My name is Niamh and I began my yoga journey when I was 16 years old while on a school exchange programme. I immediately fell in love with the physical practice of yoga, and often found myself on the mat during times of stress over the next few years. Ever since my first class, I have found that the mental benefits of yoga outweigh the physical benefits, of which there are also many.
I completed my 200-hour Hatha Yoga teacher training (YTT) after my first year of university, when I was 19 years old. After briefly being knocked out by an illness that kept me in bed for a couple of months, I was inspired to further my own yoga practice for my physical and mental health. Two days into the training I knew that I would want to teach yoga as soon as I was qualified, to help others improve their day-to-day lives.
My teacher training was carried out with “The Art of Teaching” in Yoga Dublin, in August 2017. My teachers, Sibylle Dallmann and Naomi Sturdy, offered an incredible, nourishing training to ensure our growth into skilful and authentic teachers. This well-rounded training focused not only on asana (poses), pranayama (breathing) and meditation, but also on anatomy, yoga philosophy and hands-on assists.
Yoga has provided me with a means to feel stronger in my body, while also teaching me to quiet the mind. The physical practice has allowed me to move and strengthen my body in a way that I enjoy more than any other movement, but it is the focus on both body and mind that I love most about yoga.
My aim is for students to leave class feeling both relaxed and energised, whether that is through a sweaty Power Flow or a calming Restorative class. I teach with a strong focus on the breath, inviting students to find mental clarity and physically calm the nervous system. Through challenging the body and the mind on the yoga mat, I hope my students will find more presence in their lives off the mat.