Being in fellowship - ethical yoga practice in Northern Ireland
Fifty years ago, our founding members chose the name Yoga Fellowship NI for our organisation. On the face of it, “fellowship” can seem an old-fashioned, outmoded word, but within its meaning there is a beautiful sense of connection, partnership, common purpose, shared interest, trust, belonging and friendship.
The theme running through this season of events is one of rootedness. To grow strong and flourish, the Yoga Fellowship NI, symbolised by the tree of yoga, must re-establish stability in its roots. It is essential that the roots of our practice be grounded in the ethics laid out by Patanjali in the Yoga Sutras - the principles of yamas and niyamas.
Our first event of the season will weave together beautiful grounding and rooting practices with a consultation on the ethical yoga practice framework that we are developing. It is intended to gather yoga practitioners from Northern Ireland into a circle of fellowship: providing an opportunity to build and strengthen relationships; affording everyone the chance to reconnect with the ethical principles that underpin our intentions and practices in yoga: and enabling collaboration in the development of this important foundational work.
We are offering an invitation to “meet the Fellowship”. If you are a recently qualified teacher, a soon-to-be-qualified teacher, or a wisdom seeker looking to deepen your practice, you are most welcome to join us to find out more about our ways of being and intentions as a Sangha and governing body for yoga in Northern Ireland. For these reasons, this event is free of charge and open to members and non-members alike.
Entrance is by ticket only.
Event outline:
12.30 Registration, time to land, refreshments available
13.00 Opening practice - movement, meditation, intention-setting
14.00 Break, connecting time, refreshments available
14.30 Ethical practice framework - discussion & consultation
15.00 Short break
15.15 Closing practice
16.15 Event end
Facilitators
Ciara Boyle
Ciara’s journey with yoga began over twenty years ago with a practice that sparked a lifelong curiosity inside. Since then, yoga has become far more than a physical practice; it has become a way of being in a deeper relationship with herself, others and the world around us.
As a yoga practitioner, Ciara is particularly interested in the ways yoga supports presence, awareness and connection. Ciara’s practice and facilitation are grounded in the understanding that yoga is not about striving, but about meeting ourselves with curiosity and compassion, exactly as we are. Ciara has a particular interest in Trauma Sensitive Yoga and somatic approaches that acknowledge the unique experiences each person brings to practice.
As a committee member of the Yoga Fellowship of Northern Ireland, Ciara looks forward to supporting a welcoming and inclusive community where we can continue to learn from one another and grow, exploring the many ways yoga enriches our lives, both on and beyond the mat.
Lucie Chenet Rea
Lucie is a Franco-British teacher who grew up on the outskirts of Paris and moved to Belfast in 2017 after studying and working in performing arts and humanities in France.
Lucie travels regularly to India to train and deepen her practice. She has completed 500h of training in hatha yoga in Rishikesh between 2019 and 2020 and an additional 100h of training in yin yoga and yoga nidra in 2025 in Goa. She has also trained locally in restorative yoga and kids yoga.
As well as developing herself as a teacher, Lucie has been an active member of the yoga community these past few years by filling the role of manager at Yoga Quarter (2024/25) and currently managing Maitri Studio. She is also a member of Tulca and has been working with Anaka Collective in the past year to offer practices to refugees.
Registration is open from 12.30pm.