David Keil was introduced to yoga in 1989 by his Tai Chi Chuan teacher. Both his Tai Chi and yoga practice at the age of 17 began his research into his own mind-body connections. His search continued through massage therapy where he discovered many insights and affirmations of what he’d been exploring and finding on his own through his practices. One of the most important elements was the specific understanding of the musculoskeletal system and how fascinating, beautiful and amazing the body is on the scientific level and how that directly played into his own understanding of the human body. He was given names and explanations for some of the things he’d been experiencing and feeling.
As an instructor of kinesiology (the study of movement and musculoskeletal anatomy) at Miami’s Educating Hands School of Massage from 1999-2003, David developed a fun, informal and informative style of teaching. By repeatedly teaching incoming students who had no prior understanding of anatomy, David was confronted with the problem of making such a complex and beautiful system accessible and understandable to the average person.
David brings his unique style and ability to make things simple to the yoga world. Because of his passion and desire to share the human body with everyone, he delivers this complex and sometimes frustrating topic in a way that is very accessible and understandable to yoga practitioners.
Over the years David has used his skills as a Neuromuscular Therapist to help people reduce their chronic pain patterns. He often brings this information into his workshops where students are regularly uncovering painful patterns or injuries in their bodies.
David was introduced to Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga in 1999, but it was in 2001 that he met John Scott in Penzance, Cornwall, presenting his anatomy workshops for the first time overseas. Two weeks of practising with John was transformational and he realised that he’d found his teacher. This began a relationship of both teacher/student as well as a collaborative colleague relationship that continues today.
It was also John who told David to go to Mysore in India the following year, which he did. David arrived in Mysore in 2002 where he studied with K. Pattabhi Jois in the “old” shala. In fact, it was the last year that the old shala was used for practice. David was authorised in 2004 and returned yearly for extended visits to Mysore with his wife Gretchen Suarez. They are both authorised level 2 to teach Ashtanga yoga.
David is owner of Yoganatomy, a highly successful yoga anatomy education company that delivers online anatomy training to teachers and training providers.
David also owns 3D Muscle Lab, an innovative and groundbreaking new anatomy learning tool that will help you to deepen your understanding of the body.
Why we love David
David has been working with Scott and Stillpoint since 2008. He is a dear friend of Stillpoint. We feel he has grown into one of the most relevant and accessible Ashtanga yoga teachers in the world today. His skill as an educator of the yoga practice and at the same time as a personal guide to students is inspiring and a model to all yoga teachers.