A DEDICATED community space to promote emotional and holistic wellbeing through movement, mindfulness and mediation is to open.

Forrest Yoga teacher and personal trainer Natalie Palmer has raised over £10,000, as part of a Kickstarter campaign, to open a studio in Corbridge.

On surpassing her target, through the sale of bulk, discounted online and in-person class passes, Natalie said: “I feel totally held by the community. It’s been a complete emotional rollercoaster! But it’s wonderful to have all that hard work celebrated in such a tangible way. It’s the dream for me really.

“As humans, some of our most basic psychological needs are to feel love, belonging and inclusion”, she added. “These have become the core principles of what developed Corbridge’s yoga community. As we adjust back to some form of normality after this strange period of isolation, mental health needs to be a priority. I want to share this community with more people in and around Corbridge.”

Natalie, who lives in the village, began teaching yoga in Corbridge Parish Hall in 2017.

She added: “At the moment, Corbridge doesn’t have a dedicated space for taking care of people’s emotional and holistic wellbeing and I want to create a space where it is ok not to be ok. More that that, I want people to feel safe and held in this: a space that is free of judgement, where you can be present, learn how to be still and relax.”

Natalie has ran discounted classes for Hexham Hospital staff for three years and will offer free classes for the first year to NHS workers in the Old Bakery Yard studio, which will open in June. She also hopes to offer discount for local businesses and run monthly donation-based workshops for local charities.