Yoga Artist, musician, activist,mother. Elena Riu completed a Yoga Campus (The Life Centre) Yoga Teacher Training Diploma in 2007. She is also a certified Children and Teens Yoga and Mindfulness teacher and was recently fortunate to received Tich Nath Hahn’s Five Mindfulness Trainings at his retreat in France where she also led Children Yoga workshops.

Elena has taught kids classes at The Special Yoga Centre and at Yoga Home. Last summer Elena co-directed the Yoga for Kids and Families activities at Santosa Yoga Camp. In June Elena delivered a session on how to incorporate Tich Nath Hanhn's Pebble Meditation into a Yoga Class for the TeenYogaUK Teacher Training. Her classes use inspiring yoga stories and myths to instill reverence and compassion while weaving fun imaginative movement with mindfulness and relaxation.

Elena has been practicing yoga since she was 11 and after arriving in London where she was introduced to Shadow Yoga by John Evans. She has continued to study with Zhander Remete and Emma Balnaves as well as Paulene Morphet. In the past few years Elena has been fortunate to receive mentoring from Uma Dinsmore-Tuli which has grown her deep interest in Yoga for female health and menstruality. Elena also teaches yoga and Mindfulness’ Circles for females of all ages.

Currently Elena is completing a Red School Menstruality apprenticeship with Alexandra Pope and Sjanie Hugo Wurlitzer as well as further training in Mentoring Circles for girls. She is the founder of Hackney’s Women Yoga and Mindfulness Circle and Yoga Seedlings, Buds, Blossoms and Flowers. Elena has been a concert pianist for many years and is a Professor of piano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance where she has recently led a Pilot Study about the benefits of yoga for musicians suffering from PRA and MSDs. The pilot study was jointly funded by Better Practice: Musical Impacts, Teaching and Learning and the Keyboard Faculty. She has been integrating Yoga and Mindfulness in all her teaching. Recently, Elena delivered Yoga and Mindfulness sessions for young musicians at the North London Conservatoire. Elena also has a dance background. Elena has an 9 year old daughter who loves discovering the world through yoga. She has full DBS and is insured by the Yoga Alliance.