Carley & Alan

Carley and Alan established the Yoga Connection in 1999. The first studio of significance in Pretoria at that time.

Carley has always been interested in the interconnection of the body and mind - accordingly yoga was a natural home for her. With a background in the dramatic arts and a deep interest in the spiritual nature of man, she has been influenced by various influential thinkers and gurus of various disciplines. eg: Mirabai, Lionel Berman, Barbara Brennan, Ingrid Kohler, Swami Krishna Chandra, Gangaji, Elizabeth Kruger (Master EK), Terry Winchester (Mind Frame Technique) and Keith MacFarlane (RHASA) etc. Carley is also a dedicated student of A Course in Miracles.

She trained under various Yoga schools around the world, in the East and the West. Thus her style is a fusion of Hatha Yoga systems. In South Africa she received training from Durgana, the then president of the Yoga Teachers Fellowship, and graduate of the Ishta Yoga School. Carley has also had training in the fields of Reiki, Thai Massage and Cranio Sacral balancing, Barbara Brennan School of Healing - all of which have enhanced her practical application of yoga asana.

She has had the privilege of visiting and practising yoga and similar modalities under a variety of instructors and teachers in New York, Thailand and India. Carley believes in all learning leading into one great truth. This principle has been developed into a unique system of integrating yoga and reiki so that yoga can be practised more effectively as a healing modality. She believes that the asana combined with the pranayama can balance the body and mind and restore personal equilibrium. Working with the awareness of prana - vital healing energy.

Alan has practised yoga since 1998 and with Carley was involved in the establishment of Yoga Connection. He has been trained with Carley and practises a fusion of Hatha Yoga styles. He primarily presents basic / beginners classes. Being more than casually interested in yoga Alan has also participated in Reiki training and attended a wide variety of yoga classes in Thailand and India to balance his knowledge of different yoga systems.

Having personally enjoyed the wide ranging benefits of yoga practise he has always believed there was a need to provide 'western-friendly' yoga to others. He believes that yoga practise is an important complement to traditional western style practises which generally seem to 'punish' the body. An awareness of the physical body and the energy body in the management of stress and health are important to him. This establishes a high degree of personal balance. This philosophy underpins his teaching style.