David Keil

David Keil was introduced to yoga in 1989 by his Tai Chi Chuan teacher. Both the Tai Chi and Yoga practice at the age of 17 began his research into his own mind-body connections. His search continued through massage therapy where he discovered many insights and affirmations of what he had been exploring and finding on his own through his practices. One of the most important elements was the specific understanding of the musculoskeletal system and how fascinating, beautiful and amazing the body is on the scientific level and how that directly played into and off of his own understanding of the human body. He was given names and explanations for some of things he had been experiencing and feeling.

As an instructor of Kinesiology (the study of movement and musculoskelatal anatomy) at Miami’s Educating Hands School of Massage from 1999-2003, David developed a fun, informal and informative style of teaching. By repeatedly teaching incoming students who had no prior understanding of anatomy, David was confronted with the problem of making such a complex and beautiful system accessible and understandable to the average person.

David brings his unique style and ability to make things simple to the yoga world. Because of his passion and desire to share the human body with everyone, he delivers this complex and sometimes frustrating topic in a way that is very accessible and understandable to yoga practitioners.

Over the years David has used his skills as a Neuromuscular Therapist to help people reduce their chronic pain patterns. He often brings this information into his workshops where students are regularly uncovering painful patterns or injuries in their bodies.

David was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 1999, but it was in 2001 that he met John Scott in Penzance, Cornwall, presenting his anatomy workshops for the first time oversees. Two weeks practicing with John was transformational and he realized that he had found his teacher. This began a relationship of both teacher/student as well as a collaborative colleague relationship that continues today. David still teaches anatomy for all of John’s Teacher Training courses.

It was also John who told David to go to Mysore in India the following year, which he did. David arrived in Mysore in 2002 where he had the honor of studying with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in the “old” shala. In fact, it was the last year that the old shala was used for practice. David was authorized in 2004 and returned yearly for extended visits to Mysore with his wife Gretchen Suarez. They are both Authorized Level 2 and grateful for their time in Mysore and meeting Guruji and studying with R. Sharath, his grandson over the years.

Why we love David

David has been working with Scott and SYL since 2008. We feel he has grown into one of the most relevant and accessible ashtanga yoga teachers in the world today. His skill as an educator of the yoga practice and at the same time as a personal guide to students is inspiring and a model to all yoga teachers.

David Keil 15 hour Primary Series Immersion

9th – 13th July 2018 

Monday to Friday, 13:30 – 16:30

Location: The Artworks Classrooms, 60 Weston Street, SE1 3QJ

Price for the immersion: £325

For the first time at SYL David will run a 5 day immersion where he will share the knowledge he has acquired since 1999 from his practice and studies of the Ashtanga Yoga system. David’s highly skilled perspective on the practice is informed by multiple trips to Mysore which have led to his Level 2 authorisation to teach the system by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath Jois. David also met John Scott and Lucy Crawford in 2001 and started teaching anatomy on their trainings in 2002. This all informs his unique outlook on the ashtanga yoga practice.

This course will help you to:

• Understand and learn the vinyasa count
• Explore the interrelationship of the primary series postures
• Explore the anatomy of the primary series postures
• Practice primary series asana techniques
• Practice primary series asana adjustments
• Learn Sanskrit pronunciation of the primary series asana names
• Review and/or start to learn the vinyasa count
• Explore the interrelationship of the primary series postures from an anatomical perspective 
• Explore the process for deciding what adjustment to do for a particular student

This course is appropriate for all practitioners seeking to deepen their own Ashtanga Yoga practice and for those who are already sharing and teaching the Ashtanga Vinyasa system. This immersion though is not a complete teacher training. One needs to practice for many years in order to teach. This immersion should be seen as an in-depth look into the Ashtanga yoga system, particularly the primary series.

We will learn that Ashtanga yoga is more than practicing a set series of postures in a particular order. Considering the methodology and philosophy that provides the structure of the Ashtanga practice is critical to deepening one’s practice and developing one’s ability to teach others. It is from this place that we will dive into the details of practice and explore the context of the Ashtanga Yoga primary series method. 

David Keil 5 day Mysore intensive

9th – 13th July 2018 

Location: AR1, The West Wing, KCLSU, St Thomas St, SE1 9RG

From Monday to Friday there will be 3 start times per day:

6:30am start | 8:00am start | 9:30am start

Each session is limited to a maximum of 12 students.

Price for the intensive: £160

The magic of the ashtanga yoga Mysore intensive is that it allows you to have what feels like a private class with the energy of a group. The teacher holds the space for your growth in the practice of yoga.

Topics covered:

• Personalised attention
• Limited to a maximum of 12 students
• Figure out your “next step” in practice
• Be clear about what you should focus on
• Techniques to work on difficult areas of practice
• Time to establish relationship with the teacher
• Be inspired to practice more regularly

Yoga is very much about the relationship a students has with the teacher. This is the reason that when David travels and teaches an Mysore intensive the number of students in the room at any one time is limited to a maximum of 12. With this intensive you, the student, have to commit to signing up for the 5 days of practice. With David’s commitment to small numbers and the students commitment to a daily practice, a transformative and in-depth relationship is created.

Students deserve individualised attention in their practice. The techniques and tools that you get are for you specifically in the intensive. In David’s way of seeing the practice, this is where true teaching and learning happens. Of course, there are generalised instructions for everyone, but when the specifics are aligned with your needs, growth and change naturally follow.

With the “Mysore” method the students each practice at their own pace without being guided through each pose by the teacher throughout the class. It’s not a led or guided class where everyone is doing the same pose at the very same moment. This allows for a deeper connection to develop between teacher, student, and the practice. Over 5 days of daily practice, the student begins to go through a process and grows within their own practice; this comes from the amount of attention, the discipline and the dedication of practicing daily. The effects will encourage and inspire you.

Knowing the practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is not a requirement, only being open minded and receptive to learning is.