Hotpod Yoga
Chesterfield

Graham Roberts

Graham discovered the benefits of yoga later in life and as an antidote to the physical and
mental stresses of working in high pressure leadership roles.  Having spent many years
working to build wellbeing into organisations he qualified as a yoga teacher in July 2023 and
now enjoys helping people enjoy a healthier and happier lifestyle.  Graham has always
enjoyed a good walk and recently backpacked the Camino de Santiago walking 600 miles
across Northern Spain crediting yoga with reducing aches and pains and avoiding
injury.   Graham is passionate about bringing the benefits of yoga to as many people as
possible and loves introducing yoga to beginners and those who are unsure.

Chloe Orwin

Chloe discovered Yoga through nurturing & strengthening her back after suffering with a slipped disc, finding it to be a great tool to incorporate into everyday life
Living in London for a few years and working in a highly stressful, & demanding environment, Yoga was always Chloe’s ‘go to’ to regain back clarity & self control. Chloe has practiced yoga on & off for 8 years, whether in classes or in amazing yoga retreats across the globe. Last year, having the opportunity to travel to India and deepen her practice and knowledge to gain the yoga teacher training certification. Chloe hasn’t looked back since, teaching as soon as she returned to the UK, being able to share all the wonderful tools yoga has to offer. “It is a true passion of mine & I feel everyone should think about incorporating yoga into their lives. It’s a beautiful practice which can benefit your everyday life significantly.
I can’t wait to share my yoga practice with you”.

Kerry McDermott

Kerry came to regular yoga practice as a result of being diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2010, which causes long term chronic pain and fatigue. The heat and atmosphere of the pod meant she was soon coming 3 times a week to the lunchtime classes which fitted in perfectly with her corporate job in Nottingham city centre. Now working at home Kerry missed her regular practice, and started exploring yin yoga. In February 2023 she completed 50 hours Yin training with Canadian Yinster Bernie Clarke. She enjoyed this so much she decided to undertake her 200h YTT, and the only place for this was hotpod HQ in London! Kerry graduated as a Vinyasa flow teacher in December 2023, and things have now come full circle. Kerry currently works in Nottingham Hotpod, and being local to Chesterfield Kerry is looking forward to helping new students deepen their practice.

Jo Stone

Yoga found Jo in her late forties and to say she is passionate about it is an understatement. Previously a keen runner, injury meant that Jo had to find another way of coping with the stresses that life can sometimes throw your way. Yoga enabled her to connect back with her experiencing the transformational power of yoga for herself. Finding a sense of peace and calm on the mat and applying what she was learning on the mat in her life away from the studio. Her love of yoga grew and she wanted to know more about the postures and yoga philosophy. She completed her teacher training in 2022 based on a fusion of Hatha & Vinyasa. Jo has gone on to complete further yoga training in Yin yoga, Chair yoga and becoming a trauma informed practitioner.

Jo firmly believes that yoga is for every body regardless of age, ability and size. Yoga isn’t just for young bendy people, yoga is for everyone. She is keen for people who are curious to come and try our yoga classes in a safe environment. You will always get a very warm welcome from Jo and her classes are inclusive and accessible to all.

Jo is a registered nurse in adult and children’s nursing and until recently worked in higher education for over 18 years. When she’s not on the mat you’ll find Jo spending time in nature, with her family and creating lots of beautiful candles.

Gemma Skilton

Gemma’s love of yoga started many moons ago after experiencing her very first class whilst travelling. Gemma always wanted to be the yogi that could do all the glamourous moves, but it wasn’t until she started seeing the physical and mental benefits of yoga that she really fell in love with the practice. Gemma soon realised that there is so much more to yoga than the aesthetics. “The way it provides an escape from the busy lives we all lead, the space it provides in my body and mind and the positive impact it has on my overall life and wellbeing…”

Alongside yoga classes Gemma hosts retreats, holds women’s and men’s circles, cacao ceremonies and has a reiki treatment room continuing to help people to find balance in the energy body. “The yoga world has so much to offer and I cannot wait to share it with you”

Karen Hallows

Karen’s journey into yoga started when she met a teacher on her travels in Australia
many years ago. This led to years of home practice, but it wasn’t until Karen discovered Ashtanga in 2017 that
she started to develop a love for yoga and was finally able to connect to her own breath and body.
Karen qualified as a teacher in 2020, and her focus is always to encourage people to explore what you need while
on the mat, emphasising the breath and its deep-rooted connection to the body and nervous system.
“I am honoured to be here to guide you on your own journey and to help you have some fun on the way!”

Alice Brashaw

Alice first discovered yoga when at university in London and started doing daily hot classes, soon becoming hooked on the benefits not only for her body, but also the mind.
“I struggle with anxiety and yoga has become my medicine. Throughout my adult life yoga has been a constant source of calm in turbulent times for me, allowing me to draw myself inwards and focus on the movement of my breath and body whilst quieting the mind”. Fast forward a few years, post-Covid and Alice went back to a local studio and took up daily classes again. Eventually one of the teachers asked why she had never considered doing yoga teacher training…and so off Alice went to Bali.

Alice has a love for Ashtanga yoga, which definitely comes across in her teaching of strong flows and focus on alignment.
Alice went back to Bali and did advanced teacher training, helping her to deepen practice and the ability to help you deepen yours.
“I look forward to continuing to grow as a yogi and a teacher in the pod with you all”

Sam Bateman

When Sam was 29 years old she hit burnout, was highly stressed and anxiety sky high. Then she fractured her spine which spiralled her further into a deep depression. After trying medical intervention it only made things feel worse – It was at this point that Sam walked into her first yoga class. “It is no exaggeration when I say yoga saved me”

Sam continued to practiced through both of her pregnancies, until life got very busy and yoga took a side line to family life. Around 7 years ago she started to practice again, slowly building her interest and love of yoga. In 2019 Sam took foundations of yoga and signed up to a 200hr teacher training with Dylan Ayaloo. Due to covid the training took nearly 18 months to complete but she came out the other side confident and excited to teach others what she had experienced many years before. Since then Sam has completed certifications in Embodied Yin with Janine leagh, Menopause Yoga with Perta Coveney, Gravity Yoga with Lucas Rockwood, Assisting and Adjustments with Taran Boynton, Functional Anatomy with Dr Yogi, Asana deconstruction and skilful teaching with Adam Hustler. Sam has practiced with Ana Forrest in Oslo and sung kirtan with Krishna Das in London. Sam is a student oriented instructor and is passionate about bringing yoga to my community and beyond.

Chris Wilkinson

Chris found yoga many years ago as a way of balancing a busy life style – With a background in nursing he wanted to take well-being in a different direction so completed his Yoga Teacher Training. Chris enjoys helping people get back to their natural state using the breath and the body.