Meet Claude Mohonathan
An interview....
1. Hi Claude, what brought you to Eden Prairie, MN and where did you move from?
I am from South Africa, my wife worked for Accenture South Africa, she was the HR Lead and was given the opportunity to work in the USA due her skills and expertise. The peace tranquility and warmth of Minneapolis encouraged my wife and I to make this life changing decision by relocating to Eden Prairie and thereby leaving behind my daughter of 24 and my son of 23 years old
2. Why did you want to begin teaching yoga?
About 14 years ago I decided to focus on learning more about the physical mental and spiritual aspect of people while working for a telecommunication company as a HR and Technical Manager. I trained as a Holistic Masseur in 2000 for a year. I started to learn yoga in 2002 because it focused on alignment, emphasis on breathing and postures were held for longer to increase strength and stamina. Guru Iyenger lives in India and is a fit 92 year old and still practises yoga. This also gave me the opportunity to help others understand the benefits of yoga and transfer the skill art and science of this practice that started over 2000 years ago
3. Tell us a little about your yoga teacher in South Africa.
My yoga teacher June Cooper is 81 years old and she started practicing yoga about 50 years ago. She has been to India to enhance her yoga practice and she is a senior teacher within the Iyengar Association. Yoga has helped her to remain fit healthy and strong and under her guidance and her passion for yoga, she has provided me intense training for 3 years pertaining to the theory and practical aspect of yoga. This provided me with the knowledge to teach yoga. I had to train for 6 years before I started to learn how to teach under her guidance
4. What type of massage therapy do you offer?
I learned Holistic Massaging which focuses on removing the toxins from the body and releasing stress from the muscles. Yoga has helped me to further release stress from one's body thru massaging and the transferring of positive energies and the release of negative energy is an important art of holistic massaging
5. What do you like to help students with or what do you think is the best thing your teaching has to offer? I would like to help students to focus on
a. breathing
b. alignment of the body
c. the importance to perform the asanas correctly
d. to build up stamina
e. finding peace joy, happiness
f. Reaching their maximum capability
g. Getting to know their physical, mental and spiritual aspect of themselves
All through the practice of Yoga
6. Tell us about your family.I worked for a Telecommunication company for 30 years. I decided to make the time to study Holistic Massaging and Yoga - when I leave the formal working environment, I will be able to teach, practise and transfer my skills and knowledge of Holistic Massaging and Yoga. My wife is 48 years old and she is very knowledgable on all HR related matters, this is one of the reasons her company has requested her to work in the USA. I have a daughter Denielle Courtney Mohonathan, she has a honours degree in Social Media and is working for a social media company, she intends completing her masters degree in Social Media in the USA. My son Brecht Cameron Mohonathan is studying to be an accountant, he is busy with his board exams. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, my mom and dad living in Durban South Africa - Denielle and Brecht live in Johannesburg, South Africa.Sandy's dad passed away many years ago, her mum lives with Sandy's sister, she has 1 brother who lives in Canada and 2 sisters living in South Africa
1. Hi Claude, what brought you to Eden Prairie, MN and where did you move from?
I am from South Africa, my wife worked for Accenture South Africa, she was the HR Lead and was given the opportunity to work in the USA due her skills and expertise. The peace tranquility and warmth of Minneapolis encouraged my wife and I to make this life changing decision by relocating to Eden Prairie and thereby leaving behind my daughter of 24 and my son of 23 years old
2. Why did you want to begin teaching yoga?
About 14 years ago I decided to focus on learning more about the physical mental and spiritual aspect of people while working for a telecommunication company as a HR and Technical Manager. I trained as a Holistic Masseur in 2000 for a year. I started to learn yoga in 2002 because it focused on alignment, emphasis on breathing and postures were held for longer to increase strength and stamina. Guru Iyenger lives in India and is a fit 92 year old and still practises yoga. This also gave me the opportunity to help others understand the benefits of yoga and transfer the skill art and science of this practice that started over 2000 years ago
3. Tell us a little about your yoga teacher in South Africa.
My yoga teacher June Cooper is 81 years old and she started practicing yoga about 50 years ago. She has been to India to enhance her yoga practice and she is a senior teacher within the Iyengar Association. Yoga has helped her to remain fit healthy and strong and under her guidance and her passion for yoga, she has provided me intense training for 3 years pertaining to the theory and practical aspect of yoga. This provided me with the knowledge to teach yoga. I had to train for 6 years before I started to learn how to teach under her guidance
4. What type of massage therapy do you offer?
I learned Holistic Massaging which focuses on removing the toxins from the body and releasing stress from the muscles. Yoga has helped me to further release stress from one's body thru massaging and the transferring of positive energies and the release of negative energy is an important art of holistic massaging
5. What do you like to help students with or what do you think is the best thing your teaching has to offer? I would like to help students to focus on
a. breathing
b. alignment of the body
c. the importance to perform the asanas correctly
d. to build up stamina
e. finding peace joy, happiness
f. Reaching their maximum capability
g. Getting to know their physical, mental and spiritual aspect of themselves
All through the practice of Yoga
6. Tell us about your family.I worked for a Telecommunication company for 30 years. I decided to make the time to study Holistic Massaging and Yoga - when I leave the formal working environment, I will be able to teach, practise and transfer my skills and knowledge of Holistic Massaging and Yoga. My wife is 48 years old and she is very knowledgable on all HR related matters, this is one of the reasons her company has requested her to work in the USA. I have a daughter Denielle Courtney Mohonathan, she has a honours degree in Social Media and is working for a social media company, she intends completing her masters degree in Social Media in the USA. My son Brecht Cameron Mohonathan is studying to be an accountant, he is busy with his board exams. I have 2 brothers and 2 sisters, my mom and dad living in Durban South Africa - Denielle and Brecht live in Johannesburg, South Africa.Sandy's dad passed away many years ago, her mum lives with Sandy's sister, she has 1 brother who lives in Canada and 2 sisters living in South Africa
