Hi, I’m Mel

I’m the founder and teacher at Stretching Horizons Yoga, specialising in resilience, recovery and results through yoga. I help busy people and recreational athletes build flexibility, focus and vitality in both body and mind.

I’m active and curious, always keen to try new things. As a business change manager by day, I understand how people and systems must stay flexible and adaptable, and how challenging it can be to change or try something new. I design sessions that are practical, accessible and tailored to the needs of each group. Yoga has given me tools for personal development and physical wellbeing, and I’m passionate about sharing those tools so you can navigate the demands of modern life with more ease, energy and resilience.

How yoga helps me

I run, lift, cycle and swim. I train hard (sometimes too hard!). Adding yoga into my routine has reduced stiffness, improved mobility and given me better breath control. I get fewer injuries, recover faster between sessions, and step into races and competitions feeling sharper, calmer and more confident.

Spending long hours sitting leaves me feeling stiff, drained and unfocused. Add the constant pressure of deadlines, targets and workplace politics and sometimes I’m mentally depleted before the day’s even done. That combination of physical tension and cognitive overload erodes my focus, patience and decision-making, making the whole day feel heavier. A short, targeted yoga session addresses both so I can return to work with greater clarity and presence, able to perform at a high level without burning out.

I often feel restless and over‑stimulated. If I’m constantly “on,” juggling work and life, my sleep can be disturbed. Yoga teaches me to recognise unhelpful thought patterns, slow my mind and restore calm. I sleep better, think clearer and move through my day with more focus and energy. I embrace simple, practical practices that help me unplug, recover and perform at my best.

My Approach

My classes combine practical movement with targeted work on flexibility, mobility and recovery to support the physical, mental and emotional demands of modern day life, work and sport. I design classes and programmes that fit around hectic schedules and deliver clear progress; better mobility, sharper concentration and faster recovery.

People choose me for effective, evidence-informed sessions that are pragmatic. Whether you want to increase range of motion, bounce back quicker from training, or perform with greater calm and clarity, I provide tools and routines you can use straight away.

Whether you’re new to yoga or an experienced mover, my aim is to help you stretch your limits, restore energy, and leave feeling balanced, resilient and empowered.

Evidence informed classes

My Qualifications

  • 200 hour teacher training

  • MSc Sport and Exercise

  • Prosci Certified Change Practitioner

  • Change Management Foundation and Practitioner

Yoga knowledge I draw on:

  • The Yoga Sutras of Patanjali (Alan Shearer)

  • Science of Yoga (Ann Swanson)

  • Yoga Body (Mark Singleton)

  • Teaching Yoga (Donna Farhi)

  • The concise human body (Steve Parker)

  • Yoga Sequencing (Mark Stephens)

  • Yoga Anatomy 3rd Edition (Leslie Kaminoff & Amy Matthews)

  • The Yoga Bible (Christina Brown)

  • The Science of Yoga (William J. Broad)

  • The Heart of Yoga: Developing a Personal Practice (T.K.V. Desikachar)

  • The Yoga Sutras of Patenjali (Sri Swami Satchidananda)

Other influences:

  • Even with your shoes on (Helen Hall)

  • Breath (James Nestor)

  • Atlas of the Heart (Brene Brown)

  • Dare to Lead (Brene Brown)

  • The Consolations of Philosophy (Alain De Botton)

  • Switch on Your Brain (Dr Caroline Leaf)

General FAQs

1

Why Practice in the Morning?

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’m an early riser and I value the quiet calm of being up while the world sleeps. That time gives me space to tune in, to notice how my body and mind feel that morning, gently wake my systems, and gain clarity about the day ahead. I use that awareness to set realistic priorities and adapt my plan to match my energy. After the practice I feel lighter, more positive and ready to tackle the day.

I deliberately avoid my phone and other distractions, which helps the calm last and improves my mood. Practically, doing this routine first thing ensures it happens before the day’s busy-ness takes over or I become too tired or tempted to procrastinate in the evening.

Why Practice Outdoors?

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I choose to practise outdoors because I love beginning my day with a cup of tea and some movement in my garden. It helps to reset my body clock, which supports better sleep. Fresh air, natural light and open space let my body move more freely and my mind refocus on the day ahead. Outdoor practice also subtly challenges balance, stability and concentration, while being in nature lifts my mood and restores energy on a deeper level. There is a growing evidence base of the positive impact that “green health” has on health and wellbeing.

Why choose the name Stretching Horizons?

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I chose the name stretching Horizons because it describes what yoga has done for me in everyday terms. I started yoga for the obvious physical reasons: I thought I should be able to touch my toes, I needed to stretch, etc but what kept me was how it changed the way I operate day to day. Yoga makes me feel better about myself and about life. It has given me more vitality, faster recovery, clearer decision-making and the adaptability to handle pressure and overwhelm. Over time it transformed me from tense and reactive to focused and resilient. Stretching Horizons is about expanding your capacity: to move with ease, think with clarity and face what’s in front of you with calm confidence.