'Nina's work is steeped in a rich hinterland. It is informed by a lived experience of eastern philosophy and yoga practice, western psychological training and a growing interest in the largely untapped female energy we carry within. Her blended approach offers a portal to deep healing and long term well being..
~ Renée van der Vloodt~
About Me
‘‘Yogini - the female practitioner of yoga’’
Hello, I’m Nina, aka YogiNi, a modern householder practitioner of yoga based in Kent, South-East England.
I am privileged to have roots in and to experience the wealth of both British and Indian culture. Since my early life, I have seen the humble application of yoga philosophy in daily life. Yoga has long recognized natural cycles of joy (sukha) and suffering (dukha), and has offered pathways and practices to help manage these. I first heard the words, sukha-dukha from my mother consoling a bereaved family friend when I was about 10 years old. I didn’t fully understand, but there was a palpable feeling of tenderness and wisdom as each were held in poignant acceptance. Years later in 2012, those same words were shared by psychologists, neuro-scientists and meditation teachers at an International Mindfulness Conference sharing the benefits of addressing dukha through meditation practices and ‘overriding’ the brains negativity bias through training in gratitude and appreciation to enhance sukha. It was quite a moment!
Through my professional training and work in clinical psychology I have also learnt about ways to help navigate the ups and downs of life that we all experience. The development of recent therapies have recognized the contribution and perspective of ancient Eastern practices and the nature of the mind, which are being incorporated into mainstream Psychological therapies and teaching.
When not working, I can be found pottering barefoot in my garden appreciating nature or cooking up a feast for my family- in between dancing in the kitchen!
Yogi’ni Psychologist
As a Clinical Psychologist with extensive experience in NHS mental health services. I have worked with adults individually and groups supporting a wide range of difficulties including anxiety, depression, trauma, chronic stress, grief, and long-term health conditions such as pain, fibromyalgia and persistent physical symptoms.
The therapeutic relationship is at the core of my approach which values safety and warmth to allow a collaborative process to unfold. Making sense of your experiences together we would develop ways to manage distress skillfully, make space for the difficult while moving forward in meaningful and practical ways at your own pace.
In my most recent NHS role as a Senior Psychologist, I worked within a multidisciplinary team integrating psychological therapy with mindfulness, compassion, and yoga therapy, always with a trauma-informed perspective.
Across all areas of my work, I am guided by a professional code of ethics and conduct that brings four core BPS pillars- Respect, Competence, Responsibility, and Integrity into everything I do.
Holistic Approach
Many ideas once at the fringes are now becoming part of mainstream practice. Holistic considers the whole person in relationship which includes:
Mind and body
Emotional and physical health
Social environment
Wider cultural and political context
Drawing on holistic and a bio-psycho-social and spiritual framework, I aim to understand your experiences in a broad and meaningful way, supporting lasting well being rather than simply addressing symptoms.
Examples of my work
Holistic psychology in action ~ Collective Cries: A Musical Call for Peace
In August 2025, I worked on a collaborative, music-based Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity project which brought psychologists together to raise awareness of global suffering by performing Tagore’s Collective Cries poem as a plea for peace.
Through shared learning and creative expression, the project fostered connection, compassion, and a sense of collective humanity.
Research shows yoga’s potential to improve stress, anxiety and burnout
I collaborated with researchers from the University of Kent’s Centre for Health Services Studies to design and deliver a six-week therapeutic yoga pilot for stress, anxiety, and burnout in staff. Findings showed promising benefits for well being and the work was presented at the British Psychological Society. Holistic Faculty workshop, Yoga and Psychology in October 2019.