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Featured Teacher: Kenny
Hailing from the same homeland of India, yoga and Kenny found each other in 1995. As practitioner and then teacher, he has experienced the full-on body and mind benefits from a personal Vinyasa practice. He embraces the challenge of teaching those unfamiliar with yoga and despite language barriers. But as a doer and believer, yoga has become the core of his life - and he hopes others can discover the inner strength, harmony and happiness that he has found.
Where are you originally from?
Manipur State, Imphal, North Eastern Side of India.
How long have you been teaching?
After 2 years of practice, I was offered teaching opportunities in small centres.
Who was your very first yoga teacher and what was he/she like?
B.K.S. Iyengar, I've never met him but I regard him as my Soul Guru. His books, advice and experiences had a great impact on me.
How long have you been practising?
Since 1995.
Originally, what attracted you to yoga?
People say that through yoga, one feels physically & mental strong and stable, can stay fit and fine, and maintain harmony in one's life but as the saying goes - 'Doing is believing', and the same happened to me. I started practising yoga in 1995 and began experiencing the benefits of yoga. I feel an extra inner energy, a strength that I can't describe. This is the main reason why I am very much attracted to yoga. Yoga is my life, my energy and everything.
What motivates you to practise today?
Once I happened to read some books of Guru B.K.S. Iyengar. It shone a light upon me in my practice. At the same time, following his advice and putting it into practice enables me to devote my life to yoga.
How would you describe your personal practice?
I use it to work on my strength, flexibility, stamina and inner energy, all of which I gain from Vinyasa, a flow style of yoga.
Before you became a yoga teacher, what you did you do?
I learned a little about Taekwondo for 2 years during my school days. I was very much interested in active sports activities in my college years also.
What do you love about teaching?
I have chosen teaching yoga as my profession because the knowledge I gained is instinctive and pure. I wish that such knowledge should be imparted to those who couldn't yet be touched by yoga. I find it very challenging to teach my limited experience with sincerity to those who couldn't feel the inner strength, harmony and happiness we find in practising yoga.
What did you find challenging about teaching?
As I have mentioned above. I find it challenging to teach beginners who are very new to yoga. Yoga is limitless, its life a vast ocean, the more we learn and experience, the more its benefits.
Describe your ideal class (as a teacher)?
Sincerity, politeness, hardworking, creativity, full of confidence, must not have ego.
Describe a class that you would find challenging for difficult (as a teacher)
Teaching to those people who find it difficult to understand due to language barriers etc.
What teacher has had the biggest impact on your practice?
B.K.S. Iyengar whom I regard as my teacher and Guru - his books, his advice, his knowledge and experiences.
What is your most embarrassing moment in the studio (as a teacher or student)
None so far.
Where is the strangest place you have practised yoga?
When I was completing my Masters in Physical Education in Gwalior, India, I along with my friends happened to visit Gwalior Fort. It's a very ancient fort - has huge rocks, high pillars, huge statues of Gods and Goddesses - a strange place. My friends asked me to do a yoga pose in between two very high pillars of rock, somewhat like a rock gate and there I performed the pose called equal angle (SAMA KONASANA).
Aside from yoga, what other hobbies or interests do you have?
Dancing, watching adventure and documentary films, reading books, sports activities and playing with kids etc.
Describe your most profound yoga experience?
While completing my diploma in Yoga Education at Lonavala, India, I gained my spiritual knowledge from certain teachers that I couldn't get before. They are all well qualified and helped me a lot to achieve the scientific and technical knowledge of yogic practice.
If you were not a yoga teacher, what would you be?
Working in the Physical Education industry.
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