Samyama Yoga School

My journey toward profound healing and transformation unfolded under the wise guidance of Bill and the Samyama Yoga School, revealing an inner resilience and capacity for renewal I never knew I had. After going through my own health journey which led me to seeking more.

After attending yoga with Bill for many years and then following on to a yoga teacher training, Bill’s mentorship has been fundamental in shaping my journey to where I am today. My illness, a direct consequence of prolonged exposure to chemical toxins, severely compromised my immune system and liver function. This period of my life was marked by a search for healing that transcended conventional medical treatments.

Bill, with his profound understanding of clinical immunobiology and holistic wellness, introduced me to a healing paradigm that was nothing short of transformative. Under his guidance, I adopted a dietary approach focused to alleviate the burden on my liver, facilitating a healing process that felt miraculous.

Bill’s teachings extended far beyond dietary adjustments. He instilled in me a belief in the body’s intrinsic ability to heal, emphasising a holistic approach to wellness that includes mental, emotional, and physical health. This comprehensive perspective on healing not only facilitated my physical recovery but also nurtured my mental and emotional well-being, teaching me the importance of listening to my body and respecting its healing journey.

Integrating these lessons into my life, I deepened my engagement with yoga, which became a cornerstone of my recovery and personal growth. My practice, enriched by Bill’s holistic teachings, laid the foundation for the creation of Bodhifit Studio’s. We began with our Hatha yoga classes which have been inspired by Bill and his teachings. These classes are designed not just for physical fitness but as a sanctuary for holistic healing, where others can embark on their own journeys toward health and self-discovery.

Today, as a certified yoga teacher and lymphatic massage specialist, I stand testament to the transformative power of holistic healing. Running Bodhifit Studio alongside my mum, I aim to share the profound lessons and practices that Bill imparted to me. Our studio is more than a space for physical exercise; it’s a community dedicated to holistic wellness, where we foster an environment of health, healing, and growth.

Having taught yoga and fitness classes for over 8 years now, I constantly seek innovative ways to challenge our community while ensuring they leave with a smile, embodying the kindness and genuine character I’ve learned to value so deeply. My additional expertise as a lymphatic massage specialist further exemplifies my commitment to enhancing people’s well-being, offering a testament to the holistic approach to health that Bill championed.

This testimonial is a reflection of my journey from battling illness to embracing a life of wellness and vitality. It celebrates the holistic principles and teachings of Bill, which have not only restored my health but have also inspired me to spread this knowledge through Bodhifit Studio, enriching the lives of others in our community.

Completing the yoga teacher training program with Bill Giles 7-8 years ago was truly life-changing. Initially, I didn’t envision becoming a yoga teacher; I embarked on this journey for personal growth. Bill, a distinguished yoga scholar, proved to be not only knowledgeable but also incredibly supportive and dedicated to deepening our practice and understanding of yoga. Through his guidance, I acquired a profound comprehension of yoga philosophy and asana alignment, while also learning how to apply these principles to my daily life. Moreover, I gained the confidence and skills needed to effectively teach others. This program not only enhanced my personal practice but also empowered me to share the invaluable gift of yoga with others. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone passionate about yoga and committed to personal development.

In the years following my training with Bill, my journey with yoga has expanded beyond the mat and into various aspects of holistic wellness. Together with my daughter Chey, we established Bodhifit—a sanctuary for wellness and healing. My experiences from the apprenticeship at Samyama Yoga School laid the foundation for our studio and clinic, guiding me to infuse yoga philosophy and holistic principles into every aspect of our offerings.

Bodhifit isn’t just a business—it’s a manifestation of my journey towards holistic well-being and personal growth. Through our studio and clinic, I have the privilege of sharing not only my expertise in yoga but also my passion for herbal medicine and spiritual work. Whether I’m working one-on-one with clients to address health ailments or guiding individuals on their spiritual journeys through oracle card readings, every interaction is imbued with the wisdom and compassion instilled in me by Bill and the apprenticeship.

Additionally, I’ve continued to expand my skill set by studying hypnotherapy, further deepening my understanding of the mind-body connection and holistic healing modalities. Furthermore, we’re excited to announce the addition of a wellness cafe to our business portfolio, providing a space for our community to nourish their bodies and souls with wholesome food and uplifting experiences.

Setting up Bodhifit has been a truly transformative experience, mirroring the profound impact of the apprenticeship. It has allowed me to fully embody the principles of holistic wellness and share them with others, enriching not only my own life but also the lives of those I have the privilege to serve.

Entering the apprenticeship at Samyama Yoga School, guided by the esteemed mentorship of Bill Giles, marked a profound milestone in my three-decade journey with yoga. Having immersed myself in yoga practice and learning for many years, this experience proved to be the most transformative yet. It reshaped my understanding, redefined my approach, and ultimately, revolutionised my entire life, both personally and professionally.

My journey in yoga has been driven by an enduring quest for a mentor capable of revealing life’s profound secrets and the pathways to happiness. After decades of searching, I finally encountered Bill, who embodied the mentorship I had long sought. His apprenticeship transcended traditional yoga practice, offering profound insights and wisdom. Under his tutelage, I explored the depths of Hatha and Raja Yoga, and more importantly, I gained invaluable lessons on life, purpose, and true fulfillment.

As a registered yoga teacher who had previously completed yoga teacher training (YTT), I was seeking a deeper, more holistic approach to yoga. Traditional YTT programs had left me with lingering questions and a yearning for a more comprehensive understanding. This apprenticeship was the answer to my quest, transcending conventional boundaries and delving into the profound depths of Hatha and Raja Yoga.

What truly distinguishes the Samyama Yoga School’s program is its exceptional emphasis on self-therapy. This focus extends beyond mere self-understanding; it equips one to effectively guide and assess others. This approach not only expanded my understanding of yoga but also empowered me with a deep knowledge of asanas, the ability to diagnose and treat organ dysfunctions, and skills to modulate the autonomic nervous system. The journey was transformative, guiding me to a holistic comprehension of yoga and wellness that I had long sought.

The apprenticeship at Samyama Yoga School has been nothing short of miraculous in transforming my life, particularly in addressing longstanding health challenges. Despite a lifetime battle with eczema, ongoing stomach and gut issues, the debilitating effects of carpal tunnel syndrome, and the relentless pain in my piriformis that abruptly halted my ballet practice, the insights gained from the apprenticeship have been profound.

I discovered that what I had believed to be a mere muscle injury was, in fact, rooted in organ dysfunction. This revelation not only brought clarity to my conditions but also rendered my dependence on physiotherapy obsolete. Remarkably, the apprenticeship also averted a scheduled surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome, as its root cause was also identified to be linked to the same underlying organ dysfunction.

The apprenticeship has fundamentally transformed my perspective on my body and that of others’. Continuously applying and expanding upon the teachings I’ve received, I find myself empowered to assist those around me in their own journeys to wellness. Through this profound experience, I’ve come to realise the interconnectedness of mind, body, and spirit, guiding me towards a holistic approach to health and healing.

Bill, a luminary in Raja Yoga, led the program with unparalleled wisdom, weaving ancient practices with modern applications and creating a learning environment that far exceeds traditional yoga training. Unlike the rapid-paced, brief YTT programs, this apprenticeship aligned with my belief that yoga is a lifestyle, offering a profound exploration of its true essence and imparting techniques rarely covered in mainstream schools.

This apprenticeship goes beyond training one to be a yoga teacher; it transforms one into a guide for life and a master of mind management. It filled the gaps left by conventional training, enabling me to emerge not just as a fully-equipped and creative yoga teacher but as someone prepared to navigate life with a deeper understanding of self and others.

I wholeheartedly recommend the Samyama Yoga School’s apprenticeship to anyone seeking a comprehensive, enriching, and transformative yoga teacher training experience within a supportive community. This program has far exceeded my expectations, fostering unparalleled self-discovery and holistic well-being. The journey through this apprenticeship was indeed life-changing, offering a new perspective on personal health challenges and equipping me with the knowledge and skills to make a meaningful difference in others’ lives.

Without any prior yoga experience I enrolled in Bill’s teachers yoga class in 2016. Coming with a long-term physical health illness and a highly technically trained mind, I did not know what to expect from the course, my main wish was to improve my health through yoga and to learn more about myself in order to attain a more fulfilling life.

The course started with an introduction into basic yoga poses and stretches, and breathing exercises. Through Bill’s deep understanding of the human biology, the immune system, traditional Chinese medicine, as well as martial arts and engineering this quickly progressed into a highly structured and detailed teachers yoga course consumed with weekly assignments and essays. We disected every body organ, the skeletal system, the autonomic nervous system, the meridians and how yoga poses and stretches can be applied to help correct their dysfunction in order to improve physical health. We did a deep-dive into the traditional text of hatha yoga Pradipika overlaid with Bill’s own practical interpretations.

By around the middle part of the course I was starting to understand what Bill’s aim for the students enrolled in the course was all about. This was more than a teachers yoga course! This was an opportunity to embark on a personal journey to gain more freedom in life that went beyond the physical and into the realm of the spiritual, which for me personally coming from an engineering backround was completely foreign language. This required that I had to let go of my technical thinking and questioning of the yoga concepts and exercises taught by Bill and simply entrust and experience the process. With Bill’s own and very unique and practical interpretation of the yoga sutra of Patanjali, we delved into the mystical side of yoga through classical meditation techniques of samyama. For me personally, Raja yoga was the highlight of Bill’s teachers course because I could see immediate results and benefits to my sense of self, emotional state and chatter in the head. Further more, Bill’s unique views on social survival traits and models on how one can better structure their lives made this teachers yoga course an invaluable lesson into psychology 101 and human relationships.

By the end of the course I came to realise that yoga is very much an experiental discipline, requiring high personal discipline and effort. The numerous practical tools and techniques that I have learnt from the course have allowed me to attain more freedom in my life and I also regained my health back. I now feel more confident to embark on life’s adventures ahead knowing that I carry a bag of tools to help me along the way. Thank you Bill, your teachers yoga course has been life changing!

This is a course for everyone, but for me, it was a course for a weary traveler along life’s path at the time. As someone who had seen their friend pass from cancer 2 years ago, whose own health had spiraled downwards, and was confused amongst the state of affairs in the world with COVID, I came to this course as a last resort to what had seemed an endless journey amongst eastern and western philosophy looking for answers to these current struggles and my past experiences.

I had started with a dedicated Raja Yoga course in the previous year and had already seen some personal transformation as Bill presented a practical way to apply the concepts and teachings of Raja Yoga, including wisdom from The Yoga Sutra of Patanjali. Bill was the first person ever to present to me – a Hindu by birth – something actually practical that came from the Hindu school of thought, possibly even predating it, despite the fact that I was brought up as a Hindu and had access to many teachers and resources.

While this course is not exclusive to those brought up in the Hindu tradition, it is designed for everyone, from those who are suffering to the truth seekers who feel like something is still missing in their life but can’t quite pinpoint it. Above all, it is for those who are sick and tired of armchair philosophising and want something practical, a system that they can implement in their lives daily and see positive changes take hold, allowing them to transform into happier and better versions of themselves.

I have attended Bill’s classes and his teacher training course for more than 30 years. I have these words to say about Bill’s courses and my experiences of them: Truly challenging, therapeutic, illuminating… liberating.

Bill Giles’ in-depth intuitive and practical teaching is transformative. It provides you with the physical and mental tools to discover, heal, and love thyself. Practicing with Bill, you will learn to keep your body healthy and to bring your conscious and unconscious minds into a harmonious dialogue and, from this place of deep inner well-being, aim for excellence, even when challenges come your way. Bill’s friendly coaching and guidance have given my yoga practice, my life, and my teaching another dimension.