Laura Thompson is a yoga teacher based in the North-East of England offering yoga classes and events to her community. We caught up with Laura to find out more about how she shares her practice and her wellness mission for the future.
Find out more about Laura and her classes at her Instagram page @laurahazelyoga
Tell us a bit about your background and your yoga journey…
Becoming a yoga teacher wasn’t something I had planned out, or even contemplated before. Until last summer, I had never attended a yoga class! A treasured friend of mine dragged me along with no expectations yet we both took more from it than we expected. If someone told me where I’d be a year on from that first class I wouldn’t have believed them!
I always knew I wanted to do something for myself, something that would bring fulfillment and joy. But what exactly? I had no idea. That is, until yoga came into my life and gently led me to where I am today. My practice quickly became my sanctuary. It allowed me to fully reset, refocus, and rediscover myself. I knew where I needed to be, I just didn’t know how to get there. Then without realising, Yoga had me on my way. You don’t realise that yoga isn’t a work out and that it’s a WORK IN until you’ve experienced it and that’s the magic.
Just a few months after I’d started practicing, my yoga teacher, who has been a guiding light on this journey, encouraged me to pursue teacher training toward the end of 2024. The decision seemed impulsive at the time, but I just knew it was the right one. Close friends and family had also noticed a shift in me which cemented my decision. Sometimes, the universe pushes us in ways we don’t expect, but it was evident that this was the nudge I needed and I was going in the right direction for once without any question.
Yoga had given me so much, and I knew I wanted to pass it on to others.
What is your mission with sharing your practice?
Initially the training was just the start, a new chapter, but I hadn’t envisioned the bigger picture yet or my mission so to speak. I thought maybe I’d qualify and cover the odd class here and there to keep my finger in it and help me grow as a teacher and then who knows what will happen “one day”. But as soon as I’d completed my physical training and got the taste for teaching groups I was so driven to get where I wanted to be. I didn’t just want to be a yoga teacher and teach a sequence or guide breathwork like the textbook stuff you’re taught. I wanted to create my own sanctuary where I could guide others in the same way yoga guided me and provide a space where they can let go of the world outside and come home to themselves. I find it hard to describe, but it’s not the venue, the equipment or how experienced you are at teaching. These things are helpful of course but the studio itself is a feeling. You can’t just decorate a successful yoga studio, it’s so much more than that. Its how it feels and how it makes you feel. I know how special and rare that is and that’s what inspired me to create my own space.
I wanted my classes to be personal, tailored to the needs of my students, but also to be a reflection of me, my journey, and my story. I dreamt of a studio where people feel welcome, comfortable, and inspired to return. I want my space to be one that fosters connection, growth, and community. Somewhere people look forward to going to fill up their cup.
This is just the beginning for Laura Hazel Yoga but it already feels like it’s going to be so much more.
How is Laura Hazel Yoga different from other wellness spaces?
Laura Hazel Yoga is different to other spaces because it’s not generic classes, it’s not a gym, or a shared space with other Yoga teachers, it’s just me – Laura Hazel and people are there because they want to be. During my training the teacher told me “your vibe attracts your tribe” and that stuck with me.
I wanted my brand to feel personal so I knew exactly where I wanted to start: with my blue Yoga Matters mat. That mat is more than just a piece of equipment to me; it’s a symbol of my journey. The color blue has always resonated with me — friends will joke and call it MY COLOUR. But as it also represents tranquility, depth, and clarity, all things that yoga brings into your life, when I pictured my space it had to be blue. My entire brand is built around this mat, a personal touch that is meaningful to me and honors where it all began.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of opening their own wellness space or studio?
I think if you feel like you’ve always known there’s something more for you — something that’s just waiting for you to discover — I encourage you to listen. Trust the process, trust yourself, and most importantly, don’t give up on yourself. The path may not always be clear, but when you follow your heart, you can’t go wrong. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Here’s to new beginnings, personal growth, and the beautiful journey ahead!
Do you have a quote or mantra that you live by?
You are the greatest project you’ll ever work on. Restart. Reset. Refocus. As many times as you need to, just don’t ever give up on yourself.
Find out more about Laura at her Instagram page @laurahazelyoga
