Everyone involved in Park Yoga has one love in common – enjoying the therapeutic nature of yoga in the outdoors. Our charity is governed by a Board of Trustees who provide the strategic direction and governance for the charity.

Sibyl King – Founder

Sibyl is the founder of Park Yoga and proudly supports this wonderful initiative. She was the High Sheriff of Dorset (2022-2023). She believes in the healing power of nature, the benefits of exercise and the soul satisfying feeling of being in the natural environment. “I love Park Yoga because it is good for everyone! It’s totally inclusive, healthy and great fun on a Sunday morning.”

Lisa Upchurch – Chair of the Board of Trustees

Lisa started as a Park Yoga participant in 2019 at our Weymouth Lodmoor and Bournemouth Garden sessions, and loved it so much when she spotted our advert for a voluntary trustee – she applied and joined us in April 2020. Lisa’s background is in finance, she worked for two of the world’s largest accountancy firms EY and PwC, before relocating to Dorset, and working at the New Look Weymouth head office for almost the last 15 years. As well as extensive finance knowledge she brings commercial experience in legal and corporate governance, business strategy and insight – as well as her Sunday morning passion for outdoor yoga.

Shari McHugh – Legal Trustee

Shari is the Legal Trustee for Park Yoga and joined us in 2022. Shari is a former commercial litigation lawyer and has extensive charity board experience. She is also an Integrated Wellness Coach and Yoga Teacher and you may sometimes find her covering in one of our venues, which is how she first came to be involved in the Park Yoga movement.

For Shari Park Yoga is all about connection: to self; to nature and to our community. “t feels good to be a part of an active environment and to have a presence within it. Park Yoga really gives us the opportunity to celebrate the summer season, engage with our community and be a part of something that makes us all feel good, vibrant and full of spirit!”

Nilesh Pattani – Trustee

Nilesh has recently joined Park Yoga as a trustee which combines his interest in yoga and public health. He is an accomplished commercial leader with over two decades of experience in supply chain management across diverse regulated industries – Pharma, Rail, Green Power Generation, Education, Policing, and more recently Healthcare. I love Park yoga because it makes yoga more accessible and providing an opportunity for people to enjoy their green spaces at the same time.

Kathryn Shade – Trustee

Kathryn has spent the last 20 years managing digital marketing and ecommerce programmes for some of the best known brands in Beauty and Skincare.

She now works as an ecommerce growth consultant focussing on the Health, Beauty & Wellness space with a particular passion for B Corp and sustainable brands.

“I am thrilled to become a trustee for Park Yoga. Yoga is not just for the body but also the mind and I love that Park Yoga encourages people from all backgrounds to try yoga out in nature and improve their mental and physical wellbeing”

Our small, part-time Head Office team is dedicated to bringing to Park Yoga to as many people as possible each summer.

Cathi Farrer-Mitchell – Director

Cathi’s been involved with Park Yoga either as a participant, venue host, founding Trustee and now our Director since we began, showing her dedication to the cause and love for improving the health and wellbeing of communities. Having previously worked and successfully grown another small charity, Cathi understands the challenges within the sector and is able to utilise her background in marketing, fundraising, charity governance and sports event management to help grow Park Yoga.

Becky Clark – Venue Liaison Lead

After being in a sales and customer service environment for many years, Becky made a big step change in her career and was thrilled when the opportunity to join Park Yoga came along in January 2024. Joining as an Administrator and progressing quickly into the role of Venue Liaison Lead, Becky is passionate about the benefits Park Yoga brings to communities and is focused on driving and supporting the growth of the charity over the coming years.

Jane Jukes – Bookkeeper

Jane has spent over 30 years in financial management and is a Registered Bookkeeper.  She joined the Park Yoga team in January 2024 saying, “I was super excited when I saw the Park Yoga job advertised as the whole philosophy around free, accessible exercise in open spaces is close to my heart being a regular attendee at Parkrun.  I also love to undertake challenges that push you a bit further, such as running the London marathon in my 50s and learning to swim to enable me to attempt a triathlon.  I now do open water swimming whatever the weather!  I am also at my happiest when running with one of my dogs.  Park Yoga is an amazing way to try something different, maybe out of your comfort zone, with other like-minded people from all walks of life.”