The following link is
an audio interview with Matthew, approximately 45 minutes long.
Matthew talks about Yoga practice, Yoga in daily life, his upcoming
Vinyasa book and meditation. It provides a great glimpse into
Matthew's teaching style. This interview was kindly organized by
Lara at Yoga Peeps.
Audio Interview
I began Yoga as a teenager in the late 1980s. Although many of the
concepts taught by my Satyananda teacher were somewhat beyond my
understanding at that time, in more recent years I have truly begun
to appreciate many of those details – at least what I can recall.
This included a gentle approach to Asana, progressive Pranayama
development and greater emphasis on Meditation and the philosophical
side of Yoga than just a physical one.
In 1990 I began a Zen Shiatsu course which took 3
years to complete. At the end of the latter course I completed an
Oki-do Yoga Teacher Training that was being offered by the same
organisation. During this course I learned anatomy and physiology,
Corrective Physical Therapy, Transcendental Meditation and Meridian
Theory as applied to Yoga postures. I completed my first teacher
training in 1993. During this course I began to explore both Iyengar
Yoga and Ashtanga Yoga and was somewhat torn between deciding to do
an Iyengar Teacher Training in Poona, India, or going to Mysore and
studying with Sri K. P. Jois. I chose the latter.
In 1994 I went to Mysore for the first time and
for the following three years stayed for 6 months each time. I
returned there regularly up until 2006. Since 1998 my personal
practice has included “Advanced B", or 4th Series, and I have also
explored much of Advanced C on my own. Part of my reason for staying
in Mysore rather than going to Poona to study with Iyengar was the
connection I had with Guruji. On the day of my arrival he met me at
his door, by chance, and told the rickshaw driver who dropped me off
where I was to stay at the local Yoga student hotel. He was so kind
and friendly to me (if a bit fierce, going by the thudding of my
beating heart) that I loved him instantly.
I began teaching Ashtanga Yoga in 1996 and have
continued to do so for the last 15 years. Over the last decade
however my teaching style has shifted somewhat from a standard
orthodox approach to something that I believe is a little more
holistic. Although I have a great love for the Ashtanga series and
its tradition, as a teacher it is my interest in connecting to every
student as authentically as I can that is most important.
I have also spent the last 20 years in self
inquiry, including different styles of Meditation, a number of
Vipassana 10 day courses, Tantra workshops, Gestalt Therapy, and
Transpersonal Therapy. All of these have added greatly to my
understanding of Yoga and the connection between Asana, Meditation
and Self.
After many years of Yoga practice I have
developed my own Vinyasa sequences that I promote and teach as
suitable alternatives to the standard series. These unique Vinyasa
classes are conducted to encourage students to apply a therapeutic
approach to their personal practice and to encourage an adventurous
heart. These sequences are useful for students who may not be able
to regularly practice Ashtanga Yoga, and also help to bring
energetic balance to the overall system. For this reason I now
recommend the starting Vinyasa Krama sequences to all Ashtanga Yoga
practitioners. Vinyasa Krama will add to your wellbeing with the
prospect of continuing to practice decades into the future with real
harmony and joy.
I travel and teach Yoga workshops in Australia,
Asia, North America and Europe and conduct 1 Month Programs in Byron
Bay and Thailand each year.
Matthew Sweeney |
