testimonials
"thank you for all your thoughtful touching words." MariaElena
om shanti om peace
I really just wanted to thank you from the bottom of my heart for offering me the opportunity to embark on the journey of meditation, self discovery and self empowerment. The 6 week course we have just completed was an absolute joy and has been the deepest dive I have ever taken into the exploration of myself. And its a journey that has sparked such excitement that I know will continue and grow. But it wouldn't have been possible without you. You are an absolute gift to me and I have huge gratitude for knowing you, being able to get to know you better and for being able to learn from you.
I can’t begin to tell you the difference your influence and teaching has had on my life already. My partner has seen it and is amazed! I see it, and am now calm and peaceful, way more than I used to be. I always knew I had some work to do and that meditation was the solution, but never knew where to start, you gave me that start.
Week by week I got more excited, I would wish the week away till it was time to go again.
Like most people life does get in the way so finding time for extra things can be difficult but once I committed to those tiny 20 mins a day to meditate I really started to feel the difference. And when I got a good meditation in it feels so wonderful like you have been set free of worry and stress.
MariaElena is a wonderful person and teacher whose voice alone is enough to put you at peace and complete comfort. Her passion and her words when she describes this experience cannot be forced, it’s all over the smile on her face.
The course was well broken down with stages to complete week by week. The course handouts are great because I can just read them over and over.
Since the course I have a lot more calm peaceful energy and I handle negative energy whether it’s from me or others in a much better way. I can truly say that I do love the new me. And we do need to love ourselves, after all love does start with you.
I recommend this course over and over and I will continue my practice and have already signed up for more experiences with MariaElena. Make time for YOU
I have been attending MariaElenas yoga classes for almost 2 years now, and I am hooked! I have attended other classes in the past but never before has a yoga teacher inspired me to stick with them and continue to attend classes. I try to go most Friday mornings as I need my ‘yoga fix’ – there is just something about the whole atmosphere of her classes – the minute you enter the room there is an air of friendliness and support. I always remember the first time I went to a class with MariaElena she greeted me with her gorgeous smile and made me feel completely at ease. The other attendees are delightful too and I enjoy our friendly get togethers over coffee afterwards!
The class is always tailored to fit everyone’s needs, you don’t need to have attended a yoga class before as MariaElena will make sure that you are looked after and put you at ease. So you can be a complete beginner and still enjoy the class.
I would recommend yoga with MariaElena to everyone – it certainly makes me feel more at peace and better able to cope with life’s challenges! It is of course great exercise too!
as we moved out of Kimbolton, but in the short time we were members it
left us with a long lasting result. My father had died a few months
before and it was my husbands suggestion to join Yippee Yoga to help
me relax etc. Meeting Maria-Elena and starting yoga was a great
experience for me as it gave me a lot of clarity and also helped me
become stronger and more flexible. Her yoga sessions were always
different and always had a purpose and were not just about exercise
but were also about finding yourself. My husband and I have tried
many different classes since we moved to Leicestershire but not a
single one compares to Maria-Elena. We wished we lived closer so we
could go back!!
I have been into fitness and training for some time and have practiced yoga before. At the time of meeting MariaElena I was piecing myself back together from a wreck I had fast been become. I stopped what I was doing and started to look to myself for the cause and root causes of my problems. So to walk into one of MariaElena's classes and be coached through this through the practice of yoga and meditation... no counselling ...just releasing and cleansing myself from within... I started to let go piece by piece the trauma and pain and issues my body held... In the relaxation sessions, I'd secretly be weeping as I finally started to let go.
I train with a lot of different people and always come back to MariaElena's classes when am in St. Neots. Yoga can save lives... MariaElena is knowledgeable and amazingly fantastic at what she does. It is sad that many people will not be able to find the time to really know, just how much one breath can be and do.
Her vision to start a Yoga Centre should be wholeheartedly supported as I can hand on heart say, I may not be here today if I hadn't walked into MariaElena's Yoga class this time last year. Not to mention the 20+ years committed and striving to helping others through the practice of Yoga. The number of lives MariaElena has made a positive impact on, must be huge".
"Just over a year ago I found myself looking for a way to help improve my fitness and flexibility. I tried a few options but none really helped, and then I stumbled across Yippee Yoga’s web page, and so the journey begun. MariaElena has a wonderfully sympathetic and intuitive way of teaching, her enthusiasm, passion and open-heartedness spills over into her sessions, that inspire one to embrace all aspects of this practice, mind, body, spirit and cosmos. She is also an accomplished guide into the art of meditation, reminding us that even in the most chaotic of environments we can find our own inner peace. "
I have been practising yoga and meditation for about 7 years. It has become a massive part of my life and I could never be without it. My journey started practising yoga with MariaElena about 6 years ago. I had been through a very traumatic time after losing my husband and trying to support my family. My yoga sessions were part of my grieving process along with a meditation course run by MariaElena I spent many sessions after yoga crying and letting out the grief in a way that I had never experienced before. It was and is my way of dealing with the pain and feelings of depression. I could have easily visited the doctor and been given antidepressants, but chose to deal with this by practising yoga and meditation. It was the best decision I have ever made and I will continue to do this. MariaElena's idea of a special place to practice and meditate is amazing and could change people's lives in such a way they will never look back.
The classes have the perfect balance of mindfulness and exercise. You walk into the room and there is a lovely relaxing environment, and you are welcomed with kindness and love from Maria Elena.
I always leave feeling relaxed and ready for the week ahead. Just for that hour an a half my mind is still.. no anxiety or thinking of the negative. Yoga has been perfect for me to just switch off. Gradually I have become more flexible through the gradual sequences of movements which in turn has helped my back and shoulders. I tended to tense my shoulders when i felt stress so the feel the release has helped me in day to day life.
My favourite part of the class is when Maria Elena explains to us that a lotus needs mud in order to bloom which really resinates with me. We need the hard moments in life to grow and thrive.
YipeeYoga has uplifted my life in the most positive way possible.
MarieElena teaches a class which is always responsive to the needs of the students, both beginners and those who are more experienced. The format of the class changes from week to week ... not dramatically different but just enough to keep it fresh. I particularly appreciate her focus on breathing and mindfulness, she continually encourages her students to centre.
Thankyou MarieElena, you are a lovely person and a great teacher.
However frazzled and tired I feel beforehand, from the moment the class begins, mindfulness begins too and a period of time to be at peace. I believe that as humans, we have not evolved to multi-task, boasting about how much we can cram into a microsecond; with Yippee Yoga it is possible to learn to appreciate what we already have achieved by looking inside ourselves.
I can't tell you how much MariaElena's classes have helped me. They offer the perfect antidote to the stress and anxieties of modern life. Her philosophy of honesty, kindness and integrity shines through in everything she does.
I work in the medical profession myself and am very well aware of the impact that lifestyle has on people's fitness and wellbeing. MariaElena's approach empowers us all to be able make healthy choices. If only everyone could do these classes!
I've been looking for some much needed peace in my life and a sense of well being, a friend suggested I go to yippeeyoga with her, for which I am eternally grateful to Marialena for this class as she has taught me to trust myself physically and mentally, yoga isn't just about being able to bend , stretch , although I do find some positions a little hard but i have only just started this course, but I already know how much these yoga sessions have helped me, physically I am able to sleep again on my right side as the pain I used to have in my shoulder although it still hurts it's so much better, (I'm hoping in time the pain will go ) I practice breathing when I feel stressed and it works so much so I'm a calmer person. So thank you yippeeyoga Marialena x
I joined MariaElena’s yoga group approximately 2 years ago. The results have been impressive and I continue to improve. MariaElena’s classes are well suited for beginners as well as those with more experience. The sessions are arranged to ensure they are a continuous challenge to all the participants, irrespective of their ability.
Many thanks to MariaElena for her guidance. I wish I had started many years ago!
When I started going to yippee yoga classes, my aim was just to take my first tentative steps into the wider world, having been so isolated in motherhood with young children, it was a huge step to do anything for myself and get out of the house – to me that was a huge step. However, I found the classes so enriching, both physically and mentally that they soon became the highlight of my week. I have a new respect for my body (I can now do things, that I thought two years ago would be impossible), I am kinder to myself and I feel more in control of my body and mind. Yoga is helping me on my journey to rediscover my self, and MariaElenas wonderful mix of affirming advice and yoga poses leave me feeling restored each week. "
Every time I attend a Yippee Yoga class I am reminded of the power of yoga. MariaElena skilfully leads her students through a series of poses, breathing exercises and guided meditations designed to heal and nurture the body, mind and spirit. At the end of a Yippee Yoga class I feel strengthened, at peace and full of joy.
I have also had the pleasure of seeing MariaElena teach yoga to children at my school. Her yoga sessions with children are engaging, imaginative and fun but serve the important purpose of balancing the children and equipping them with essential skills. These yoga sessions not only provide the children with enjoyable physical exercise but they help the children to concentrate better and provide them with strategies to cope with life’s ups and downs.
three years now and highly recommend them. Her classes are warm and
welcoming and are suitable for all levels as she always gives advice and
options. There is always a lovely atmosphere at her classes and MariaElena
always makes herself available if you want to discuss or find out more
about yoga, meditation etc. Her yoga classes are not only a great way to
look after your physical well being but also provide strategies for
dealing with the stresses and strains of every day life. I love her
classes and can't imagine not going to them!
I have attended MariaElena’s yoga sessions for many years now and still look forward to every class.
Yoga and meditation have become an integral part of my life and I have MariaElena to thank for that.
She has inspired, challenged and taught me well. Thank you.
Maria Elena teaches us with grace, spirituality and immense physical care, and despite the many varying levels of ability in the group, we are all encouraged and enabled to reach our potential without there being any competition, or sense of inadequacy. It is quite extraordinary for a teacher to achieve such a peaceful and yet deeply energetic result. Maria Elena’s gift is rare.
I could go on and will probably think of other important measures of approval for Maria Elena but suffice to say that there are many in the class I attend who most ably practice ‘head stands’ unsupported and with elegance and whom have only in the last few years had the good fortune to start learning yoga with Maria Elena Cusick.
A few words will not be able to demonstrate the depth of well being at which I and many others have experienced. This practice sets me up for the rest of my week and let go of anything negative I may have been carrying. I look forward to my practice due to the care and attention given to each participant. Mariaelena allows freedom of expression through practice that draws you beyond the spiritual.
Long may the love and light touch us and keep us bright.
I love Maria's serenity and approachable nature and I couldn't think of a better person to have as your yoga mentor.
I was navigating a particularly difficult time in my life when I first started classes and MariaElena has helped me to get through this, both in her giving of time to me at the end of classes to talk and counsel me and also in the fact that when it became clear to me that it would be difficult financially to continue classes, she kindly let me attend at a discounted rate. She will never know how much this meant to me.
Thank you for your amazing yoga lessons.
Love from Matei (aged 10) xxx
AT CROSSHALL KIDS YOGA CLUB 😊
'yoga teaches you that the body is amazing'
"you have been an amazing yoga teacher...thank you"
from Matei
'yoga is peacefulness
yoga is happiness
yoga is 'fun' ness'
'yoga makes you feel less stressed'
From Lola (9) at Crosshall Kids Club
'if you don't do yoga, you do not know what you are missing'
From Rebecca (10) at Crosshall Kids Club
'yoga teaches you that nice things help you to relax...nature, peace, hope, happiness, balance'
"Thank you so much for teaching me yoga over the last 4 years. I have really enjoyed relaxing especially in May when there was SATs. Thank you".
'...yoga shows us we are all unique and special... yoga is about staying happy'
Before yoga: Angry, grumpy, scared, unhappy, hatred
After yoga: Cheerful, calm, relaxed, happy and joyful
"I have really enjoyed yoga. Thank you for teaching me!"
MariaElena's yoga classes are something not to be missed. After over 5 years of her classes, I am still finding new challenges and so enjoy how she mixes humor and quiet contemplation in the same lesson! Expert at delivering a class that feels just right for every level of ability; there is no danger of feeling silly, unfit or too old! At the same time, you can never let complacency set in as she gently encourages participants to investigate and challenge their perceptions of their limitations. Try yoga with MariaElena for a few months and I'm sure you will surprise yourself with what you can achieve!"
Thank you so much for a wonderful introduction to meditation. You truly are a great teacher - I have thoroughly enjoyed it and know I will continue with meditation!
"What better a way to start the day than with yoga, especially if you can find a friendly group with a supportive teacher. Yoga makes me feel relaxed and gives me time for me. I would recommend it to anyone."
"I have enjoyed all the sessions I have been lucky enough to experience with you and do feel the benefit of your teachings on meditation."
"I think the beginners course is an excellent introduction into meditation...at last I am sleeping better!"
"I really enjoy MariaElena's meditation classes and follow-up sessions which are calming and relaxing. They help me to put things into perspective. I highly recommend them."
"I wish I had been to this meditation course a long time ago. It has helped me find balance and peace in my life and to concentrate on things which matter to me!"
"MariaElena is truly inspiring in both yoga practice and meditation. She holds your hand and walks with your along the path until you are ready and happy to go alone. A great experience - always feel safe."
"...your courses are inspirational and life changing; it's a great privilege to be involved".
"Thank you for your great direction, support, encouragement and inspiring meditation sessions".