Michael de Manincor

Dr Michael de Manincor PhD

Founder and Director of The Yoga Institute

Michael 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. Most notably, Michael has undertaken extensive studies under the personal guidance of renowned teacher TKV Desikachar, and the Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram in Chennai (India), and maintains a depth of approach in the authentic tradition of T Krishnamacharya. (Read more about our lineage and traditions here)

Michael established The Yoga Institute in 2000 (formerly known as Yoga Sanga), which is now recognised as one of leading providers of the highest standards of Yoga Teacher Training and Yoga Therapy Training in Australia.

As well as a depth of experience in Yoga, Michael holds degrees in education and psychology, has been a registered psychologist for more than 20 years, and now holds a PhD in Health Science, in the area of Yoga and Mental Health. With a passion and wealth of experience across the fields of yoga, psychology, training and education, mental health and well-being, as well as scientific research, Michael bridges eastern and western modalities of mind-body health.

Former President and Honorary Life Member of Yoga Australia, the peak body of the yoga teaching profession in Australia, Michael is passionate about educating the community on the benefits of quality yoga, and supporting the highest professional standards for yoga teachers.

Michael is the Founder, Director and senior lecturer at The Yoga Institute and responsible for much of the course development.

In addition to the work of The Yoga Institute, Michael is also the Founder and Director of The Yoga Foundation, a non-for-profit organisation that provides yoga-based programs for people who experience disadvantage or hardship. Read more here

Michael also worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in mind-body medicine at the NICM Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, including working on the development of mind-body therapies as part of the Western Sydney Integrative Health centre (WSIH), Australia’s first ever University-based integrative medical centre.

Additionally, Michael is involved in a project wth the World Health Organization (WHO) around training benchmarks for yoga professionals, and continues to contribute to literature for publications such as the yoga therapy textbook, The Foundations, Tools and Practice of Yoga Therapy, which includes a chapter by Michael on mental disorders and yoga.

Speaking Engagements

Michael speaks regularly in media and at conferences and events related to yoga, meditation, mental health, positive psychology, and research.

Michael de Manincor presenting at Happiness and its causes conference

Watch Michael’s presentation at the Happiness and Its Causes conference

In this 15 minute talk, Michael speaks on the benefits of personalised yoga practice and presents the core findings of his recent PhD research into the impact of Yoga on Mental Health.

Check out this short film ‘The Science Behind Yoga’ which launched in 2016.

It features contributions from experts in the fields of yoga, meditation, psychology and neuroscience including Michael de Manincor: “There is actually something very powerful in what’s going on in here, and that’s worth investigating”

Affiliations

Michael de Manincor at Yoga Australia Conference

Yoga Australia – Past President and Honorary Life Member

Yoga Australia is the peak body of the yoga teaching profession in Australia, representing teachers from all traditions and styles of yoga. It’s aims include promoting the benefits of yoga, professional support for yoga teachers, and upholding professional and ethical training standards. yogaaustralia.org.au

The Yoga Foundation – Founder & Executive Director

The Yoga Foundation is a non-profit organisation that leads an evidence-based movement to reduce anxiety and depression and improve quality of life amongst people who experience disadvantage. yogafoundation.org.au

IAYT – Member

The International Association of Yoga Therapists is an industry organisation which promotes professional standards for Yoga Therapists and represents Yoga Therapy as a recognised, professional and respected therapeutic modality. iayt.org

Sacred Sanga – Founder & Director

In collaboration with The Yoga Institute, Sacred Sanga is an organisation designed to create a sense of supportive community that assists one another on a deeply spiritual path, grounded in the notion of shared experiences, such as pilgrimage and retreat. sacredsanga.org.au

Ground Up Psychotherapy – Co-founder & director

Training and support for mental health professionals. grounduppsychotherapy.com.au