Carmel Cronin has been practicing yoga and meditation for over 20 years and is originally from Limerick. She has travelled extensively and lived in South Africa, UK and Paris before setting roots with her family in Cork where she now runs her own yoga studio. Carmel first came across yoga when she was in college and enjoyed the open feeling in the body and also the way the breath can bring one’s awareness inwards. She was fortunate to also be interested in meditation from an early age, and later went on to study Transcendental Meditation and found the stress relieving benefits of meditation to be life transforming. Carmel believes that meditation has the potential to create conditions of innate healing and combined with the physical practise of yoga and breathing, brings mental and physical balance to one’s whole being.
In 2002, Carmel undertook her first 200 hour yoga teacher training course, and later went on to complete a Diploma in Yoga Therapy with the YTTC. Carmel continually keeps her own training updated on an ongoing basis, and has also trained as a Yoga Tune Up Teacher and also a Yoga Tune Up Therapy Ball Practitioner as well as holding a Diploma in Anatomy and Physiology. Over the years Carmel has also studied with some renowned yoga teachers including Donna Farhi, Howard Napper, Dr Ruth Gilmore, Laurence O Toole, Andrea Ram OM, Swami Pragamurti Saraswati, Uma Dinsmore-Tuli, Shiva Rea, Sarah Powers and Judith Hanson Lassater. Carmel also has a love for Tai Chi, and she studied Fluid Power – The Vinyasa wave with Shiva Rea to create unique and novel vinyasa sequences.
Her classes are focused on the simple breath & movement focus for the beginner to allow the body to open and experience the flow of vital energy, to more stronger flows for the experienced student- she believes strongly and encourages students to ‘ hold their own space with integrity’. Her deep knowledge and interest in Anatomy & Physiology , combined with a yoga therapy qualification ensure that individualised modifications and sound use of props take place for each student. She believes strongly that yoga is for all – irrespective of age, gender, beliefe system and mobility. Carmel modifies the postures individually for each student, and also uses props to maximise healing for each individual person and experience the therapeutic benefits of yoga’.
Carmels’ teaching is a fusion of passion for yoga, meditation and breathing with a sharp wit and humour to create a livly atmosphere of effort and letting go. She teaches the alignment principles in accordance to the BKS Iyengar tradition combined with the flow of Vinyasa. Always keen to learn more and with an keen interest in fascia and energetic meridians she studied Yin level 1 & 2 with Mindfulness module – Yin Yoga a wonderful way to access the breath as well as integrating the Buddhist principle of Dharma and the liberating tools of awareness. The practise of Pranayama or, control of the breath , ensures that the experience of yoga is complete ‘…when one activly use the breath as a tool to enter a deep state of awareness in any posture , your asana practise will radically change…it will flow, energise and calm your entire being’.
Carmel also studied the ancient technique of Yoga Nidra ( yogic sleep) which brings you to a very deep state of relaxation. In this state it is then possible for you to give some guidance to your inner self to bring positive results to your life. Carmel teaches Dynamic Flow yoga , Ante -Natal, Yin, Restorative, Therapeutic, Myofascial Release and is an Indian head massage therapist and Reiki practitioner.
