In Practice, Volume III — Kelly Thomas

At Basic Space, our teachers are at the heart of everything we do. In Practice is a closer look at the people behind the class.
An honest glimpse into their rhythms, rituals, and perspectives on movement—what inspires them, grounds them and brings them joy both on and off the mat.

Kelly believes in the practice of yoga as a creative space to heal, reconnect and restore both body and mind. Influenced by playful, embodied and functional movement, classes are often inquiry-led to support self-exploration of how shapes feel in our bodies over how they look. 

A practice of connection and awareness; attuning to our bodies, breath and each other, as a way of remembering your own innate wisdom and magic.

What does your morning or evening routine look like, and how does it support the way you move through your day?
Mornings usually involve a mixture of mantra, meditation, pranayama & kriya. I play with the same practice for 40 days or so which I love - it means I don’t have to overthink it or get overwhelmed with the potential of what I could do. It’s a real anchor - especially on days where I wake up & would really rather not.

In the evenings I try my best to limit screen time but wow sometimes it’s so hard! Legs up the wall for 10mins & reading before bed is my go to wind-down.

What does balance mean to you, and has your understanding of it changed over time
Balance to me means being open to experiencing the wholeness of being human - all of the joy and all of the grief. I used to try and bypass sticky feelings, but overtime have realised when we expand our capacity to see and feel joy everyday, we also need to expand our capacity to sit with and experience grief. Balance comes from not being attached to either sensation and knowing they'll move through like weather. Using movement to move things through definitely helps my brain.

Is there a belief about movement, teaching, or wellness that you’re currently questioning or re-evaluating?
It feels like in the current 'wellness' landscape there’s been a shift away from sharing practices to participate in the world towards extreme self-optimisation. Self-care has been individuated so much that it’s diluted the need for tending to yourself as a way to tend to others and be in community.
There is no separation between how you move on your mat & how you move through the world. People come to class for all kinds of reasons, but for me the way I approach the practice is how I try to approach life - with curiosity and compassion for myself and those around me. How can you do less to be in relationship with life more?

Are there other forms of creativity or self-expression that feed your movement practice?
I love to read & go to galleries. 2 books I read recently - Body High by Ryann Donnelly & Uh Huh Her by Rachel Cattle - weave reflections on how encounters with art can echo our current states of being or support our own understanding.

I feel like my movement practice is the space where I digest and work through ideas, the place where I embody a thought or philosophy. Breath is where I can shift and alchemise my mood. I’ve recently started playing with clay again which has been so fun! It feels like clay remembers every imprint and gesture, same as the body. It’s all connected.

What can students expect to explore or discover when they practice with you?
I offer a non-linear practice which means we sometimes move through familiar shapes in unfamiliar ways - there’s nowhere else you can be except in the moment. I hope to offer practices that encourage awareness & awe for our own capacity. A few cheeky moves & sprinkling of bad jokes.

I like to weave together different lineages & modalities. Some flows might be guided by meridian lines or Katonah-inspired, others might lean towards facia flossing, traditional asana or developmental movement inspired by Body Mind Centering. I typically share the same practice over a few weeks, weaving in variations and philosophy as we go, to play with repetition & allow time for the body to remember where we’re going.

How would you describe the experience of your class to someone who has never been
I find this so so hard to articulate because I’m not experiencing it! But I asked a few folk who have, and they shared their experience as feeling safe, uplifting, explorative & inclusive.

What’s something people might be surprised to learn about you outside of teaching?
I’m pretty shy! Maybe that’s not a surprise. And actually maybe that’s a narrative I’m carrying around that I can shed. It takes me a while to feel comfortable enough to fully unfurl around other people.

I’ve recently joined a Camberwell-based collective called Ensembleugh - part choir, part orchestra, part band. We’ve only had 2 rehearsals but I’m really enjoying using my voice in a different way.

Coffee, tea, or something else entirely—and why?
Long black or (or short americano) before 12pm, cheeky matcha before 3pm if I have a long teaching day, fennel or reishi tea before bed. I went through a long period of having no caffeine last year to see if it’s something I rely on, but realised I just like the ritual of making and holding a warm drink.

What’s your ideal way to spend a slow day off?
Slow morning practice at home followed by coffee, breakfast & reading. Maybe take a class and then time in nature. Ideally a forest situation or trip to see the sea. Nothing better than feeling small in the expansiveness of big nature. Taking time to cook something nourishing for the week. Or if the sun’s out, a swim at the lido - heated London Fields until Brockwell warms up.

When can we practice with you?
Wednesdays 5pm Stockwell and Sundays 10am Camberwell + 1215pm Stockwell
Online via Basic Space at Home