Our Teachers

Joe Saflund

Joakim was born in Stockholm, Sweden, in December 1963. Through the vehicle of yoga asana, awareness and with a great respect for the student the path meanders on and the quest is to find oneself wherever one happens to be. Steady and comfortable. Joakim began his yoga in the BKS Iyengar tradition. This moved to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga and has now evolved into a more all-embracing Hatha Yoga with fluidity and concentration being key elements of the practice. He has studied with some wonderfully inspirational teachers, including Aisling Guirke, Graeme and Leonie Northfield, Anatoliy Zenchenko, Veronica Larsson, Marianne Jacuzzi. The practice continues.

In the role of instructor Joakim’s aspiration is not to put bricks of knowledge into students heads but to have each person discover their own true Self through the fluid discipline of their own findings. “…when man is capable of being in uncertainties, mysteries and doubts without any irritable reaching after fact or reason”. (Keats) A former rugby international capped for Sweden, yes there is a team, he has an understanding for the particulars of the athlete in relation to yoga practice. Clearly realizing the benefits of posture work, concentration, awareness, flexibility, strength and more in relation to being either active in the sport or in a transition phase. Joakim qualified recently from the comprehensive and excellent 250 hour teacher training programme given at the Elbowroom bringing more than ten years of practice to a formal hurdle.

Melanie Taylor

Melanie began practising Yoga in London, and after moving to Dublin in 1996, started her training in Iyengar Yoga with Aisling Guirke & Elizabeth Connolly. Since then she has attended workshops and trainings with many senior Iyengar teachers, including the Iyengar Yoga Association’s 2009 Convention in London with Dr. Geeta Iyengar. As a holder of an Intermediate (Level III) Iyengar teaching certificate she has undergone continuous training both in her own practice and as a teacher. Melanie has been teaching Iyengar Yoga in Adult Education for the last 8 years, and also teaches at the iYoga studio in Phibsborough  Melanie strongly believes that Yoga is for all of us – no one is too old, too young, too stiff, too large or too tired to practice! Her classes are designed to provide an enjoyable and progressive practice of Iyengar yoga for all abilities.

Lydia Sasse

Lydia did her first yoga class in the Himalayas when she was a little girl and loved it.

Yoga has been a life long pursuit, but to give her a greater understanding of how the body works, and why it sometimes doesn’t,  Lydia has also trained as a Bowen Therapist and completed a diploma in physiology and anatomy. Having spent the last decade working with children and pregnant Mums, she decided that working as a Pre and post natal yoga teacher was her true calling.

Lydia passionately believes that practising yoga throughout your pregnancy and beyond strengthens both the mind and body in preparation for labour, and paves the way for a more balanced and healthy life for you and your child.

If you have any queries for Lydia please get in touch.

Grainne Hand

Grainne Hand is a Group Trainer & Personal Trainer who works in Corporate Gyms, Private Studios & in the summer can be seen in the great outdoors doing Boxercise Bootcamps! She specialises in high energy workouts, motivating her clients to push themselves a little more, no two classes will ever be the same.  She can tailor make every class or session to fit the clients needs.  Her classes are challenging whether you are a beginner or a workout bunny…her early morning classes will set you up for the day!!

Damian Poder

Damien is a fitness instructor and Pilates instructor. He teaches body conditioning and Pilates classes at The elbowroom. He also teaches private Reformer classes.

Brian McVeigh

Brian has studied yoga since 2002. He has been privileged to work with amazing teachers from all over the world such as James Higgins, Sarah Powers, Emile Wendel, Venkatesh and Marianne Jacuzzi. Brian believes that yoga is for everyone as a path to discovering our true selves

Brian Buckley

After completing his studies in Sports Science at UL in 1991, Brian began to work as a personal trainer. Eightteen years later, his career has evolved into him being a freelance trainer and Pilates teacher. Brian discovered Pilates as a youngster when he had a keen interest in gymnastics and dance and certified with the Pilates Institute in London as a matwork teacher eight years ago.

Since then his studies in Pilates have seen him further certify with Irelands Progressive Pilates School as a matwork teacher and a personal one to one teacher, focusing on the pilates needs for special populations.

Brian has comprehensive pilates training so if you are suffering from back problems or recovering from injury, Brian can develop a personal Pilates plan for you.

Andrea Boudin

Andrea was born and grew up in Germany, where she went to her first hatha yoga class in 1994. Recovering from several chronic illnesses, yoga became over time the most important aspect in her life. Utilizing yoga to improve physical and spiritual health for herself and her students, opening up body and mind to the freedom that yoga can give, she gratefully keeps learning from her teachers to practice and teach safely and patiently. Over the years, Andrea was blessed to learn from many great teachers like Patthabi Jois, Chuck and Maty, Anto Kearney, Emil Wendel and Nancy Gilgoff , besides the deeply valued ongoing Vinyasa Flow teacher training with Dave Curtis and Ruth Walshe.

Natalya Li

Natalya is a Vinyasa Flow Yoga teacher and a Somatic Movement Educator. She enjoys a physically strong but mindful yoga practice, with a focus on body awareness and quality of movement. She also believes that it is important to keep an open mind no matter how simple or challenging the yoga practice seems in the moment. In her classes she tries to offer a practice that is strong but playful, challenging but encouraging.

Anastasia Dudnik

Anastasia has been working in Fitness Industry for the last six years. She graduated as an IT Engineer at University of Transportation in Russia in 2006. She got her qualification as a Fitness Instructor at Academy of Sport, Russia in 2002.

Anastasia has done several courses and workshops with EuroEducation.  She’s qualified for Symmetric & Asymmetric Choreography, Reggaeton Dance and Body Conditioning  and Muscular Development Training.

Anastasia has a lifelong sporting background (in ice-skating, gymnastics and circus). She always keeps upgrading her skills and attending fitness conventions and workshops.

Zumba Fitness has been my passion and I love dance. Since I’ve joined The Elbow Room team I look forward to helping as many people reach their goals.

Karla Ballesteros

My name is Karla Ballesteros, I’m from Mexico and I’m a Zumba LOVER!!

With a love of both exercise classes and dancing, in Zumba I’ve found the perfect combination to help maintain a healthy level of fitness. You don’t have to be an expert in dancing or a fitness guru to enjoy the Zumba experience.
All that is needed is a bit of enthusiasm, a willingness to participate and you too can receive an amazing workout.

Follow the moves, feel the music and join me and my party people. You will LOVE it!

 

Ciaran Aherne

Ciarán Aherne – BSc, BA, MIAPT – Ciarán completed his BSc in Physical Therapy in the Institute of Physical Therapy in Milltown, Dublin. He is a member of the Irish Association of Physical Therapists. Ciarán also has a certificate in Massage Therapy.

As a Physical Therapist, Ciarán uses a range of manual techniques and “hands-on” therapy to assist rehabilitation from musculoskeletal injuries, back and neck pain, postural problems, sprains/strains and sports injuries among other issues.

Treatments are tailored to each individual but can include; myofascial trigger-point release, deep tissue massage, mobilisation of the spine and specific exercise prescription. Ciarán has treated people from a variety of sporting backgrounds e.g. basketball, soccer, Gaelic football, hockey.

Prior to his Physical Therapy studies Ciarán completed a degree in Leisure and Recreation Management and has worked extensively with athletes involved in the Special Olympics.

Aideen Macken

Hailing from the Real capital, Cork City, Aideen enjoys teaching Pilates in a good humoured & relaxed way. Following a life long love of massage, she began her journey with an intensive 2 years of training in holistic therapies in 2001. This included Anatomy & Physiology, Holistic Massage, Aromatherapy, Indian Head Massage & Reflexology. After spending a number of years praticing these therapies in Cork & Kerry, her path eventually lead her to Dublin in 2006 where she continued her practice with Susan Church of Centre Studios. It was through working with Susan that Aideen began to explore Pilates and the wonderful way it complemented the body work she was already doing. She was very lucky to get the chance to do an apprenticeship in Pilates with Susan & in 2007 completed her training as an instructor. Since then she has been teaching in a number of studios & colleges around Dublin & has taken part in various workshops including a wonderful one given by Lolita San Miguel, one of only two known people to be certified by Joseph Pilates himself.
Aideen values giving her students a strong grounding in the Pilates fundamentals as she believes this lays the foundations for a deeper understanding of the discipline. Most importantly, she likes her students to have fun doing this.
2012 will find Aideen starting her Yoga Teacher Training with the Elbowroom.

Tanya Fitzpatrick

Tanya Fitzpatrick is a yoga teacher and Somatic movement Educator with over ten years experience in the field of mind-body training. Her focus is leading her clients to move with awareness and to regain enjoyable, natural ease of movement no matter what age or fitness level they may be. Tanya’s approach is based on viewing the mind and body as one and working with the principals of developmental movement. Her knowledge of the body and skill in adapting this to many clients made her a sought after teacher. Tanya leads workshop’s nationally and internationally.

Tanya first earned her teaching diploma with Yoga Therapy Ireland. She then travelled to Vancouver, Canada where she undertook an advanced teacher training with world renowned yoga teacher Donna Farhi. Tanya has continued to work with Donna, and is now assisting her in worldwide with teacher training and workshops. Tanya then qualified as a Somatic movement Educator and is currently training with the school of Body Mind Centering in San Francisco, where she is currently completing an in-depth course in embodied anatomy and yoga.