I began yoga in 1991. A broken leg in 1992 made me take yoga seriously. I was impressed at how quickly my injuries healed and decided to teach people to heal themselves through yoga. In 1996 I began to teach weekly general classes and in 2000 to teach private lessons

I am the British Wheel of Yoga Specialist Advisor on Back Care and Therapeutic Research and co-author of the “Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs” book and Relaxations CDs. I trained with the British Wheel, qualifying in 1999 and am an insured life member. In 2009 I started to teach nationally and was awarded Specialist Advisor status to the BWY on back care and therapeutic yoga research in 2010. I also have a Foundations Dip in Ayurveda, and a Certificate in Falls Prevention Awareness. Press article on Anna’s BWY specialist Advisor award Also Article on Anna’s book

My teaching applies seasonal themes, Ayurveda and responds to requests. As well as general classes, I run a gentle course and private lessons for back care. Classes focus on kindness, aiming to empower people to be their own teacher and improve their health. Please subscribe to the Yoga in York Facebook page and You Tube Channel

I was on the Steering Committee of the University of York’s Health Sciences Dept Trial on Yoga for Low Back Care. I am in partnership with Iyengar Yoga teacher Alison Trewhela in the Yogaforbacks social enterprise. See Yogaforbacks.co.uk where there is a 4 min video. I have co-authored five yoga research papers including the world’s largest yoga trial (as of Nov 2011) published in the Annals of Internal Medicine. I tutored at 2009 & 2010 BWY National Congress. I teach six BWY IST day courses – Falls Prevention, Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs, Yoga and Ayurvedic Dosha, The Three Gunas and Mental nature – practical ways to reach harmony, teaching one to one private lessons, and improving concentration based on Patanjali’s 9 Obstacles. See Workshops for dates/venues. I now also teach laughter yoga and work as a yoga leisure leader for www.hfholidays.co.uk

The Relax with Anna Semlyen Yoga in York CD has 4 x 15 minute relaxations on the themes of gravity, visualisation, breathing and pregnancy -£7.50 plus £1 for postage and packing to Anna Semlyen, 24 Grange St, York YO10 4BH.

My degrees are in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from the University of Oxford and a Masters in Health Economics from York University, plus an Ayurveda Foundations Dip from the Ayurvedic Trading Company with Andrew Johnson I’ a certified Laughter Leader and have a certificate in Falls Prevention Awareness. Yoga author – Yoga for Healthy Lower Backs. One of my other books Cutting Your Car Use, published by Green Books has sold over 145,000 copies and has a North American edition.

The 20 mph speed limit campaign 20’s Plenty for Us employ me part time as Campaign Manager. I have performed and taught circus skills with the Cosmos Jugglers. I live with my daughter Rosie.

I am insured and have First Aid Training.