SCOUT INSTRUCTOR SERIES - Meet David
DAVID HELMAN
Age: 38
Star sign: Scorpio
How long have you been teaching Yoga? I've been a yoga teacher since I was 16 but have been regularly teaching for about 10 or so years.
How did you first get into Yoga? You could say that I was, simply, born into yoga. My mother has been a practicing yogini since the 70's. I have some photos of her practicing yoga whilst pregnant with me. Her yoga journey became my shared yoga journey. When I was about 8 years old we moved to live on an Ashram (yoga commune) for a few years. Although I went to a public school, the rest of my time was spent at the Ashram. There were four other families there with children roughly my age. We got to grow up learning mantras, scripture, breathwork, the wonderful stories of the deities and, of course, asana. At the time I wasn't aware of it, but this would become the foundation of my spiritual and psychological learning and understanding. I did my initial teacher training through the Sivananda Ashram when I was 16.
I never thought that I would follow in mom's footsteps. Yoga was her thing and I was more artistic and was passionate about the performing arts. I continued to pursue theatre, circus and performing. However, physical theatre and circus take their toll on the body and after a fair few injuries I was drawn back to yoga. Ten years ago, as I was recovering from injury and travelling, I decided to complete my 500 hr teacher training with Sivananda. This was the moment that yoga became MY personal practice. I found both physical and spiritual healing through the practice and it had shifted something very deep within me. I moved away from yoga being a way to move my body, because some days I couldn't move it much, and came closer to understanding the deeper, more psychological, energetic and spiritual aspects of these ancient traditions.
What's your favourite Yoga pose? I used to love arm balances. Now I don't really have a FAVOURITE. They all have gifts and insights. Any pose that can make you more introspective, connected to Self and more at peace is a favourite. I now look at poses from a pose category - What do I need more of? Need grounding? Fold. Harmony? Twist. Feel expanded? Side bend. Energise? Backbend. Inspiration? Extend. A change of perspective? Invert.
What's your favourite thing about teaching at Scout Pilates? The community! Both Scout crew and students. The environment is warm and loving and that's all due to the people that come together at Scout.
Enough Yoga chat, what in your life gives you the most energy? I love floating and by that I mean being in the air. Pole dancing, circus, exploring my body in a 3 dimensional space - the trust and the surrender. Moving to good music. Also, burying my feet and the sand and dipping in the ocean.
Tell us your favorite place to eat in the inner west and what you order there? Vandal on King Street. Best margaritas and the "tuna" is just witchcraft!
What advice would you give to your 15-year-old self? Be patient, be gentle and remember this moment. Carry the magic with you.
Last great book that you read? HA! I'm often reading yoga/spiritual books. Currently, I'm reading The Baghavad Gita for Children - deep concepts in a digestible package. I love a good thriller to unplug but one of my favourite books is the Amazing Adventures of Cavalier and Clay.
If you could travel ANYWHERE tomorrow, where would you go? Iceland. Something about it feels magical.
What goal are you hoping to achieve by the end of the year? Creating more space to develop my massage, reiki and crystal offering.