About Me
My Journey So Far:
For years, I searched for the thing. The career that would finally feel right. For more than 25 years I bounced from one job to another, often landing in management roles, always working hard, always trying to prove myself. But no matter what industry I was in - hospitality, childcare, sales - it was always the same cycle. I’d start strong, pour everything into it, and then, after a year or two, the cracks would show.
I’d burn out. Or quit. Or get sacked. Or be signed off with stress. Or have a breakdown.
And then I’d start all over again. A new job, a new career, a new attempt at fitting into a world that never quite made sense to me. I told myself I just hadn’t found the right path yet. That if I could just find the right job, the right structure, the career that suited me, I’d finally feel settled. But deep down, I was exhausted from constantly forcing myself into spaces that never truly fit. Severe depressive episodes and burnout punctuated my life and despite a loving husband and three amazing kids I struggled to feel happy.
Three years ago, I made a decision that changed everything - I stopped drinking alcohol. At first, I thought it was just about the booze, about breaking a habit I had used to unwind, to cope, but that had become, ahem, problematic. But as the fog lifted, I saw the deeper truth. Alcohol had been masking everything I had been struggling with for years - ADHD, chronic overwhelm, emotional exhaustion, the relentless pressure to hold everything together. Without it, I couldn’t escape the reality that something was deeply wrong.
Then perimenopause hit, stripping away every ounce of coping mechanisms I had unknowingly built. The ADHD I had managed to mask for decades became unmanageable. My brain felt like a constant storm - scattered thoughts, crippling overwhelm, and a body that no longer felt like my own. It wasn’t just me. I saw it in other women too - strong, capable women suddenly questioning everything, drowning in burnout, and wondering why they felt so broken.
That’s when I stopped trying to jam myself into yet another career that wasn’t right. I stopped trying to fit. Instead, I followed what had always drawn me in but never felt like a "real" option - yoga, mindfulness, and the power of self-awareness.
Yoga didn’t just help me stretch or slow down - it reconnected me with myself. It gave me the space to understand my ADHD brain, to work with it instead of against it. It became my toolkit for managing burnout, reclaiming energy, and creating routines that worked for me, not against me. More than that, it showed me that the key to resilience isn’t about “doing more” but about doing less, and doing it differently. And it opened my mind and the door to other modalities of movement and fitness.
Now, through Mindful Yogi Academy, I guide others on their own path to recovery and resilience. Peoplewho, like me, have always coped until they couldn’t. Particularly women who are trying to manage ADHD, perimenopause, and the deep exhaustion that comes with years of overgiving, but also people of any age or circumstance.
I don’t teach unrealistic self-care routines or rigid structures that fall apart after a week. Instead, I offer mindfulness and movement practices that fit into real, messy, demanding lives. Simple but powerful shifts that help you carry life more easily - without feeling like you have to fight your own brain in the process.
Because burnout isn’t just about doing too much. It’s about carrying too much. And my mission is to help you lighten that load, step out of survival mode, and start living fully again.
This isn’t about productivity. It’s about resilience. It’s about freedom. It’s about living lightly.
I look forward to welcoming you to class, online or in person.
Love and light,
Sam Davis
My Teaching Credentials
As a yoga teacher I hold a 200hr Vinyasa and Hatha qualification, and a 50hr Rocket certification** . My own yoga education is ongoing and always evolving. I teach from a place of empathy and compassion, knowing that the physical practice of yoga is just the start of the journey.
I am also a Level 3 Mat Pilates Instructor and have recently introduced weight training and running into my own fitness story and hope to start a personal training qualification in 2026.
I have a Level 3 qualification in Understanding Mental Health and I am also an accredited Menopause Wellness coach and a qualified Ikigai coach***
In my personal yoga practice I am a student of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga*, I have been studying under Irina Pashkevich in Horsham for one year now, her website is https://iriness.com/. Irina is a senior teacher with over 30 years experience and her loving guidance has been invaluable to me on my journey.
My handstands and arm balancing journey was transformational and I am a huge advocate for making 'advanced' poses accessible to everyone, my Rocket training taught me how to teach these safely and I also learned a lot from Yogi Flight School (note I am not an accredited teacher of this method, although I hope to pursue this qualification soon) .
Yoga is a very broad church with something for every palate and so I teach a range of classes and disciplines across different formats; in person, online, workshops and retreats.
Notes on language:
I use Sanskrit in my classes as much as possible to honour yoga’s roots and preserve its rich tradition. The Sanskrit names carry layers of meaning that often describe the essence and energy of each asana far more beautifully than English translations can. Using the original language alongside English terms also helps deepen understanding, connects us to yoga’s history, and reminds us that our modern practice is part of something ancient and sacred.
For a guide to Sanskrit terms click here
*Ashtanga yoga is a dynamic, structured practice that links breath with movement through a set sequence of postures designed to build strength, flexibility, and focus. It’s a disciplined method traditionally practised in a Mysore-style setting, where students progress at their own pace under the guidance of a teacher. I’m a dedicated student, although I do not teach this specific method myself.
**Rocket Yoga is an energising, playful, and progressive style developed from the Ashtanga tradition. It combines strong, flowing sequences with creative transitions and plenty of opportunities for inversions and arm balances, making it both challenging and uplifting. I hold a 50-hour qualification in Rocket Yoga and am authorised to teach Rocket-style classes; however, to teach the full Rocket method, teachers should complete a minimum of 100 hours of accredited Rocket Yoga training
***Ikigai is the Japanese concept of finding purpose and fulfilment by aligning what you love, what you’re good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
Contact
I will always answer emails and WhatsApp messages within 24 hours so please get in touch.
07508 116526



