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.

Amanda’s (she/her) passion for dance and movement began as a child in ballet classes at the age of 4. Which later developed into a career in the fitness industry. However, she considers her greatest achievement was her transition into the world of yoga, 11 years ago.

She brings a strong sense of fun and freedom to her teaching, which keeps the energy light whilst introducing new challenges to keep the body and mind strong and adaptable. Her style aims to help you gain strength, stamina and flexibility, whilst encouraging you to work in harmony with the breath through pranayama, breath practises. Meditation is an important part of the practise, helping you to find peace, happiness and wellbeing.

Amanda believes that the physical and holistic benefits of Yoga are available to people from all walks of life regardless of age and ability Amanda offers classes ranging from gentle flow to more dynamic Vinyasa, Yin and meditation. Tailoring each class to individual needs of the students, to ensure they get the deepest benefits mentally and physically.

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.

We are pleased to welcome Karen Stalley-Turner to the Anahata family as our new Tuesday evening Pilates instructor.

Karen worked in London for 18 years until she left to follow her dream of becoming a Pilates instructor and she has never looked back. She found Pilates made her stronger, it improved her posture and reduced those aches and pains she had endured from many years sitting at a desk.

Karen enjoys teaching pilates to help her clients and class students strengthen their core muscles and improve their overall fitness and wellbeing. We are delighted to welcome Karen to the Anahata family.

Her classes are friendly and fun and are suitable for all abilities from beginners to advanced.

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.

Yoga has always been a part of Siouxzy’s (she/her) life. She watched her mum practice when she was a toddler, learnt about meditation in books as a teenager, and attended her first posture based yoga class in her early 20’s. Stressed out in a busy office job, constantly ‘on edge’, and unable to relax, she began to practically explore meditation, as a way of finding peace. This became the beginning of her yogic path and led her to discover the other disciplines of yoga, including asana (postures), pranayama (breathing) and the niyamas and yamas (ethics and principles). Through pregnancy, injury, back pain and stress, yoga helped Siouxzy find the balance, strength and support she needed.

Siouxzy is passionate about sharing what yoga has to offer with others and completed her training at Yogacampus, London. Her approach is to help you find a safe and accessible way to practice, in a peaceful and friendly environment, where you feel looked after. She is empathetic to many conditions and illnesses and can provide modifications for those who may require them.

As well as having her own healing angelic sound healing system called ‘Water Mastery’, which she teaches, Rachael is an advanced crystal healer, Angelic Reiki Master Teacher and an Accredited Sound Specialist. Rachael regularly holds group Gong and Sound Baths as well as crystal and angelic workshops.

Infusing sound and vibration into all of her therapies, she is most passionate about raising her clients inner vibrations, improving energy flow and circulation – so that they can experience optimum wellness within a safe and sacred space.