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Garth McLean was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis in 1996, and with that his life changed in an instant.

Gone were the days of high-intensity exercise, and upon the advice of his doctor, he went to a yoga class. As it happened, an Iyengar Yoga one. Within a couple weeks, he noticed sensation return to his body and he learned to cultivate patience and respect for it, and so embarked on a new way of living.

Inspired by what yoga did for him and could do for others, Garth became a yoga teacher and began teaching others living with diseases like Parkinson’s, epilepsy, and muscular dystrophy. A level 3 certified Iyengar Yoga teacher, Garth continues to find inspiration from his teachers, the greatest of whom is MS itself.



Garth will be teaching a workshop at triyoga on 27 + 28 March available for booking here.



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Jo Joseph is the only woman to have ever won DJ Magazine’s coveted DJ of the Year award, and for more than 30 years has been one of the globe’s most successful DJs, playing at Pacha and Space in Ibiza, Fabric in London, and Womb in Tokyo. Yoga became the antidote to the excesses of DJ life, and her study of philosophy, anatomy and sequencing deepened as she became a teacher.

In this triyoga talks podcast, Jo spoke about smashing the glass ceiling as one of the first female DJs to break into a male-dominated world, how to create playlists that elevate the experience of a student in class, and how both music and yoga can be spiritual experiences.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

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When you think about it, David Swenson has been distance teaching Ashtanga Yoga for decades with his VHS tapes and books. He recognised long before anyone else that students might not always be fortunate enough to be in the same room as their teacher — whether that was due to geography, personal circumstance or now Covid. Even so, he struggled in the early days to adapt to the technology of teaching online (like most teachers!) and in this triyoga talks podcast he spoke about moving from discomfort to ease and now enjoyment.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

You can subscribe to triyoga talks on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher

Aisha Nash is an award-winning pastry chef who left behind the high-stress world of Michelin-starred restaurants to become a yoga teacher. As a teacher, however, she did not feel welcome in most modern yoga studios, which she says are not properly reflective of what yoga is, and who it is for.

In this triyoga talks podcast, Aisha spoke about how the word “fat” has unnecessarily become an insult, and how people living in large bodies can feel excluded in a yoga class. She spoke about freeing ourselves from diet culture not just in January but beyond, why weight does not necessarily equate to health, and how the BMI (body mass index) is inherently flawed and racist.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

You can subscribe to triyoga talks on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher

Matthew Sanford at the age of 13 was paralysed from the chest down in a car accident that killed his father and sister. He spent three months at the Mayo Clinic, a world famous medical facility where paradoxically, the care he received increased his mind-body injury in what he calls corrective violence. Those doctors saved his life, yes, but the hospital experience itself was traumatising and ended up further separating Matthew’s mind from his body.

|t was yoga, an ancient practice from India and not modern Western medicine, that rejoined his mind-body connection to the point where Matthew could feel sensation again. And he has dedicated his life to helping others feel the same. Matthew was certified to teach Iyengar Yoga by BKS Iyengar himself, and teaches yoga to the disabled as well as the abled, and founded MindBody Solutions, a non-profit organisation dedicated to transforming trauma, loss and disability into hope and potential.

In this triyoga talks podcast, Matthew spoke about feeling sensation when his doctors said he couldn’t. About the parallel between patient compliance and student obedience. And about how people with disabilities have been disproportionately affected by Covid-19.

Want to learn more? Join Matthew in an online workshop on Thursday 10th December at 18.00 GMT in which he will teach you to stretch what he calls “the middle-third,” or all aspects of your arms, legs and torso. This workshops is open to all. Come realise your full potential with one of the world’s most inspirational, graceful and funny yoga teachers. Click here for more information.

Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

You can subscribe to triyoga talks on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher

Yoga’s roots are generally accepted to be found in India where it has developed over the course of 2,500 years, influenced by the country’s diverse religions and practices. It is now practiced by millions around the world, and can be done in ways that are wholly appreciative and respectful, but unfortunately also in ways that do not acknowledge the source or recognise the essence of yoga.

In this triyoga talks podcast, we sat down with Ayurvedic chef Mira Manek, yoga teacher Savira Gupta and yoga teacher/osteopath Anji Gopal – three British women of Indian heritage to hear their views on the differences between cultural appreciation and cultural appropriation in how yoga is taught and practised in the West, and how respectful exchange of tradition and practice ultimately enrich and benefit many.

Spoiler alert – we talk about how to make the perfect Dahl!





Listen to our other podcasts in the ‘triyoga talks’ series here.

You can subscribe to triyoga talks on iTunes | Spotify | Stitcher