I
first discovered yoga or perhaps
it discovered me in the mid 1990s, after over 15 years working
behind a desk in the City of London and even longer playing competitive
hockey and recreational cricket. The combination of weekdays behind
a desk and weekends on a sports pitch had wreaked havoc on my body
and on my state of mind
. I well remember in my first yoga class
hearing the teacher suggest that we might be able to touch our toes
when I had to struggle to reach my knees.
The magic of yoga
quickly took effect, though, and I became a regular in class and a
keen student of the yoga tradition. In 2000 I took a sabbatical from
my life as a City lawyer to travel the world, spending much of my
time in India and also studying in the United States with some of
the wests leading teachers, notably Erich Schiffmann and Richard
Freeman. It was during this year that I did my yoga teacher training
at White Lotus Foundation in Santa Barbara, California.
Returning to London
in January 2001, I began teaching regular classes as well as resuming
my legal career. I continued to study with leading yoga teachers from
around the world, and became a Registered Yoga Teacher with the United
States based Yoga Alliance. Shortly after this, I studied for the
first time with Rod Stryker, who subsequently became my main teacher.
Over the next couple of years my teaching career prospered, and I
was fortunate enough to be offered regular classes at Londons
top two yoga centres, The Life Centre in Notting Hill and Triyoga
in Primrose Hill. In January 2004 I finally left the City after almost
23 years to make studying and teaching yoga my life.
I now teach regular public classes
in Notting Hill, Primrose Hill, Soho and Clapham as well as teaching
both groups and individuals privately. I also teach yoga history and
Sanskrit on |
The
Life Centres yoga teacher training programme, as well as acting
as a student mentor on that programme. I still study with a range
of teachers, but primarily with Colorado based Rod Stryker, and I
am a substantial part of the way through Rods Para Yoga Master
Training.
My teaching reflects the variety of
yoga styles which I have studied over the years. My earliest
teachers included well known UK teachers Simon Low and Liz Lark, and
my relaxed, flowing asana style draws extensively both on their influence
and on my studies of the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition with Richard Freeman
and other leading teachers, including John Scott and Dena Kingsberg.
I honour and thank them, and all of the other teachers with whom I
have studied over the years. It is hard to single out individual names,
but, as well as Rod Stryker, I must also mention Erich Schiffmann,
Shiva Rea and Aadil Palkhivala, who have all had a big impact on my
practice and teaching. Ultimately though my main ongoing teachers
are my own body, breath and mind and those of my students. I try to
keep my classes creatively and imaginatively sequenced, with an eye
on their energetic as well as physical effects. Pranayama (breathing)
and meditation are integral parts of my yoga practice and most of
my classes include these as well as asana (postures). I am also an
experienced teacher of gentle yoga and was recently recognised by
the London Evening Standard as a top teacher of yoga nidra (a deep
guided relaxation practice).
Originally from the north-west of England (which explains my bizarre
footballing loyalties and willingness to eat black pudding), I have
lived in London since 1980 and now live in Primrose Hill in north-west
London.
You can reach me on 07818 040113
or grahamyoga@hotmail.com |