A DUNFERMLINE yoga instructor hoping to breathe new life into an empty unit has expressed frustration after an unsuccessful search to find a base.

Susan David teaches more than 400 people a week through her Breath Yoga classes but describes herself as a "sofa-surfer" after fruitless efforts to find premises.

She said she backs the idea of the City of Dunfermline being a "wellbeing" centre but said measures need to be taken to make this happen.

READ MORE: Fife Council defer decision on Charlestown yoga retreat

"I wish I did have premises," she said. "Dunfermline has all these empty buildings – they are everywhere. For three years, I have been trying to find a yoga studio.

"Kirkcaldy has three, there are some in Glenrothes, I don't know how many, and Dunfermline has none. There are no wellness centres in Dunfermline.

Dunfermline Press:

"I have been trying to get agents to let me see places. I am an established business, I teach literally over 400 people in a week and I am trying to get a letting agent to let me in to look at somewhere.

"They wont let me because it would need a change of use.

"I looked at an industrial unit but was told it was for industrial use. It has been sitting empty for two years. Because I am not creating jobs – I would once I was in – and because it is just me, they will not rent it out to me.

READ MORE: Plans approved for Jyoti Yoga and Wellness Centre

"I call myself a sofa surfer. I teach at Dunfermline High, five classes a week, I teach at the Fire Station Creative and I teach in Bannantynes."

Susan believes such a centre would be a great addition to West Fife.

"It could really help," she said. "Why can you have it in Glenrothes or Kirkcaldy but not here? Dunfermline is a city and we don't have any wellbeing facility.

"I cannot teach seven days a week and every class so I would open up a space that others, pilates teachers, mindfulness teachers, could use. A wellness place where it is not just me, it could be a whole host of people.

"I teach four different types of yoga and when we want this city, this beautiful city of ours to be a centre of wellbeing, there is nothing that people can walk into to get help.

"In a world that expects us to always do more and be more, my classes allow people to press ‘pause’, to know that they are wonderful just the way they are. It is one hour of time just for them."

Susan recently held two charity yoga sessions on Aberdour's Silver Sands beach which attracted more than 50 people and helped raise £350 for CHAS.

Dunfermline Press:

She teaches a range of classes – which attracts ages from teenagers to octogenarians – and is keen that more people are able to discover the benefits of yoga.

"In my class at Fire Station Creative, one person's daughter contacted me and asked if there was an age limit.

"I said it was over 16 or over 14 with an adult and she came back and said 'Is there an upper limit?' as her mum was thinking about coming back to yoga and is 82. 

"She has been with me through lockdown and is 87 years young this week. She comes every single week.

"I also teach my education needs yoga as well every week through Fife Council at Crossgates Community Centre.

"I only had five or six initially and now I do about 18 a week. It is my best class of the week.

"I don't ask what is wrong with them. I can see some are in wheelchairs, some have sensory issues. I don't care what is wrong with them and I cannot tell you how much they love it."

Susan prides herself on creating a space where people can come and "breathe" and take time for themselves.

She added: "When people come, there is nobody judging them, I don't care what age you are, what size you are, it doesn't matter to me.

"I will teach anybody that walks in my door. It is up to you what you take out of it."