Siobhan Fitzgerald
COURSE DIRECTOR
My Yoga Journey started by chance as opposed to seeking out initially, through a client who was a dedicated Hatha Yoga Teacher. She insisted I gave it a try. From my first class and my walk home I knew I had felt something different from anything I had taken part in before.
I was 26 and had experienced a very changeable and unsettled childhood and it seemed to soothe something deep inside of me. As I sought out new experiences, teachers and workshops I had a very tough and enlightening weekend in 2001 with Paul Dallaghan visiting Scotland. Shortly after this and eight years into a regular self practice in Ashtanaga Yoga I went to India to study at A.Y.R.I. in Mysore in 2004 under the direct guidance of founder Sri Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy Jois.
In Yoga philosophy, things change when we put in the effort to make a change. This journey I was now truly immersed in and the following year I was on my second teacher training arriving again at Paul Dallaghan’s guidance on a Teacher Training at Samahita, one of the best and most transformative years of my life. I knew now my body, mind and its thoughts were in a positive transition. I stayed on in Thailand only to experience more and attending a rich and enlightening few weeks with Sri. O.P. Tiwari, Pauls teacher and, as I followed from then on my own teacher too.
As Tiwari wisely says “each of us has a different window we see the world through” and my window had changed.
I continued my journey regularly going back to Thailand and then France studying with both of these teachers. In Scotland I was lucky enough to then study under David Keil and I cherished my growth with these three teachers. Paul then put me in touch with Sudhir Tiwari,who had accompanied his father on an immersion in Thailand. Our relationship grew and after his first visit to Scotland in 2013,I had made a further connection to the same lineage. The specialist area of Pranayama is a complex one and is often misunderstood. As a dedicated student I was accepted onto the Lineage Yoga Therapy Teacher Training in 2016 and studied for 3 years at this amazing research school. 100 years of studies, papers and research into the effects of Yoga Therapy.
Our group were the first of its kind. Given the teachings and knowledge to western students. I worked with surgeons, neurologists, Ayurvedic doctors and philosophers all at the Institute in India. I am the only person in the UK to have be certified thus far to apply the teaching methodology for prescriptive Pranayama, an experience I hold dear to my heart. For every person who has even a little of these tools to give “prescriptive pranayama” means to enhance and balance ones system. It brought me in my lifetime into the light and through my own struggles and trauma. I am ever grateful to this journey spanning 20 years of positive change.
On a parallel I have taught in further education for 12 years in Anatomy, Physiology and Human Pathology and am a certified therapist in many western and eastern massage modalities. I have well over 2000 teacher training hours and 18 years of teaching experience including Ashtanga, Pranayama, Mantra recitation, Yoga Philosophy, Anatomy, Pathology, Meditation, Pre-natal care, Trauma, Addictions and Children.
This transformation has been the movement of Prana (vital energy) in me. Prana for Life is born out of this concept. We need it to live and we want to embrace its power to balance.
My Yoga Therapy Teacher training is my life’s work and my gift back to teachers who are seeking out more than just an Asana based practice. It is a lifestyle toolbox. It covers everything as well as I possibly can. It brings in experts in their field where necessary and it embraces areas that are only touched on in other trainings. That is why I want you to learn from me, to feel what I have felt and to grow and feel confident in all areas covered in the modules taught. Each one is a toolkit in itself. Each module has the Pranayama, Kriyas, Asana, Anatomy, Ayurveda,Pathology, Mantras and Energetic principles to ground you in knowing how to address key issues in your students in todays western world of Dis-ease. Our Respiratory, Cardiovascular, Nervous, Endocrine and Lymphatic systems are burdened. The Kaivalyadham Lineage believe given the right conditions the body can heal itself, the West are destroying the vital forces that help keep us in balance and we see it in ever increasing issues in mental, physiological and physical poor health. This programme is about bring in and learning how to balance on every level. It is unique and the testimonials from my own students have my gratitude for embracing what has been given.
Starting with ourselves we can enhance the energy that flows around us and within us. We can touch the hearts of others and encourage positive change. We can change that” window” so we see more clearly. We can settle our body and our mind and witness profound change. We can embrace Prana for the good in our life.
