ABOUT JOHN FREEMAN
I have always enjoyed sport. I was in the England Ski Team as a teenager and did strength and flexibility training for my skiing. I still ski, cycle and play squash, tennis and other sports. I started yoga to help recover from a sporting injury. I intended going to a few classes until I recovered but, to my surprise, I really enjoyed it. Being middle aged, I realised it could extend my ability to carry on playing sport.
When I started, I thought yoga was mainly about flexibility. I soon realised it involves a lot of strength, balance (which requires good focus and concentration), twisting, inversions (e.g. headstand, handstand, etc) and cardiovascular exercise (e.g. sun salutations and fast paced Ashtanga yoga). I particularly enjoy balancing (hand balances and 1 leg balances) and inversions.
Yoga has helped me improve my posture and hip flexibility, both of which had suffered from too many years sitting at a desk in front of a computer.
I also enjoy practising pranayama (different breathing techniques) and learning to deeply focus and concentrate. These have helped me deal with stress better, which was not something I was expecting when I started yoga!
I used to be a solicitor and then worked in the property industry. I have also been a ski instructor.
In 2019 I did my RYS200+ hours teacher training course in Mysore, India with Yogadarshanam, who are a Yoga Alliance registered school. I trained in both Hatha and Ashtanga yoga. It was here that I discovered there is much more to yoga than poses with synchronised breathing and that I will always be learning and improving.
In 2021 I did a 60 hour teacher training course in Yin Yoga with Austin Ince, who is a Yoga Alliance continuing education provider.
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Since then, I have broadened my yoga knowledge and practice by doing 3 courses with Vinay Kumar of the Prana Vashya Yoga Shala
