Teachers

  Stephan Trefzer - Siva

 

1975 - 1992: Prior to being introduced to Yoga Stephan competed in several sporting activities such as Judo, Fencing, Badminton and Squash.  He was junior fencing county champion and a member of the Swiss junior national team.

1992: Began his formal practice of Integral Yoga® and following Swami Satchidananda's teachings.

2001: International Institute of Holistic Health Therapists (IIHHT) Sports Massage Therapist Certificate.

2001: Integral Yoga® Teachers qualification for Beginners and receipt of the spiritual name Siva by Sri Swami Satchidananda.

2002: Integral Yoga® Teachers qualification for Intermediates.

2003: Integral Yoga® Teachers qualification for Advanced.

2004: Integral Yoga® Teachers qualification for Raja Yoga

2008: City & Guilds Level 3 Certificate Teaching In the Lifelong Learning Sector (PTTLS)

M/ships: Member of the Integral Yoga® Teachers Association (IYTA)

Member of the International Council of Health, Fitness and Sports Therapists. (HSFT).

Member of the Yoga Register with the Independent Yoga Network (IYN)

I have a valid first aid certificate, public liability and have full CRB clearance provided by The Vetting Company

 

Stephan began his ‘informal’ practice about 1984 and started the ‘formal’ practice of yoga practice in 1992. He then graduated as an Integral Yoga® Teacher at the Satchidananda Ashram and Headquarters of Integral Yoga® Institutes in Buckingham, Virginia, USA and has completed over 730 hours of teacher training. The training was styled in the traditional ancient model of ‘Gurukula’, living and working with fellow students under the instruction of yogic masters in a spiritual community. He is fully qualified to teach Hatha Yoga for Beginners, Intermediates and Advanced students, Pranayama (breath control) and Meditation and in addition to this he has also completed the qualification to teach Raja Yoga (Science of the mind/Yoga philosophy). Two of his main passions happen to be Raja and Jnana Yoga.

He was also initiated into the sacred path of Japa Yoga (Mantra repetition) and feels blessed to have had Swami Karunananda perform the initiation ceremony.

 

Stephan has the privilege of continuing his training with Integral Yoga's senior teachers, monastic and direct disciples of Swami Satchidananda and continues his studies with retreats, workshops and satsangs; Since 2005 he also  has been studying with Satyananda, a Self-realised master from the Ramana Maharshi lineage. He also studied Mantra with Muz Murray and enjoyed being in the company of Mother Meera and Amma.

 

Since his first Teacher Training he has been teaching classes in a variety of settings such as the Integral Yoga® Centre Swindon, sports centres, schools (where he teaches teachers and children) the University of Bath in Swindon, Erlestoke Prison, for the organisation Drug Link and he has also taught the England woman’s rugby team.

 

Stephan works as a Massage Therapist and also does Sports Massage and injury treatments. Together with his long study and practice of Hatha yoga this has lead him to do general body work, posture alignment and rehabilitation work with clients, as well as working as a Lead Back Pain, RSI and Ergonomics Consultant for the company Posture Group.

 

Upon his last meeting with Sri Swami Satchidananda in July 2002, Stephan received the blessings to open an Integral Yoga® Centre. The Swindon Centre is dedicated to honour and continue the teachings of His Holiness.

Stephan is a senior teacher and teacher trainer in Integral Yoga. He has served as the chairperson of the Integral Yoga UK Council and together with Raghavan, director of the Integral Yoga Centre Dorset, runs Teacher Training courses.


Stephan regards it as a privilege to provide classes, therapy, information, guidance on life's challenges and to serve the community. Om Shanti