My name is Manoj and I’m a yoga teacher. I studied and lived in India for 2 months for my 4th trip, to do my 200YTT Hatha and 50YTT Yin and it was the time of my life.
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All my classes incorporate mantra, meditation, pranayama, yogic philosophy, and asana and I love to play harmonium and share mantra.
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In my first year of teaching, I didn’t feel like I belonged in this industry and felt a degree of imposter syndrome. Then I came across @sangeetavallabhan and @snailmobile821 essays and things started to make sense. This lead me to @yogawalla , @tejalyoga and @thenotoriousjpg and now I have seen, felt, identified things, I can not un see.
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I suffered with Hodgkin's lymphoma Cancer for 5 years and many times I didn’t think I was going to make it. I don’t even know how I did it.
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My most embarrassing moment since teaching was when the whole class was in utkatasana and instead of “watch your knees” I said “watch your nips’ and nobody noticed. (they absolutely did notice and the laughter was real)
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I have worked in three vegan businesses and spent 5 years working in schools specialising in children with SEN and emotional needs.
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When I left teaching, I took myself off to India for a yoga retreat @completeunityyoga and knew from that day I wanted to share the joy of yoga, honour my heritage and I didn’t think about much since.
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I listen to punk and kirtan.
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@thehardcoreyogi has been a big influence on my life by just being himself and being in bands I love. He was the only male yoga teacher I knew of and showed me you could play in hardcore punk bands, be a yoga teacher, chant the holy name and immerse yourself in bhakti, that you can be all these things and be proud.
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I have been straight edge for 12 years and vegan for 6 years.
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I own a lot of records but my record player broken so I just stare at them most days.
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My favourite tv show is @neighbours and @theheightstv and I stay up way late watching Tennis sometimes.
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Yoga has given a sense of purpose and this service to humanity has saved my life.
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I really love dogs, yoga and seeing you all live fulfilled lives.
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I’m here for you and ily.