10/06/2026
Three months ago, I unlocked the door to Shanti for the first class.
Since then, hundreds of people have rolled out a mat, attended a workshop, shared a conversation, or found some space to breathe here.
And almost every week someone says, “Bideford really needed this.”
And that’s exactly why I started it!
When I moved to North Devon in 2022, I found an incredible community of yoga teachers, therapists and wellbeing practitioners.
What I couldn’t find was a dedicated space where people could regularly come together to practise, learn, connect and support their own and each other’s wellbeing. As much as I told myself I could make do, it really felt like something was missing.
Before Shanti I spent years teaching in village halls, community spaces and fitness centres all over Devon, and I’m deeply grateful for them. I even set up a bell tent in my garden and hosted many beautiful events there during the warmer months, but it was exposed to the wild North Devon winds and impossible to use year round. Last summer’s storms eventually destroyed it. And maybe that was the push I needed….
The seed was already planted, but as soon as I dared to start feeding and nurturing the idea, the more I knew it was something I had to do.
The word “Shanti” means peace in Sanskrit, and from the beginning my vision was simple: to create a welcoming home for people in Bideford to find a slice of that in whatever way feels most meaningful to them.
Three months in, we’re still growing and evolving, but already we’ve created so much more than I ever could’ve dreamed.
Thank you to everyone who has shared their own practices, attended a class, booked an event, recommended us to a friend, shared a post, or simply cheered us on behind the scenes. Your support means the world 🫶
Stay tuned, this is only the beginning…
