Garth McLean is a senior level Certified Iyengar Yoga Teacher "CIYT" (Intermediate Sr III) a Certified Yoga Therapist with the International Association of Yoga Therapists and a dedicated practitioner of the subject. Based in Los Angeles, Garth teaches public classes and speciality courses at Namastday Yoga in Beverly Hills.

 

Garth studies annually with the Iyengar family in Pune, India. He teaches yoga intensives locally and globally. In addition to regular intensives, Garth offers workshops on the positive effect of yoga on MS and other neurological conditions. He regularly offers workshops in Europe, Australia, Brazil and Russia Fedaration. Garth has served as a guest teacher at the France Iyengar Yoga Teachers’ Convention (2009) and Spain Iyengar Yoga Teachers’ Convention (2011).

 

He is a founding and current board and faculty member of the Iyengar Yoga Therapeutics group, a non-profit organization based in Los Angeles that is dedicated to helping people manage diseases and conditions through the therapeutic applications of yoga.

 

Blessed with a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis in 1996,Garth successfully manages his course of MS and a hectic schedule with a daily practice of Iyengar Yoga as presented by Yoga master, Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar.

 

Upon learning of his diagnosis, Garth was determined to get his MS symptoms in remission. He immediately took to the daily practice of Iyengar Yoga, heeding his neurologist’s advice to try some yoga with the caveat to avoid overheating the body. He also heeded Mr. Iyengar’s counsel to proceed with courage, caution and patience. The results have been profound. Garth's dedication to self-healing has enabled him to successfully manage many symptoms of MS and keep his course of MS in remission without the conventional medicines prescribed for the condition. Since 2005, Garth annually monitors the lesions on his brain via MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) which has shown very encouraging comparative results. His determination and recovery motivates him to provide a safe, uplifting forum for a challenging, rewarding and transformative experience for all students of yoga.

 

Garth shares his enthusiasm for the healing potential of a dedicated yoga practice with students and teachers around the world. Garth's personal in-depth knowledge inspires not only those with challenges, but everyone. Check the Schedule page for weekly updates and workshop schedule. For inspiration, Garth looks to Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra (II.16): “heyam dukham anagatam” which poignantly translates as: “the pains which are yet to come can and are to be avoided.”

 

Brief History: Raised on the Canadian prairies, McLean relocated to NYC to study acting with the legendary Sandy Meisner at The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre. After working on stage and film in NY, he moved to Hollywood in the 90’s where he continues to garner roles in film and television. His interest in live theatre remained strong and soon Garth began to produce local theatre and short films. His path led him to the study of the martial art Aikido under the guidance of Haruo Matsuoka Sensei, and action movie star Steven Seagal. By circumstance, he eventually went to work for Mr. Seagal. The celebrity lifestyle catapulted him around the globe. Not to be deterred by a diagnosis of MS in 1996, Garth has written and continues to perform his solo play "Looking for Lightning” about his journey.