John Ogilvie - From Depths of Despair to Pinnacle of Hope and Healing
Yoga is one of the longest running practices, originating from India over 5,000 years ago. It is practiced by around 1.4 million Australians. John is now so passionate about sharing yoga with the world, for he believes yoga has the power to change lives, as it did his - and should be open to everyone. It's no longer exclusive and open only to the flexible.
John Ogilvie was just 12 years of age, when he turned to alcohol as a shy, insecure teen who felt like he didn't fit in. It made him feel different and his way of finding fulfillment and connecting with others.
As a mid-teen, his experimentation started to accelerate – with more regular drinking, marijuana and 'pills', speed, acid and other hallucinogens like 'magic-mushrooms'. By 19, he tried heroin which heralded the beginning of a relentless cycle that had him in its grip for the next 10 years.
At 23, he was at his lowest of ebbs and made a conscious decision to end his life through overdose, feeling nothing but a burden on everyone. Fortunately surviving – it was the turning point on him embarking on a detox journey. It was there at the 'Pleasant View' Centre, that he was first introduced to yoga. There was a guy who had a few photocopied sheets of yoga poses, and he used to take him out into the garden and they would do a few postures.
When he left the detox centre John took a copy of these 'foolscap sheets of paper' detailing some very basic yoga movements. He started a daily practice of about 2 hours. This however was still not enough to fill the 'huge, black hole of emptiness' that he experienced whenever he was drug free. It was not long until John started using drugs again.
After so many previous failed attempts to fight his addiction, it was the Buttery – a local residential rehab centre on the Northern Rivers that offered the winning formula. It was thanks to the longer, five month residency there, that all the pieces finally came together.
By integrating the spiritual guidelines of the 12 step program with the practice and philosophies of yoga, John succeeded in 'healing the hole' that had haunted him since his teens. Even now, there is a sensitive scar where the hole had been. John sees it as a healthy reminder of where his come from, and that it's really important to maintain his sadhana – regular practice of meditation, pranayama, asana and study.
After completing his time at the Buttery, John moved to Sydney, where he obsessively attended classes at the Action School of Yoga, and apprenticed to Diane Currie. He also religiously attended daily N.A. meetings to continue to support his new, healthy lifestyle.
Byron Yoga Centre was Born
In 1986, John made the 'sea change' back to Byron Bay. It's hard to imagine, but at the time there was an absence of yoga in the region.
He taught his first yoga class in 1986 and in 1988 Byron Yoga Centre was born!
The yoga taught at Byron Yoga Centre is called Purna, meaning integrated or complete. Purna Yoga represents a holistic approach to yoga integrating not just the physical postures but also philosophy, meditation, pranayama breath control and the yogic personal and social code of ethics.
Today the centre includes accommodation, a sustainable eco village and a mindful vegetarian diet.
John Ogilvie was just 12 years of age, when he turned to alcohol as a shy, insecure teen who felt like he didn't fit in. It made him feel different and his way of finding fulfillment and connecting with others.
As a mid-teen, his experimentation started to accelerate – with more regular drinking, marijuana and 'pills', speed, acid and other hallucinogens like 'magic-mushrooms'. By 19, he tried heroin which heralded the beginning of a relentless cycle that had him in its grip for the next 10 years.
At 23, he was at his lowest of ebbs and made a conscious decision to end his life through overdose, feeling nothing but a burden on everyone. Fortunately surviving – it was the turning point on him embarking on a detox journey. It was there at the 'Pleasant View' Centre, that he was first introduced to yoga. There was a guy who had a few photocopied sheets of yoga poses, and he used to take him out into the garden and they would do a few postures.
When he left the detox centre John took a copy of these 'foolscap sheets of paper' detailing some very basic yoga movements. He started a daily practice of about 2 hours. This however was still not enough to fill the 'huge, black hole of emptiness' that he experienced whenever he was drug free. It was not long until John started using drugs again.
After so many previous failed attempts to fight his addiction, it was the Buttery – a local residential rehab centre on the Northern Rivers that offered the winning formula. It was thanks to the longer, five month residency there, that all the pieces finally came together.
By integrating the spiritual guidelines of the 12 step program with the practice and philosophies of yoga, John succeeded in 'healing the hole' that had haunted him since his teens. Even now, there is a sensitive scar where the hole had been. John sees it as a healthy reminder of where his come from, and that it's really important to maintain his sadhana – regular practice of meditation, pranayama, asana and study.
After completing his time at the Buttery, John moved to Sydney, where he obsessively attended classes at the Action School of Yoga, and apprenticed to Diane Currie. He also religiously attended daily N.A. meetings to continue to support his new, healthy lifestyle.
Byron Yoga Centre was Born
In 1986, John made the 'sea change' back to Byron Bay. It's hard to imagine, but at the time there was an absence of yoga in the region.
He taught his first yoga class in 1986 and in 1988 Byron Yoga Centre was born!
The yoga taught at Byron Yoga Centre is called Purna, meaning integrated or complete. Purna Yoga represents a holistic approach to yoga integrating not just the physical postures but also philosophy, meditation, pranayama breath control and the yogic personal and social code of ethics.
Today the centre includes accommodation, a sustainable eco village and a mindful vegetarian diet.
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