I had the pleasure of meeting Niamh Jones the first week of January in the Burren. Taking a career break, coaching and focusing on my writing, I thought ‘what better way to self-reflect and meet cool people than to work in a yoga centre?’. Big thanks to Dave who brought me in and allowed me to open up to some of the most experienced and authentic yoga teachers in Ireland. This is where Niamh came in.
Over 20 years of teaching, with a grounding energy and so much wisdom, I valued Niamh from the moment I met her. Niamh introduced me to practices such as energy medicine yoga, Pilates, Qi Gong, chakra alignment and spoke of her experience of Shamanic healing and Reiki. Her grounded calmness and truth are two qualities that resonated most and are what I think of when I envision success in this type of profession. The world needs great energy now, more than ever and so, Niamh is one of those from whom we (as humans) can truly benefit.
Fast forward to two months later and I was thrilled to dive in in more detail to what Niamh had to share about her own story, travels, truth and plans for the future.
Originally from Meath, Niamh grew up as a dancer from a young age. She is now residing in Headford, Galway. Having trained as an fitness instructor and told me a story of how, when living in Peru, she ran a class in a local venue where some of the attendees didn’t have the right shoes. They were excited to join and to share in the experience.
Niamh’s travels included South Africa, Australia and so many locations where she built life experiences that she reminisced about as we talked through her why and adventures.
Training in LA, Niamh was the first teacher to bring Bikram yoga to Ireland. This is a type of Hatha yoga characterised by a series of postures and breathing exercises in a room heated to a very high temperature. Anyone who’s tried it, have a lot of water ready.
When I asked Niamh what she sees as the biggest benefits of yoga and meditation especially in 2022, she spoke of a number of them. It helps to align your energy, keep a sense of calm, relaxation and for sure, have yoga as a support during tough times. There is a strength in having a practice for your mind and also, for your physicality. These are strengthening muscles, helping posture and toning the body (to name a few).
When it comes to starting and maintaining a practice, there are a number of ways this can be done. Asking Niamh for tips, she said it is important to have like-minded people around, a steady routine and taking baby steps rather than big leaps. As little as 10 minutes a day can be helpful for a practice. Then, having a designated area for meditation is key here in order to ensure that this sets you up for success in your environment.
Planning into 2022, Niamh has trained as a health coach and will be taking on clients. She has lots of new ventures coming in the next few months.
Looking forward to seeing what else Niamh has in store.
Visit her site here and check out her online and offline classes and offerings.