I began my Yoga journey at the Sivananda Centre in San Francisco, where I received my teacher training certificate. Alongside this, I practiced Tai Chi Ch’uan with Professor Kuo Lin Ying at the Academy of Kung-fu, which led to featured articles about my skills in the Inside Kung-Fu magazine alongside Bruce Lee. Both these disciplines helped me to understand the relationship between deep relaxation, physical stamina and creative thinking.

After meeting my life partner Elvira in Athens, we both began investing time into our Yoga practice with regular attendance at the Sivananda Centre in Putney, which we mixed with classes taught by Mike Saunders at the Hogarth Health Club in Chiswick. After Elvira received her teaching certificate from Sivananda, she started her teaching career in London, becoming the first Yoga teacher at the first David Lloyd Club in Heston. She quickly became popular and undertook positions at the Holmes Place Clubs, Champney’s in Piccadilly and the Civil Service Club in Westminster, among many others.

As a Californian, I was attracted to the rich greenery and sandy beaches of the New
Forest area and we re-located our work there, starting up newforestyoga.com while
continuing our teaching relationship with the David Lloyd chain of clubs in Bournemouth,
Ringwood and Southampton, eventually expanding into into the Herb House Spa in
Lyndhurst and the Village Hotel Leisure Club in Bournemouth.

My style of Yoga teaching is very moderate and strength based, as I train regularly with weights and aerobic equipment. I have two Masters Degrees in writing, which means that I have a very descriptive and precise style of instruction, which makes it very easy to follow along. If you are all unsure about starting Yoga or are worried about the level of your capability, you will feel quite relaxed and comfortable attending my classes.

My philosophy is close to that of Elvira. I want you to enjoy the positions, seek comfort from the asanas and find the contentment that comes by focusing on your breathe.

I teach you to control the diaphragm for the purpose of invigorating the system, releasing the natural hormones which brings about the sense of wellness and rejuvenation produced by good Yoga practice. The goal is to experience deeper levels of relaxation so that your practice grows and your relationship with Yoga becomes more profound.

NAME  David Gilliam
BORN  Vancouver, Canada
TRAINING  Sivananda Hatha Yoga
STATUS  Married with children