Our Story

Anahata is a heart centred and nurturing Wellbeing Studio in Leigh on Sea, Essex. Specialising in Yoga, Pilates, Yoga Therapy and mindful meditation.

We offer expert tuition in small groups run by qualified and specialist professionals, who are experts in their field. Many of our teachers offer skills which support members of the public affected by long term health conditions, which may affect them physically, mentally and or emotionally.

Dawn Lister and Daniel Groom are founders of the centre and are genuine advocates of supporting people’s mental health within the community.

“We see the expansion of the business as a way to offer greater support in the Southend region.”

Meet the Team

She also owns The Dawn Lister Therapy Centre, based in Leigh-on-Sea, where she sees clients for both Body Work, Cranial Sacral Therapy, mentoring and hypnotherapy.

He also offers support mentoring new and established Yoga Teachers and is a Supervisor on the Yoga Campus Yoga Therapy Diploma. Daniel is dedicated to continuing his studies with mentor Lisa Kaley Isley.

Daniel founded the Southend LGBT+ Yoga and Wellbeing Group in association with Southend-on-Sea Pride which offers a monthly get together for LGBTQIA+ people and is active in the promotion of LGBTQIA+ rights in the UK.

Keira Sussex (They/Them) began their Yoga journey in 2011 and fell in love with the practice, the meditation and the time it gave to them. Yoga is a gateway to reconnecting the mind to the body, and as they deepened their practice, they found that they began to relax and shake off some of their tensions and anxieties.

They began their training as a practitioner of yoga for autism before completing their 200hr YTT in 2017. They are also qualified in Children’s Yoga and a Teacher and ambassador of Accessible Yoga.

As an Accessible Yoga Teacher Keira aims to bring the benefits of yoga and mindfulness to everyone no matter your age, body type, gender, or physical ability.

Her mindful vinyasa flow to gentle beginners’ yoga or pilates classes are fun and creative, a welcoming and safe space for all.

Coming from a creative background, Emily loves visiting inspiring places such as art galleries or travelling and immersing herself in other cultures. You will often find her head in a book researching the fascinating worlds of yoga and Ayurveda.

Katy (she/her) has been practicing Pilates for 17 years and teaching since 2010. She trained as a dancer and musical theatre performer and it was her ballet training that first introduced her to Pilates, and she has loved it ever since. STOTT PILATES was recommended and she began her training at The YMCA, Tottenham Court Road, London. Katy is a fully certified STOTT PILATES Instructor (certified in Mat work, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair and Barrels) and also trained in Pre and Post Natal Mat work, Active Ageing and Breast Cancer Rehab. 

Her classes are relaxed yet energising and she creates a fun environment to achieve your fitness goals, whether it’s a group class or individual. Katy aspires to make people feel energised whether that be through gaining flexibility or through strength. After teaching at some amazing studios all over London, including OneKX (Stott Pilates training Centre), Katy has now moved back to Chalkwell. She is loving living by the sea and can often be found (with a scooting toddler in tow) down by Chalkwell Beach.

Terri Walford considers herself a perpetual student of life and yoga.

She is continually expanding her knowledge by training with teachers who continue to inspire and educate her.  She has a strong regular personal practise and brings a sense of fun, adventure and freedom to her classes, her class invites you to experience the joy of exploring and challenging your personal limitations, digging deep into your inner reserves and resources.

She strongly believes yoga helps you to achieve a happier healthier life by increasing the circulation of vital life energy throughout the whole body, mind & spirit.

She is also a sometimes-reluctant runner, is immensely proud of having conquered the three peaks and adores her beautiful family.

She uses her in-depth knowledge of physiology and anatomy gained from her history in Swimming, Fitness and Sports Massage to create a class that will both challenge you and specifically support abdominal strength.

Melanie advocates the need to combine fitness, strength and flexibility within all her classes. She encompasses all the key principles of Pilates ensuring every class targets both the upper and lower limbs in addition to core strength for those wanting to use Pilates to sculpt and tone their bodies helping create longer leaner muscles.

In addition to teaching Melanie enjoys long walks (or a bike ride) along the seafront, she also enjoys swimming with an occasional dip in the sea in the summer.

Jodi trained with Sivananda in The Bahamas in 2017 and lived in the Ashram there for 2 months. She wasn’t sure from doing her training that she’d teach.. but has been teaching since the moment she came home and loves sharing her knowledge and passion.

Her classes are calming and begin with cleaning energy chants. Her classes flow but also ground you into time and space.

Yoga helps her daily to be the person she is now and she loves sharing that in her classes.

Outside of yoga Jodi loves to be doing anything outside in nature and will be spotted daily along the beach.

Graham (he/him) started his yoga practice over 20 years ago following a major injury which assisted his recovery. With practice in Iyengar, Ashtanga and Sivananda disciplines over this period, yoga supported his busy work life and sporting activities.

Graham had always recognised that asana practice kept him strong and flexible but as a stressful career progressed it was through deeper pranayama and meditation he brings greater presence, awareness and a mindful attitude to time on the mat.

Having just completed a 200 hour yoga teacher course at Yogacampus he is exploring the pleasure of sharing all he has learnt. He’s curious and enthusiastic in his practice with an open mind and likes to bring a sense of fun to his practice.

I am a qualified Yin, Vinyasa and Ashtanga Teacher specialising in deeply restorative sessions, focusing on Asanas, Pranayama and Meditation to activate The Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest and digest) to prevent stress build-up, fatigue, burnout, and overall dis-ease in the mind and body.

I am constantly striving to improve my knowledge, teachings and understanding in this ever-evolving world.

Louise is passionate about offering her students space to flex those focus muscles, stretch the brain and explore and connect to their body.

As well as being a dedicated yoga teacher, she is a committed student and loves to study and learn more about all aspects of yoga, explore a range of movement modalities and apply new science to her classes.