YOGA with Richard James Allen
 Richard James Allen teaches Jivamukti Yoga, Ashtanga Yoga, Hatha Yoga, Dynamic Flow Yoga and Yoga Philosophy. 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 Flowing Yoga - a 'Dance of the Spirit' 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
Dr Richard James Allen's
Yoga Teaching Timetable, September 2008
Tuesdays 6.30 - 8.00pm
Lyrical Dynamic Flowing Yoga
(For those who like a challenging class!)
at Life Source Yoga and Health, North Sydney
(Suite 11, 177-199 Pacific Highway, North Sydney. Tel 8904 0202.)
DROP-IN CLASSES
Wednesday 7.30 - 8.45 pm 
Jivamukti Yoga - Intermediate Level
(For those who like a challenging class!)
at Samadhi Yoga
(The Gallery, 36 Lennox Street (parallel to King St), Newtown
- near Newtown Train Station. Tel. 9517 3280.)
DROP-IN CLASSES
 Thursdays 6.00 - 7.30pm
Six Week Jivamukti Yoga Course
(Discover the deeper dimensions of yoga!)
at Life Source Yoga and Health, North Sydney
(Suite 11, 177-199 Pacific Highway, North Sydney. Tel 8904 0202.)
NEXT 6 WEEK COURSE BEGINS SEPT 4, 2008
Call now to book in 8904 0202.
.jpg) Sundays 10.00 – 11.30am
Lyrical Dynamic Flowing Yoga
(Wake up your body for the week ahead!)
at Life Source Yoga and Health, North Sydney
(Suite 11, 177-199 Pacific Highway, North Sydney. Tel 8904 0202.)
DROP-IN CLASSES
**************
Dancing Handstand Photo: Kyle Powderly
Yoga Asana Photos: Jorg Salzbauer
Adjustment Photos: Eddie Teboul
Yoga Class descriptions
by Dr Richard James Allen
(c) 2008, or as otherwise noted
JIVAMUKTI YOGA
“The Jivamukti Yoga method is a style of Yoga created by David Life and Sharon Gannon in 1984. It is a vigorously physical and intellectually stimulating practice leading to spiritual awareness. We promote the educational aspect of the practice and give students access to where these ideas have come from. Each class focuses on a theme, which is supported by Sanskrit chanting, readings, references to scriptural texts, music (from the Beatles to Moby), spoken word, asana sequencing and yogic breathing practices.”
(c) 2007 Jivamukti Yoga
 Lyrical Dynamic Flowing Yoga
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."
 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 Classes can 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 involved hands on adjustments. Some students choose to take the time to explore the meaning and the philosophy of Yoga as well. Yoga teacher trainees can take the opportunity to fill in gaps in their knowledge and understanding and try practice teaching. Many pupils find that the detailed personal instruction provides them with the skills and motivation they need to develop a regular home practice. It also allows them to get a great deal more out of their group classes. 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."
For further information, or for private, group, or Yoga at work classes:
Contact DR RICHARD JAMES ALLEN Phone +61 2 9699 1147
Email PhysicalTV@bigpond.com
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, Sandra Ferriera, David Life Sharon Gannon,
Alanna Kaivalya, Kristina Pao Cheng, and Petros Hoffenrichter
Jivamukti Yoga Founders with the Mentors
for the 2007 Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training at Omega, upstate NY
Photo: Baerbel Miessner, www.miessner.com
Richard James Allen - Yoga Qualifications:
 Richard James Allen is Certified Jivamukti Yoga Teacher through the grace of his holy teachers Sharon Gannon and David Life. He has just returned being a mentor and teacher for them at the 2007 Jivamukti Yoga Teacher Training at the beautiful Omega Centre in upstate New York. Richard also holds an Iyengar-based 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 bestselling book, The Yoga Bible, now translated into over 10 languages, 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 as being a dancer, he is also a multi-award-winning filmmaker and poet. He recently completed his Doctorate of Creative Arts, focusing on Yogic spiritual ideas in relation to art practice, which was honoured with the Chancellor's Award for Best PhD across all departments of the University of Technology, Sydney.
Testimonials and Comments from Students
"In my world as full-time mum to two beautiful but often demanding little ones, my weekly escape to your class is my chance to centre myself, reconnect with the real me and truly relax. Richard I think you know how much I value your class. Thank you. See you next Tuesday! Cheers," Nadine Wood
"I leave every practice wanting more……………..
An experience that leaves me fulfilled, stimulated, physically invigorated and enlightened and what’s more, the most delightful thing is that I can be “wisely selfish” by indulging and going back time and again for more.
"I attend Richard’s public classes and take private classes.
"Clearly, Richard has his own wonderful style. He has extraordinary physical ability coupled with a breadth of experience, knowledge and calmness allowing him to share a deeper philosophical and spiritual aspect in each practice. He also has a natural ability to incorporate humour, his own personality (sometimes quirky) and style to each session.
"Richard lives his life in a genuine, compassionate and non judgmental yogi way which I use as inspiration and guidance. It is an honour and privilege to practice under the caring guidance and support of Richard." David Hands
"Richard inspires me in my yoga practice. He leads me on my journey of self-discovery, encouraging and supporting me to explore each posture in a more fulfilling way. I love Richard's classes!" Peita Bate
"I have attended Richard’s yoga classes for more than a year now. His classes are always inspiring, sometimes soothing sometimes challenging, but always with an emphasis on fun! With his caring nature, Richard guides me through a practice that helps me sustain a balanced lifestyle in a chaotic world of “hustle and bustle”. Thank you Richard." Paul O’Brien
"Thank you for such a beautiful and nurturing class." Emma Hess
"It was amazing to see the change not only in my body's physical structure, but also in my mental capacity to actually have faith in my ability. As soon as I got home, I came into a headstand WITH 2 STRAIGHT legs for the first time! Thank you for imparting me with useful knowledge that can actually be applied at all times, in all the forms of practice that I do." Patty Kikos
"Thanks for your wonderful classes - we're all so lucky to have you as our teacher. Namaste," Anna Davi
"I just love going to your classes. I've been to so many all over Sydney these past 4 years trying to find the ultimate one... and I've found it. It's physically challenging, mentally calming and spiritually enriching. Thank you for being such a beautiful teacher." Rebecca Mar Young
"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
"...Richard's 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 experience. Richard was more than delighted to help me 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 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
"it is unmask-ably the fashion of the eclectic beats that drive his special drum... a centre of transperical fusion... gumboed, betwixt, 'elastica' met with, up close and personal the incredibly humbled elephant headed blue boy, "ganesh".
it is a trans ocean of the deepest lapis lazar blue and the golden shores of a Mississippi bayou estuary... a dance in the park... a cottage house in county 'Durry' attic... the mona lisa, with just enough of that quirky smile.
he can open the flood gates and allow you the pleasure to close your own back paddock, moseyed creaky little timber gate.
from the freaky to the sneaky, like a rap attic's lovepotion he is the mash-up master with the grand master flash with the pivotal force.
richard james allen is a strengthening soul upon the planet, a wonderfully fun and powerful teacher, someone who shares his art in the way he shares it with himself, truthfully.
richard is a practicing teacher and in this he brings the respect of the practice to his students... it is a very important teaching, that, that lets go of the ego.
Thankyou, Gav Barbey
"Thanks again for such a great yoga class. That was the best yoga class I have ever done! I am by no means a studious yoga devotee but I really enjoy yoga and feel that finding the right teacher has been my biggest obstacle in how much yoga I practice...I have met a lot of pious and emotionally unavailable yoga teachers who don't engage me or encourage me. To me, spiritual people have an electrical current that pulses through them that wants to connect with other similar currents. Last night I really felt that running through the class-and I did my first ever head stand thanks to your clear instruction." Christy Tate
Richard can be contacted for group, corporate or private Yoga classes at:
Call +61 2 9699 1147
Email PhysicalTV@bigpond.com
For the latest news on Richard's Dance Film and Literary Arts practice,
please visit: www.physicaltv.com.au
For information on his latest film, Thursday's Fictions
please visit: www.thursdaysfictions.com
|
