Meet our fantastic team of Iyengar Yoga instructors.
Tara has practiced Iyengar yoga in the Sligo Yoga Centre for the past 17 years. She received her Introductory Level Teaching Certificate in 2017, having started her training with Teacher Trainer Helen Gillan and completing the course with Margaret Cashman and Eileen Camron in IYOGA in Dublin.
She is continuing her training and plans to take the next level assessment, to enhance her skills and develop a better understanding of Iyengar Yoga. Tara was drawn Iyengar yoga for its precision and the encouragement of the use of props to obtain any pose,
Fionnuala started her Iyengar Yoga training over 25 years ago in the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Maida Vale London, and has been teaching for almost 20 years. She has a Junior Intermediate Level 3 certification. Fionnuala works with students of all levels, and teaches regular weekly classes in Sligo (The Factory performance space). She continues her yoga study with senior and international teachers in Dublin and abroad as well as teachers from The Iyengar Yoga institute in Puna, India. Fionnuala is especially interested in the therapeutic (physical, mental and emotional) effects of yoga and has completed 3 years of a 6-year training in remedial yoga. Fionnuala is also an acupuncturist and Chinese medicine herbalist with a busy practice in Sligo town.
Edel has been practising Iyengar yoga for over 10 years. She completed the qualification to teach the Iyengar introductory course of yoga asanas and pranayamas in 2016 and has been teaching classes in Sligo Yoga centre on a weekly basis. Edel is a full time Chartered Physiotherapist and has a special interest in Woman's health and back pain.
Her experience of physiotherapy compliments her yoga practice as both emphasise correct body alignment which allows the body to develop symmetrically while minimising risk of pain and injury. She is continuing her study and practice for the Intermediate exam and regularly attends conventions and workshops in both Ireland and England . Edel is also a qualified Pilates instructor with the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates institute.
Therese has been practising Iyengar Yoga for twenty years. She began her teacher training with Helen Gillan in Sligo Yoga Centre in 2013 and continues to train with senior Iyengar teacher Aisling Guirke in Dublin. She regularly attends workshops and conventions with international senior Iyengar teachers. She holds Junior Intermediate Level 2 certification. Therese also teaches weekly classes in Ballymote.
Therese teaches Iyengar yoga because she loves to help others experience the benefits she has gained from her own practice and study of yoga.
John Callinan, our co-founder, was introduced to Iyengar Yoga in 1990. He is a professionally registered Iyengar Yoga teacher since 1998. He has been awarded Intermediate Junior levels 1, 2 and 3 and is a teacher training assessor for IYA UK and Ireland. He is a full time Iyengar Yoga teacher and works with students of all levels. John has found yoga to be greatly beneficial to his physical and overall wellbeing, and he appreciates being in a position to bring to others the benefits of Iyengar Yoga. Mr. Iyengar has designed many useful props and equipment to help students complete the Yoga postures safely and correctly and John brings his skills as a woodworker to make this equipment. The equipment is available for use by the students in class. John updates his skills on a regular basis by attending classes at the Iyengar Institute in Pune, India.
John made the decision to take a step back from teaching in May 2018 and no longer teaches in the centre.
Helen Gillan, our founder, practiced Iyengar Yoga for 22 years. She trained at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in Maida Vale, London and became a professionally registered Iyengar Yoga teacher in 1992. On her return to Ireland, Helen found herself to be the only registered Iyengar teacher and was asked to assist on the first ever teacher training course in Dublin in 1993. She was subsequently approved by Mr. Iyengar to set up her own Teacher Training Programme in Sligo. She was awarded Intermediate Junior 1, 2 and 3 certificates. She was a teacher trainer and examination assessor for the Iyengar Association of UK and Ireland. In September 2010 Helen completed the final module of a three year training programme in Remedial / Therapeutic Yoga. She regularly visited her teacher B.K.S. Iyengar and his daughter Geeta Ji in India in order to maintain the highest standard of professional competence. Helen enjoyed hosting events attended by senior level Iyengar teachers.
With heavy hearts we said goodbye to Helen who passed away on the 24th of November 2017, after a short illness. She has a left a rich legacy of Iyengar Yoga in Sligo and we will indeavour her to continue her work
