I am a member of Yoga Alliance Professionals and a student of Ryan Spielman. I was introduced to yoga over 20 years ago when I did a course in Indian astika philosophy as part of my degree in philosophy and logic. The emphasis of yoga philosophy on personal experience as a cornerstone of knowledge blew my mind then, but it wasn’t until I went to Mysore Ashtanga class many years later that I saw the connection between ancient texts and yoga asana practice. Despite physical exhaustion after years in a desk job and little physical activity, I still remember the calmness and clarity of mind I felt after my first class - and very achy muscles.

Within a year I developed daily practice, often on the mat at 10:00 p.m. or 5:00 a.m. – whenever I had time between a full-time job with international travel and the youngest starting preschool. Most of the time I practised on my own with David Swenson and Matthew Sweeney books as my main guides.

I loved doing my Ashtanga teacher training with Ryan Spielman. He is a dedicated practitioner and an amazing teacher. Anatomy studies with Andrew McGonigle complemented my understanding of the bodywork element of yoga in the most valuable and fun way. I am sincerely grateful to John Scott, who opened my eyes to a highly technical but also experimental and creative nature of Ashtanga. I have the greatest respect for work of Dr Norman Sjoman whose “Yogasutracintamani” and almost chiropractic adjustments revealed to me that missing link between the 5000-year-old yoga tradition and my personal practice.