Claire Rimell
London, United Kingdom
Currently teaching in West London on Monday evenings 6.30-8pm. Do email me for more info or join me on my Instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/qoyawithclaire/ https://www.studysociety.org/qoya/
I am a Qoya teacher living in London. Training at a drama school, my background and early working life began in the arts. Following a move to London and a career change into the corporate world, my priorities shifted and dance momentarily fell by the wayside. Through Qoya, re-connecting to a daily movement practice has been invaluable. I experienced firsthand the life-giving effect of listening within to the wisdom of my body, heart and the intuition to feel happier in my body and more connected to my true essence. I have trained in the Pachakuti Mesa tradition with Peruvian Shamans and The Ayni Foundation in the UK (graduate of Natural Wisdom Leaders course 2019). These teachings enabled me to cultivate a deeper reverence for my homeland as well as honor indigenous people and cultures all around the world. I love how Qoya deeply honors lands, lineages, and sacred space.
When did you take your first Qoya class? A friend recommended Qoya to me during one of the many lockdowns in the UK in 2020. I was so grateful to be able to join the creatrix, Rochelle Schieck's online classes. There were many tears of release, sadness, and joy that I knew I had found something very special.
What does it mean for you to teach Qoya? The framework of a Qoya class is quite simple, and yet the effects can be deep and long lasting. I feel privileged to share this practice with other people who may need it as much as I do. I love creating and sharing sacred space with other women. For me, Qoya is a space to pause, take a breath, and connect.
What is your favorite song to dance to right now? Israel Song by Carioca Chandra Edgar. Whatever mood I’m in, this song has the ability to bring calm, joy, and equilibrium to my heart. I don't think I'll ever be tired of it.
What book has inspired you on the path to embodying the feminine?: The Magdalen Manuscript: The Alchemies of Horus & The Sex Magic of Isis by Tom Kenyon & Judi Sion. This book confirmed many of my suspicions around the power of women and their own alchemy. I felt as if history was being rewritten and corrected.
What would you tell someone who is thinking of taking a Qoya class for the first time? The important aspect to remember about Qoya is that it's all about you! How you are feeling and wanting to move in that moment. The focus is turned away from choreography and how it looks. There is no expectation from the teacher and no way to do it wrong, so you have nothing to lose by giving it a go.