Yoga Journey

I was born in Germany in 1973, where I discovered Yoga and Meditation at the age of 16.After initial Haṭha Yoga classes and meditation groups in Hamburg during my last years at high school, I decided that learning these ancient liberation techniques was more important than going to university and left for Nepal and India in 1993.

A period of volunteer teaching at the Refugee Camp ‘Jampaling’ in Nepal inspired me to go to Dharamsala, India, which remained my base until 2001. Next to attending Hatha Yoga classes and reading extensively about Yoga, I attended many courses in Buddhist Meditation and Philosophy.

After coming in contact with the Vipassana Meditation Tradition as being taught by S.N. Goenka-ji, my main focus for the following six years was practicing this style of Meditation, and supporting the teachings as a volunteer worker. I maintained a regular Haṭha Yoga practice and attended several intensive courses, mainly in the Sivananda Tradition.

In 1997, I became interested in alternative healing techniques and began studying Shiatsu. After an initial course with Sakis Theophilos (Om Ha Hara Shiatsu Centre), I became Sakis’ assistant and apprentice until 2001. I concluded my studies by obtaining the Diploma of Shiatsu from the Bristol College of Shiatsu in 2002. Next to Zen Shiatsu, my training included TCM, Qi Gong and Chinese Food Energetics.

In 1998, I decided to intensify my studies of the Haṭha Yoga Tradition, and was fortunate to meet Clive Sheridan, who has been one of my main teachers and mentors ever since. Clive introduced me to Tantric and Advaitic teachings, and I deepened my exploration by attending the 4-Month Yoga Certificate Course at the Bihar Yoga Bharati that same year.

In January 1999, I commenced my first yoga teaching assignment, and taught on Christopher Titmuss’ Insight Meditation Retreats in Bodhgaya and Sarnath. Afterwards, I embarked on my first longer pilgrimage along the ancient ‘Parikrama’ Path in central India. Walking as a beggar along the Narmada River for months revealed a whole new dimension of ancient yoga traditions. I have since done several similar pilgrimages.

That same year, I injured my knee. I was determined to aid the healing process with Yoga therapy and, for the next four years, focused on Iyengar Yoga classes. I continued to study and teach in India until 2001, then I moved to Bristol (UK), finished my Shiatsu Training and taught Yoga.

In 2003, I moved to Byron Bay in Australia to attend Yoga Arts’ 9-Month Yoga Teacher Training Course (YTTC). After completing it, I was promoted to the teaching role on Yoga Arts’ 2-Months and 9-Months YTTCs.

Next to teaching on Yoga Teacher Training Programs worldwide (INSPYA Yoga, ISHTA Yoga, Yoga Arts, PranaFlow, etc.), I commenced writing Yoga Teaching Manuals for international teacher training programs.

In 2010, I started my own project, Insight Yoga, which aims at preserving and sharing the noble traditions of yoga. When not being on teaching tours around the globe, I immerse myself in practice and yogic studies, and look after five acres of land near Byron Bay.