About Manisha

My name is Manisha, and I created OncoYoga to offer a more thoughtful, supportive approach to movement during and after cancer treatment.

This work is both professional and deeply personal to me.

I am currently supporting my partner through advanced cancer and long-term chemotherapy. Through this experience, I’ve seen first-hand how difficult it can be to find safe, appropriate ways to move—especially when energy levels, strength and emotional wellbeing can change from one day to the next.

That continues to shape how I work. It’s why everything I offer is adaptable, gentle, and grounded in real understanding of what people may be going through.

My teachings are inspired by my interests in mindful movement, neuroscience, somatic movement and philosophy and how we can use all these practices to live a mindful and conscious life. 

My experience and training.

I’ve been teaching yoga and somatic movement for over 15 years, and over time my practice has become increasingly focused on gentle, restorative and therapeutic approaches.

My training includes:

  • Over 200 hours of yoga training

  • 100 hours of somatic movement training

  • 50 hours of restorative yoga training

  • Specialist training in Yoga for Cancer

This allows me to adapt sessions safely, taking into account treatment side effects, physical limitations and how you’re feeling on any given day.

How I work.

I take a calm, attentive and flexible approach to every session.

There’s no set routine or expectation. Instead, I work with you to understand what you need in that moment—whether that’s gentle movement, breathwork, or simply space to rest.

I encourage students to listen and sense how they feel in their bodies during practise, using all their senses and practice with curiosity.

If you love blankets and lying down, somatic movement will be perfect for you.  The lying down practice on blankets, includes sliding, gliding, rocking and rolling movements, which compress and decompress the tissues helping to increase circulation.  It also has a rinsing effect on the organs and connective tissue which help to reduce fatigue, balance both sides of the body, cultivating present moment awareness and increase relaxation.

Beyond the studio.

Alongside my teaching, I’ve worked within the third sector and alongside NHS-related initiatives, which has given me a broader understanding of the support available to people affected by cancer.

I continue to develop this approach in real-world settings—both through my personal experience and through working with individuals and local charities. These experiences ensure that what I offer remains practical, safe and genuinely supportive.

What matters to me.

At the heart of my work are a few simple principles:

  • Creating a space where you feel safe and supported

  • Adapting everything to your individual needs

  • Helping you feel more at ease in your body

  • Moving at your pace, without pressure

The space.

I run sessions from a calm, private home studio in Bearwood, Birmingham.

It’s a quiet, comfortable environment where you can step away from clinical settings and focus on yourself, with everything set up to support you fully.

A personal commitment.

OncoYoga isn’t a general class or a one-size-fits-all approach.

It’s something I continue to develop with care and attention, shaped by both my experience and the people I work with.

If you choose to work with me, my focus is simple: to support you in a way that feels safe, manageable and genuinely helpful.