C.V. for Michael McCann

New University of Ulster: BA Hons, English (1974)

University of Ulster: MA   Anglo- Irish literature (1984)

Northern Ireland Civil Service: 1978-to date (currently deputy principal in Rural Development Division of Department of Agriculture and Rural Development- responsible for rural development policy, legislation and communications).

I have been interested in Yoga since 1970, when I attended a satsang given by Swami Satyananda Saraswati in Belfast. My first yoga teacher was Swami Atmananda a close devotee of Swami Satyananda. I was a student of Norma Duffield of the Yoga Centre of Ireland and was greatly influenced by my principal teacher  Swami Nishchalananda Saraswati, founder and director of Mandala Yoga Ashram Wales.  My background in Yoga is the Bihar or Satyananda school of Yoga. I also trained under Marie Quail, and was awarded a teacher training certifcate by the YTTC in 1999.

I like to combine my interest in literature with Yoga philosophy, and have a keen interest in mantra, music and symbolism. I see Yoga as the inner dimension of Religion and believe that Yoga is found everywhere, and is not unique to the heritage of India. I am  equally at home with the ancient philosophy of Tantra, the Sufism of Islam, the Desert Fathers and Christian mystics. This eclectic attitude has been fostered by my interest in Yoga as an expression of the Perennial Philosophy. I am also a member of the Temenos Academy, a modern school founded by Kathleen Raine, dedicated to the preservation and dissemination of traditional wisdom in all its forms and cultures.

I teach the Upanishads, Bhagavad Gita,  Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and many other important but lesser know texts; but in the context of the great  religions and spiritual systems, because I believe that it is important that no one is left alienated or excluded from whatever may be their ordained religion or spiritual path.

From 2000 until 2006, I was a senior tutor for the YTTC, where I was responsible for the subtle anatomy,meditation, relaxation, and philosophy modules. I also taught asana, mudra, pranayama, bandha, shat karmas and esoteric aspects of Yoga as outlined in the Hatha Yoga Pradipika. I contributed to the Yoga Therapy courses.

I was also director and senior tutor on the YTTC Post- Graduate Teacher Training course, which I designed and developed.

I was editor of the Yoga for You newsletter, for which I contributed articles on many aspects of Yoga.                   

In the period, 200-2007, I taught extensively on teacher training courses in Belfast, Newry, Lisburn, Derry, Dublin, Cork and Scotland. I have also given lectures on the History of Yoga, and  the Srimad Bhagavatan at Mandala Yoga Ashram, Wales. In 2006, I was invited to teach at Philip Xerri’s Yoga week at Coniston.   

In 2007, I founded a school of Yoga Philosophy, called “Yoga Darshan”, dedicated to the dissemination of Yoga philosophy as perennial wisdom.

I am currently editing a book in progress by Swami Nishchalananda on the “Vijnana Bhairava Tantra”. Michael is a qualified Yoga Teacher and has a Teacher Training Certificate under the YTTC.