Garth Mclean
Biography
Garth McLean is a dedicated practitioner of yoga. As a teacher of yoga, Garth is a senior level Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher “CIYT” (Level 3 – Intermediate Sr III), a Certified Yoga Therapist and Approved Professional Development Provider with the International Association of Yoga Therapists (C-IAYT), and a Registered Yoga Teacher (E-RYT 500) and Continuing Education Provider (YACEP) with Yoga Alliance.
He is a published author of Yoga and Mulitple Sclerosis, A Practical Guide for People with MS and Yoga Teachers, (Singing Dragon Books, London 2020).
Based in Los Angeles, Garth offers public classes and specialty courses, locally and internationally. Garth currently offers local private in-person instruction in the Los Angeles metro area (must be vaccinated against Covid-19). Since the onset of the pandemic safety restrictions, Garth offers classes and workshops online.
In 2019, Garth served as the headline Iyengar Yoga teacher at the World Yoga Festival. He also was a presenter and plenary speaker at the International Association of Yoga Therapists Symposium of Yoga Therapy and Research (SYTAR) that same year.
Garth studies annually with the Iyengar family in Pune, India since 2000. He teaches yoga intensives locally and globally. In addition to regular intensives, Garth offers workshops on the positive effect of yoga on MS and other neurological conditions. He regularly offers workshops in Europe, the UK, and South America. He has also taught in Australia, Russia Federation and Tunisia.
Garth has served as a guest teacher at the France Iyengar Yoga Teachers’ Convention (2009), the Spain Iyengar Yoga Teachers’ Convention (2011), and more recently is a co presenter at the European Congress of Rehabilitation and Medicine in Slovenia (April 2024).
He is a co-founding and current board/faculty member of the Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics group, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles that is dedicated to helping people manage diseases and conditions through the therapeutic applications of yoga. Garth serves on the advisory board and is a faculty member of AnuYoga, a non-profit organization (Tel Aviv), that facilitates the integration of Iyengar Yoga as a therapeutic intervention for patient rehabilitative care in hospitals and the medical field.
Blessed with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 1996, having navigated many of the the symptoms associated with the condition, Garth successfully manages his course of MS and a hectic schedule with a daily practice of Iyengar Yoga as presented by Yoga master, Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar.
He has written and performed a one-person show entitled, Looking For Lightning, about his journey which he performed live at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival (2018).
Garth Mclean in the Press
CBC Radio (Canada) Pandemic, Yoga and Memory (March 20, 2021)
Triyoga Talks podcast interview. (March 23, 2021)
CBC Radio One (Saskatchewan) – November 2020
Phoenix 98 FM – Essex and East London, UK – Body Talk
South China Morning Post (Hong Kong)
Health and Lifestyle article — November 19, 2020
Australian Yoga Life
Read Garth's interview with Australian Yoga Life Magazine about MS and Iyengar Yoga
Los Angeles Yoga Magazine
Read Garth's interview with LA Yoga about embracing yoga with courage and caution
Intouch Magazine (Australia)
Read Garth's interview with inTouch magazine about the strategies and support options for Men with MS.
BBC Radio London – Interview July 2014
ABC Radio (Australia) – Body Spheres – Moving Bodies and Boundaries – Sept 2012
Archive
Exploration. Transformation. Evolution.
YOGA SAMACHER MAGAZINE – Fall 2017/Winter 2018
Garth McLean Interview
AUSTRALIA YOGA LIFE – June 2016
Moving Bodies and Boundaries
ABC RADIO NATIONAL AUSTRALIA – September 2012
Walking the Fine Line Between Courage and Caution
LA YOGA (Featured Teacher) – September 2013
Garth McLean's Workshop
DIPIKA MAGAZINE – May 2013
A Way To Healing
IN TOUCH AUSTRALIA – Winter 2012
Garth McLean's Visit to High Wycombe June 2012
IYENGAR YOGA NEWS – Spring 2011
ri flek' shuhn
IYNAUS – 2010
One Man's Perspective
YOGA VIDYA – Winter 2008
Hard Work and Surrender
LA YOGA MAGAZINE – September 2005
My Story
Upon learning of his diagnosis ...
Garth was determined to get his MS symptoms in remission. He immediately took to the daily practice of Iyengar Yoga, heeding his neurologist’s advice to try some yoga with the caveat to avoid overheating the body. He also heeded Mr. Iyengar’s counsel to proceed with courage, caution and patience.
The results have been profound. Garth’s dedication to self-healing has enabled him to successfully manage many symptoms of MS and keep his course of MS in remission without the conventional medicines prescribed for the condition. Since 2005, Garth annually monitors the lesions on his brain via MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) which has shown very encouraging comparative results. His determination and recovery motivates him to provide a safe, uplifting forum for a challenging, rewarding and transformative experience for all students of yoga.
Garth shares his enthusiasm for the healing potential of a dedicated yoga practice with students and teachers around the world. Garth’s personal in-depth knowledge inspires not only those with challenges, but everyone. Check the Schedule page for weekly updates and workshop schedule. For inspiration, Garth looks to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (II.16):“heyam dukham anagatam” which poignantly translates as:“the pains which are yet to come can and are to be avoided.
Brief History
Raised on the Canadian prairies, McLean relocated to NYC to study acting with the legendary Sandy Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre.
After working on stage and film in NY, he moved to Hollywood in the 90’s where he continues to garner roles in film and television. His interest in live theater remained strong and soon Garth began to produce local theatre and short films. His path led him to the study of the martial art Aikido under the guidance of Haruo Matsuoka Sensei, and action movie star Steven Seagal. By circumstance, he eventually went to work for Mr. Seagal. The celebrity lifestyle catapulted him around the globe. Not to be deterred by a diagnosis of MS in 1996, Garth has written and continues to perform his solo play “Looking for Lightning” about his journey.
Visit https://www.lookingforlightning.com/ for more information.
