Welcome
Yoga State of Mind is an embodiment of the yogic philosophy and lifestyle in the modern world. Joanna is on the mission to spread yoga practice for its therapeutical properties through classes, funded courses and community events including International Yoga Day Event in Willen Lake North, Milton Keynes. Philosophy and practice of yoga date back over 5,000 years ago. The main purpose of traditional yoga is to understand oneself and our interconnectedness with the world. This understanding eventually leads to transcending the mundane perception of reality and new consciousness. In contemporary world yoga found a fertile ground in the West full of an unprecedented stress and anxiety. Yoga as complementary and alternative therapy in stress, insomnia and mental health management is now recognised by the healthcare system in the UK. Yoga State of Mind classes are taught in a Hatha yoga style with elements of Pranayama (breathing techniques), Meditation (concentration and senses withdrawal), Progressive Relaxation as well as Energy Awareness. Join to learn how to make your yoga practice more meaningful and gain new skills for life.
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About the teacher
I am Joanna, an independent Yoga Alliance certified Yoga Teacher, Mental Health First Aider and the first facilitator of PCI-accredited yoga protocol Yoga4Health in Milton Keynes. I am promoting Yoga for Mental Health as a complementary or alternative therapy in which students learn self-regulation tools through weekly classes, funded courses and community events. My classes are based on a traditional style of Hatha Yoga with elements of Breathwork, Self-awareness, Meditation and Mindfulness, Progressive Relaxation, alongside physical poses and bite-size psycho-education.
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I am the organiser of the first big-scale yoga event in Milton Keynes, International Yoga Day at Willen Lake North. It is now an annual event bringing different modalities of yoga to the local community, with the help and support of local sponsors and collaborators. In 2025 I set up Yoga for Health Alliance (Milton Keynes) to bring together like-minded wellbeing professionals who share my passion for creating positive impact.
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As a member of Yoga in Healthcare Alliance, I lobby with the local government representatives, MPs, voluntary sector organisations and the NHS for yoga to be included in the healthcare system and in any other accessible form which benefits a wider community.
If not on a mat, you can find me on or in the water, paddleboarding. or diving. I am fascinated by the science of Ayurveda which has become part of my lifestyle. Travel is my other love which I combine with yoga by organising retreats in Unesco protected areas, fist of which took place in the Bedouin desert in Jordan in 2023.
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– Joanna Konefal, founder of Yoga State of Mind
What the students have to say
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I’ve been going to Joanna’s yoga classes weekly for about 10 months, and they’ve made a real difference for me as a sufferer with anxiety. Joanna offers different options for each pose, making her classes accessible for any ability, even in mixed-ability classes, and she’s genuinely compassionate about any health conditions.
Her classes are unique, with a strong spiritual basis. Joanna blends different yoga styles with sound baths, crystals, nature, oracle cards, cacao ceremonies, meditation, and breathing exercises, often sharing meaningful readings and quotes that allow us to explore our inner feelings whilst our mind is calm and quiet. She focuses on mental health and wellbeing as well as physical health, and has the knowledge to explain how each pose benefits both our body and mind. Joanna encourages us to try new things and build confidence in a safe, supportive space.
I'm really grateful for all the effort Joanna puts into organising her classes and allowing us to have such a varied yoga experience.
Charlie
Feedback Form
What would you like to share about this year's International Yoga Day to help you and others benefit from future wellbeing events in Milton Keynes?
(Prompts: What did you like the most, what classes did you attend, how do you think people can benefit in the future from similar events, how important is the accessibility (cost) and the variety of content (multiple classes, talks and vendors) to you, how can we reach more people).
For anything else feel free to connect on Social Media. Alternatively fill in the form below with your question.
