ABOUT US

Supporting Front Line Workers to manage their lived experience of stress, one conversation and one class at a time to build foundations from the ground up.

Meet the team behind all the hard work!

WHY ARE WE HERE?

We are here to provide tools to front line workers to support their wellbeing and long term health. Through Yoga, breath and mindfulness we deliver training for managing stress, building physical and mental resilience and optimising performance.

Every single front line worker deserves the opportunity to prepare for the challenges they will face in their careers which is why our vision is that this training is available from the day they begin.

With over 87% of staff having navigated stress and mental ill health, experienced staff need this support too. Now more than ever front line workers need the organisations they work for to support and respect their long term wellbeing.

Day 1 and not 1 Day.

MEET THE TEAM

Founder & CEO

ALIX COLEBY

Alix is a senior yoga teacher with over 3000 hours teaching experience. A combination of personal life challenges and knowledge gained working as Police Support Staff, led Alix to focus on how yoga can be used proactively to train the body’s ability to move effectively in and out of stress. Alix founded Yoga for the Front Line in 2022.

‘Not only can we decompress and reduce stress, but we can tactically train the body and mind to have a positive relationship with our lived experience of stress'

– Alix Coleby

Yoga is a staple for Alix and finds the headspace it brings key for navigating life's challenges. Embracing all seasons and the elements of nature, when off the mat Alix can be found near or in the water!

Trustee - Chair

OLIVIA CAMPBELL

Olivia has been qualified in nursing for over 40 years, specialising in occupational health nursing, ie

fitness for work, and the impact of health on work and work on health. Olivia has worked in the

private and public sector, with organisations as diverse as police and fire service; retail; NHS;

manufacturing; research and development; and latterly the corporate sector. Olivia takes a hands-on

approach to her work, undertaking clinical case management as well as supporting clients at a

service delivery, and strategic level.

Olivia serves on her local Town Council and has had a stint as Chair/Mayor, an interesting time involving high levels of meetings and sampling cake, in an official capacity of course! Living in a coastal town, Olivia likes the outdoor life, dog walking, grandchildren and of course, yoga!

Trustee - Finance/Treasurer

RAMONA FITZGERALD

Ramona brings over 15 years of financial expertise to her role as Treasurer. With a robust background in accounting, Ramona holds an Honours degree in Mathematics of Finance from the University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg and is a Chartered Accountant certified through the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).

Ramona’s professional journey includes roles in both practice and industry, most recently in the insurance sector.

As Treasurer Trustee, Ramona oversees the charity’s financial health, ensuring that all funds are managed efficiently and effectively to maximise impact. Her commitment to ethical financial practices and attention to detail ensures that YFL remains accountable to its donors and beneficiaries.

In her free time, Ramona enjoys sea swimming, reading, spending time with her family and, of course, Yoga.

Secretary - Trustee

ELEANOR ALDRIDGE

Ellie is a passionate PT and Nutritionist in training but also works for a high street Travel Agent and runs a carpentry business with her husband. Throw in the trials and tribulations of 3 teenagers and it’s fair to say...Ellie leads a busy life!

Ellie enjoys exploring the benefits of various foods and nutrients for our bodies to help people gain maximum nutrition from their meals and use natural solutions to manage their health and well being.

Ellie is a runner, taking on half marathons, marathons and ultramarathons too. On top of this Ellie weight trains 3 times a week. Ellie finds yoga a huge help to balance her training load. A skeptic when Alix suggested that it might be good for her training but is now a convert! The Yoga Squat is a staple for Ellie's training but she has grown to love the calm that a good Yin session brings for her busy mind.

Operational - Truste

SARAH BLACKMAN-EASTON

Sarah is a registered mental health nurse, working in the NHS and a mindfulness practitioner. Qualified since 2010, Sarah has worked with adult services, perinatal services, child and adolescent services and specialist eating disorders. Sarah has experience working on inpatient units and community teams, both in secondary and primary care. Working on the front line, Sarah understand's how stress and trauma can affect a persons life, both professionally and personally.

In 2014 Sarah was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia and functional motor neuropathy, both of which cause chronic pain, exhaustion, muscle spasms and muscle weakness. Research is still in the early stages, but suggests that these conditions can be caused as a result of trauma. Sarah's conditions are also triggered by stress and over working, so needed to find better coping strategies to manage her new world.

Sarah became a mindfulness practitioner not only to enhance her skills as a professional but as a coping skill for herself, learning to relax my mind and body has become a valuable part of my life to manage stress, stressful situations and chronic pain. Sarah became a trustee because she believes in the difference YFL can make in the lives of front line workers.