Our Teachers
Our Yoga Teacher Training program is led by a team of highly qualified experts, each specializing in a specific subject to provide focused, impactful instruction. With over 65 years of combined experience, our teachers embody what they teach, offering deep insights and genuine passion that enrich the learning experience.
In the videos, you’ll meet these exceptional educators and get a glimpse of their transformative guidance, including a mixed-level practice session with Lalit to experience his unique teaching style.
Our Team
Certified and experienced yoga instructors
Passionate and inspiring teachers
Supportive and dynamic classes
Committed Yoga Teachers
Committed to ongoing learning and certification
Engage in seminars and peer discussions
Provide up-to-date, enriching instruction
In-Depth Subject Knowledge
Specialized teachers for focused, expert instruction
In-depth teaching across specific subjects
Ensures a well-rounded, professional learning experience
Real-World Experience
Combine academic knowledge with real-world experience
Classes enriched with practical insights
Prepares students to apply skills confidently
Personalized Learning Experiences
Personalized teaching builds confidence and mastery
Emphasis on critical thinking and individual growth
Supportive learning through lectures, workshops, and mentoring
Yogacharya Lalit
Lalit is the Founding Director of Himalaya Yoga Valley and leads all 200 & 300 hours Yoga Teacher Training Programs at our school. You can find out more about Lalit on his bio page.
As lead teacher on all Himalaya Yoga Valley educational programs, Lalit divides his time between the Goa centre his European centre in Ireland working on 200 & 500 hour trainings.
Lalit began studying at traditional Indian yoga schools known as Gurukulams at the age of 7 and he is honored to have studied yoga under some of the most well-known and respected yoga Masters in India. Lalit was initiated by Swami Veda Bharti of the Himalayan tradition in 2003. He has spent nearly a decade studying numerous traditional styles and disciplines at various Ashrams in North and South India. He studied Ashtanga Yoga in Mysore at Ashtanga Yoga Nilaya and Shri Parakala Mutt. Lalit has also studied at the Sivananda Centre in Trivandrum and spent his formative spiritual years at Swami Ram Sadak Gurukulam in Rishikesh. Lalit has studied under Sri BKS Iyengar and Sri K Pattabhi Jois, Sri Sharath Jois and Sri BNS Iyengar in Mysore and. Lalit continues to train in the Mysore with Sharath Jois as a humble and devoted student.
Maeve
Maeve is originally from Ireland, then after spending a considerable number of years in Australia now divides her time between Ireland and India. She is a 500 RYT, graduating from the 200 & 300 Hour Yoga Teacher Training with Himalaya Yoga Valley.
As Program Director of Himalaya Yoga Valley (India & Europe) she is responsible for the course and syllabus development for Level 1 & 2 Yoga Teacher Training in-person and online courses.
She coordinates the international training and retreat programs, ensuring that students and yoga guests receive the best learning and yoga holiday experience possible. During the Level 1 & 2 Teacher Training programs, she teaches Meditation, Mantra and Pranayama, Yoga Business, Ethics for Yoga, Classroom Management, Communications and Teaching Methodology. Maeve also contributes to Himalaya Yoga Valley’s Online Academy, Alaya Yoga, by teaching online meditation, pranayama and Mantra classes. Using her previous experience in business strategic planning and management which encompasses 23 years in Western Australia’s Department of Justice, she is able to pass on her knowledge and skills to trainees who wish to pursue a yoga business upon graduation. She has also lectured in Justice Studies at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia for eleven years and brings her tertiary teaching experiences to the yoga shala. Maeve holds a B.A. (Hons) Justice degree from Edith Cowan University, a Business Diploma and a Masters in Leadership and Management from Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia.
Certifications
- 2015 – 300 HR Teacher Training, Himalaya Yoga Valley, Goa, India
- 2007 – 200 Hr Teacher Training, Himalaya Yoga Valley, Goa, India
- 2007 – Masters Leadership and Management, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia
- 2006 – Graduate Diploma Business- Curtin Business University, Perth, Western Australia
- 2004 – BA Justice ( Hons) at Edith Cowan University Perth, Western Australia
Viriam
Viriam has been teaching yoga philosophy for Teachers Training courses with Himalaya Yoga Valley since 2011. She is from the UK and has lived in India for almost 20 years. Having trained with the SKY School of Kundalini Yoga in the UK in 2003, she is now a registered Senior Teacher .She has furthered her studies of yogic philosophy with the Oxford College of Hindu Studies, with Embodied Philosophy and Christopher Hareesh Walllis.
Before travelling to India, she did a ten-year apprenticeship with spiritual teacher and author Amoda Maa, culminating in a deep meditation and self-enquiry intensive under Shiva’s mountain at Mt Arunachala.
Fascinated by the sister science of yoga – Ayurveda – She received a Diploma in Ayurvedic Studies in 2005 with the School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma in Kannur, Kerala and as well as training in Ayurvedic Yoga Massage, she holds her ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage and Anatomy and Physiology. In 2020, Viriam completed her 300hrs in Yoga-Ayurveda-Mantra-Meditation with the American Institute of Vedic Studies under Dr David Frawley and is now a qualified Yoga and Ayurveda Wellness Consultant.
Viriam has embarked on further study with teachers fusing yoga, somatics and neuroscience as well as a deep dive into restorative yoga and yoga Nidra with teachers such as Angela Farmer, Bo Forbes, Max Strom, Donna Farhi and Uma Dunsmore Tulli. Viriam is also a writer and contributes to both yoga magazines and travel guides.
Certifications
- 2020 – 300hr Ayurveda-Yoga-Mantra Diploma, American Institute of Hindu Studies
- 2019 – Restorative Yoga CPD, Adelene Cheong (YogaCampus)
- 2018 – Foundation in Mindfulness Meditation Teaching, Michael Stone (YogaCampus)
- 2015 – Foundation in Yoga Nidra, Uma Dunsmore Tulli (YogaCampus) UK
- 2015 – Oxford College of Hindu Studies (OCHS) UK, Bhagavad Gita
- 2014 – Oxford College of Hindu Studies (OCHS) UK, Philosophy of Yoga
- 2008 – ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage
- 2007 – Sun Yoga Kids, Yoga Teacher Training
- 2003 – KYTA (Kundalini Yoga Teachers Association) UK, Level 1 Kundalini Yoga Instructor
Adam
Adam hails from the UK and has lived in India for 16 years. He has been teaching Anatomy with Himalaya Yoga Valley since 2010 and is a valued teacher and team member. He completed his 200 Hr Teacher Training with Himalaya Yoga Valley in 2019 and hence he brings an empathic learning experience into his lectures for trainees.
He is an avid yoga practitioner and shares his knowledge and passion for yoga-focused anatomy with the Himalaya Yoga Valley 200 and 300 hour trainees through his lively and interesting lectures.
Adam is a also a massage teacher and body mechanic. He trained extensively in the UK and is certified through ITEC (International Therapeutic Examination Committee); he has trained with Ayurvedic doctors in India and monks in Thailand. Since 2011, he has been teaching Ayurvedic Yoga Massage, an Iyengar-inspired massage trans globally certified by the complementary therapists association.
Adam’s passion is structural re-alignment and balancing the nervous system. During the 200 and 300 hr Teacher Trainings he teaches from a physical posture and alignment focus showing that by tuning into the subtleties in yoga asana we get to know our bodies through yoga, and hence there is an stronger awareness that we hold the key to our mental and physical wellbeing.
Certifications
- 2021 Gray Institute Certificate in Applied Functional Science
- 2021 Born to move Certificate with James Earls
- 2019 200hr Certificate with Himalaya Yoga Valley
- 2018 Thomas Myers Structural bodywork
- 2017 Doug Keller – Yoga Therapy
- 2013 Breath and trauma release
- 2011 Cameron Reid-Certification of Training (Neck Pain)
- 2010 AYM Inst Certificate in Ayurvedic yoga massage
- 2008 ITEC Diploma in Holistic Massage.
- 2006 Wat Po Thai Massage Diploma
- 2005 School of Ayurveda and Panchakarma 150hrs
Dr Rohit
Dr. Rohit was born in Goa and completed his Bachelor of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery (B.A.M.S.) degree at Goa University. He practices medicine in his North Goa clinics, renowned as an Ayurvedic physician, panchakarma and yoga specialist, with over a decade of experience in these areas.
Dr Rohit travels extensively around India and Europe, Consulting, studying, lecturing and conducting workshops on ayurveda, yoga and allied subjects.
Himalaya Yoga Valley was one of the first yoga training schools to include Ayurveda in its syllabus and since 2008, Dr Rohit has been at the forefront of educating Himalaya Yoga Valley teacher trainees from all over the world on traditional Ayurveda and its relation to therapeutic yoga. He is a very popular lecturer with trainees, inspiring many to continue further studies in Ayurveda medicine. He says: “Ayurveda, the science of life, is a boon to the science of healing and to seekers of health, rejuvenation, longevity and well-being”
Certifications
- 2006 – Diploma in Yoga, The Yoga Institute Academy of Yoga, Santa Cruz Mumbai India
- 2004 – Bachelors of Ayurveda Medicine and Surgery, Goa India
Tony
Tony first encountered yoga while on a working holiday in Australia in 1995. After numerous trips to India he decided to combine his passion for yoga and teaching by completing a two year hatha yoga Teacher Training Course with Yoga Therapy Ireland in 2007 and commenced yoga teaching from that point onwards. He has spent time at a number of centres in India such as the Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centre (Kerala), Iyengar Yoga Centre (Goa), Osho Centre (Pune), Mother Amma (Kerala) and taken meditation courses at the Vipasana Meditation Centre (Aurangabad) and Bodhi Zen Meditation Centre (Kodaikanal).
Further yoga study in 2010 brought him to Goa where he studied with Lalit and in February of that year he graduated from Himalaya Yoga Valley. He returned to Goa later in the same year to take part in the internship program and subsequently managed and taught members of the public in the Yoga Shala. As a senior teacher with the Centre, he works closely with trainees in Goa and Ireland.
Tony has a wide range of teaching experience from primary level, through high school up to second year University students and in addition has taught yoga classes in a range of locations from Cairo to the Falklands. Apart from teaching, he has worked as a web designer and has also spent a number of years working in administration at an Irish university.
Certifications
- 2016 – Educational Leadership (American University of Cairo)
- 2013 – 500hr Teacher Training (Himalaya Yoga Valley, India)
- 2010 – 200hr Teacher Training (Himalaya Yoga Valley, India)
- 2007 – Yoga Teacher Training (Yoga Therapy Ireland)
- 2001 – M.Sc. E-Commerce (Dublin City University)
- 1997 – Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults (Higher Colleges of Technology, Abu Dhabi)
- 1996 – H.Dip. Education (University College Dublin)1993 – B.E. Electronic Engineering (National University of Ireland, Galway)
Mandeep
Mandeep was born in Punjab and grew up in the northern Indian town of Dharamsala, nestling on the foothills of The Himalayas. Mandeep’s Yoga journey started in 2003 while recovering from severe back pain when she was flying as a cabin crew.
After spending 15 years in the Airline industry Mandeep dived deeper into Yoga studies and completed her Level 1 200 hour Yoga Teacher Training course with Himalaya Yoga Valley Goa in 2017. She continued her learning and completed her Internship program the following year with Himalaya Yoga Valley.
Mandeep joined HYV as Yoga teacher and Program coordinator in March 2018 and she currently teaches Pranayama, Chanting, Kriyas and assists in Asana classes on 200 and 300hr trainings and Yoga retreats. She also looks after the office administration and student enrolment process.
Certifications
- B.A – English Literature 2004
- 200hr Teacher Training Himalaya Yoga Valley Goa, India 2017
- Yoga Teacher Internship Program Himalaya Yoga Valley Goa, India 2018
- Registered Yoga Teacher (RYT-200) with Yoga Alliance USA
- Registered Yoga Professional Member ( YPM) with Indian Yoga Association
- INFS Nutrition and Fitness Foundation Course, India 2021
Lisa
Lisa is from Cork Ireland where she commenced her yoga practice in 2007, initially to help with back problems. Following a yoga lifestyle is now an integral part of Lisa’s daily life and she believes that practicing yoga in all its forms is essential for managing the stresses and strains of modern living.
Her love for yoga deepened immensely during her first time in India in 2011 where she completed her 200 hr Teacher Training course with Yogachara Lalit Kumar at Himalaya Yoga Valley Centre in Goa and she has practiced and studied closely under Lalit ever since. On her return from her training in India, Lisa immediately took up her new teaching career in Cork and quickly developed to full time teaching.
In 2012, Lisa joined Himalaya Yoga Valley Centre in Cork as Senior Yoga Teacher where she teaches a wide range of classes including pregnancy yoga and assists Lalit with in-house training to the other teachers. Following her Internship and Teaching Assistant role on Himalaya Yoga Valley Teacher Training courses in India and Ireland with Himalaya Yoga Valley, Lisa’s role expanded to Senior Yoga Teacher for Europe based trainings giving her the opportunity to share her experience and knowledge with trainee teachers.
Certifications
- 2015 – 300 Hr Teacher Training Himalaya Yoga Valley Ireland
- 2011 – 200 Hr Teacher Training, Himalaya Yoga Valley, Goa India
- 2007 – Applied Social Studies in Social Care
Sohmer Gautam
Sohmer is a dedicated and experienced yoga instructor with a rich background in both practice and teaching. Her yoga journey began as a passionate student, eventually leading her to complete a 200-hour teacher training in Denver, Colorado. She later travelled to Kerala, India, to undertake an Ayurvedic wellness certification, which included advanced yoga therapy training.
With over a decade of experience teaching and studying in India and the U.S., Sohmer blends traditional practices with modern alignment techniques to create a thoughtful, accessible, and safe space for her students.
Her Vinyasa Flow classes focus on precise alignment and mindful movement, while her deep love for Restorative Yoga brings a meditative and nurturing quality to her teaching. Sohmer’s international teaching experience includes work with Himalaya Yoga Valley’s online platform, Ālaya Yoga, and participation in renowned events like the Denver Yoga Festival. Her classes are rooted in compassion, body awareness, and an authentic connection to the deeper aspects of yoga.
Certifications
- 200HR Yoga Teacher Training – Denver, Colorado
- Advanced Yoga Therapy Training – Kerala, India
- Ayurvedic Wellness Certification – Kerala, India
Want to have a chat about our courses?
Feel free to book a call through the button below and our Programme Director, Maeve will give you a call to discuss at a time that suits you
Book A Call With Us
