YOGA SCOTLAND - Key Persons
Belinda is a certified YYI Yoga Teacher and an Accredited Yoga Scotland Teacher. She taught Yoga in South Africa for several years before relocating to Scotland in 2001. She then worked with the University of Edinburgh Bone Research Group within the NHS Rheumatology Department as an Administrative Manager and an Editorial Assistant for their Scientific Journal, which deepened her knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and various skeletal disorders and conditions. She continued yoga teaching during this time, providing classes for the NHS and University staff at the Western General Hospital and the David Lloyd Leisure Group. She also served as a corporate in-house yoga teacher for various legal firms in Edinburgh. In 2018, she left her role at the University to focus full-time on her inner journey and her yoga teaching practice. She qualified as a Certified Nutritional Advisor during this time and offers her students a range of wellness education, asana and resources to guide them to healthier, happier lifestyles. She became a Trustee for Yoga Scotland this year (2024) and is also an Assistant Editor of our much-loved biannual Yoga Scotland Magazine.
Helen is a retired senior public servant. Currently, she works as a call room supervisor with Children 1st Parentline, Scotland's national helpline that supports parents and carers. Helen has many skills from her years as a public servant including extensive experience in policy development, risk management, chairing and recording meetings, and a good understanding of how large public sector organisations are held to account. She has developed her softer skills at Parentline, where she has further improved her communication skills by supporting parents and the volunteer call-takers. Helen joined the Board of Trustees in 2023, as Secretary, she oversees policy development and compliance for the charity and supports ongoing development initiatives.
Job Titles:
- Trustee, Digital Communications
Jill has 25 years of experience in marketing, working with a broad range of organisations, from local SMEs to international corporations - both B2B and B2C. She has expertise in brand creation and management, budgeting and marketing ROI, strategy and marketing planning and targeted campaign planning and delivery. In recent years, she has focused on digital marketing and works across the full spectrum of digital channels, including website creation/management, SEO and analytics, social media and copywriting or email marketing. Jill is also an accredited Yoga Scotland teacher and joined the Board of Trustees this year (2024) with specific responsibility for digital communications.
Job Titles:
- Chartered Accountant
- Finance Officer
After graduating from St Andrews with an MA in English, Julie trained as a chartered accountant and brings 20+ years of experience in charity finance to the Yoga Scotland team. Her career has combined her love of the arts with her interest in finance and charity management. After spending some years working as a finance manager and a venue technician in Yorkshire she moved back to St Andrews to run the Barron Theatre for the University, before moving to Edinburgh with stints at Scottish Book Trust, and West Lothian Dru g and Alcohol Service. Julie then spent several years as Head of Operations and Finance at Edinburgh International Book Festival. Since leaving the Book Festival to have her son in 2019, Julie has worked as a freelance consultant and finance manager for several organisations including Edinburgh Printmakers and Push The Boat Out Festival. She joined Yoga Scotland in 2024.
Kerry is a retired secondary school teacher who taught across mainstream and special needs schools for over 20 years. She also worked for the National Childbirth Trust as an antenatal educator for 30 years and as a Tutor Trainer and Assessor. She qualified as a Yoga Teacher with Yoga Scotland in 2014 and now enjoys sharing yoga with a range of people, including people with life-limiting conditions, through the charity ECAS. Kerry was a Trustee with ELYA and joined the Yoga Scotland Board of Trustees in 2019, taking on the role of Chair in 2021.
Job Titles:
- Marketing and Communications Specialist
- Trustee, Marketing & Communications
Michelle is a marketing and communications specialist with over 25 years of experience working in a fast-paced B2B environment. She has held various marketing management positions in Europe, the Middle East and the US, leading regional marketing campaigns and delivering strategic projects utilising the latest platforms and tools. Since June 2022, Michelle has been a freelance consultant, providing creative solutions and crafting compelling content strategies to support businesses and charities. She works with like-minded organisations that have a purpose, those who care about our world and make a positive impact in the communities they support. She joined Yoga Scotland in November of 2023 as a Trustee and is responsible for marketing and communications.
Ruth qualified at a postgraduate level in Communication Advertising and Marketing, Community Education, and Adult Literacy and was a member of the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development. During her non-yoga career, she held a variety of roles across in the voluntary, public and private sectors. She qualified as a Yoga Teacher with Yoga Scotland in 2002 and a Pregnancy Yoga Tutor in 2014. She was Yoga Scotland Magazine Editor (2012) and returned to the Board of Trustees in 2021, taking on the role of Teacher Training Coordinator before becoming Treasurer. Ruth is also the Secretary of River Almond Action Group, campaigning against river pollution, and Chairperson of West Lothian Climate Action Network Hub, recently formed to educate, encourage and enable people to make positive environmental changes.