Since 2002 he has been intensively practicing a range of yoga styles including: Hatha, Iyengar, Ashtanga, Bikram, Baron Baptiste’s Power Flow Vinyasa, Yin Yoga and Prana Vashya. His formal study and teacher- training accreditation began through the Australian College of Classical Yoga (Raja Yoga 2003) and continued at Centered Yoga in Thailand (Ashtanga 2005). He has also been practicing and studying yoga’s sister science of Ayurveda since 2005 completing study in Mysore, India (Ayurvedic Principles 2009).
Over the course of time Sanjay has met and studied with great teachers including Master Charles Canon of The Synchronicity Foundation International, as well as Swami Chetanananda, spiritual director and guru of The Movement Centre in Portland, Oregon. For seven years Sanjay has been attending The Shiva School of Meditation, an ashram located in Mt. Eliza, near Melbourne, Australia. Here, under the guidance of his Guru, Swami Shankarananda, Sanjay earnestly pursues the paths of devotion and Self-knowledge.
Sanjay has had a committed practice for over 10 years and feels privileged to name among his many teachers such gifted and generous beings as the late Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Mr V Sheshadri and Vinay Kumar (Mysore, India), and Paul Dallaghan (Koh Samui, Thailand). Sanjay’s asana – physical posture – practice is integrated with daily pranayama – yogic breathing exercises – taught by O.P. Tawari, as well as meditation and philosophical study spanning many spiritual traditions.
In late 2008, at Kopan Monastery in Kathmandu Nepal, Sanjay began exploring a new form of meditation in the Mahayana Buddhist tradition completing the one-month foundation Lam-Rim retreat. Since that time he has continued this study and visited the monastery again in 2011 to complete a 3 month Vajrasattva purification meditation retreat, abiding in silence and following the required vows as set by Lama Zopa Rinpoche. During this retreat Sanjay took the 5 lay vows and was given the name ‘Tenzin Nyingtop’ which means ‘holding the teachings of the courageous heart.’
Sanjay continues his search for the ‘Inner Self’ through his experience of a dedicated practice and believes that the essence of each individual comes with an open heart and mind, remembering that in order to achieve the ultimate happiness of enlightenment we must all give selflessly, cherishing all living beings. It is through this loving compassionate thought that we may all realize our true nature.
“Open your mind and your heart will follow, gifting you with its love for yourself and others. Om shanti”
Vajrasattva Purification Retreat (2011)
Lama Zopa Rinpoche and Ani Karen (Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal)
Ayurvedic Principles (2009)
Dr. Anil Kumar (Mysore, India)
Prana Vashya Yoga Training (2009)
Vinay Kumar (Mysore, India)
Lam-Rim Mahayana Tibetan Buddhist Tradition (2008)
Ven. Dundrop (Kopan Monastery, Kathmandu, Nepal)
Ashtanga Yoga Training (2006-07)
Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (Mysore, India)
Pranayama Training (2005)
OP Tiwari (Centred Yoga, Koh Samui, Thailand)
Teacher Training Foundation – Ashtanga Yoga (2005)
Paul Dallaghan (Centred Yoga, Koh Samui, Thailand)
See photo album
Diploma of Classical Yoga (2003)
Swami Shantananda (Melbourne, Australia)
Reiki Master (2003)
Joan Gardner (Gardenia Reiki, Melbourne, Australia)
Bachelor of Environmental Engineering (2002)
Monash University (Melbourne, Australia)
