Michael de Manincor - Yoga Australia, Yoga and Mental Health
Channel: The Flow Artists Podcast
Date: 2019-10-19

Michael de Manicor is one of the most highly respected and experienced yoga teachers in Australia, with an extensive background in different approaches and styles of yoga and meditation, and over 30 years of teaching experience.

Michael holds a PhD in Health Science, in the area of Yoga and Mental Health in addition to his degrees in education and psychology. He is the Founder, Director and senior lecturer at The Yoga Institute in Sydney and is also the Founder and Director of The Yoga Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that provides yoga-based programs for people who experience disadvantage or hardship.

In this episode, we discuss Michael's involvement in Yoga Australia up to and including his tenure as President of the organisation. He shares with us his thoughts on the importance of having a peak body to represent yoga teachers in this country, as well as his dedication to raising training standards. 

We were eager to discuss Michael's research on yoga and mental health - the topic of his PhD and the importance of a personal practice.

This episode was produced in collaboration with Yoga Australia. For more great conversations and transcriptions go to http://podcast.flowartists.com

Links
Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/au/podcast/the-flow-artists-podcast/id1294089311?mt=2
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4Z8rY0IVlYRt4JYKPijwrO?si=Wwc1eaZUQV-ccadxIHWUsw
The Yoga Institute: www.yogainstitute.com.au
The Yoga Foundation: www.theyogafoundation.org.au
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaInstituteSydney/
Yoga for Mental Health training for yoga teachers (co-presented with Janet Lowndes): https://yogainstitute.com.au/mental-health-syd/
Yoga Retreat in Italy: https://yogainstitute.com.au/savour-italy/
Heart of Yoga retreat weekend outside of Sydney: https://yogainstitute.com.au/heartofyoga_retreat-yanada/

Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/flowartistspodcast

Timecodes
2:30 Guiding Inner Journeys workshop with Amy Bell
3:36 Michael talks about his professional background
6:30 What inspired Michael after his first yoga practice to bring his two fields of yoga and psychology together?
10:08 The benefits that yoga offers young people in particular
12:25 Michael’s experience teaching yoga to girls in high school
13:29 How did Michael become involved in Yoga Australia?
15:31 Why did Michael take on the role of President?
18:28 Did they encounter any resistance?
21:10 Mid break - support us on Patreon!
22:42 What are the benefits of joining an association such as Yoga Australia or Yoga Alliance?
24:41 What are some things going on behind the scenes that benefit yoga teachers and that they might find surprising?
27:26 What were Michael’s biggest challenges as president?
30:50 What were Michael’s biggest wins as president?
33:36 Why did Michael do his PhD?
43:50 How do you quantify someone’s wellbeing in your research?
46:20 The benefits of a personal practice.
53:07 Where does Michael see Yoga Australia in 10-20 years?
56:15 Michael’s one core lesson