Wellbeing & Faith-Specific Consultations

Ally is a UKCP registered Psychotherapist with Masters Degrees in Core Process Psychotherapy and Critical Theory (Arts), and a B. A. in Fine Art. She has a Diploma in Craniosacral Therapy.

Her journey as a teacher and meditator began in her early 20s. On waking one morning in the depths of a despair that manifested as an eating disorder, Ally realised change was needed. ​

Since then, Ally’s deep love of Earth-based spirituality has taken her into Shamanic study, training and Vision Quests. She has been a foster carer and for many years worked with people living with life-threatening illness and their families, including being part of the Maggie’s Cancer Care Centre team in Oxford. She has also worked therapeutically within the NHS and the voluntary sector. Since 1998, she has been engaged in meditation practice and spent extended time on silent retreats. The fruits of these practices are woven into the individual sessions and retreats and courses she offer.

Now in her 50s, Ally has a particular interest in accompanying women through a soulful menopause. Year-round wild swimming, walking, movement practice, myth, creating ceremony and exploring ways of living in balance and harmony with all her relations, keep calling her home.​

Mariella De Martini has been sharing Yoga practices at Oxford Colleges, Executive Leadership Programmes at Said, NHS staff and in the community since 1995 and she is Leading Yoga teacher at Rhodes House. She has trained in the tradition of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga with Sri Pattabhi Jois and his immediate students since 1992 and obtained a formal certificate from one of them, John Scott, for a 2 Year Intensive Teacher Training.

When she started practising her health and outlook on life underwent a major positive transformation. A transformation she has been keen to foster in others ever since and in the teachers she has trained in yearly informal apprenticeships.

Further qualifications include a 10-week Yoga in Healthcare Programme and 3 diplomas in Traditional Yoga in Yoga and Meditation under a foremost Indian scientist and Yogi, Dr Kumar. She is Senior Yoga Teacher at Yoga Alliance Professionals UK.