Seven Lion Yard is a holistic health and wellbeing centre providing comprehensive psychological and wellbeing services in Clapham, South London. We caught up with founder Madeleine Jago to find out more about the space and the inspirations behind it…
Tell us a bit about your background and your meditation journey…
In my professional life, I have worked for many years as a psychologist within the NHS and privately. My special areas of expertise are in trauma and health, although I regularly work with other issues such as low self-esteem, low mood and anxiety.
During the clinical training, I noticed a mismatch between the frequent discussions of the well-documented benefits of mindfulness, meditation and breathing practices and the fact that we, as practitioners, hadn’t been given the tools to either integrate these techniques into our sessions or to help clients integrate these practices into their lifestyles.
I found that taking a purely cognitive or analytical approach can miss the body-based, emotional and unconscious drivers of behaviour and that true psychological change comes from integrating what people know with what they feel. I have since trained in other therapies that have more room for somatic experiences but have also integrated more breathwork, meditation and mindfulness principles in my own life and in my work to experience greater wellbeing and better support my clients.
What inspired you to open Seven Lion Yard and when did you open the studio?
I resolved to create a space that could offer both one-to-one therapy and mindful, meditative and breathing practices either independently or in combination, something I had not seen elsewhere. When we found the site, we were able to bring this to life through thoughtful design and the character that the space already possessed. Our vision was to share these complementary approaches to help people become more attuned to their emotional responses, soothe their nervous system, manage stress and result in a more meaningful and enduring change in wellbeing. The studio and psychology clinic opened at the end of May 2024 so we are still very much in the early stages of our journey and development.
What is your mission with Seven Lion Yard?
Our studio is committed to providing a supportive space for people of all levels, to experience the benefits of holistic breathwork, meditation and mindfulness based practices allowing them to better manage stress, calm their mind and body, and find balance in their life.
How is Seven Lion Yard different from other studios?
I believe our focus on psychological wellbeing and our studio design are unique. We offer a blend of evidence-based practices aimed at helping people tackle life’s challenges in a space designed with calm, restoration and relaxation in mind. Tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of Clapham High Street in a quiet and picturesque setting, our classes include elements of breathwork, meditation, mindfulness, yin and restorative yoga and sound healing to enhance wellbeing. We will also shortly be launching breathwork classes for pregnancy and workshops for mums-to-be, as well as in-depth workshops in meditation and breathwork for those who wish to take their practice to the next level.
What advice would you give to someone who is thinking of opening their own studio?
Starting a business is exciting and terrifying and everything in between so, before you start, make sure you have people in your life who can offer emotional and practical support and anything else you might need. You will be more resilient in the face of the inevitable ups, downs and uncertainties if you have the right team around you.
Do you have a quote or mantra that you live by?
In my life I have worked and I continue to work hard to develop and demonstrate self-compassion. I think it is so important in bestowing resilience and I have witnessed the power that quietening a self-critical voice can have on my clients. Kristen Neff, who writes extensively on self-compassion, captures something important:
“Being human is not about being any one particular way; it is about being as life creates you—with your own particular strengths and weaknesses, gifts and challenges, quirks and oddities.”
Find out more about Seven Lion Yard:
Website: https://www.sevenlionyard.com/
Instagram: @sevenlionyard
