Emma Michael

About Emma Michael
 

With over 28 years of experience across London, Cyprus, and India, my work is dedicated to the profound connection between mind and body. As a Yoga Therapist (The Minded Institute), Shiatsu Practitioner, and Perinatal Specialist, I bridge the gap between evidence-based clinical practice and traditional healing.

I am the Founder of The Centre, and I currently serve as the Secretary of the Yoga Association of Cyprus, where I am committed to elevating wellness standards and supporting our local community.

I provide a compassionate, trauma-informed space for individuals navigating diverse health journeys—from managing chronic physical conditions and mental health challenges to providing specialised support throughout the transformative perinatal period. My approach integrates Yoga Therapy, Shiatsu, and mindfulness to help clients achieve physical balance, physiological regulation, and emotional resilience.

My Yoga Lineage

My journey with yoga and healing began over 27 years ago, and throughout that time, my yoga mat has been a source of deep comfort, strength, and self-discovery. Having spent 33 years in London, I had the privilege of studying with some of the world’s most respected yoga teachers and exploring a wide spectrum of styles, philosophies, and therapeutic yoga approaches. To this day, I regularly return to London to continue my own training and development.

My path into yoga began as a profound shift away from a high-pressure career in broadcast project management. Seeking a deeper connection to healing, I traveled to Madurai, India, to live in a traditional ashram. Completing my first 200-hour Sivananda Yoga certification there laid a vital foundation of discipline, traditional yogic lifestyle, and the philosophy of selfless service.

A transformative experience at The Yoga Barn in Bali introduced me to Anusara Yoga. This practice awakened a new level of emotional sensitivity and refined physical alignment in my work. To deepen this understanding, I traveled regularly between Cyprus and London to complete a second 200-hour certification with Bridget Woods-Kramer at Triyoga, focusing on the heart-centered and biomechanical principles of the Anusara method.

To further broaden my perspective on inclusive teaching, I completed my third 200-hour training with YogaWorks under Anna Zorzou in Cyprus. This training bridged the gap between different styles, emphasizing a balanced, accessible approach for all bodies.

This varied and global lineage—spanning the traditional roots of India to the modern alignment-based systems of the West—has been instrumental in shaping my current work. It provided the essential groundwork for my transition into Yoga Therapy, allowing me to draw from a vast well of movement, philosophy, and alignment to offer an inclusive, heart-centred, and deeply therapeutic experience for my clients. 

The Perinatal Journey: A Therapeutic Approach to Motherhood
 

Since becoming a certified Perinatal Yoga Teacher (Birthlight Trust) in 2016, I have dedicated the last decade to supporting women through the profound transitions of pregnancy, birth, and the postpartum period. While my work began with specialised weekly classes at The Centre, my approach has evolved into a deeply holistic and empowering therapeutic practice.

Through my Yoga Therapy training, I have been able to significantly deepened what I offer. Rather than focusing on movement, I now integrate a clinical understanding of neuroscience and physiology into my perinatal support. This allows me to address the "whole person"—helping mothers regulate their nervous systems, manage the complex hormonal shifts of pregnancy, and build true emotional resilience alongside physical strength.

Every session of my Mum & Baby class, is designed to foster a sanctuary of breath awareness, physical balance, and core and pelvic floor rehabilitation. In 2025, I further expanded this continuum of care with qualifications in Baby Yoga and Baby Massage. These offerings go beyond technique; they create a nurturing space for mothers and babies to bond, helping both thrive together during the vital first year.

Whether you are preparing for birth or navigating the recovery of the "fourth trimester," I provide a trauma-informed, evidence-based space to help you reclaim your vitality and connect with your body’s innate wisdom.

Integrated Yoga Therapy & Mind-Body Health
 

In 2023, I embarked on a rigorous clinical path at the prestigious Minded Institute in the UK, qualifying as a Yoga Therapist. This specialised training represents a significant evolution in my practice, blending the ancient wisdom of yoga with cutting-edge neuroscience, psychotherapy, and evidence-based clinical protocols.

This background allows me to offer a sophisticated, multidimensional approach to health. Rather than providing general instruction, I facilitate trauma-informed therapeutic sessions tailored to the unique physiological and emotional needs of each client. Whether addressing chronic physical conditions, managing the nervous system, or navigating complex mental health challenges, my work focuses on systemic regulation and long-term vitality.

To ensure the highest standard of care for my female clients, I further expanded my expertise in 2024 with a certification in Restorative Yoga for Women’s Health through Bliss Baby Yoga. This specialisation allows me to offer deeply nurturing, evidence-based support for those navigating fertility journeys, hormonal transitions, and the delicate postpartum period.

By integrating restorative practices with clinical yoga therapy, I provide a space where the body is not just moved, but truly heard and supported through its most transformative stages.

A Lifelong Dedication to Healing Touch & Bodywork 
 

My fascination with the body’s innate ability to heal through touch began over three decades ago. At 19, I trained in Indian Head Massage, and by 23, I was studying Thai Massage at the renowned Old Medicine Hospital in Chiang Mai. These early experiences in the East planted the seeds for what would become a lifelong pursuit of therapeutic mastery.

After completing my BSc in Psychology, I sought a modality that bridged the gap between the mind and physical form. This led me to the British School of Shiatsu in London, where I completed a rigorous 3.5-year Practitioner Diploma. This training provided a deep immersion into anatomy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and energetic sensitivity.

My dedication to the craft eventually led me to assist and teach at the school, study with masters in Japan, and train with Saul Goodman, a pioneer of Shiatsu in the West. This clinical and intuitive foundation allows me to listen to the "whole person" through the language of the body.

For the past decade, I have focused my bodywork practice on the unique needs of the motherhood journey. Training with Suzanne Yates, a global authority in the field, I specialised in Shiatsu for pregnancy and postnatal care.

Today, my bodywork is an essential pillar of what I offer at The Centre. Whether supporting a client through the physiological shifts of pregnancy or helping a new mother restore her vitality, I combine 30 years of touch-based wisdom with advanced therapeutic theory to facilitate deep, systemic healing.

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