I offer my deepest respect and gratitude to my teachers, whose guidance has enabled me to grow in this path of yoga. These practices have taught me to recognize and embody truth, strength, balance, openness and deeper connection to my heart.
My own yoga path has grown slowly in intensity and dedication over the years. The challenges and lessons that come in Yoga have re-shaped me as person. The teachings both on and off the mat have refined the way I walk through life, and how I interact with others. Being able to teach these practices to students from around the world has been a tremendous blessing.
My direct teachers are O.P.Tiwari, Dharmanidhi Sarasvati and Paul Dallaghan. These teachers have built my practice, grounded my teaching skills and provided the fertile soil for my teaching. My daily practice is pranayama, seated meditation, and dynamic asana. I continue to expose myself to many aspects of the eastern healing arts, including Ayurveda. They have contributed to my well-rounded and informed approach to the full spectrum of yoga.
I find that deep growth comes from the dedication to a particular approach and the "letting go" of false ego enough to accept a teacher's direct guidance. In the words of one of my teachers, "I do my best to wholeheartedly commit to the practice and living of what I am taught, aiming to understand it, apply it, and then pass it on directly..."
I am particularly indebted to O.P. Tiwari, an accomplished yogi from India, head of the Kaivalyadham Yoga Research Institute, Lonavla. He is one of a few remaining sources on authentic pranayama. I have been with Tiwari since 2003. Through his teachings I have experienced a profound pathway into yoga and he has guided me into deep states of inner growth. He has taught me pranayama, philosophy and kriya. I am most grateful to him and I continue to spend periods of time in study and practice with him each year.
I also owe a great deal of thanks to Paul Dallaghan, who grounded my asana practice and led by example as a dedicated and genuine teacher. It is though him, and grace, that I was able to meet Tiwari-ji.
I also recognize as my teacher, Dharmanidhi Sarasvati, a Tantric master with whom I study Kashmir Shaivism, Adi Yoga, and the traditional Yoga texts. He is a disciple of Swami Satyananda Sarasvati of Bihar, India.
I was born and raised in Toronto, Canada and moved to Vancouver on the west coast in the early 90s. It was there that I discovered the mountains and yoga. I did not set out on this life journey with any notion of becoming a yoga teacher but our path is often waiting for us in the places we least expect. I had worked in design for many years and I remain involved in the arts, particularly through photography and music.
I co-founded and taught at a studio in Canada for several years. In 2003, I felt a very strong calling to take my teaching and practice to deeper level and and I moved to Asia, where I have been based ever since. During the past five years, I have taught thousands of students throughout Asia particularly in Hong Kong, Taipei and Singapore. I also travel regularly to Europe to teach and I continue to dedicate at least 2-3 months of my year as sadhana or study period. I regularly return to India, Sri Lanka, Tibet and Thailand as a yoga pilgrim.
