Hilly Yoga, located in Malvern, is led by the talented and experienced instructor Hilly Hannken. With a deep passion for yoga, meditation, and Thai yoga massage, Hilly is dedicated to helping others find balance and wellness in their lives.
Hilly's journey into the world of yoga began in 1996 when she stumbled upon her very first yoga class while looking for Tai Chi lessons. From the moment she stepped onto the mat, she knew she had found what was missing in her life. Inspired by her initial teacher, Iyengar Yoga Teacher Wendy McGuire, Hilly immersed herself in yoga, attending classes and workshops to deepen her practise.
In 2003, Hilly shared her desire to teach Hatha Yoga with her guru, Swami Shankarananda Giri. Encouraged by his positive and enthusiastic response, she knew that teaching yoga was her true calling. She travelled to Rishikesh, India, to attend a six-month Teaching Hatha Yoga Training Course with Yogi Promod, a disciple of Swami Rama, where she gained essential knowledge and experience in leading classes.
After spending several years teaching in India, Hilly returned to her hometown of Malvern in 2006 and began teaching yoga on a part-time basis. This changed in 2008 when she took over the running of local Sivananda Yoga Teacher Richard Beggs' classes, dedicating herself full-time to teaching Hatha Yoga.
Hilly's dedication to her craft led her to pursue further training and education. She completed all three Anusara Yoga Immersions in 2010 and the Anusara Teacher Training in 2012 with Claire Murphy. She continues to expand her knowledge by learning from Senior Level Iyengar Yoga Teachers Prabhakara of The Birmingham Yoga Studio and Edgar Stringer of Yogatree, Wiltshire.
In 2018, Hilly added Thai Yoga Massage Therapy to her repertoire, completing a diploma course with Barbara Wall of Paadena School of Yoga and additional training with Kira Balaskas of The School of Thai Yoga Massage, London, in 2019. She also studied with Uma Dinsmore Tuli and Nirlipta Tuli of The Yoga Nidra Network, deepening her understanding of guided relaxation techniques.
Hilly is committed to sharing the benefits of yoga with people of all ages, including children. In 2019, she graduated from Class Yoga, further enhancing her ability to teach yoga to children.
Hilly Yoga offers a variety of classes, both online and face-to-face, allowing students to choose the format that suits their needs. Whether it's traditional Hatha Yoga classes, Thai Yoga Massage sessions, or guided relaxation and meditation, Hilly provides a safe and nurturing environment for students to explore and deepen their practise.
For those seeking a holistic approach to wellness and self-care, Hilly Yoga is the perfect place to find balance, flexibility, and peace of mind.