Elisa Ciuffarella

How a lesson works

Every session begins with a short check-in. I ask how you're feeling that day, what your body has been through in the last week, and what you'd like to get out of the practice. From there I shape a session around you rather than delivering a fixed class — so if you've had a long week at a desk, we work on the shoulders, hips and breath; if you're feeling strong and want a challenge, we go further.

The session usually moves through four phases: a gentle warm-up to mobilise the joints and wake up the breath, a main practice that builds toward a focus pose or theme, a cool-down with slower, deeper stretching, and a short relaxation to close. You'll always know why we're doing something — I explain what we're working and how it relates to your body.

What we cover

I teach Hatha for precision and foundations, Dynamic Vinyasa for strength, flow and energy, Yin for deep release and stillness, and Breathwork for calm and focus. Alongside the traditional styles I bring in mobility and functional movement work — shoulder and hip capacity, controlled range of motion, joint preparation — which makes the practice genuinely useful for everyday life, not just on the mat.

You can choose the flavour you want: energising and stronger, or slower and more restorative. Many students end up mixing both across the week.

How lessons feel and what to expect from me

My teaching is calm, patient and precise. I demonstrate, explain, and then watch — adjusting with clear, specific cues rather than vague encouragement. Nothing is compulsory: I always offer variations so you can work at the level that's right for you, whether that's a supported version of a pose or a more advanced option. Safety and understanding matter more to me than depth, so we build gradually. I don't believe in pushing through pain or performing for the room.

Format and logistics

I teach 1:1 and small groups, online and in person. Online sessions work beautifully — I can see you clearly, cue you through the shapes verbally, and give you props and progressions using what you have at home. I keep a large library of recorded practice material through my studio, so students also get something to practise with between sessions. Most students take one session a week and feel the difference within three to four weeks.