Diploma in Yoga Therapy with The minded Institute, completing 600 hours of specialist training, and becoming a qualified Yoga therapist; my understanding of whole-person wellbeing, and the value of an individualised yoga practice has deepened. My work as a yoga therapist aims to bring all of these strands together, I offer a compassionate, and non-judgemental space for you to explore what matters most to you. Together we can move closer to what supports you to live well and fully, using the toolbox of yoga, alongside enquiry within a therapeutic space, to transform the stumbling blocks into stepping stones towards resilience and resourcefulness.
If you are curious to about Yoga Therapy and whether it might be right for you, you’re welcome to book a free introductory call.
“If you are looking for encouragement and inspiration Margaret offers invaluable guidance. Her kindness, her wisdom and extensive experience with the various tools of iRest; lend support as you explore your own unique journey”
Kirsten Guest, director of Teacher certification
Qualifications:
2003 Birthlight mother and baby yoga teacher.
2005-2008 BWY 500 hrs Teaching Diploma.
2011 BWY yoga for people Living with Cancer.
2011 One year Mindfulness Training.
2012 One year Compassion Training.
2012 Mindfulness Teaching skills training (Mindfulness Association).
2015 Specialist Teacher Training for MBCT for cancer ( Bangor University).
2017 BWY Postnatal Yoga Teacher.
2018 Well Woman Yoga Therapy Teacher Training.
2020 PgDip in studies in Mindfulness (Aberdeen university).
2020 iRest® certified Yoga Nidra meditation teacher.
2020 Yoga in Healthcare Alliance certified Teacher.
2021 Menopause Yoga Teacher.
2023-present Yoga Therapy Training:600 Hour Professional Diploma with The Minded Institute.
