Anne-Marie qualified in 1984 with Swami Vishnu Devananda of the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre in Neyyar Dam India

What is Yoga?

I always begin my courses with this most important question; what does the word Yoga mean? I ask my class how many of them were told the meaning of this Sanskrit word. I have not had anyone put up his or her hand and say 'me!'

I started my Teacher Training School in 2003. I had studied Iyengar back in 1976 with Maxine Tobias when Iyengar visited the UK. I enjoyed the technique and strict alignment but felt there was something missing. I did not know then that Iyengar was not an integrated Yoga; in other words the pranayama, basic meditation principles, theory and asana brought together in one class. During my years as a Dancer, Drummer and Fashion designer I was lead through a series of Epiphanies to the doors of the Sivananda Yoga Centre London.

That was in 1983. My life changed forever. After keeping to the Sivananda principles for many years I started to train in Astanga with some eminent teachers and found the grace and strength changed another part of my practice. However all the styles I had practiced did not provide for me the teachings and principles of the mind, body and breath that Sivananda did. But I am creative and passionate and desire knowledge and truth from all I do. Yoga is to work together, Mind, Body and Breath

I realised that I had boxes of knowledge stored in my head and heart. I opened them up and Sun Power Yoga was born. I have had the privilege of learning more than one style of Yoga each one giving another dimension to my own personal practice and to my levels of technique but in the end Yoga is a Spiritual Path and in no way could I claim to be a Yoga teacher or trainer if I did not embrace the very essence of Yoga.

I read a book recently by a very knowledgeable teacher. The content and instructions were as good as mine! In other words
I was reading from an experienced teacher with great observational skills and detailed eye for Anatomy. But in the first chapter she said we would find no reference to Yoga theory or its Spiritual roots. I was a little surprised and disappointed. Swami Vishnu always said the Yoga would have to bend to accommodate the Western Mind but I don't believe it should be compromised!

It takes courage to practice the OM at the end of the class but to have knowledge and not to give it is a sin. Deciding who to give your knowledge to should be based on the layering of that knowledge, sprinkling the seeds so that they grow but to deny your students the experience to make up their own minds is just arrogance. I encourage our teachers to be Authentic, Honest, Courageous, to show humility, to learn from their students and to be truthful to them. We want you to be a teacher who wants to teach for all the right reasons not because it may make you money, though that's great too but to know why you are teaching.

Yoga Family

Breathing as One. The Yoga Family means that no matter what our age or background Yoga is an aid to a busy and often stressful life. Families are the anchor to a happy child or an appreciated parent.
Practicing this Ancient Art as a family is healing, restoring and joyful.

Sun Power Yoga is a Family and our school has built a community to support each other and to be respected by each other. In the end it takes not only THE EYE AND THE HAND BUT ALSO THE HEART to be an INSPIRATIONAL YOGA TEACHER. We are made up of Mothers, Fathers, and Grandparents, of young people from all backgrounds, races and religious backgrounds.

We consider it our responsibility to aid the transformation of our students into the people they aspire to be.

The Subtle Body and the Physical Body

Learning to teach Yoga to others requires the knowledge of the body, its Anatomy and Physiology and how the systems of the body work. For me; the work of Sivananda has been profound because as a Medical Doctor, he understood the body and its relationship to the mind.

There is another body too, the Subtle body the body that works with the Chakras and the emotional body. The word Hatha is often misunderstood. It is not a style of Yoga but a Path of Yoga. It is the physical aspect of Yoga Philosophy. Raja Yoga is the road to Meditation and is the highest Road, Karma Yoga the Yoga of Selfless service such as the work of Mother Theresa for instance. Bhakti Yoga the Yoga of Devotion and Jana of Knowledge, these are paths we can take to finding out about our Spiritual goal. So Hatha yoga is a journey from outside in. As we are human we think we carry our body so it is an excellent place to begin!

Knowledge cannot be given by word thought and deed only; you must also add the heart