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Sixteen years ago Russell called Hamish from Brighton and asked for his much needed help…
“What I am doing wrong, Hamish? I’ve only got 6 students. I don’t know if I can do this.”
Hamish answered with his usual affable enthusiasm, “You’re doing great! 6 students is great!” That he even took the time to take the call is an example of Hamish’s heart. He really, truly cares for people.
A year later Hamish went to Russell’s wedding in Essex and read this poem there from the Isha Upanishad:
īśāvāsyamidaṃ sarvaṃ yatkiñca jagatyāṃ jagat |
tena tyaktena bhuñjīthā mā gṛdhaḥ kasya sviddhanam || 1 ||
“The Lord is enshrined in the hearts of all.
The Lord is the supreme Reality.
Rejoice in him through renunciation.
Covet nothing. All belongs to the Supreme.”
This sacred verse describes our beloved international treasure to a tee. Hamish Hendry is a friend to all of us. He’s so effortlessly dedicated to yoga and to the practice itself, that he makes his unearthly personal discipline both seem easily attainable and endlessly enjoyable.
He has a mesmerizing and rich intelligence that makes yoga sound like it’s something easily explained down at the pub. And, as Einstein said, “If you can’t explain it to a six year old, you don’t really understand it.” What’s clear, is that Hamish most certainly does.
He explains yoga, Sanskrit, philosophy, and his innumerable adventures with ease. Our particularly favorite story was how he recounted being possibly the only person in the universe shot during an Ashtanga yoga practice:
“I think I’ve been shot, Derek!” he exclaimed one morning in Greece during his studies with the Man of Bronze, the legendary Derek Ireland.
It was a great privilege and pleasure to spend time with Mr. Hendry and we're sure you'll feel as we did, that it all comes to an end much too quickly. We hope you enjoy being a part of our conversation with this unique, humble, and goodhearted man.
“When Hamish Hendry was eighteen he couldn’t touch his toes, so he decided to do something about it. Fate led him to finding yoga, first in library books, then at local classes in Bristol. Later that year he went on holiday to Greece and met his first yoga teacher, Derek Ireland, who taught him Astanga yoga. He studied daily with Derek for many years until Derek’s death.
In 1995 Hamish began studying under K. Pattabhi Jois. He was certified by to teach the Astanga yoga system in 2001. Ten years after his foray into yoga, Hamish started teaching in Edinburgh. Before this he worked mainly with homeless people.
In 1999 he moved to London where he now lives with his wife, Anna, and daughter, Talia. He continues to teach daily, waking at one every morning to do his own practice to be ready for his students. He returns annually to Mysore, India, to study with Paramaguru R. Sharath Jois.
Hamish teaches the weekday early morning classes.
In common with all the teachers at AYL, Hamish is DBS checked, qualified in First Aid and Mental Health First Aid, and has completed ‘Trauma Informed’ and ‘Race Awareness’ trainings.
“Quality over quantity is more important. The quality of your breath, the quality of your awareness while you’re practicing, is much more important than the quantity.”
- Hamish Hendry
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT HAMISH
ASTANGA YOGA LONDON I PUSHPAM MAGAZINE I INSTAGRAM
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The Finding Harmony Podcast is hosted, edited and produced by Harmony Slater and co-hosted by Russell Case.
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Opening and closing music compliments of my dear friend teaching Ashtanga yoga in Eindhoven, Nick Evans, with his band “dawnSong” from the album “for Morgan.” Listen to the entire album on Spotify - Simply Click Here.
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