On the Beach
Weaving elements of yoga and psychology into her work, Dr Alicia Ray believes in an integrative practice, one complemented by the healing powers of nature. This summer, you’ll find her at wellness festivals, silent disco beach yoga events, and teaching twice weekly classes on Cornwall’s Gwithian beach, living the dream.
Reading time: 7 minutes
A clinical psychologist for 20 years, Dr Alicia Ray now utilises the ancient practice of yoga in her work to bring whole body mind benefits to her students and clients. She also loves being in nature and believes its therapeutic powers are all part of an integrated wellness system that can help us counter the chronic effects of a busy modern-day life. OM caught up with her in her favourite place, on the beach, to find out more.
How did you first discover yoga?
As a clinical psychologist working in mental health for the last 20 years, I understand the importance of looking after my own health and wellbeing. Yoga, time outdoors, surf and travel are things that help me stay grounded and balanced, which led me to complete an immersive yoga teacher training in Costa Rica in 2018. Experiencing immense benefits to my own wellbeing I expanded my knowledge in Eastern practices, completing further trainings in yoga, yoga therapy, mindfulness and Ayurveda and have developed a holistic approach to wellbeing that integrates psychology with yoga and Ayurveda and emphasises the benefits of time in nature.
What does yoga give you personally?
Yoga has enabled me to create the life I dreamt of. Learning to trust my intuition and make decisions from the heart, to step away from the ‘safe’ route and create my own path which has opened so many opportunities. I credit yoga for enabling me to create a work model that allows me to live in balance, which is what I promote.
“Yoga, time outdoors, surf and travel are things that help me stay grounded and balanced.”
In what ways has it influenced your life?
I now run retreats around the world, teach online classes and work independently as a consultant clinical psychologist. Yoga has enabled me to transform from a lifestyle of back-to-back appointments in a stuffy hospital room to a fulfilling role supporting others through yoga, psychology and finding ways to connect with nature. Most of the yoga classes I teach are on the beach! I’m now a multi award-winning yoga teacher, teacher trainer, international retreat host and yoga therapist. My work is varied and fulfilling, I get to spend time in nature and connect with amazing people.
How do you weave elements of psychology into your yoga teaching?
My approach has always been integrative; understanding that the body and mind are inherently the same system and that the body holds important messages if we learn ways to tune in and listen. Psychology and yoga are part of my core and so the approaches to working with body and mind are intrinsically blended; it's difficult to differentiate and separate them out. I believe that the relationship between the body and mind is key to improving wellbeing and the holistic integrative approach I adopt considers biological, social, systemic and psychological factors as all part of the picture.
Any yoga career highs you’d like to tell us about?
Designing and developing my own eco conscious yoga mats with coastal imagery from Gwithian beach. I'm over the moon with the feedback and we are now working on some beautiful new designs for 2025.
What are your current plans?
I've a busy summer season ahead in Cornwall with twice weekly Gwithian beach yoga, silent disco beach yoga events, wellness sessions at festivals, retreats and some exciting new wellness collaborations.
Anything else?
I'm also in the process of building an app to be an online container for integrating my yoga psychology and wellbeing offerings. And in November, I’m heading back to Costa Rica to continue the dream project of building a retreat in one of the world’s blue zones. The plan is to build a space to offer bespoke retreats and deliver integrative yoga psychology teacher trainings.
“Psychology and yoga are part of my core and so the approaches to working with body and mind are intrinsically blended; it's difficult to differentiate and separate them out.”
You can catch up with Dr Alicia Ray teaching yoga on the beach this summer in Cornwall. To find out more visit: aliciaray.uk or connect on Instagram @aliciaraywellbeing
Om Magazine
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