This year's theme for Mental Health Awareness Week is particularly exciting, as it combines two topics very close to my heart: mental health and movement.

I have written this piece about how movement improves mental health from both my research and lived experience point of view: https://mqmentalhealth.org/movement-for-mental-health-awareness-week-2024-feeling-safe-in-your-body/

I am teaching several free yoga classes during Mental Health Awareness Week (May 12 to May 19, 2024) in support of MQ Mental Health Research. Donations of any amount are welcome. If you don't want or can't donate, just come along for the yoga, I want this to be an accessible and non-judgmental space for *everybody* and *every body*.

The first date for a free Vinyasa Yoga class at the beautiful Vishuddha Yoga Centre in Oxford is on May 18, 2024, 10:45-11:45 am. Book on the Vishuddha Yoga Website, www.vishuddhayoga.org/classes, or on the Mindbody app.

Watch out for more free yoga classes, which I will add soon.

About me:

- I am a passionate data scientist, trial statistician, and researcher in psychology and mental health research (currently University of Cambridge, previously University of Oxford)

- I am a dedicated yoga teacher and enthusiastic personal trainer

- I advocate for mental health in holding several roles that involve lived experience as well as research experience in mental health research

- I am a proud ambassador for the international charity MQ Mental Health Research, https://www.mqmentalhealth.org/mq-ambassador-profilees-meet-esther-beierl-2/

- and I write about my research and lived experience with mental health on Substack, https://estherbeierl.substack.com.