Simon was first introduced to yoga at an early age learning breath retentions from his father for underwater swimming. At age 8, a family friend, Basil Brown (an Olympic athlete), introduced Simon to Uddiyana Bandha (an internal yogic lock), which still remains at the heart of Simon’s practice.
At age 17, Simon was introduced to the philosophy of yoga by a Tibetan Lama. Then, in his early 20’s, Simon started the physical practice of Hatha Yoga, along with aerobics and weight training. In 1983, he stopped weight training and aerobics and began a rigorous daily practice of Iyengar yoga with Eve Grysbowski and Peter Thompson.
In 1984, Simon did an Oki Yoga teacher training course and commenced teaching one class a week at the Yoga Synergy Newtown School and then several classes at various schools around Sydney.
In 1985, Simon began his practice of the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Series, learning first with Robert Lucas (1st Series) in Australia, then with Cliff Barber (2nd Series) and Danny Paradise (3rd Series) in India. Simon still practices the Ashtanga Vinyasa series on average once a week, and will always attend the classes of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois when he is in Australia.In 1985, Simon also met Shandor Remete, who became a real inspiration and mentor to Simon. Simon studied with Shandor in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide at various times over the next 10 years, and still continues to be inspired by Shandor when they meet and practice once or twice each year.
By end of 1985, Simon had completed a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Mathematics and his Masters of Science in Molecular Biology at the University of Sydney, where he was also employed as a teacher of Biology. Over the next few years, Simon continued to work at the University, whilst teaching at the Yoga Synergy Newtown School, The Australian School of Yoga, The Sydney Yoga Centre and at Shandor’s Hatha Yoga Shala, which became Yoga Synergy at Bondi in 1997.
Between 1986 and 1997, Simon made 14 trips to India and studied 7 times with the Iyengar family in Pune, and with many other teachers.
In 1988, Simon met Bianca Machliss, who began teaching with him and organising retreats and workshops in 1990. They travelled to India together and taught in Europe and throughout Australia.
From 1993 to 1996 Simon and Bianca did full time study in Physiotherapy at the University, which profoundly affected their yoga practice, enabling them to teach and practice in a way which gives the maximum benefit to the body with the minimal effort and risk of injury. Since 1995 Simon has been teaching courses in the Applied Anatomy and Physiology of Hatha Yoga for teachers and students in Sydney, Adelaide, Byron Bay, Noosa, and New Zealand.
Simon has regularly taught yoga to dance companies (Sydney Dance Company, Darc Swan, Bangarra Dance Company) and lectured at the University of NSW and University of Western Sydney Dance Departments.
Simon currently divides his time between teaching his regular 10 classes during the week at the Yoga Synergy Schools in Sydney, while teaching special workshops on the weekends. Simon teaches regulary throughout Australasia and has held workshops in Adelaide, Auckland, Byron Bay, Canberra, Coffs Harbour, Hobart, Noosa Heads, Perth, Singapore, and Thailand. Simon has been a guest teacher for the International Yoga Teachers Association (IYTA) annual conference in 1990, 1997, 2001, and 2002.
