JOYCE McDONAGH

I first discovered yoga through James Bryan in New Zealand in 1983 when I answered a share-house ad.

I would wake in the morning and see James standing on his head for lengthy periods of time.  With his healthy outlook on life and peace of mind I knew there must be some benefits in the practise of yoga and I joined one of his classes.

My travels as a chef took me to various destinations around the world and I would seek out yoga classes wherever I lived.  Always interested in health and fitness, I was a gym ‘fanatic’, thinking it was doing me good but it was also causing damage through high impact.  The more I practised yoga (Asthanga, Iyengar and Bikram), the more I reaped the benefits physically and mentally.

Though I was living in Ireland studying diet and nutrition and also to become a Fitness Instructor, I kept in touch with Nicky & James’ movements and yoga news via the internet.

In 2008 I came back to Cairns and took part in the Knoff Yoga Foundation Teacher Training in 2008 with a view to teaching yoga.  I also studied Chair Yoga and Intermediate Teacher Training through the Knoff Yoga School,  and various other workshops in yoga and Vipassana Meditation.

Yoga works on many levels.  For example, you can come for one reason and reap many other benefits.
With the Knoff Yoga System everything is in place to take you from the absolute beginner or novice to becoming a confident teacher.  James & Nicky have dedicated many years to taking the Knoff Yoga System approach to yoga where it is today.  It gives effective tools to both students and teachers that makes yoga accessible for everyone.

MARTHA GOLDMAN

I first practised yoga about 20 years ago but it was only two or three
years ago I became what I would call a serious student of yoga.

I initially practised yoga because it gave me some release from stress.
Over time, I found that regular class attendance and a bit of home
practice also increased my strength and flexibility and that I felt more
balanced in my life.

But it was only when I started attending classes with Nicky Knoff and
James Bryan early in 2009, that I felt I made real progress.
Their system gave me the tools, motivation and direction I needed to
establish a daily home practice.  I made the decision then to undertake
teacher training with Nicky and completed Discovery/Foundation level in
2009 and Intermediate in 2010. That opportunity to learn intensively
with Nicky has been the greatest experience of my life.

Teaching using the Knoff Yoga System deepens my understanding of yoga
and enhances my own practice, and my practice informs my teaching.  I
learn a great deal from students - seeing their challenges, strengths,
difficulties and progress, the different body types and different
mindsets and attitudes.

Having a system to work with and the ongoing opportunity to learn from
Nicky and James, gives me confidence to assist a broad range of students
on their yoga path, and that assists me greatly on my own path.  I'm
very grateful to have this opportunity.

Yoga works, and the Knoff Yoga System makes it clear and simple!