About

YinYan’s mission is to open doors that give people the tools & confidence to improve their mental & physical wellbeing as part of our friendly & welcoming community.

We help people improve their health & happiness with in-person & online activities including yoga, pilates, dance, meditation, mindfulness, relaxation techniques, qigong, tai chi, music, art, healthy eating & connecting with nature.

We partner with leading health & wellness professionals, space providers & community creators, land & property owners & charities, using available spaces for maximum positive impact on the communities we serve. We strive to be positive, inclusive & welcoming to everyone regardless of background, race, characteristics, gender, sexuality, beliefs, age, ability & financial means.

YinYan Wellbeing CIC – a Community Interest Company

Because we are a Community Interest Company that is limited by guarantee, we can’t pay dividends or bonuses – all our profits are legally ‘asset-locked’ and MUST be used to improve the benefit & reach of the community we serve, which is defined by our Community Interest Statement (below). We measure & monitor the impact of our activities in order to provide maximum benefit, always looking for new places to do what we do and new people to help feel good.

Community Interest Statement

Our Community Interest Statement is our constitution, it defines what we do and who we do it for, and it is lodged at Companies House as part of our incorporation statement:

The company’s activities will provide benefit to the community by opening doors that give people the opportunity, skills & confidence to take control of & improve their mental & physical wellbeing through activities proven to improve health as part of a friendly & welcoming community.

We will help people improve their health & happiness through professional, friendly, convenient & accessible activities including but not limited to yoga, pilates, dance, meditation, mindfulness, relaxation techniques, qigong, tai chi, creativity, music, art, nutrition, connecting with nature & improving our environment.

We aim to work with leading health & wellness professionals, space providers & community creators, land & property owners, charities, organisations & individuals across the United Kingdom to use under-utilised spaces to help people to improve their physical fitness, mental health & ability to cope with the personal & societal challenges of our rapidly changing world.

We are not limited to any geographical area or demographic. Our vision is a national network of leading mind & body professionals having maximum positive impact on the health & wellbeing of all people – we strive to be positive, fully inclusive and welcoming to everyone regardless of background, race, characteristics, gender, sexuality, beliefs, age, ability/disability & financial means.

YinYan Wellbeing CIC Board of Directors

United by a passion & commitment to helping people to improve their mental & physical health, these are the people responsible for YinYan Wellbeing CIC doing what it does.

Robin Ellis, Chairman & Founder

A surveyor with a history of chronic back pain & mental health issues, Robin’s experience of yoga, pilates, meditation & ukulele bands led him to becoming a teacher and subsequently setting up YinYan to take classes wherever they can help people experiencing issues such as pain & stiffness, stress, anxiety & depression. His belief that, with the right help, everybody can improve their own health & happiness is a cornerstone of everything we do.

Joanne Grant, Director for Marketing & Communications

Studied Business Management before embarking on a career in Executive Support. She held senior PA / EA and Office Management roles at King’s College London & Glasgow Caledonian University. Joanne is passionate about wellbeing and creativity helping ‘normal’ people who might feel intimidated or nervous about going into a gym or yoga studio.

Raj Athwal, Non-Executive Director

An experienced Body Control Pilates teacher & Back4Good practitioner – Raj is now pain free after her own history of chronic back & neck pain, which helped her to become an empathetic & powerful teacher. Helping people to reduce pain and experience the freedom of movement means she can can transform lives. In addition to sitting on our board and teaching classes for YinYan, Raj also runs her own studio in Maidenhead.

Adam Jones, Non-Executive Director

…MORE COMING SOON…

Dr Anthony Hudson, Non-Executive Director

Appointed as a Consultant in Emergency Medicine in 2011 his main area of interest is Major Trauma, he is Governance Lead Doctor for KSS Air Ambulance Charity and an Honorary Clinical Lecturer at St. George’s University of London. The things he deals with on a daily basis means he has a deep understanding of the importance of self-care, regularly using activities such as Yoga, Meditation & Art to look after his own wellbeing.

Dr Simon Jones, Non-Executive Director

A GP with over 20 years’ experience in the North of England & abroad, including with MSF in South Sudan, Dr Jones is based in Kendal where he indulges his passion for rock climbing & cycling. In addition to a wealth of experience looking after others, his own recovery from an accident while climbing El Capitan in Yosemite gave him a valuable perspective & understanding of the benefits of self-care.

Helen Shellabear, Non-Executive Director

A Chartered Surveyor with 15 years’ experience in commercial real estate, Helen is the Managing Director of a private investment & development business with offices, industrial & mixed-use assets across the South East. Previously she held roles in Banking, Private Equity & Boutique Asset Management. Much of her time is spent on the changing office environment and her passion for wellbeing, building communities and Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) initiatives.

Nicole Steed, Non-Executive Director