Let me introduce myself briefly; I am a yoga teacher, a contemporary dancer and dance teacher, a choreographer, a mother, sister, daughter, and a big time nature lover. I could stare at Joan Miro's work for hours. The more abstract it is, the more I want to study it. And I, along with my daughter, sometimes throw some paint onto a canvas! I love to be deep in the forest where it still and silent, yet I also am a huge sandy beach fan and love the sounds of the waves. Mountains are my safe Haven and I melt with joy to hear them sing when the wind passes through and around them. I read often, particularly enjoying the the work of Louise Hay, Joe Dispenza and Wayne Dyer. One of my very favourite books, full of insights into the human mind and body is called The Body Keeps the Score, by Bessel van der Kolk and I throughly recommend it. Ok...There are probably more ways to explain myself but I'm going to keep it brief for now! 

Ballet was my first passion, which, after graduating from dance school, took me to work with choreographers specialising in modern ballet and then later contemporary dance. My most favourite ballet teacher was the late Augusta Moore, bless her beautiful heart. My interests in dance as a performance art turned towards improvisation and instant composition and that is where they lie now. Along my journey as a dance artist, I studied somatic practices such as Body Mind Centering and the Alexander Technique for many years, with outstanding teachers, in New York and San Francisco. I have been utterly blessed to have worked with many incredible dance teachers and choreographers who have touched me deeply, and will always have a place in my heart. I continue to work with Julyen Hamilton, a lifelong collaborator and friend, and a great dance pioneer of our time, mastering in dance improvisation for performance.

I started yoga when I was 19 years of age, that's a long time ago :-) Yoga supported my work as a dancer, over the years I returned to yoga again and again. I regularly trained with yoga teachers in studios in Dublin, New York, London, Cardiff, Paris and Los Angeles. I fell upon many wonderful teachers who ignited my body, mind and soul. When I decided I wanted to become a Certified Yoga instructor, my amazingly beautiful and knowledgeable Yoga teacher trainer was the incredible ex Martha Graham dancer, Los Angeles based,  Annie Carpenter. At YogaWorks Los Angeles, I dived headfirst into a brilliant Yoga teacher training programme with Annie and Brigitte Kirsten. Annie paved the way in my life by creating a huge turning point for me in 2010. As a Contemporary Dance artist, I tuned into another aspect of the body in motion, investigating the ability of the human mind to develop a heightened sense of awareness of the breath inside the moving body and how it effects all levels of health and happiness, and through the course, I developed a more greater LOVE for yoga practice than ever before. Teaching yoga, alongside dance, became my new passion.
 
Now, I practice yoga 3-4 times per week, usually for 75 minutes, so that I can be available, strong and grounded for my students. Sometimes I train through strong Vinyasa Flow physical work, sometimes through restful Yin style bodywork, and often some invigorating Kundalini yoga work. I listen to my body to feel what I need each day as I practice. And then I learn to listen to my students needs in each class I teach :-) I allow my intuition to guide me, and put my years of learning into guiding my students well. I love to teach, I am continuously learning from my students and every class peels away another layer of egoic illusion that clouds the truth and essence of who we truly are. I can't wait to share the transformational process of yoga with you. I welcome you to join me today. 
Namaste,
Niamh