"Every day you must walk that fine line between courage and caution."

- BKS IYENGAR

PHOTO BY TAI KERBS

GARTH McLEAN

Garth is a Senior Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher (CIYT, Level 3, Intermediate Senior III), a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists and a Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) with Yoga Alliance.
Based in Los Angeles, Garth teaches public classes, and specialty workshops in the US and internationally. All classes are taught in the Iyengar tradition.  Private instruction is available.

Photo by Tai Kerbs

Certified Iyengar
Yoga Teacher

WHAT'S NEW...

 

Autumn 2024 Update

After offering recent in-person workshops focusing on the nervous system and related conditions in Europe and the UK, over the next few weeks I am offering a limited number of online classes.

On Saturday, October 19, I will offer an online workshop on stroke awareness and ways to apply Iyengar Yoga to help one navigate some common symptoms associated with a post-stroke event. 

In addition, I will offer limited number of Wednesday and Saturday online Iyengar Yoga classes focused on nervous system related conditions and movement challenges.

I hope you can join me. 

Managing Stroke

Saturday, Oct 19
Online – 8:30 am-11am Pacific time
Recording available

A stroke happens when blood flow to the brain is interrupted, either by blood vessel blockage or rupture. A stroke can happen to anyone, at any age, any time. While stroke is a leading cause of death and disability, not all strokes are fatal. Stroke survivors can be left with temporary or lingering significant movement and functional challenges.

While very stroke is unique, the symptoms one may encounter depends upon the location of the event in the brain, type of stroke and severity..

In this workshop, we will look at the various types of stroke, strategies for known cause prevention and ways to manage some common effects through adaptations of yoga asanas that may aid in rehabilitation and recovery.

Workshop is hosted by Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics

Online Classes

Current online classes

 

Saturday MS and Movement Challenges Class
Saturday mornings
9:00am-10:30 am (Pacific Time)
(Limited classes in October)

 

 Wednesday MS and Movement Challenges Class 

Wednesday mornings

8:00-am-9:30am (Pacific Time)

(Limited classes in October)

 


Links to online classes for which you are registered are automatically emailed within two weeks before the registered class and again approximately 1 hour before the class starts.

 
Private Sessions
and
Consultations

Schedule Here

With travel, if available times do not suit your schedule,
Email Me Here or at yogarthman@gmail.com
to coordinate a mutually convenient time

 In-Person or Online
Private Sessions
 

Email me at yogarthman@gmail.com 
to schedule an in-person session.
 

Upcoming
In-Person Workshops

NOVEMBER 1, 2, 3  –IYENGAR YOGA IRELAND
DUBLIN, IRELAND
Click here for info 

NOVEMBER 8, 9, 10 – MANCHESTER and DISTRICT IYENGAR YOGA
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND
Click here for info

NOVEMBER 14-17 –ASSOCIAÇÃO BRASILIERA IYENGAR YOGA
SÃO PAULO, BRAZIL
Click here for info

Save the Dates

Happy to announce my
scheduled 2025
in-person dates:

March 21-23 – Florence, Italy

March 28-30 – Silkeborg, Denmark

April 5, 6 – Budapest, Hungary

April 11-13 – Brno, Czech Republic

May 30-June 1- Edinburgh, Scotland

June 6-8 – Inverness, Scotland

June 13-15 – Glasgow, Scotland

June 20-22 – Bournemouth, England
~ More info to follow ~

Book Review

” … a little masterpiece”

 Honored to be reviewed by the New York-based, internationally recognized neuroscientist, Dr. Patrizia Casaccia, in the Spring 2021 issue of Yoga Therapy Today.

Originally published in Yoga Therapy Today, a publication of the International Association of Yoga TherapistsReprinted with permission.

Resources Page

Check out my

RESOURCES PAGE

to
Order books,
Find vendors for yoga props,
Info on vaccines as they specifically relate to MS,  
Asana Sequence for Immune Enhancement, 

Recent Interview

and more….

Yoga, MS, and Health

With my direct personal experience of overcoming some of the most frightening symptoms associated with MS, I can wholeheartedly attest that the practice of Iyengar Yoga offers the practitioner a pathway to manage many symptoms associated with MS, and to also navigate the challenges of life.

Through the practice, some of the symptoms I’ve managed to ease and work through include: gait abnormality and imbalance issues (ataxia);  drop foot;  muscle weakness; inability to judge distance or scale with arms (dysmetria); burning neural pain in arms hips and feet;  numbness and tingling in limbs (parasthesia); optic neuritis; double vision (diplopia); spasticity (paraparesis) of legs & MS hug in torso; bladder and bowel dysfunction; crushing fatigue;   LHermitte’s symptom (an uncomfortable electrical charge in the spine when bowing the head); Uhthoff’s phenomenon (heat intolerance which can temporarily worsen symptoms); and depression. 

The result, I’ve found, is a more balanced life —  physically, emotionally and psychologically.

Health is simply a by-product of proper yoga practice. Through iconic alignment of asana (physical postures) and pranayama (breathing) we can fortify stability, keep mobile and endure with relative ease what may not be able to be cured.

Disease implies an absence of ease or imbalance. An internal storm. A perfect breeding ground for fear, uncertainty and doubt, all of which seem to resonate in our current global climate. 

When we are diagnosed with a chronic incurable disease, it can be a life-altering, calamitous event. In addition to dealing with whatever physical adversity we may have to face, we may also have to face how to navigate a previously unknown landscape of uncertainty, fear, grief, isolation, anger and depression. It makes sense.

When I was diagnosed as a younger man inhabiting a body I could not feel or control, I was scared, unsure and filled with trepidation about an uncertain future. BKS Iyengar opened up a door to possibility for me through the practice of yoga and gave me the tools, and a good dose of realistic hope, to take the necessary action to move beyond my limitations with courage and caution.

Committed to helping others through yoga, I became a teacher of the subject to share what has so profoundly helped me. 

Since teaching, it has been a great honor and privilege to work with so many people across the globe with all ranges of ability in the various stages of MS, Parkinson’s, post-stroke rehabilitation and other neurological and movement challenges. Though it’s not a cure, the yoga practice has helped so many.

To offer further insight, I penned a book based on my experience, to perhaps serve as a reference for others on the path who seek health and well-being through the applied practice of Iyengar yoga.  The book is intended as a starting point for self-ambulatory people with MS who are able to self-transfer, either to the floor or a second chair, and willing to utilize yoga props or common household items for support.

The book includes photos to demonstrate a range of traditional yoga poses, as well as adaptations, to accommodate varying degrees of physical challenge.

Though it is impossible to address every possible scenario and degree of challenge with MS, in this book I hope to offer a reference for others with MS, in order to keep mobile, hopefully slow progression of the condition and maintain reasonable functionality.    

Yoga and Multiple Sclerosis, A Practical Guide for Persons with MS and Yoga Teachers” is available worldwide.

My hope is that by offering this book it may serve as an additional resource for reasonably ambulatory people with MS to help ease their situation.
 
Also available on:
Amazon.co.uk,  Amazon.ca and Amazon platforms worldwide.  Check the country specific Amazon platform for  your region. 
  
It is also available directly through Singing Dragon Publishing
and in local book stores.
 
Singing Dragon is an imprint of Jessica Kingsley Publishers – Academic, Educational and Professional Publisher of the Year, British Book Awards 2020
 
 

 The practice of yoga helps one to face times of fear and uncertainty with poise and presence of mind.

 I look forward to seeing you soon!!

 

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