About

Michelle Helstrip BA(Hons), Founder of DRUVA, International yoga teacher, therapist & writer, has held an interest in wellbeing and nutrition since the 1980s.

 

She started offering courses in movement & nutrition in 1981 and has continued her health journey along the path of Yoga. Experiencing the incredible benefits to wellbeing for herself, she is keen to enable others to do the same.

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"I came to Yoga after injuring myself during a ski trip - 12 months on my body still felt out of kilter. I was living in the US at the time and found an amazing Yoga teacher, Billie Jo Joy of Art & Soul, who taught me 1-2-1 for over a year and started me on my Yoga journey.

 

As with most beginner Yoga students, I originally came for the physical practice, but what made me stay was the way that I felt inside after a session. The huge benefits - physically, emotionally, spiritually - that I experienced made me want to pass on these great feelings to everyone! And that was what motivated me to become a teacher."

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After many years teaching Yoga, Michelle became increasingly drawn to the therapeutic benefits of Yoga for the individual, and went on to undertake the Dru Yoga Therapy training in order to broaden her knowledge still further.

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Post Graduate Qualifications

International School of Dru Yoga

Dru Backcare & Wellbeing Course for Social Prescribing

Dru Kids & Teens (DKN)

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Yoga Therapy Diplomas

Dru Yoga Therapy, Back Care & Prenatal (Dru UK) 

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Yoga Teaching Diplomas

Hatha Yoga (British Wheel of Yoga)

Hatha Yoga (Yoga Australia)

Dru Yoga (Dru UK & Australia)

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Professional Memberships

Complementary & Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC), the UK government regulatory body that offers the public a Register of recognised professional practitioners.

Dru Professional Network (DPN)

British Wheel of Yoga (BWY)

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Professional Qualifications

First Aid qualification

CRB-checked for Kids and Teens classes

Regular Continuous Professional Development (CPD) to ensure that training & professional knowledge is kept current.

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Volunteer Positions

CNHC Profession Specific Board member Yoga Therapy

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Previous Volunteer Roles

BWY Area representative for Cambridgeshire

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Michelle says that her path through Yoga has been diverse, allowing her to appreciate different approaches.

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"My first influences were Iyengar & Kripalu, my first qualification Hatha but inspired by the Krisnamacharya tradition. My love became Dru, for the focus on positive energy flow and the physical accessibility. Working with individual clients I have seen significant changes occur, and this spurs me on."

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Training with leading teachers from different traditions over many years has given Michelle a unique perspective on yoga, which she shares through specialist workshops, retreats, tailored yoga courses, and the traditional one to one method of teaching.

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Offering workshops in countries such as Australia and the UAE, in the UK Michelle has delivered Yoga days & events for British Wheel of Yoga; Leicestershire Yoga Circle; Living Sport (police, NHS, probation service); community-based organisations and B2B. She is currently planning yoga-related events in South West France and Doha Qatar.

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