Thomas Humpert

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Background

I was born in Munich, in 1965. In 1984 during my first visit to Nepal, I came in contact with Tibetan Buddhism and decided to join the renowned November course in Kopan monastery. Since then the candle of the inner quest has been a marker in my life. I have practised and partially studied Mahayana and Theravada Buddhism, Gestalt, Rebirthing, and conventional psychotherapy. I also have a diploma in Postural Integration® (a bodywork modality by Jack Painter), and I have a clear interest in alternative ways to heal the body and mind and plenty of experience with fasting as a promoter of health.

Practice and certification

I first tried yoga at the age of 21 in a Tibetan monastery without any consistent follow-up. It was later, at the age of 36, when trying to improve my meditative sitting practice I started my yoga practice, and bit by bit, by looking to improve my seated postures, gradually my asana practice took over. Everything then came as a natural process for me, getting an internal insight through physical action was ‘my’ most appropriate practice.

To this day (2020); I practice 2:30 hours, six days a week – and continue to update myself regularly in the Iyengar yoga method in Denmark and abroad.

More formally; I became a certified Yoga Teacher in the Sivananda Yoga Tradition in 2004, and trained by Kate and Ali Dashti in Bern Switzerland, I became a certified teacher in the Iyengar Yoga tradition in 2007. In 2014 I passed my “Junior Intermediate level 1” assessment at BKS Iyengar Yoga Centre Copenhagen, In 2019 I passed my “Junior Intermediate level 2” in Arnborg Jutland.

In addition to that, I have followed the three-year training program with Stephanie Quirk covering the therapeutic aspects of the Iyengar Yoga system. I have studied at the Iyengar Yoga Institute Pune (IN), and I have studied more extensively in Nice with senior Iyengar Yoga teacher Christian Pisano.

Other Senior Iyengar teachers I have studied with, are, to name some; Rajiv and Swati Chanchani (IN), Sharat Aurora (IN), Jean Lechim (CH), Kate and Ali Dasthi (CH), Lois Steinberg (US)Patricia Walden (US) and Jayne Orton (UK)

Teaching

I teach classical Iyengar Yoga, based on alignment, sequencing and time spent in the poses, I  enjoy a physically challenging approach, and it reflects in my teaching. For me, Iyengar Yoga is an interface to connect with people and for people to unite with themselves.

I believe that a technique is not a dogma to be followed, the approach should be pragmatic to growth and transformation in our lives. I do believe that there is no superior technique or teacher, but an appropriate teacher and practice according to everyone’s personality and needs.

Gratitude To all the teachers I have met

They all have generously contributed to my practice and my teaching; nothing would be as it is, without their contribution. However, my special thoughts are going to BKS Iyengar (IN) and his family for having developed this highly developed Iyengar Yoga system, in which I’m trained and fond of. My heart goes to Jean Lechim (CH) whose profound taste of introspection is like the deep well I was always longing for, to Christian Pisano (FR) for showing me the hidden vastness of Yoga within the Iyengar Yoga system and to Yoga Acharya Ratheesh Mani (Sweden) for his presence and inner guidance towards myself.