Sheffield Yoga Centre’s 20th Anniversary
Here’s Frances giving a short introduction to the history of Sheffield Yoga Centre…
Throughout 2025 we celebrated this momentous accomplishment in the best way we know how - with our community.
We ran special classes and events, had commemorative t-shirts made, gathered memories and messages from people who have been a part of the Yoga Centre’s journey over the years, all leading up to the big celebration event in June.
How the Yoga Centre dream came true…
Picture the scene. 9th June 2005 and I am sitting in the Crucible theatre waiting for the Auction to begin. Lot 18 is the beautiful but dilapidated chapel we have set our hearts on. My sister sits beside me for support and my husband Mike in his Leeds office, on the end of a phone.
The bidding begins and I am trying to breathe calmly and stay mindful of the upper limit Mike and I agreed we could afford. Those first lots take forever before I can start to put up my hand and bid. The other contenders slowly drop away, the upper limit comes (and goes) but I know this is the perfect place to create the Centre so many of us had aspired to for so long. Finally I hear the hammer drop and the Auctioneer announce “Madam, this is yours”. Then I am literally jumping out of my seat with joy.
Twenty years on and the joy is still real for me when I see the students of all levels and backgrounds come in to our lovingly renovated Centre, especially for the first time, realising what a gem they have found. It is a joy to know what a skilled team of teachers and admin managers we have had over the years and to have seen them grow in experience. It has been a privilege to train and mentor teachers here, originally through the support of Marion Kilburn from Manchester, whom we sadly lost last week.
To host some of the most senior international Iyengar teachers like Firooza Razvi, Birjoo Mehta , Stephanie Quirk has felt an honour too as we have accessed their profound teachings . All based on the work of my teacher B.K.S. Iyengar who inspired me to dream of creating a place, like in Pune, where all can benefit from Yoga.
I hope you can join us next Saturday and Sunday to enjoy reflecting on the past and share hopes for the future. If not in person, be with us in spirit and - thank you all.
~ Frances
Our special Teacher’s Demonstration
We appreciate everyone that has made this Centre possible and the dedicated, supportive and welcoming community it is today.