Gary Osborn-Clarke has been teaching since 2002 and has practised yoga since March 1995. After more than seven years of study and practice in both yoga and Buddhism, in India and other countries, he became qualified to teach after completing a one-year yoga teacher training course at Yoga Arts, in Byron Bay, Australia, in 2002 (Yoga Alliance-500 Hours recognised course). He teaches mindfulness-based yoga – combining his yoga practice with Buddhist meditation practices.
Gary’s yoga and meditation path began in India, as part of his global journey which started in March 1992, when he gave up his career working in London as journalist (he specialised in music, film and enterntainment). He left the rat race and went on the road… and by the time he reached India in 1994 he was curious about India’s famous exports – Buddhism and Yoga. Once he started learning there was no turning back. His exploration of yoga and Buddhism kept him on the road until 2003, when he put his backpack up and settled in the Bristol area. He started teaching yoga and also continued to work as a journalist on regional neswpapers until 2009. Today, he teaches yoga and meditation full time, and seeks to reach out to as many people as he can with yoga and meditation.
An inward journey…
His first yoga class was in Kerala, south India, in March 1995 with a doctor in the village of Varkala. Over the following years he studied in various parts of India, and other countries, meeting numerous teachers, developing his understanding of yoga. It became a mission of his to learn as much about yoga as possible.
He has trained in different traditions of Hatha Yoga. Principally the Iyengar style of teaching and Pattabhi Jois’s Ashtanga Vinyasa; plus Sivananda style (this was the first style he learned) and Desikachar’s teachings. Additionally, one of his principle teachers and guides to the depth of yoga has been Clive Sheridan – who teaches across the globe and is renowned expert in pranayama and meditation. Other teachers have included Glenn Ceresoli (Iyengar), Matthew Sweeney (Ashtanga), and Chris Gladwell (Ashtanga).
Yoga and meditation is a personal journey and self-practice helps to deepen our understanding. As Gary travelled he practised wherever he was, from hotel rooms in cities to remote locations of the Himalayas, Andes and jungles in the tropics.
Gary has practised and studied Buddhism since 1995 in India, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand, UK and Australia. Although his first course was Goenka’s Vipassana 10 day retreat, he soon dicovered Tibetan Buddhism and devoted all his energy for a year or so, before turning towards Christopher Titmuss’ way of teaching Vipassana Buddhism. Since 1995 he has learnt from teachers such as: Lama Zopa Rinpoche, Christopher Titmuss, Stephen Batchelor, Christina Feldman (and other teachers at Gaia House in Devon, Bodhgaya in India, and part of the Insight Meditation organisation); plus Tibetan teachers in Dharamsala, India, including the Dalai Lama.
A meditational journey
Tibetan Buddhism:
1995 to 1996 – 7 months resident in Kopan Tibetan monastery, main teacher – Lama Zopa Rinpoche. Included 2 week course, one month “November course”, and three month Vajrasattva retreat.
autumn 1997 – summer 1998, autumn 1998 to spring 1999: Dharamsala, India location of Tibetan Government in Exile: attended lectures and courses at Tibetan Library; Dalai Lama spring teachings, plus other teachings and puja in various monastaries in Dharamsala.
Vipassana Buddhism:
1997 – present: several retreats at Gaia House, Devon (included one month retreats, plus three-month retreat in 1998); also attended Christopher Titmuss’ one month winter retreats in Bodhgaya, India and programmes in Sarnath, India, from 1998 to 2002.
He brings the lessons he learnt from Buddhism to his yoga classes and workshops. Gary’s style of teaching – a mix of physical exercise, breathing techniques and meditation – is a blend of these influences and the product of his own yogic journey. Yoga is an ancient tradition with wisdom that is timeless. Gary believes that yoga can equip one with the tools one needs to live in the modern world. Respect yoga and it will respect you.
Gary believes that yoga does not have to feel like a foreign esoteric tradition, as it is a tradition that offers a practical guide to how to live, wherever we might find ourselves, be it on a remote mountain or in the heart of a busy city.
Yoga Qualifications:
2011: NVQ, Level 3, in Instructing Physical Activity and Exercise (Yoga), City of Bristol College
2002: Certificate IV in Yoga Teacher Training: Yoga Arts, Byron Bay, Australia.
Yoga Alliance Registered course 500Plus hours
Member of REPs Register of Exercise Professionals
Another life:
1986: Certificate in Journalism (PTT & NUJ), London College of Printing
1985 BA (Honours) Geography, : Portsmouth Polytechnic
For more information about yoga – yoga philosophy, practice advice and tips, please read Inside Yoga – Gary’s Blog on yoga – see link above.
