Richard James Allen teaches Jivamukti Yoga, Ashtanga
Yoga, Hatha Yoga and Dynamic Flow Yoga. He is a much in
demand teacher based in Sydney, Australia. He is
appreciated by his many students for his sense of
humour, his caring personal approach, and his thoughtful
exploration of the philosophy that underlies the
physical practises of Yoga. Classes with Richard are
athletic but graceful, and emphasise the need for each
student to work carefully at their own level of
development. Breathing and alignment combine in a
Vinyasa style that foregrounds a safe and long term
practice to engage the mind, body and spirit.
A freelance yoga teacher, Richard conducts classes
in Jivamukti Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga and his
own personal blend of styles under the title
'Lyrical Dynamic Flow Yoga'at
a number of leading Yoga centres (see below). In
addition, numerous students elect to undertake
private yoga tuition with Richard during which their
personal needs and physical histories can be more
directly addressed. If you would like to find out
more about how private classes might work for you,
please contact Richard by calling + 61 2 9699 1147
or by emailing
PhysicalTV@bigpond.com
Yoga Class
descriptions by Dr Richard James Allen:
JIVAMUKTI YOGA
"Jivamukti
Yoga
is a vigorous and challenging form
of vinyasa asana practice (flowing
postures), infused with an inspiring
musical soundtrack, where original
scriptures are cited, Sanskrit is
chanted and meditation is part of
every class. Jivamukti Yoga
emphasizes the establishment of an
elevated intention and a connection
to the original yogic scriptural
sources. You can find out more about
Jivamukti Yoga
at www.jivamuktiyoga.com."
(c)
2005 Jivamukti Yoga
Lyrical Dynamic
Flowing YogaLyrical, Dynamic, Flowing Yogaclasses are an invigorating and
kinaesthetic combination of the
alignment focus of Iyengar Yoga with
the breath and movement flow of
Ashtanga Yoga and the spiritual
poise of Jivamukti Yoga. Approached
with a graceful, body-intuitive
flow, they are a chance to explore
the range of possibilities that Yoga
has to offer, with a different
sequence of postures being taught
each class. Drawing on my years of
training and experience in different
styles of yoga, dance and the
performing arts, these classes are
athletic but fluid. Different
levels are catered for in a warm and
friendly environment, with various
options and appropriate challenges
being offered for different levels
of experience. Strongly emphasised
is the need for each student to work
carefully at their own level of
development. Breathing and
alignment combine in a Vinyasa style
that foregrounds a safe and long
term practice.
Music is played, spiritual texts
quoted and chants sung to encourage
an elevated mood and intention.
Lyrical, Dynamic, Flowing Yoga
is designed to
stretch and strengthen the body,
while stilling the mind and opening
the practitioner up to the spirit."
Private Yoga Classes
"Before it became popular
with large groups of students in the West, Yoga was
primarily taught one-on-one, teacher to student. I believe
it is important to honour this tradition of in-depth passing
on knowledge.
Private Yoga
Classescan be made
by appointment. Classes are structured in response to your
particular needs and physical histories. They
often focus on details of alignment and breathing in the
postures and can involve hands-on adjustments. Some
students choose to take the time to explore the meaning and
philosophy of Yoga as well. Private Yoga
Classes can be one-off consultations, or a small cluster
of classes, or an on-going program of personalised
development. Dates, times, locations and durations are
subject to discussion."
Joseph
Campbell explains the purpose of Yoga in a beautiful image:
"The goal
of …yoga is to make the mind stand still. Why should you want to do
that? We’re coming to a basic idea in this perennial philosophy –
namely, that everything is experienced through the mind. This is
maya. The mind is in an active state. The image is given of a pond
rippled by the wind. The rippling pond with is waves reflects images
that are broken…What we do is identify ourselves with one of those
broken images, one of those broken reflections on the surface of the
pond. Here I come: There I go. That links us to the temporal flow,
time and space – maya. Make the pond stand still, one image. What
was broken and reflected is now seen in its still perfection, and
that’s your true being. But that’s everybody else’s true being also.
This is the goal of yoga, to find the reality of consciousness which
is of you and of everybody else."
(c) 1990
Joseph Campbell. Quoted from Transformations of Myth Through
Time, Harper & Row, Publishers, New York, Grand Rapids,
Philadelphia, St. Louis, San Francisco, London, Singapore, Sydney,
Tokyo, Toronto, 1990, p 133.)
Richard James Allen recently returned from completing his
Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training with Sharon Gannon and David Life at
the Omega Centre in upstate New York.
He also holds a Sydney Yoga Centre Yoga Teaching Certificate 1997 (Eve Grzybowksi,
Colin Rivers, Mardi Kendall). He has taught Yoga at numerous Yoga
schools and for professional dance companies and tertiary
training courses. His natural flexibility in asana practice is featured in Christina Brown’s recent book, The Yoga Bible,
and in Nina
Williams' short film 'Breathe'.
Yoga
Background:
Richard first began practising Yoga as a child with his mother, later took up ice dancing, tai chi and karate before becoming a professional dancer. He returned to Yoga in the later part of his international performing career that took him across the USA, Europe and Australia. Since the early 1990s he has studied with some of the world leaders in contemporary Yoga such as Sharon Gannon and David Life of the Jivamukti Yoga Centre in New York. An advanced Ashtanga practitioner, he has pursued a traditional pathway of learning the Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa Series through workshops with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharat, and classes with many of their leading pupils such as Graeme and Leonie Northfield, Matthew Sweeney, Peter Sanson, Eileen Hall and others. Richard is a keen student of spiritual and Yogic texts, taking occasional workshops Rami Sivan, Sogyal Rinpoche, and others. As well asbeing a dancer, he is also an award-winning filmmaker and poet.
He recently completed a Doctorate of Creative Arts at the University
of Technology, Sydney, which focussed on Yogic spiritual ideas in
relation to art practice.
Testimonials and Comments from Students
"I
love Richard's yoga classes. He is absolutely fantastic.
I've tried other yoga classes before and never really
gone back as I always found them confusing and too hard.
Richard's style is just so easy to understand and he
really helps everyone. Even though I've been doing the
beginners class since last October I still feel like I'm
improving all the time with Richard's help. He is just a
wonderful teacher, I look forward to my class every
week. I can definitely say that Richard has really
inspired me, I now love yoga and want it to be a part of
my life forever. His teaching goes beyond the poses and
I love the messages he gives us in our yoga practice. As
corny as it may sound, Richard has changed my life and I
feel very grateful to both your school and Richard for
bringing yoga into my life."
Michaela Lawrence
"...Richards classes are
beautiful. Not only is it a great yoga class -
challenging, flowing, and playful, but afterwards I am
left with the wonderful feeling of having given myself a
complete massage from the inside out..."
Briellen Kalamir
"I
first heard about Richard Allen through the yoga “buzz”
in Avalon! I had begun a yoga teacher training program
and wanted to supplement my studies with someone highly
qualified and experienced. Richard was more than
delighted to help me out despite his very busy schedule
and we began private yoga sessions on a weekly basis.
What a fabulous experience this has been! Richard has
so much to impart, years of study and experience with
some wonderful yoga masters and all of this shows up in
his teaching. I’ve so enjoyed working with Richard, his
humour, compassion and down- to-earth approach to yoga
has truly been inspirational. If you ever get the
opportunity to experience a class with him, go for it!"
Deborah Koch
"Wow thanks again for another
brilliant and inspiring yoga class. (They all are but I
can't say that every week!)"
Kathy
Thompson
"Thanks again for such a great
yoga class. That was the best
yoga class I have ever done! I am by no meansastudious yoga devotee
but I really enjoy yoga and feel that finding theright teacher has been my biggest obstacle in how
much yoga I practice...Ihave
met a lot of pious and emotionally unavailable yoga
teachers whodon'tengage me or encourage me. To me, spiritual
people have an electricalcurrent that pulses through them that wants to connect
with other similarcurrents.
Last night I really felt that running through the
class-and Ididmy first ever head stand thanks to your clear
instruction." Christy
Tate
Richard can be contacted for
group, corporate or private Yoga classes at:
This site published
by Artmedia PublishingThe content of this
site is copyright, and no part may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes,
without the prior permission in writing from the publishers.
Building a community of interest in
contemporary Australian and New Zealand literary and Performing Arts - Click on this link
to find other similar sites.
Lyrical, Dynamic, Flowing Yoga
classes are an invigorating and
kinaesthetic combination of the
alignment focus of Iyengar Yoga with
the breath and movement flow of
Ashtanga Yoga and the spiritual
poise of Jivamukti Yoga. Approached
with a graceful, body-intuitive
flow, they are a chance to explore
the range of possibilities that Yoga
has to offer, with a different
sequence of postures being taught
each class. Drawing on my years of
training and experience in different
styles of yoga, dance and the
performing arts, these classes are
athletic but fluid. Different
levels are catered for in a warm and
friendly environment, with various
options and appropriate challenges
being offered for different levels
of experience. Strongly emphasised
is the need for each student to work
carefully at their own level of
development. Breathing and
alignment combine in a Vinyasa style
that foregrounds a safe and long
term practice.
Music is played, spiritual texts
quoted and chants sung to encourage
an elevated mood and intention.
Lyrical, Dynamic, Flowing Yoga
is designed to
stretch and strengthen the body,
while stilling the mind and opening
the practitioner up to the spirit."
P
Richard James Allen recently returned from completing his
Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training with Sharon Gannon and David Life at
the Omega Centre in upstate New York. 
Richard first began practising Yoga as a child with his mother, later took up ice dancing, tai chi and karate before becoming a professional dancer. He returned to Yoga in the later part of his international performing career that took him across the USA, Europe and Australia. Since the early 1990s he has studied with some of the world leaders in contemporary Yoga such as Sharon Gannon and David Life of the Jivamukti Yoga Centre in New York. An advanced Ashtanga practitioner, he has pursued a traditional pathway of learning the Ashtanga Yoga Vinyasa Series through workshops with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharat, and classes with many of their leading pupils such as Graeme and Leonie Northfield, Matthew Sweeney, Peter Sanson, Eileen Hall and others. Richard is a keen student of spiritual and Yogic texts, taking occasional workshops Rami Sivan, Sogyal Rinpoche, and others. As well as
"
