Sam Dyllon is a certified yoga teacher with a focus on holistic wellness; with over 700 hours of continued professional development, Sam combines yogic tools including āsana, prāṇāyāma, and dhyāna to empower students to cultivate physical flexibility, mental resilience, and overall wellbeing.
As a member of Yoga Alliance Professionals and Yoga Teachers Together, Sam is committed to sharing the transformative benefits of yoga with the community.
Sam Dyllon, Yoga Teacher
Introduce yourself! Tell us about you and your life, so we can get to know you better.
Hi! I’m Sam, a yoga teacher & office worker, I live with my husband in Workington, Cumbria, UK and primarily teach & share yoga online.
Often, people are surprised to find that I haven’t always led an active life, but that’s what fuels my belief that everyone deserves to find an enjoyable activity that helps them feel good in both body and mind. It’s important to look forward to dedicating regular time to self-care & wellbeing, rather than dreading it, as taking time for yourself can have such a positive impact on your daily life.
However, I also recognize that not everyone wants – or is able – to spend time researching and trying out different activities, or to commit hours each week to the one they like best (or dislike the least!).
From my own experience, alongside feedback from my students, I’ve seen how spending a few minutes each day on improving flexibility can significantly enhance daily life. Close behind that is the need for more opportunities to truly rest and relax, which is something I know we all could use more of!
My goal is to help people realise that many yogic tools are simple and accessible, rather than complicated or irrelevant. While some may still choose to trek into the Himalayan mountains to practice yoga as ascetics, most of us can easily access countless classes, apps, websites, and videos right from home. Although I always recommend that new practitioners start with a qualified teacher, just as you might risk injury at the gym without a trainer, the same applies to yoga and meditation – having proper support and guidance is essential to ensure a safe and effective practice.
What inspired you to become a yoga teacher?
My yoga practice has been incredibly beneficial for me. I initially got back into it in 2014 to try and improve my fitness without having to sweat or leave the house during the cold winter months. I spent hours searching Amazon for the perfect yoga DVD that would closely resemble the classes I attended when I was 18. While I should have absolutely returned to in-person classes, the harsh January weather in Cumbria deterred me, and I hoped I’d remember enough to practice on my own without a teacher present.
At first, I felt discouraged because I was very inflexible and struggled to keep up with the teacher, if I’d been in a class, I might have given up and never gone back! However, I committed to practicing with that same DVD for over a year, although I didn’t practice every day at first, but I was consistent enough to begin to notice improvements in my body – I became more flexible and eventually could even keep pace with the teacher. This progress motivated me to adopt a daily practice as well as begin to explore other ways to take care of my body, such as through better nutrition and seeking help for old injuries and ongoing discomfort.
I’m not perfect (who is?), but I now have a deeper appreciation for making my body at least a comfortable place to live, as well as some of the methods to create the changes I desire.
I decided to train as a yoga teacher to share the tools that helped me alleviate sore, tight muscles, manage anxiety, and reduce panic attacks. I achieved my 200-hour RYT qualification with Frog Lotus Yoga International at the beautiful Suryalila Retreat Centre in Andalusia, Spain – a place that deepened my connection to yoga and inspired me to help others find freedom and comfort in their bodies and minds. My goal is to help as many people as I can thrive in ways they never thought possible.
How important has yoga been in aiding you in your quest for inner peace?
When I first stepped onto a yoga mat, I wasn’t thinking about inner peace at all; I just wanted to improve my fitness and reduce pain. Luckily, yoga offered more than I expected – my tight shoulders and hips eased, and alongside my physical pain decreasing, my anxiety lessened, too. Since 2014, I’ve experienced a few panic attacks, but thanks to what I’ve learned about prāṇāyāma (breathwork), they typically pass in under five minutes.
My first attempt at meditation was so unpleasant that I promised myself I’d never try it again; however, keeping an open mind led me to give it another shot, and this time it was much better. Now, I aim to meditate for at least ten minutes a day, but I don’t pressure myself if I miss a day. While it’s nice to dedicate the time, there are always smaller moments for mindfulness that can be appreciated throughout the day. I honestly can’t imagine my life without yoga and meditation now – they’re not just practices but an anchor that’s helped me find balance, peace, and purpose.
How do you approach working with students who are new to yoga?
I approach working with all students in the same way: with a strong desire to use my knowledge, skills, and experience to support them in their practice. I want to ensure they get the most out of our time together, while also continually learning to become the best teacher I can be.
Even if you’ve taken yoga classes or practiced meditation regularly, each teacher has their own style. While I acknowledge that some teaching methods can be ineffective, my focus is on helping students develop their own understanding of their practice over time – I want them to grasp the reasons behind my cues and teaching methods, rather than just blindly following instructions.
Of course, there will likely always be areas where guidance may be needed, but my greatest hope is that my students can apply what they learn in our lessons to their independent practice, should they wish to have one. Some may receive “homework” – PDFs or videos – to practice between our lessons, and it’s truly rewarding when I receive a message telling me that they practiced certain things during a trip or after a long day because they recognised what their body needed at that moment; or that with sustained effort, they’ve achieved an āsana they’ve been working towards or struggling with.
How do you ensure your students achieve long-term success with their practice?
Support, support, support – and even more support! The level of support I provide varies depending on each student’s individual needs and goals; for example, a Nidrā Club member who enjoys using the library for self-guided practice will likely require less interaction than someone taking one-on-one lessons with specific outcomes in mind.
I start by understanding each student’s needs, desires, and expectations. Most people realise they won’t achieve advanced goals, like doing the splits, overnight. I try to ensure students have realistic expectations for our time together, and if their goal is to achieve the splits, I’ll do my best to help them reach it, but I also emphasise that it’s a collaborative effort. They should be prepared for hard work, and understand that there may be factors beyond our control that affect their results, such as their skeletal structure.
In one-on-one lessons, I provide direct interaction, which allows me to tailor cues and lesson plans to each student’s progress. In between lessons, students keep me informed about any injuries, illnesses, and how they’re feeling after particular practices, which helps me offer even more effective support.
Participants in my programs receive varying levels of support based on their needs and the specific program details. When they reach out, I respond in the way I believe will be most helpful: some may have straightforward questions that can be answered quickly via email or WhatsApp, while others might benefit from a short video or a video call to discuss their concerns, demonstrate techniques, or explore how to achieve their goals more effectively.
What changes in the yoga world do you think would be beneficial to both teachers and students?
There are several misconceptions that would bring benefit if they were cleared up, but I want to focus on the two biggest ones.
First, many people believe yoga is only for young, skinny, flexible, white women, which can make men, people of colour, those with diverse body types & physical abilities, and older individuals feel excluded. If you identify with any of these latter groups, I would love to see you in my classes and courses & share the practices of yoga with you in a way that benefits you!
While it’s true that flexibility can decrease with age, it’s not lost forever, although each person’s journey to regain flexibility is unique. You can choose to remain sedentary and deal with pain, or you can take proactive steps to improve your flexibility and overall well-being. The choice is yours.
I welcome everyone in my classes, and strive to make each person feel accepted, seen, and understood. Although many yoga teachers are caring, some unintentionally create quite an exclusionary atmosphere. I can’t change the actions of others, but I want to show you that yoga can be an inclusive space and you can enjoy the practices it offers.
As teachers, we also need to shift our mindset about yoga. Some teachers believe there’s a limited number of students and that others are competing for them or will “steal” students away from them. However, because there are so many styles of yoga as well as different teachers, I’d encourage every practitioner to try various classes – that way you get the opportunity to discover both the styles & teachers that truly resonate with you.
So I say to fellow teachers: remember that everyone has their own teaching style and focus. Not every student will connect with you, and that’s okay – it’s not a reflection of your worth as a teacher or a person; it simply means they’re looking for something different.
You don’t need to change your style to attract students – stick to what you do best, and the right students will find you. As the Bhagavad Gītā reminds us, it’s better to perform your own dharma (duty) imperfectly while staying humble than to do someone else’s perfectly and receive recognition & praise.
And to current or potential practitioners, I suggest: try as many styles & teachers of yoga as you’re able that seem interesting to you. A teacher’s response to your choice to explore what yoga has to offer is just as vital a piece of information as how they teach & interact with you.
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