About Laya Studio

Founder
 

Cláudia, a passionate advocate for mindful movement. Holding a degree in Educational Psychology from Ispa, Cláudia brings a deep understanding of human development to her practice.

Cláudia honed her artistic expression through years of dedicated dance. As a creator and performer, she has graced stages across diverse landscapes – museums, festivals, theaters, schools, libraries, even historic monuments and ruins. Her dedication to movement extends beyond the stage, with a rich history of teaching classes for a wide spectrum of individuals, from babies and mothers to the elderly, those with special needs, and even dancers and actors.

Cláudia's expertise is a tapestry woven with diverse threads: Yoga Alliance UK certification, proficiency in Thai yoga massage, and a profound understanding of movement analysis under the guidance of Cary Rick. This multifaceted foundation allows her to guide others towards a deeper connection with their bodies and minds. A firm believer in the innate intelligence of the human body, Cláudia views movement as a transformative force with the power to heal, restore, and empower. Her passion lies in fostering meaningful connections between individuals and their surroundings, both within and beyond the studio walls.

Yoga Teacher

Carlos arrived at Yoga through Kryia. He then discovered Hatha Yoga and, at the same time, massages. He even found space to study Chinese medicine. He wouldn't trade what he does today for anything, because what calls him and gives him pleasure is in fact giving Yoga classes and massages. He considers Yoga as the conditioning of the body for the practice of meditation, and meditation is the observation of oneself. His classes are described by students as intense and profound.

Health Specialist

Alice is a health specialist with a lifelong curiosity and dedication in combining natural therapies to support healthy living. She is a trained health coach, acupuncturist, massage therapist and a registered UK nurse prescriber. From managing chronic diseases in the Community, treating acute conditions in busy London hospitals, caring for the elderly in nursing homes and supporting private clinics, she has seen the powerful effects of massage therapies in reducing pain, tension and anxiety symptoms. At Laya she combines her medical background with her love for natural therapies to provide massage sessions that are right for you, whether it’s for a specific pain and tension area, or for a full body immersive relaxation experience - she’s got you covered.

Yoga Teacher

Tiago Botelho, passionate about communication, the area in which he began his professional career, began practicing yoga because he felt that it helped him a lot with the Ayurvedic massages that he was giving at the time. As the practice continued, he began to feel the impact that yoga had on himself on different levels. After a few years of study, there was a transformative moment in his life when he wanted to understand even more about the traditional context of yoga as well as the oldest and most philosophical texts such as the Vedas and Upanishads. He deepened these studies driven by historical interest, but above all by the pertinence they may have today. Voted to communicate and share, endowed with a sense of humor, spontaneity and authenticity, Tiago's classes are cherished by his students as a weekly highlight."

Pilates Teacher
 

Mindfulness brought him to Pilates, which he firmly believes in as a powerful technique for improving quality of life and overcoming pathologies and limitations. With training in Pilates and Clinical Pilates, as well as Mindfulness and Flow, Daniel Silva brings to Laya Studio an individualized Pilates practice, even in the case of group classes. The attention he pays to each person allows the student to overcome complaints and limitations, with potential recovery from pathologies, as well as establishing a basis for the practice and improvement of performance in any physical activity.

Ashtanga Yoga Teacher

Valeria started her Yoga practice because it was the discipline that allowed her to take her baby daughter. 22 years ago! Today, she teaches herself. Has been teaching Yoga for over 10 years and has Ashtanga as her favorite practice. Like many people, she started with Hatha Yoga, but today Valeria prefers Ashtanga because considers it to bring more tranquility and peace. Valeria feels seduced by the constant challenge offered by Ashtanga, the call for discipline and improvement in performing the postures and sequence. She arrived in Portugal a year ago, coming from Argentina, her country of origin, and we are privileged to now have her as a teacher at Laya Studio.