September 15th - 22nd
Ashtanga Yoga Immersion with Neil Barker and Anna Azilli
Neil Barker
Neil is a Senior Yoga Teacher at Pure Central, Hong Kong. He is an internationally recognised Yoga Teacher & Therapist, who is registered as a 500-hour teacher with Yoga Alliance, E-RYT500 – their highest accreditation, having accumulated over 20,000 hours teaching experience.
A dedicated practitioner for the past 12 years, with his main asana practice rooted in the Ashtanga Vinyasa tradition of Sri K Pattabhi Jois & R Sharath Jois with whom he has received authorization to teach.
He brings to his teachings a wealth of experience from a multi-faceted background including various martial arts, Taijiquan, and Qigong. These led him to study Sports Injuries, prevention and treatment, and various natural therapies including various schools of massage, joint setting and spinal manipulation. As a qualified Acupuncturist, well studied in Traditional Chinese Medicine, he integrates a deeper understanding of subtle energetic anatomy into his teaching.
Neil is a gifted teacher, known for his creative and lively presentations, and a unique ability to make even the most difficult concepts immediately understandable, especially in the fields of Applied Anatomy, Dynamic Principles of Alignment and Yoga Philosophy. His passion for these topics shines through in his delivery of these sometimes daunting and intimidating subjects.
“My goal is to inspire students to be passionate about this amazing vehicle of practice, the Human Body. Through greater understanding we are empowered to deepen our practices, whilst reducing the risks of injury. Good anatomical understanding leads to greater awareness, better alignment, a more fulfilling practice and eventual success in yoga”.
During the past 5 years he has also been a dedicated student of Sri O.P Tiwari, of the Swami Kuvalayananda tradition of pranayama. Through Tiwariji he has undertaken a deeper study of the entire Hatha yoga tradition and its related texts. He has also been given the blessing to teach this scientific approach to pranayama.
“I am grateful to all my teachers who have influenced me on this path of practice. I bow before the Lotus Feet of the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois and his grandson R Sharath Jois, who have guided me on the path of asana. Sri O P Tiwari, who has been both my mentor and spiritual guide, who has taken me deeper into the practices of pranayama and self-inquiry. Special thanks must go to Richard Freeman for opening the deeper dimensions of the internal practice and energetic alignment, and to my early influences, David Swenson, John Scott, Paul Dallaghan and Alex Medin.”
Om Sri Guru Bhyo Namaha,
Hari Om.
