About Jaqui Wan

“If you are always trying to be normal,
you will never know how
amazing you can be.”
Maya Angelou
1928 – 2014

 

Before Teaching 

Before becoming a fully-fledged yoga and acroyoga teacher, Jaqui had been motivated by social justice and equality and worked on the front line for many years in social care with refugees and other vulnerable groups.

She has an analytical side that has developed statistical programs that delved into the realm of spreadsheet formulas and coding, which tapped into her joy for attention to detail.

In her 30s she moved into public policy development, first for a Local Authority and then lobbying for good practice in a research department of a national trade body.  She had got herself into a comfortable white-collar London routine but felt increasingly stifled and ineffectual.  By 2007, after almost two years of overcoming her fear of quitting, she took on the exciting challenge of becoming a self-employed teacher. 

Influences

Jaqui’s asana journey began in 1997, sparked by a chance encounter with David Sye of Yoga Beats at her local gym during her corporate career. Captivated by the practice, she left the gym and immersed herself in yoga.

This led her to India in 2000/1, where she completed a month-long intensive with Sri Venkatesh of Atma Vikasa in Mysore. Upon returning to London, she studied Ashtanga Vinyasa with Abby Daniel and later participated in Abby’s adjustment course, where she met Norman Blair. This meeting opened the door to teaching, and she continued her Ashtanga training for two years before completing formal teacher training in 2006 with Brian Cooper and Nawajoyti Saraswati.

In 2011, Jaqui’s practice deepened with the introduction of Anatomy Trains, completing a myofascial-based teacher training with Jo Avison and continuing to study with Tom Myers.

Her practice has since evolved through hundreds of hours of training and exposure to a wide range of styles these include: – 

  • Dharma Mittra with Mark Kan 
  • Vinyasa Krama with Eileen Gauthier
  • Yogic Arts with Duncan Wong
  • Anusara Yoga with Bridget Woods-Kramer and Kate Hewitt
  • Jivamukti Yoga with David Life and Sharon Gannon 

Discovering AcroYoga 

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Jaqui’s journey into AcroYoga took flight in 2006 when she met Jason Nemer, co-founder of AcroYoga International during an AcroYoga workshop series in London, where he was also assisting the legendary Dharma Mittra on his world tour.

That same year, she became the first certified AcroYoga teacher in Europe, marking the start of a new movement in the UK. Teaming up with Jesse Saunders, she helped pioneer the practice across London and the South East, empowering a new generation of AcroYoga teachers.

Now a Level 2 instructor, Jaqui leads immersive five-day trainings and has played a key role in shaping teacher programs. Her love for for this practice expanded through to partner acrobatics, where she discovered a deep-rooted European tradition in Germany and Holland, drawing inspiration from remarkable figures like Det Rijvin, who continues to teach in her 60s, and Fons Bennink, who was still teaching into his 70s.

Ever curious and committed, Jaqui also honed her skills in hand balancing under the expert guidance of Sainaa at the London School of Hand Balancing and Acrobatics.

Teaching Style

Jaqui’s teaching experience has allowed her to teach a class with different needs and levels and have them leave feeling supported and accomplished. She has a challenging yet playful style and does not take herself too seriously.

She has an attention to detail that can address a group without finger-pointing, with the purpose of group-based learning. She actively encourages others to shine; to her, it’s about lifting the capacity and potential of the room.

Finally, she enjoys teaching and is an advocate for playful collaboration and connection.

Developing Bodhitrix

Jaqui is also the founder of Bodhitrix, is an entity dedicated to creating tools for acroyoga and acrobatic enthusiasts.  Currently, it has produced games and materials for practitioners and teachers to use for training, classes, workshops and or meet and play, with the sole objective of inspiring creativity and encouraging collaborative play.