Meet our team

Young at heart, active for life!

Aimee Bell
Executive Director and Teacher

Aimee is a Yoga and gentle exercise teacher. Aimee has been practicing Yoga and Meditation since 2013. She founded AMALAwellness in 2019, setting up as a Community Interest Company in September 2021. She is passionate about Yoga, Meditation and the positive effects it can bring to individuals and local communities.
To read more about Aimee click here.
To read more about her experience and qualifications click here.


Steph Wall
Non-Executive Director

Steph is a massage therapist, reflexologist and Yoga teacher.
Steph has practiced Yoga for over 20 years, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the board.


Jess Forbes
Non-Executive Director

Jess is a Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner who is passionate about making Yoga, Mindfulness and Relaxation Techniques accessible to all. Jess has supported people in the local community with their wellbeing for several years, working for charities and non-profit organisations.


Ella Bains
Director & Session Facilitator

Ella has joined our team after becoming good friends with Aimee on the School of Social Entrepreneur’s Start Up Course. Ella is an Occupational Therapist and founder of Eric Knows, a Community Interest Company that supports those with Autism and Disabilities. Ella runs community groups and works with a neuro-divergent team, developing a website where it is easy to find accessible places and days out for all. Ella is keen to develop fun, engaging Chair Exercise sessions for Autistic adults with mindfulness practices involved.

To find out all about Eric Knows see her website here: www.ericknows.co.uk


Dr Anqi Shen

Yoga Teacher

Anqi is teaching Gentle Slow Flow Yoga on a Monday in Linthorpe. Anqi brings a wealth of knowledge and practice to the team, sharing her passion for Yoga and Meditation with her students.


Maria Dowson
Yoga Teacher

Maria is a Senior Teacher and has travelled far & wide to study & practice Yoga with world renowned teachers. Maria is a keen Mysore Ashtanga Practitioner and Teacher. Over the last decade her focus has been to share all she has learnt locally at home in Teesside. Maria teaches classes for The Halo Project Survivors Friendship Group.

To see what else Maria is up to across Teesside visit her website:

www.yogateesside.com


Claire Roberts

Claire is a keen Ashtanga Yoga practitioner and teacher. Claire has studied Yoga Asana, Anatomy, Pranayama, Meditation and Philosophy with Himalaya Yoga Valley Centre. Claire teaches our Monday Evening Class in Kirkby, Great Ayton.


down angle photography of red clouds and blue sky
Picture coming soon!

Louise

Louise is a trained Yoga teacher and Chair Exercise Teacher. She looks after our ‘Keep Moving Teesside!’ Chair Yoga and Exercise classes on a Tuesday and Thursday, as well as running workshops and courses for AMALAwellness. Knowledgeable and friendly, she makes the classes really accessible and fun.

From increased balance and flexibility, improved circulation and stronger immunity, to the ability to inspire calm and mental wellbeing, yoga has benefits in abundance.  Through gentle movement and the holding of poses we can develop our agilty and build muscle strength, not only improving our abilty to perform tasks, but also increasing our comfort at rest, and the attention we bring to our breath in a yoga class can bring both a mindfullness to our movement, and a stillness to our mind.

Some of the smallest of movements can lead to some of the biggest of transformations in independence and wellbeing, and I am passionate about aiming to make this practice accessible to some of those who may need it the most.  I have practiced yoga for over 20 years, and was inspired to teach chair classes to help pass on this wonderful way of life to people who may not realise how able they are to participate, and what possible life enhancement is within their grasp.


a stone tower on the shore
Picture coming soon!

Claire

Claire teaches our Tai Chi Chuan classes. She has been a practitioner and a teacher for over a decade, studying under world renowned teacher john Ding. Classes include Qi-Gong and meditation. Claire is very knowledgeable and loves sharing her passion for Tai Chi with the people of Teesside.

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