This is the first of our episodes in collaboration with Yoga Australia, featuring many of Yoga Australia's past presidents. Michael de Manicor is one of the most highly respected and experienced yoga teachers in Australia, with an extensive background in different approaches and styles of yoga and meditation, and over 30 years of teaching experience. Michael holds a PhD in Health Science, in the area of Yoga and Mental Health in addition to his degrees in education and psychology. He is the Founder, Director and senior lecturer at The Yoga Institute in Sydney and is also the Founder and Director of The Yoga Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that provides yoga-based programs for people who experience disadvantage or hardship. In this episode, we discuss Michael's involvement in Yoga Australia up to and including his tenure as President of the organisation. He shares with us his thoughts on the importance of having a peak body to represent yoga teachers in this country, as well as his dedication to raising training standards. We were eager to discuss Michael's research on yoga and mental health - the topic of his PhD and the importance of a personal practice. Links The Yoga Institute: www.yogainstitute.com.au The Yoga Foundation: www.theyogafoundation.org.au Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/YogaInstituteSydney/ Yoga for Mental Health training for yoga teachers (co-presented with Janet Lowndes): https://yogainstitute.com.au/mental-health-syd/ Yoga Retreat in Italy: https://yogainstitute.com.au/savour-italy/ Heart of Yoga retreat weekend outside of Sydney: https://yogainstitute.com.au/heartofyoga_retreat-yanada/ Amy Bell's Guiding Inner Journey's workshop: https://www.gardenofyoga.com.au/workshops/guiding-inner-journeys/ Support us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/flowartistspodcast