People associated with the Life Foundation UK

Chris Barrington

CEO of Life Foundation School of Therapeutics and Co-founder of Life Foundation, as well as Director of the schools of Dru Yoga and Dru Meditation

My greatest enthusiasm lies in discovering the remarkable, and very subtle, inter-relationship between thoughts, emotions and physical health. I started my career as a maths teacher within the challenging inner-city neighbourhoods of Birmingham, where my background in meditation and yoga made it possible to help students even from the toughest backgrounds.

From the late 1980s onwards, I’ve been instrumental in designing and delivering our Dru Yoga Teacher Training courses - which are now being used in 3 continents - and more recently our Dru Meditation Teacher Training courses. It’s always exhilarating watching students graduate from these courses and go on to become renowned teachers in their own arenas.

I love meditation in all its forms, and have enjoyed taking it into the lives of corporate leaders in seminars and conferences across Europe and Australasia. When I’m not teaching, designing new courses or attending to the needs of our activities in the UK, my favourite activity has to be getting out my guitar and having a great singsong with my best friends – or anyone else who happens to be around!

Samia Begum

Senior Graphic Designer, Marketing Manager, as well as working as playwright, stage director and stage-lighting designer.

My ultimate passion in life is wonderfully expressed in the roles that I have within the Life Foundation. It’s a win-win. I love empowering the innate creativity that people have inside them – and then creating a platform for them to express it - wherever they are and whatever they’re doing.

I graduated from university with a Chemistry degree, but my interest in people soon took me into marketing and theatre. I’ve been involved with the LF for about 20 years, although only full time for about 16. They were an invaluable support during my chronic fatigue years (between 1995 and 1998) and life has just got better everyday since then! Having grown up in inner city Birmingham, there’s not a day goes past where I don’t appreciate living beautiful North Wales – and I don’t go walking half as much as I should.

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Lynda Binks

Previously Administrator of the Dru Yoga Teacher Training Courses, now managing the wholefood section of a health food business.

I love being in a position where I can offer wholesome, nourishing food to people as well as encouraging them to be more adventurous with the food they prepare for themselves. My passion is to make my working life exemplify my philosophy, and so have explored self sufficiency, community living, being a Reflexology practitioner and managing a 10 acre organic plot with an emphasis upon wildlife conservation.

My journey here came via the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with tours of duty in London, Burma and Pakistan, extensive travelling across Asia and South America and a variety of other jobs. I enjoy being with people who want to give more than they take from the world and spent 8 years working at a Quaker Study Centre where people from around the world came to live and study together. It was awe inspiring to live alongside people who were working hard to bring peace and better life situations to their communities often in very personally dangerous situations.

Ruth Boaler

Currently senior co-ordinator / tutor for Dru Yoga teacher training programmes in the UK. Works for the NHS as a senior physiotherapist in the West Midlands.

Twenty years ago during my physiotherapy training in London I first came across Dru Yoga. Having already been practicing other forms of yoga for some time I was struck immediately by its combined depth and simplicity. I couldn’t wait to do the teacher training course but had no idea at that time that I would be training others in this wonderful approach in just a few years. I have now worked with the Life Foundation team since the late eighties and have had the privilege of watching hundreds of students on our training courses becoming sought-after teachers in many countries of the world.

I have witnessed the profound benefits of Dru Yoga as a healing tool for so many of my patients and colleagues that I heartily agree with the statement that Dr Hilary Jones recently made – that Dru Yoga should be available in every GP surgery.

When I’m not engaged in teaching-related activities, I love walking, dancing and all kinds of music.

Alison Boyle

Management, human resources and teaching Dru Yoga and Dru Meditation Teacher Training Courses.

Prior to working with the Life Foundation, I worked for 17 years as an Occupational Therapist (OT), seven of those as a head OT running three different hospital departments. My main clinical work in Spinal Cord Injuries, was both fascinating and challenging. Seeing the total trauma and crisis in patients, their families and friends, I started wondering what more could be done to help them mentally, emotionally and also spiritually, as well as physically. My enquiries led me to complimentary therapies and yoga – to Dru Yoga and the Life Foundation.
I’ve worked with the Life Foundation for 15 years now and never looked back. My work brings together so many of my previous skills and much more - working with people on all levels as a whole, enabling them to help themselves, not just focusing on one aspect of their lives. I am able to do what I always wanted to do – care for people and teach, it’s great.

I love my work and the many friends I have. I often say I could not see myself doing anything else now. Last year my mum became ill and I went home to help my dad. I stayed three months nursing mum at home until she peacefully passed away. My dad, sister, brother and I were so touched and very grateful that my colleagues at the Life Foundation covered for me for so long with no hassle. I was able to be with my mum and family no matter how long it would be. I do not know of many employers who would be so helpful and supportive.

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Maggie Brizzi

Dru Yoga teacher, London Dru Yoga Course Administrator and Reflexologist

My background is mainly in business, having run a successful Central London restaurant for 15 years. In addition, since graduating in languages from Westminster University in 1982, I’ve been a translator for the NHS, Yorkshire TV and the Life Foundation amongst others.

I’ve followed Yoga since my teens and since discovering Dru Yoga in 1998 and realising how well it worked for me I am now helping others to experience it. I’m also very interested in peace, and am currently on the executive committee of the ‘Week of Prayer for World Peace’, which is dedicated to helping people from different faiths come together in their endeavours to work towards peace between their communities and in their prayer for peace.

Jane Clapham

Currently directs the Life Foundation UK’s office and administrative teams, as well as teaching on the Dru Yoga and Dru Meditation Teacher Training courses. Founder of the Life Foundation’s youth programmes and author of a wide variety of musical CDs.

I first started doing Dru Yoga when I was fifteen and stressed out with school exams. Now, twenty-one years later, I get so much satisfaction from seeing yoga give so much relief to other young people!

I’ve developed the Life Foundation’s youth projects, and over the years have organised many international youth trainings. One of the most memorable was in 1999 when we sponsored young people from every continent and many walks of life to come to Wales for thee weeks. We taught yoga, meditation, and peacemaking qualities. The highlight was when we organised a supermarket collection of seven tonnes of food and medical supplies for refugees in Kosovo – all within a week!

Another of my passions is music, and my childhood training in classical music has helped me appreciate Indian ragas. I am my happiest leading this kind of singing – it’s such a great way to de-stress.

My training in psychology helped develop my interest in what makes people tick. I am fascinated watching science quantify body-mind medicine; yoga has been teaching its benefits for thousands of years. Now, in my mid-thirties, I love training yoga and meditation teachers. I also enjoy keeping in touch with them and edit Dru News regularly.

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Kate Couldwell

Human resources manager, manager of Dru Publications, Dru Meditation and Yoga teacher and therapist.

Dru Yoga and meditation came to my rescue in my mid thirties when I was being forced to wake up to the fact that my body could no longer cope with the challenges of running a family and directing a busy adult education department in the way it had once done. Dru rapidly became my passion as I discovered that not only was I becoming more energised, I was also learning to be more relaxed in the face of difficulties and change, and gaining a heightened understanding of how we function as human beings – and I could see that this was the knowledge that was being sought by many, many people.

In the intervening 22 years, I have taught Dru Yoga and meditation in many different settings. I particularly enjoy helping people to develop their own individual lifestyle and health programmes, incorporating different aspects of Dru Yoga, meditation, positive thinking and complementary healing techniques.

Sian Edwards

Currently Finance Manager for the Life Foundation, seminar leader, and has filled many roles over the years including co-ordinating and teaching Dru Yoga in London for two years.

Born in Bangor, North Wales in 1962. I graduated from Aberystwyth university with a law degree and then worked for a Welsh independent film company, Ffilmiau'r Nant, and also a training company for Welsh television, Cyfle.

I started attending Dru Yoga classes in the mid-80s and was so impressed by the way Dru Yoga helped my mother, who had cancer, that I chose to train as a Dru Yoga teacher. Through Dru Yoga my whole world has opened up on all levels. I enjoy singing, walking by the sea and watching international rugby matches!

Rita Goswami

Director of LFST UK, Co-founder of the Life Foundation

I think my first interests in empowering people to find their own solutions formed while I was growing up in Uganda (we emigrated weeks before Idi Amin seized power), and then later working as an advocate in an advice centre for immigrants on immigration law and welfare rights. After co-founding the Life Foundation and specialising in nursing, I’ve worked for many years to pioneer efforts with health professionals to create an integrated approach to complementary and orthodox medicines.

Some years ago I was part of a tour that travelled to 40 countries in most cultures, which taught me that no matter how many cultures and faiths you visit, people everywhere have the same aspirations and strive for the same things. The book, ‘The Dance Between Joy and Pain’, very much arose out of these experiences, as well as our Pathfinders courses which I led during the last decade.

Above all, after teaching and training so many thousands of people over the years, the biggest conclusion I can draw is that there are kind people everywhere. Everyone, in their own way, is simply looking for their highest and best.

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Joan Mary Groves

Dru Yoga teacher trainer and seminar leader. Staff welfare co-director as well as assistant administrator.

Born in Birmingham in 1936, I have qualified with Honours in Art, travelled extensively and had more than 30 years experience teaching yoga. After my three children grew up, and after a brief experience with cancer, I began working with the Life Foundation full time. Since then I’ve toured and taught seminars throughout England, Scotland and Wales, as well as following my love of natural approaches to healing through the Bach Flower Remedies.

Now that I am older I have plenty of time to paint and write and to help any one who needs it. My family, Pippa, Imogen and Tom appear to be very proud of what I’m doing and very happy that I’m leading such a fulfilling and useful life. The opportunity to travel has been one of my greatest joys. I’ve travelled all over Britain and Wales and been 5 times with groups to India! I may be the oldest one in the team, but I feel much loved and looked after!

Ned Hartfiel

Manages and promotes events, tours and courses involving Dru Yoga, Meditation, and Health

I first experienced Dru Yoga in Washington, DC more than 15 years ago when I was a research assistant for a national educational association. Within weeks, my headaches disappeared, my low back pain diminished and my energy levels were much higher. I was so impressed with the results of Dru Yoga that in the mid-1990s, I came to the UK for the Dru Yoga Teacher Training Course.

During the past decade, I have taught Dru Yoga throughout the world, mostly in the United States and Canada, as well as graduating as a nurse in the UK. I love bringing Dru Yoga to more and more people, seeing people become happier and healthier. When not talking on the phone, I enjoy walking in the mountains, going to the beach, singing, dancing and being with good friends.

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Julie Hotchkiss

Health & nutrition therapist who has pioneered health, yoga and lifestyle courses in Europe and North America, as well as managing a natural food & health business.

Originally trained in catering, over the years I have facilitated teams to provide thousands of healthy vegetarian meals at the Life Foundation's major events. Currently I run a health store with its own online natural health information resource & shop with a focus on sourcing and supplying the highest quality natural and organic superfoods and remedies from across the world. Personally I enjoy empowering people to take control of their life and find their own ways of maintaining their own health and wellbeing.

I've lead hundreds of seminars in the fields of health, wellbeing and yoga and have always found that teaching broadens my own experience of life. I love subjects that take me beyond my understanding, and have had the opportunity of studying with some of the most forward thinking and influential people in the UK & the USA. When I'm relaxing, I enjoy swimming, astrology, and exploring new areas of knowledge.

Annie Jones

Founder member of Life Foundation, helping to establish Dru Yoga in the UK twenty years ago. Runs courses, retreats and seminars in UK and Europe. Author of a number of books, DVDs and videos based on yoga and health.

I began yoga many years ago when I was undertaking a teacher training course in North Wales specialising in P.E. My passion has always been in Health Education and I experienced yoga as the most complete approach to health that I had ever come across. I’ve also worked in the health food field, and have developed a real love for approaches to healing that include nutrition.

I am committed to bringing health to Wales as it is the country of my origin and family. I love its people, its culture and continue to enjoy singing its rich musical songs and ballads with my twin sister. My aim is to take the concept of health into the Welsh Community and business world in the future.

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Susan Kulas

Currently facilitates workshops & DRU teacher training courses in the UK, USA & Canada & offers personal mentoring and customized workshops.

I have enjoyed singing and songwriting ever since my father persuaded me at the age of 4 that he would drive for as long as I would sing! I also love to walk & camp in nature, and having grown up in both the UK and Poland, I have a natural love for the cultures of both Eastern and Western Europe. I enjoy fine architecture & have a deep love of the natural world and life in all its cultural forms, people, animals and plants!

I started my therapeutic career as an Occupational Therapist and qualified DRU Yoga Teacher 19 years ago, gaining a broad working experience in many different health care specialties within the UK Health Care system. I specialized in Mental Health & Pain Management, facilitating both individual and group work. My ongoing source of inspiration is an innate trust that developed early in my career that “whoever walks into the room, no matter what their problem, they bring with them their own solution”. I enjoy offering people a complement of conventional & yogic knowledge which I find offers infinite ways to work with the physical body, breath, emotions as well as focusing the mind and upliftg the human spirit.

Sandra Leary

Dru Yoga teacher trainer, seminar presenter and retail manager.

I was a hairdresser after leaving school, worked with the Elderly for a couple of years and then went into factory work, working for McVites at the age of 22. I was always interested in yoga and there I met a friend who practised it. Since that very first yoga class I was hooked.

I have done Hatha Yoga, and also Iyengar. At the age of 29 I found Dru Yoga and started the three year training course followed by Pathfinders for 6 years. By that time I was connected with a core group of Dru Yoga teachers and we would come together each week and organise seminars around Scotland.

I have found such an amazing group of friends since I met the Life Foundation. I’ve gained confidence, courage, so many of my dreams have come true by applying the tools which I’ve learnt and now teach.

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Sue Lonsdale

Teaches on the Dru Yoga Teacher Training Course, runs local yoga classes and teaches seminars in England, Wales and Scotland, as well as assisting in the administration of teacher training courses.

I came to yoga in my 30s as a mother of two and a housewife, and am now a proud grandmum. I trained in secretarial skills as well as shop work and enjoy working in a health food business on a part time basis. I have always been inspired to search for something deeper in my life and yoga and meditation have provided me with such richness and inspiration to move forward in my life.

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