Richard was born and brought up in a small village called Kilsby, near the town of Rugby, in the Midlands. He now lives in Bath with his wife, Kirsten, and his son Saul and two guinea pigs!
First becoming interested in Yoga at the age of 14, Richard did not actually take up the practice until 1975, while at Oxford University, at the age of 19. He has been practising ever since then. He considers himself extremely fortunate to have discovered B.K.S. Iyengar and his teaching to which his life is devoted.
Richard’s first teacher was Kofi Busia. He learned by a mixture of apprenticeship and teaching. His first class with Guruji came soon after in the summer of 1976 in London. Richard’s first visit to the Ramamani Iyengar Memorial Yoga Institute in Pune came in 1977 where he attended an intensive course taught by Guruji. He has attended intensive and other classes at RIMYI in Pune on 18 visits since then. He now returns annually to attend classes with the Iyengars. Richard began to teach Yoga in the autumn of 1977 and was awarded the Introductory Certificate in 1984 then the Junior Intermediate Certificate in 1988 and Level 3 Senior Intermediate Certificate in 2005. He also gained a PGCE certificate in 1981.
Richard is an approved teacher trainer and began training Introductory level Iyengar Yoga teachers in 1990. He has conducted Intermediate Junior teacher training at IYI Maida Vale, London since 1996. He also conducts Intermediate Senior teacher training in Bath. He is an Assessor and a Moderator for the IYA (UK). Richard helped to found The Light on Yoga Association (UK) in 1988 and was chairperson from 1988 to 1999. He helped found the Bristol (now Avon) Iyengar Yoga Institute in 1989. Together with his wife Kirsten Agar Ward he runs the Bath Iyengar Yoga Centre.
Richard likes to teach people who are interested in yoga (not everyone is!).
Outside yoga he loves music, good writing and likes to read history, and Private Eye! He has also always enjoyed cycling.
Richard teaches at Yogawest on Friday mornings: 10>12noon (Intermediate 2).
