Danny has been practising Ashtanga yoga since 1976 and has taught in 42 countries since 1979. He initially studied with David Williams and Nancy Gilgoff, the first western teachers and adepts of Ashtanga yoga, learning all the sequences of Ashtanga from them from 1976-1981. In 1978 and 1980 he also studied with the Indian teacher K. Pattabhi Jois. Danny was an early advanced practitioner and pioneer who played a seminal role introducing people around the world in public classes to the Ashtanga yoga form. He was the first western ‘travelling teacher’ of Ashtanga yoga and continues each year to introduce his style of the exploration of yoga in new countries.
Danny teaches the Ashtanga yoga sequences with emphasis on an expanding, evolving practice as well as showing derivative poses, modifications and variations. He strives to create independence from teachers and systems.
He draws from the teachings of Krishnamurti, Buddhism, ancient Egypt, contemporary teachers such as Carolyne Myss and Marianne Williamson, as well as many shamanic nature-based indigenous native cultures including Mayan, Hawaiian and Native Americans.
Danny communicates the teachings of ancient traditions in a non-dogmatic, contemporary, compassionate, humorous way. He passes on how to experience and create a meditative, therapeutic and ritualistic yoga practice.
He recognises yoga as an ancient shamanic practice and relates yoga to all shamanic, nature-based, indigenous explorations from North and South America, Polynesia, Tibet, Africa and Asia. The yogis and shamans were the early pioneers of consciousness, healing knowledge, and communication with the spirit realms. The basic premise of Shamanism is that nature is our spiritual guide and teacher. Danny’s main objective is guiding people to evolutionary consciousness as well as helping people develop a healing, sacred, personal, meditative, joyful, non-dogmatic yoga practice.
Yoga is designed to create wellbeing, help people fulfil personal destiny and learn to age with vitality, energy and grace. Danny teaches yoga as a means of creating personal authority and personal responsibility leading to universal responsibility.
Danny has studied Kung Fu, Tai Chi and karate. He is a musician, singer, songwriter, performance artist, human rights activist, filmmaker and film producer and has taught some of the world‘s most renowned and talented musicians, actors, sports champions, artists, designers, film directors and dancers.
Why we love Danny
We’ve known Danny since 2006. He continues to be a source of inspiration and wisdom and is a dear friend of Stillpoint. He is one of the most sought after teachers of yoga in the world and has the ability to share the wisdom teachings of yoga in a fluid, open and inspiring way.