Biography
I first became interested in Yoga as a teenager in the 1970's. In Ireland, then, there was little or no access to yoga classes or teachings. In 1977 I managed to find two publications which sustained my interest for many years. In fact, today in 2023, 46 years later, I still have both these publications in my library. One was Back to Godhead Vol 1 No. 1, which had articles on Re-incarnation, Simple Living and Vedanta - Philosophical aspects of Yoga. The other, a book entitled Yoga and Health by Selvarajan Yesudian which described in detail asana-s and pranayama practices - an outline of the path of Hatha Yoga.
During the intervening years I have practiced Yoga, Martial Arts, and Meditation. I have studied and trained to teaching level Ashtanga Vinyasa , Hatha, Iyengar and other schools of yoga. I have explored Buddhism and the paths of Hinayana, Mahayana and Tantrayana and I am continuing my studies in Vedic Chanting and Vedanta. The empowerments, wisdom teachings and writings of Dr Akong Tulku Rinpoche's (1939-2013) are always with me. I continue to study and practice Vajrayana and was giventhe Dharma name Karma Jigme Namkha by my teacher Ringu Tulku.
I have been teaching in a full-time capacity, the various paths of Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Meditation in Ireland, Europe and India for almost 25 years now. I have taught in many settings from private classes to public Schools, organisations such as The MS Society, Medical Providers, to retreat centres and yoga organisations. However, my main teaching shala has always been from my house.
My principle Gurus and teachers today are Sri BNS Iyengar (Mysore), Prof. Jayashree (Mysore), and the institution of KYM (Chennai). The teachings of Smt. Radha Sundararajan ( - 2021) in the Vedic Chant tradition, with whom I studied for 15 years, are still evolving within me.
I have been fortunate to be able to spend 2 - 4 months annually in India for over 20 years, studying and practicing with a great many teachers and traditions there. Today, with the blessings and authorisation of my teachers, I share the lineage teachings with groups and on an individual basis when required.
In more recent times I have taken initiation in the Kriya Yoga path as taught by Sri M and attend retreats when possible. As Sri BNS Iyengar advises, always remain a student.
“Sri Gurubhyo Namah”
Ashtanga Vinyasa Certification 2014
(Asana, Pranayama, Mudra and Philosophy)Sri BNS Iyengar, Mysore.
The most experienced teacher of Ashtanga Yoga today. Teaching the method as he often said, “as I learned it from my teacher Krishnamacharya over 75 years ago”