Personal Yoga Journey
How did your yoga journey begin, and what about yoga first drew you in? What inspired you to become a yoga instructor?
I started to practise Transcendental Meditation back in 2004 as a coping mechanism for
stress while I was at Medical School, and this opened a gateway into spirituality for me. I
moved to Australia in 2006 and was regularly attending hatha yoga classes. Teaching is in
my blood and is something that has always come naturally to me. My parents were both
worked as schoolteachers and I remember early on in my life setting up an after-school
homework club, where I helped younger students with their studies. After a few years of
dedicated yoga practice, I decided that I wanted to share the gift of yoga with others and
embarked on an Ashtanga Yoga teacher training course at Yoga Thailand with Paul
Dallaghan.
Can you share a bit about your personal yoga practice? How has it evolved over the years?
In my twenties I was drawn to Ashtanga Yoga. I loved the discipline of self-practice and the
physicality and meditative qualities of the primary and secondary series. At that time yoga
was my main form of physical activity. As I moved into my thirties, I started to crave more
diversity and began to workout at the gym and run more. Yoga for me then became less
focused on the physical and more as a way for me to connect with my inner self. Now that
I’m in my early forties, I use yoga, meditation and pranayama as a way to centre myself,
connect with my emotions and live life more in the present.
Yoga Beyond the Mat
How do you see yoga impacting your students off the mat, in their daily lives?
One benefit that I notice that is often overlooked is that yoga helps us to focus our attention
so that our mind wanders less freely. As we become aware of our thoughts, we realize that
we are not defined by them but are the observer of them. This helps us to break unhelpful
rumination habits and can have a huge impact lowering stress levels.
How do you maintain your own mental and emotional well-being as a teacher, especially when guiding others through their healing journeys?
Having other teachers who I can share experiences with and ask for advice is really
important to me. I also like to remind myself why I choose to teach yoga and that there are
multiple reasons why students show up to class. I also like to focus on my role as a yoga
teacher - that I am there to help facilitate an experience and that I am not there to fix
someone or take on their issues.
Wellness & Lifestyle
Yoga is just one part of a holistic wellness lifestyle. How do you integrate other elements of self-care into your life (e.g., nutrition, sleep, mindfulness)?
I definitely try to prioritize rest and sleep. I spend as much time in nature as I can. I love to
be physically active every day. Meaningful interactions with friends and family are also really important to me.
Do you have any personal wellness rituals or routines that you recommend to your students or followers?
I like to start my day with intention rather than reaction. This means quiet time for the first
thirty minutes before I use my phone or laptop. This always me to check in with myself and
decide what I want my day to look and feel like before I start engaging with the outside
world.
Personal Values and Inspirations
Is there a quote, mantra, or philosophy (in or outside of yoga) that resonates with you and motivates you in your daily life?
The Universe treats me the way that I treat myself. If I want good things to continue to
come into my life that starts with me being good to myself!
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone looking to live a more balanced, fulfilling life outside of their work or career?
I recommend setting personal goals for yourself and carving out time for the things that you
love doing. Also prioritize rest!
Offers, Promotions, and Events
Do you have any upcoming workshops, retreats, or events that our readers should know about?
I’m a medically trained yoga anatomy teacher empowering yoga teachers to teach from a
more science-informed perspective. My flagship course is a 30-Hour Yoga Anatomy Online
Course. There is lifetime access and live Q&A sessions with me every month.
How can someone get involved in your yoga community, whether it’s through online classes, in-person sessions, or special programs?
I run a series of live online workshops for yoga teachers focusing on arthritis, osteoporosis,
low back pain and refining our teaching language. I also run some in-person events in
California and in the UK.
Connect with Andrew
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/doctoryogi/
Website: https://www.doctor-yogi.com
Sign up for my free short course on the anatomy of the foot and ankle: https://www.doctor-
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