A little about us…

Our approach is child-centred, trauma informed, creative, compassionate and playful. Sessions empower young people to explore their inner and outer world, feeling more connected and content. Our vision is for as many young people to have the opportunity to be empowered by this approach. We believe all young people are unique and know what they need- we just support them in this realisation.

We have extensive experience of working in various settings and with other professional organisations. We are committed to working ethically, and have regular supervision.

Gemma Carey Clarke

I have worked with children from a young age and qualified as a teacher in 2006, working in various mainstream and alternative settings. In a bid to learn more about additional needs I studied an Msc in Inclusion and Special Education in 2009.  My ‘Aha’ moment came when I realised that children cannot learn if they are emotionally unregulated, stressed and overwhelmed. As a keen yoga practitioner, I retrained as a yoga teacher and a Yoga Therapist for children.  I have shared these techniques since 2014 and work with schools, therapeutic provisions, charities and the local authority.

My approach is light-hearted, natural, non-judgemental and aimed to help young people feel more comfortable, connected and content.

I receive regular supervision from a clinical psychologist.

Holly Boardman

My Journey as a yoga teacher is interwoven with my career as a registered nurse and specialist community public health nurse.  In these roles I have had the opportunity to provide care using a holistic approach considering a person’s physical, mental, emotional, social and spiritual wellbeing. 

I have worked in many health settings and more recently in schools across Norfolk and Suffolk where I realised the need for more compassion and understanding for our young people and their overall health.  Witnessing the impact of stress and anxiety on young people firsthand only fuelled my passion for sharing the transformative benefits of yoga, including breathing practises and movement therapy.  I was determined to provide a nurturing environment for children and young people where they feel safe, happy and connected. 

The holistic sessions that I offer are child-led and playful.  They include body focussed activities like yoga to promote emotional regulation and self awareness.  The sessions encourage young people to reconnect with their bodies and emotions by helping to mindfully feel the sensations and impulses.  This somatic process leads to a better relationship with their behaviours. The research shows that this supports and cultivates resilience, and can even reset the nervous system after continued practice and therefore, help our young people to manage stressful situations.

My approach is compassionate, trauma informed and intuitive. 

Anna

I have worked therapeutically with children, young people and adults since 2009 and qualified as a Clinical Psychologist in 2016. A keen yogi throughout my life, I became increasingly interested in somatic approaches when I found my clinical psychology training only got me so far. I completed my children’s yoga therapy training in 2020, and blend this with my clinical psychology knowledge and interest in narrative approaches.

I am a big believer in fun! Understanding and making sense of difficult things does not have to be hard, and I love finding creative ways to support children and young people that work for them. We can learn about ourselves in ways that make us stronger. Work with me is only available online.

Jo Bartelsmeier

Hey I’m Jo, I am a social worker, a yoga teacher, a Mum of two amazing little people and a free spirited soul who is passionate about working with children and young people. Following the completion of my Human psychology degree at De Montfort University, I became therapeutic support worker, working with children in a residential setting. This sparked my interest in working therapeutically and something that has remained throughout my 20 (plus) years of working with children and young people. In 2010, I completed an MA in Social work at UEA and since then have practiced within child protection and fostering settings. I’m passionate about building relationships and creating safe spaces to support children and young people to thrive and explore their inner worlds.

Alongside my career I have practiced yoga for over 20 years and found it a great anchor and space to calm, balance and reduce stress. I decided to train as a yoga teacher to deepen my knowledge and discovered how much it complimented the work I was already doing with children and young people. I soon realised how beneficial this beautiful practice is to everyone and felt compelled to share with adults and children! This led me to the Snug, where I’m lucky enough to offer group and 1:1 sessions to amazing children everyday!

I believe every child is unique and I tailor the support I offer to each individual child. This may include movement, breath work and mediation or may be filled with colouring, music, dancing and role play! Sessions will hopefully be fun and creative within our safe and supportive space.

Outside of work I love spending time with my family, travelling and being out in nature; whether that is in the mountains on a pair of skis; swimming in the ocean or on the river on my paddle board! Being free in body, mind and spirit is when I’m happiest!