Pam Butler

Pam's Bio

Yoga drew me in from the start, and gradually became an established practice. Eventually, it felt obvious that it was time to share what I knew of this rich, holistic practice.

Yoga has been transformative. It opened a new way of being. It was challenging in a way I’d never experienced, and my limitations were not an obstacle but simply part of the process, part of who I was on that day. There was no competition, a novel idea for me as a competitive skater and basketball player. The main instruction from my wonderful and highly skilled teacher, Sravanya, seemed to be: “Breeeeaathe!”

Over time, my enjoyment and practice evolved until the next step became clear: I wanted to share this ancient internal art. Eight years after I came upon yoga, I trained to teach hatha yoga.

Soon after I started teaching, I was introduced to Shadow yoga. It was as if an important question, one I hadn’t even formed yet, had been answered. I had understood intellectually that yoga is an internal art; Shadow yoga helped me feel it. The skilful application of simple, effective techniques combining breath, bandhas and mental focus pulled me inwards like never before.

Shadow yoga became my personal practice but it was another 15 years before I took the next step: Training to teach this hatha yoga form. I am grateful for the expert guidance of Karen Watson (islingtonyoga.com) and for the rigorous training sessions with Sundernath and Emma Balnaves (shadowyoga.com). I now teach introductory Shadow style hatha yoga and the first Prelude forms, and welcome beginners and improvers to learn this unique expression of a deeply traditional yoga practice.

Pam will be in conversation with Sheana Keane on Sunday 16 October in the Lisnavagh Library on the subject of YOGA PHILOSOPHY and why we practice it. 

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