Richard first became interested in Yoga at the age of 14 through reading a book on the subject but did not start attending Iyengar Yoga classes until the autumn of 1975, aged 19, while at the University of Oxford. He considers himself extremely fortunate to have discovered B.K.S. Iyengar and his teaching to which his life is devoted.

 

His first class with Guruji came soon after in the summer of 1976 in London. Richard’s first visit to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune came in July 1977 where he attended an intensive course taught by Guruji. He has attended intensive and other classes at RIMYI in Pune on 28 visits in person since then and since 2020, several online.  

 

Richard began to teach Yoga in the autumn of 1977 and was awarded the Introductory Certificate in 1984 folowed by the Junior Intermediate Certificate in 1988 and Level 3 Senior Intermediate Certificate in 2005. 

 

Richard is an approved IY(UK) trainer and mentor and has taught at all levels up to Senior. He is an Assessor and Moderator. He has taught extensively at home and abroad with many visits to China, the US, Mexico, Bermuda, Ireland, Italy and Sweden.

 

Richard helped to found The Light on Yoga Association (UK) in 1988 and was chairperson from 1988 to 1999. He helped found the Bristol (now Avon) Iyengar Yoga Institute in 1989. Living in Bath since 1999 he founded the Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre with his wife, Kirsten, in 2000 and together they have a son.