We sat down with our friend and Sop partner Farron from Glasshouse Studios to learn about her life and practice. She also put together an exclusive playlist called "Mindful Flow Sessions" to enhance your yoga practice.
What drew you to make the leap from graphic design to yoga teaching?
There came a point in my career when I felt ready to take my creativity in a different direction and explore working on my own vision. To move away from screens and create a working week filled with variety and movement. There was a time when I loved nothing more than sitting at a screen, headphones on, blasting high-energy music, immersed in the flow of solving a brief while working through the design process. But over time, I came to realise that spending hour after hour this way, was no longer lighting me up as it used to.
Yoga was always a place I’d turn to after a heavy day spent designing. It balanced out the fast-paced nature of the creative industry, giving me the energy to repeat a design day all over again.
Now I blend the two, whether that’s curating a sequence, designing content or moments that enhance the glasshouse experience.
What's it like teaching in a 130-year-old orangery? Does the setting enhance the yoga experience?
It feels like a full-circle moment. I learnt that the Colman family would often open up their family home to employees for downtime, socialising, and leisure. Now, 130 years on, it feels like we’re using the space as it was once intended - for others.
Every time I open the doors, I feel instantly at peace. Even winding open the vents has become ritualistic. The changing weather brings a new experience, on a cloudy day, you feel a sense of being held within the space. On sunny, hot days, you feel transported to the Mediterranean.
Many who practice at glasshouse comment on how light, airy, and peaceful it feels. I always make sure the vents and doors are open, as the breeze with Sop essential oils in the air, is always welcomed.
What does your morning routine look like now?
Honestly, every day is different. Our household routine shifts from week to week depending on our schedules.
I’ve learnt to adapt, creating different routines depending on the day. Usually, before getting out of bed, I’ll check in, and notice how I’m feeling, and how I want the day to unfold. Then I’ll make a big cup of decaf tea. (Though, since starting glasshouse, I’ve usually already checked my phone by this point - a habit I’m keen to ease out of asap!)
Consciously I’ll try to make a protein-rich breakfast. And if or when there’s some quiet time, I’ll sit down to meditate for around 10 minutes, practice yoga, and revisit/refine any planned sequences.
Any non-negotiable wellness rituals?
- Getting outside and moving each day.
- Making mindful choices on food, less sugar more protein (although I do not plan on giving up chocolate).
- Wearing an eye mask at night, aiming to sleep at the same time, using either a magnesium balm or salts in the bath beforehand. And of course plenty of lavender oil.
- Practising basic skincare routine, cleanse, spf, moisturise.
- Checking in on my to-do list (does this count?) I have a paper monthly planner that helps me to visualise and then a digital list of tasks for each day.
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My meditation and yoga practice.
What does wellness mean to you?
I think wellness for me, is about being mindful in the moment of how you and your body respond in any given situation and then adapting. So if my energy has dropped I know I need to pause, take a slower pace rather than continually achieving task after task I've set myself.
Do you implement anything particular when you're overwhelmed or need rest?
A few things, writing my thoughts down really helps, as does talking to close friends or family. If I’m feeling overwhelmed, I try to get outside or drive to the nearest beach. There’s something soothing about watching and listening to the waves, it also brings clarity.
Podcasts and books can also be helpful. Two that left an imprint on me years ago were Dying to Be Me by Anita Moorjani and Feel the Fear and Do It Anyway by Susan Jeffers.
How do you use scent in your personal life outside teaching?
Essential oils are embedded into my day-to-day life, I grew up surrounded by aromatherapy, thanks to my mum. Eucalyptus for colds and blocked sinuses, lavender for sleep and burns, tea tree for its antibacterial properties. I use oils in baths, cleaning products, and throughout the home.
A friend recently gifted me a beautiful pulse point, aptly named Press Pause - a blend of patchouli, ylang-ylang, and juniper and I haven’t stopped applying it since.
There’s real power in essential oils. Whether they transport you to a place of focus/productivity or offer a moment of deep rest.
How does teaching in different seasons affect your classes, especially with all that natural light?
I haven’t fully experienced all of the seasons yet at the glasshouse. I’m intrigued to see how autumn and winter will feel. There has been the odd summer's day that’s been grey and rainy. One time during savasana the rain started to fall against the glass, which everyone loved. This is the beauty of practising within an orangery, you can hear the sounds of the city amongst the birdsong and nature.
Do you notice a difference in students when you use the Scents of Peace blend? Have you had any feedback?
Once I began using the Scents of Peace blend in the space, most people noticed it, often commenting as soon as they walked in or settled onto their mat. The diffuser gently releases the scent throughout the practice, and I feel it works subtly on a subconscious level, helping people feel more at ease.
During savasana, if I offer a head massage, I’ll sometimes place a few drops of oil into my palms. After students take a breath in, you can often see a physical sigh of relief.
You have recently curated a Sop playlist ‘Mindful Flow Sessions’ how do you think music can complement the movement and flow of your classes?
For me, it’s essential. I believe music has the power to shift and shape our energy, more so when combined with movement. Whether it’s calming the nervous system or boosting energy and focus, music helps us ‘drop in’ and become immersed in the flow of being/doing.
I take time to instinctively curate a playlist, noticing whether a song resonates and gradually building the energy to align with peak poses, then softening the sounds as we transition into rest.
I also love incorporating natural sounds, waves, flowing water, or birdsong, as I find it helps to tap into the subconscious, reminding us of the present moment.
What's been most rewarding about building community at The Glasshouse?
The connection, for others but also for me too. Glasshouse was a total 'let's just give it a go and see how it unfolds' summer project. I feel grateful to be able to create a space where I can see my friends and family each week as well as meet new people and make new friendships.
Any future plans for The Glasshouse you can share?
Yes! There are some exciting collaborations and partnerships planned ahead with brands and incredible people who share similar values and visions. There are also one-off classes and retreats to keep an eye out for...