Paula Flood (Rajnandini)
Prenatal Yoga
Corporate Programmes by Arrangement
Private Sessions
087-2071530
Co-founder of Lotus Yoga in 2007, Rajnandini has taught yoga in Dublin for over 10 years. Introduced to yoga by her Mum, also a yoga teacher, her practice became more intense in the mid-nineties when she began attending Marie Quail's Iyengar classes in Belfast. Rajnandini writes: "Yoga helped me to cope with a busy work life and made me feel great, from the very first class. It helped me to see the bigger picture and gave me the inner confidence to pursue what I wanted in life. At first, my practice involved mainly the physical postures but I soon became interested in the spiritual aspect of yoga. Since then, yoga, in its broadest sense, has become not just an activity for me, but a whole way of living".
In 1998, Rajnandini began training with the Yoga Therapy and Training Centre, completing both the 1st and 2nd Stage teacher training courses. Rajnandini also spent time in India studying at the Indian Yoga Institute, where she completed a Yoga Instructor's Certificate course.
As well as teaching hatha yoga classes in Glasnevin and at Lotus Yoga, Rajnandini also teaches prenatal yoga and is a tutor on the YTTC teacher training courses, with responsibility for the Anatomy module.
Rajnandini delivers Corporate Wellness courses at Lotus Yoga. Corporate clients have included Xerox, Teagasc, Department of Foreign Affairs and Ballymun Regeneration Limited.
As part of a commitment to continual professional development, Rajnandini has attended many courses and workshops over the years, mainly in the hatha and Viniyoga traditions. In June 2008, she completed the intensive 3-week Life-Change programme at the Hippocrates Health Institute in West Palm Beach, Florida. This programme addresses every aspect of health: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual. Participants are taught various stress management techniques and therapies as well as following a cleansing green juice and raw food diet.
Rajnandini practices heart-centred meditation and is guided in this by her spiritual teacher, Sri Chinmoy. 'I was very happy to receive a spiritual name recently as the qualities associated with the name should help me to be a better person! 'Rajnandini' means 'love and acceptance of all souls' - let's hope I can live up to that!'
Sorcha Carroll
Mondays 6.00 - 7.15pm
087 7772289
Sorcha's interest in yoga began in early childhood. Initally, this involved copying her mother's morning Hatha practice, but her interest became more serious during the last ten years. Sorcha's Iyengar studies started in Sligo with Helen Gillan and in 2001 she began training with Senior Iyengar teacher Pen Reed. Iyengar yoga is meant for all and is a way of life. The use of props, such as wooden bricks, belts and foam blocks was designed by B.K.S. Iyengar to help all practitioners to achieve perfection in any asana. His method focuses on precision, alignment and safety in each posture. It builds strength, flexibility, stamina and balance. Regular practice of Iyengar Yoga definitely integrates the body, mind and emotions.
Geraldine O'Neill
Early Bird Yoga, On-going,
Wednesdays 7.30 - 8.45am
Fridays 7.45 - 8.45am
087 6862995
Geraldine teaches an ashtanga vinyasa flow yoga class. She first started yoga to compliment her fitness programme and improve her flexibility.
Through time, she witnessed many other benefits, beyond the physical. She qualified as a gym instructor in 1997, under NCEF programme, and freelanced as an aerobics teacher for many years. During this time, she participated in a regular ashtanga practice with Tony Purcell, one of the first people to teach ashtanga yoga in the 1990's. Over the years, Geraldine has experienced other schools of yoga and her personal practice has evolved from there. She trained as a Vinyasa Flow Teacher with Dave Curtis and is certified by Yoga Alliance.
Geraldine presents challenging sequences of poses that flow from one to another, combining breath and movement to help uplift the body and soul.
Jennie Cooper
Wednesday Lunchtime 12.45-1.45pm
Thursday 6.00 - 7.15pm
086-8109862
Curiosity first led me to a yoga class in 2000 just after finishing a degree in Physics. I continued to attend the class as I really enjoyed the energising effect it had on my body and the positive and uplifting effect it had on my mind. My posture improved, I could think more clearly and I became more aware of what I was eating. Over the next few years, I sampled various styles of yoga including Hatha, Kundalini, Vinyasa Flow and Ashtanga. Being an active person I am drawn to Ashtanga and Vinyasa Flow. Having attended various workshops and retreats, I felt it was time to take my practice further. I trained to become a teacher with David Curtis in the hope of sharing my yoga experience with others. I also practice Somatics and am learning to meditate.
Vedanta (Grainne McLaughlin)
Tuesdays 5.45-7.15pm
086-8518321
From July, Vedanta continues with the Tuesday evening class as Caoimhe take maternity leave.
Vedanta was introduced to yoga over 18 years ago and qualified as a Satyananda yoga instructor in 2004. She trained at the Galway Yoga and Meditation Centre which is accredited to the Bihar School of Satyananda Yoga and British Wheel of Yoga practitioners.
Vedanta believes that yoga can benefit us all and should be accessible to everyone. She was drawn to the Satyanada system of yoga for its integrated approach, recognizing the different needs and personalities of people. She has worked with various groups of people in the community including the over 70's, traveling community, people with cancer and other illness.
Vedanta is committed to regular in-service training and has completed specific training modules for ‘Yoga in Cancer' and ‘Yoga for Pregnancy'. She is inspired by her guru Swami Niranjananda Saraswati, the current spiritual head of Satyananda Yoga.
Michael O'Higgins
Tuesday & Thursday Lunchtimes - 1.00 - 1.45
Thursday Evenings 7.30-8.45
087-1437885
Michael trained as a yoga teacher in India and Australia and is registered as RYT500 (500hour Registered Yoga Teacher) with Yoga Alliance. Michael is qualified to teach Ashtanga, Vinyasa Flow and general Hatha yoga. He has taught in Goa & Himachal Pradesh in India, Byron Bay & Melbourne in Australia and at home here in Dublin.
"Michael has been practicing yoga for over 5 years. Having experimented and dabbled in many different styles of yoga he primarily practices and teaches an invigorating, dynamic Vinyasa Flow, with an emphasis on safety & alignment, in a style that has been described as "gentle but strong"".
Elena Agarkova
Hatha Flow
Friday Lunchtime 1.00-1.45
086-1551342
I began practicing Yoga in the late 80's with yoga school of G.Statsenko, the first yoga school in Russia. It was very different experience from everything I did before (mainly rhythmic gymnastics). It combined my love of physical exercises and thirst for esoteric knowledge. I had a desire to find out the nature of psyche, soul and the meaning of life. I have searched through books on philosophy, psychology, but none gave perfect understanding.
Only through daily practice yoga asanas (poses), kriyas (cleansing) and meditation I came to realise that the purpose of this life is to develop consciousness.
Through meditation practice, I have found peace and happiness.
In Ireland, I trained with IYA (Irish Yoga Association). The training is based on Patanjali's Sutras, the Hathayogapradipika, B.K.S. Iyengar, "Light of Yoga" and also encourages personal development.
For more information visit http://www.iya.ie/.
I continue my personal development through various lectures, workshops and seminars throughout the country.
Natalia Martin
Friday 6.00 - 7.15pm
Saturday Lunchtime 1.15-2.15pm
085-7040684
I began practicing Pilates in 2003 following a knee operation that abruptly ended my hobby as a basketball player and runner. I could not do any physical exercise for almost a year until my physiotherapist recommended me to do Pilates. Since then I have been training in Pilates, first as a rehabilitation technique and then as a conditioning exercise for other sports like running or tennis. I first trained in the Pilates traditional method for 3 year in Spain, then I moved to Dublin in 2005 and practised Pilates in UCD and fusion with yoga (Body Flow) in short stay in Toronto. Then I decided I wanted to teach this wonderful exercise and I enrolled the Stott Pilates instructor training course here in Dublin and I qualified to teach beginners and intermediate Stott Pilates matwork.
I never believed after my operation that I could have my active lifestyle back again. However practising Pilates I got back my ability to run and cycle and not only that but I also improved my core strength, balance, flexibility and posture. Now I really feel confident with my body and I can practise any sport as before! Many people think that having practising sports before leads to several chronic pains in the joints or muscles, however I can say from my own experience that my pain is all but gone and I have better control of my body.
Adele Chapman
Monday Lunchtime 1.00 - 1.45pm.
One to one sessions - by appointment.
086-8050291
Adele is a chartered physiotherapist with many years experience in both clinical physiotherapy and physiotherapy education. In 2009, becoming increasingly aware of the many benefits of pilates exercise, Adele completed a Stott Pilates Instructor Course and is currently teaching beginner and intermediate level Stott Pilates.
Adele's class is a mat based exercise class consisting of smooth, flowing movements which are combined with controlled breathing and coordination of mind and body. The exercises allow participants to achieve and maintain core stability (flat abdominal muscles and a strong back) while at the same time developing strength, flexibility, endurance and co-ordination in the arms and legs - without building bulk.
James Madden
Mondays 7.30 - 9.00pm
Phone: 086-8193075
James teaches Kundalini Yoga as taught by Yogi Bhajan. Kundalini Yoga classes include the use of mantra, asana, pranayama, mudras, bandhas, relaxation and meditation to achieve a wonderful state of wellbeing. Kundalini Yoga will help to maintain the strength and flexibility of one's body and strengthen one's nervous and glandular systems. Kundalini Yoga is a process that takes us beyond the mind to where we can follow our hearts.
James started attending weekly yoga classes in 1995. "I arrived to my first yoga class tired and tense and emerged from the class relaxed and reenergised. I was hooked straight away." For the first few years James practiced Hatha yoga.
Over the period 1997 to 2005, James sampled other forms of yoga including Iyengar, Satyananda, Ashtanga, Sivananda and Bikram. In addition to going to regular yoga classes, James attended many residential workshops, yoga retreats and often went on yoga holidays. During this time, James established his own daily yoga and meditation practice.
Then in early 2005 James attended a week long Kundalini Yoga training programme, run by Guru Dharam Kaur in the Burren Yoga and Meditation Centre in Co. Clare.
"I felt that I had found the style of yoga that suited me best. I was impressed with the comprehensive nature and transformational power of Kundalini Yoga, as taught by Yogi Bhajan." James then started practicing Kundalini Yoga and meditation daily and developing a yogic lifestyle. James regularly attended weekly Kundalini Yoga classes taught by Marion Gilsenan, in the Lotus Yoga Studio.
James wanted to share this powerful technology with others. So James trained as a Kundalini Yoga teacher with I-SKY (International School of Kundalini Yoga), see http://www.i-sky.net/. James has been teaching Kundalini Yoga classes since 2009. Kundalini Yoga is James's passion and he derives great satisfaction from sharing his knowledge and experience of yoga with others.
James is currently training to be a Sat Nam Rasayan healer. Sat Nam Rasayan is the healing arm of Kundalini Yoga, see www.satnamrasayan.ie. As part of James's commitment to ongoing professional development James has attended the European Yoga festival in France every year since 2007. There he attends workshops with the world's leading Kundalini Yoga teachers and serves as a leader for a group of about 40 people.
There are kundalini yoga sets of exercises designed to work on many physical and emotional issues. Whatever effort you make in the form of daily practice, you will receive back in the form of improved health. Practice can facilitate positive life changes as we learn to take responsibility for our own health and well-being.
