Dance Performance and Teaching graduate Keri Lincoln tells us her experience
The University of Central Lancashire Dance Performance and Teaching graduate, Keri Lincoln, has excelled in teaching by setting up her own business, Keri Lincoln Yoga.
Keri chose to study BA (Hons) Dance Performance and Teaching because the course combined both teaching and performing, giving her experience in both areas. As part of the degree course, Keri found that the somatic movement education and pilates classes improved her body awareness and understanding of the anatomy. Whilst studying her degree, Keri started practicing yoga and pilates, which helped with a back injury that was incurred at college.
After graduating from the University of Central Lancashire in 2011, Keri taught ballet and tap to children aged between three and 16 years old. She also taught street dance at after-school clubs to primary school children. Keri went on to train as a yoga and pilates teacher and began teaching these practices.
The current phase of Keri’s career has seen her set up her own business called Keri Lincoln Yoga, where she’s established herself as a yoga and pilates teacher. Keri teaches in a gym setting, as well as organising and teaching her own classes and workshops.
She mainly teaches private clients as well as running two retreats, one in the UK and one abroad, every year. Along with becoming a mother, Keri felt her greatest achievement is running her small successful business. She said: “I love connecting and helping all my clients. I especially love organising and putting on amazing retreats for them.”
To date, Keri has completed four yoga teacher training courses and she has now qualified as a hypnobirthing teacher to add to her accolade. Keri highlighted: “I’m a great believer in investing in yourself and studying to better yourself in your practice, always learning.”
Reflecting on her time at the University of Central Lancashire, Keri has some lasting memories. She stated: “My friends were the greatest and especially loved working with them to create our final pieces in the third year. Getting to dance so much with many teachers was a great experience too.” Keri further added about the impact of her degree, “All the teaching experience helped me be the confident teacher I am today.”
When asked to give advice to graduates and students wanting to follow a similar career path, Keri said: “Have the confidence to believe in your abilities. You can make anything you believe in work.”