About

Mary Monrose-Elke founded Peace and Calm in 2001 and began teaching yoga in local fitness centres. The first retreat, at Edenbridge in Kent, was held in 2003. Mary's mission for Peace and Calm is to make yoga accessible to all by running affordable yoga retreats and classes, and creating time out for rejuvenation and rest. She explains:

"I am a certified yoga teacher and recognised by the Yoga Alliance for more than 500 hours of professional training. I took the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Organisation's Yoga Teacher Training course at Val Morin, Canada in 2001 and the Advanced Teacher Training Course at the Sivanander Yoga Retreat at Nassau in the Bahamas in 2003.

"I also teach Yoga to special-interest groups including the over-50s, primary school children, expectant mothers, children and adults with learning disabilities and mother-and-baby groups. I also ran the doctors' referral scheme for Fusion Fitness in Southwark until 2005.

"I have worked for several years with with schools, councils, and central government on Healthy Living schemes and events, including yoga, relaxation and meditation workshops and classes."

"I run yoga retreats in the UK and internationally.

"My daily yoga practice spans various forms of yoga: Ashtanga, Bikram, Kundalini and Sivananda. Having trained with many different teachers, I am able to combine my experiences to bring deep relaxation, creativity and dynamism to the practice."

"I feel blessed and privileged that I am in a position to share the transforming benefits and delights of yoga with others. It is wonderful to be able to share what I've learn and to be a facilitator for other people's 'yoga journey'. My teaching continues to pour knowledge into my life and I draw inspiration from my students as well as from other teachers. Now, as a teacher, I am more than ever a student and this journey is the most wonderful of adventures."

"Come and join us for a weekend, or try one of our retreats for seven or ten days. Take time to rejuvenate, recharge, find stillness and share and be with others."