2009, what a year! It was a tough one for many of us, and an eventful one for us all I think you’ll agree. I will leave out any commentary on the state of the country, I think the papers cover that much better than I, and instead I’ll focus on what I know!

In Samadhi we went up a gear and took on new challenges which were very satisfying. We started running in house retreats in Dublin, 3 booked out weekends this year. Everyone really enjoyed them as you get a full on retreat while still sleeping in your own bed. Then we hosted an amazing Pranayama and Ashtanga yoga workshop with Sri O.P. Tiwari & Paul Dallaghan in May. The Tiwari & Paul evening was much too big for Samadhi so we rented a room nearby, and had about 50 yogis along, who all loved Tiwari’s amazing teaching and raised their voices in an impromptu kirtan at the end.

In June we expanded Samadhi Dublin. The downstairs floor became free and so we took it over. Now that we have our own freestanding building in Temple Bar we feel very grown up! The expansion brought its own excitement and worries, in a way it feels like we are still expanding to fit the new space. As the right teachers come along more classes come on-stream, so watch this space!

We had a 2 days at the Cultivate Yoga Fair beside us. We taught a few classes, passed around a big bowl of strawberries, and hung out. They were great fun, between catching up with old yoga friends, making new ones, and avoiding various “love gurus”!

In August we had a 2 week visit from Kevin Durkin, who covered my classes while I took time out, and taught some workshops. Kevin is an internationally renowned American teacher who has spent many extended periods with the Iyengars in Pune, and everyone gets a lot from his classes. The good news is I am taking 7 weeks off next summer and Kevin will be over for the duration covering all of my classes, so you will see lots of him then.

In September I organized an amazing yoga retreat on Inismor, Aran islands. There was a lot of drama involved, but it worked out fantastically well in the end. Nikki and I had gone over in April to suss out a venue, and found a good place near Dun Aengus. Everything was booked and organized, and the trip booked out with 23 keen yogis. Then just 2 weeks before the weekend I got an email from our host to be, saying that he could not cater for us! So the weekend was cancelled, then reorganized elsewhere, then I got on to Treasa who runs the great Kilmurvey house and by lucky fluke she had had a large cancellation that weekend and could take us. So off we went, and were blessed with the best weather of the summer! We hired bikes and between yoga sessions we explored the island, clamored over duns and dunes, swam, and had great food. Before we left I booked next year’s session by the way, so what you waiting for?!

On the home front we had a cat killed on the road (Sid Vicious RIP) and another one with a broken leg. A kitty wearing a cast is very funny and sad at the same time. On a much more serious note my dad was very ill as many of you know. I took most of August off to spend time with family. Thankfully he made an amazing recovery and is now back in full health. Many thanks for your well wishes during the year.

Most of the dramatic events of 2009 went on in our Dublin studio. Drogheda is a much quieter studio, but rewarding nonetheless. I teach there one night a week and always come home in a great mood. So it was appropriate that my last class of the year was in Drogheda, and when I was presented with a hilarious retro Christmas Jumper by the class my teaching year closed on a high.

Thank you all for everything!!

Greg