An Seomra’s Yoga Instructors

Paul Hardiman is the Co-Owner & Co-Founder of An Seomra Yoga Galway. Paul did his first yoga class in Seattle in 1994. He had previously studied martial arts and even represented Ireland internationally in all style Karate before shifting his focus toward yoga. What he didn’t realise was he was already doing ‘yoga’ while preparing for his martial arts classes, as he didn’t yet know the name for what he was experiencing.

Paul continued his practice in Los Angeles, working on a variety of yoga styles with other fun instructors Steve Ross and Kathryn Budig. This eventually lead to his own teacher training with Yogaworks in Santa Monica, which connected him to Anne Van Valkenburg, who is still involved in facilitating workshops here in Ireland at An Seomra Yoga.

Paul's personal teaching style is influenced by Yogaworks, as well as the intuitive teachings of Erich Schiffman; the curiosity of Kira Sloan and Chad Hamrin; the dynamic movement of Jamie Elmer and Robyn Ann Schumacher; and the traditional teachings of Srivatsa Ramaswami.

He is also trained in Thai Yoga Massage Therapy, under the teachings of Krishnatakis, and Pau Castellsagué – who introduced and taught the first Acroyoga classes here in Ireland at An Seomra Yoga. Paul is also a certified Pilates instructor.

His classes tend to be strong and energetic with a Qi Gong influence, yet consistently lighthearted approach. He continues to regard the following 4 pillars as the principles of his teachings: 1) Yin & Yang Yoga, 2) Somatic Movement, 3) Thai Massage, 4) Pilates.

Paul Hardiman

Katrina Connolly

A Galway native, Katrina Connolly initially began to practice Yoga after moving to Seattle in 1994 as a remedy for back pain. Her love of yoga was sparked in that very first class.

Over what turned into 12 years in Santa Monica, California, she had the opportunity to practice and study Yin, Iyengar, Hatha, Vinyasa Flow, Kundalini, Restorative and Pre-natal Yoga throughout Los Angeles.

Her teaching style bares the imprint of this wide range of yoga studied over the years. Her classes have a strong emphasis on the breath, and allowing the breath to guide the practice safely to a more supple and strong body, while maintaining a calm mind. Given the severe back pain, as well as a diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis in her early twenties, Katrina has always approached yoga from a therapeutic standpoint.

Katrina is also a post-primary teacher, a qualified Thai Yoga Massage Therapist and is studying Qi Gong.

Laurence McEllin

Ashtanga & Hybrid-Style Classical Haṭhayoga Yoga
I came across Yoga just over 30 years ago in my home town of Kiltimagh, County Mayo through my attempted study of a book by André Van Lysebeth (1919-2004) called Yoga Self-Taught.
In 2006, after many years of travelling in the Americas and trying out various other things e.g., Tai Chi on moving to Galway I returned to yoga and have been at it ever since.
In 2016 I received my Yoga certificate of training in Mysore, India and in 2022 acquired my teaching certificate in meditation.
At the moment, I have the privilege to offer two types of classes at An Seomra, meditation and meditative yoga (a gentle style that combines what I hope is some of the best of yoga and meditation).
Currently, I am studying with yogicstudies.com on their Advanced Certificate Program but I also enjoy at times studying the history, philosophy and politics of Buddhism.
Lisa Barry

Vinyasa Flow Classes
Brenda Flannery

Yoga Instructor
Sophie Fitzpatrick

Yoga Instructor
Sophie is a dedicated 200-hour yoga teacher and forever student. She incorporates a combination of traditional ashtanga yoga with creative intuitive vinyasa flows. Striking a balance between energising movement and calming centring practices, she incorporates somatic tools and breath work to calm the nervous system. Sophie aims to bring cultural awareness, respect and sensitivity to her classes. Her classes welcome messy minds, day dreamers, over thinkers, rest enthusiasts, and presence seekers.
Her wholesome class is designed to shake the dust, wake up the body and get your energy aligned. This class is suitable for all levels, with variations to suit beginners and seasoned yogis. We will begin with with some energising movement, including heart opening bends and twists to ring out any tension built up during the week. Then we will balance everything out with some breath work and meditation to soothe the nervous system and cultivate presence. A balm for the soul, a hug for the mind and a great way to kick off the weekend.
Caoilfhionn de Bhaldraithe - Yin Yoga

Caoilfhionn began her yoga journey in 2007 and completed her 200hr and 300hr Advanced Yoga teacher training with Green Lotus Yoga in 2019/2020. She has trained with Puja Sue Flamm and Kitty Maguire in Restorative Yoga, which focuses on supporting the menstrual cycle for women. She also undertook a training which focused on Accessibility in the yoga community through Inclusion with the Yoga Mandala Project, which works specifically to support refugees and survivors of trauma. In addition, she has completed a 100hr Yin Yoga teacher training with Grace Tempany of DubYin Yoga, and a Children’s Yoga teacher training with Melissa Curtis in the Elbowroom, Dublin.
A primary school teacher and a polyglot from Connemara, Caoilfhionn is a regular gig-goer whose other passions include dance and travelling. Her aim through her Yin classes is to guide and empower you to access your inner calm, strength and wisdom, tune into and listen to your heart, gain a deeper understanding of yourself and reconnect to your authentic self..
Yin Yoga class description: An opportunity to slow the mind and body down, focus inwards and find stillness in a calm space. Poses are held for long steady passive holds, helping to target the deeper connective tissues, ligaments, joints and fascia. Longer holds stimulate the myofascial meridians, as understood in Traditional Chinese Medicine, helping to remove blockages and regulate the body’s flow of energy or qi. Options and variations are offered in order for students to practise according to their own ability and body.
Trudy Kelliher

Trudy first discovered yoga while living in Vancouver 14 years ago, loving the huge variety of styles taught there.
In 2014, Trudy completed her 200hr vinyasa yoga teacher training under Vidya Heisel of Frog Lotus international. Since then she has also completed trainings in pre/post natal yoga, traveled to Mysore, India to practice with Vinay Kumar of PranaVashya and trained with David Kyle of the Rocket family as well as attending numerous workshops with international teachers.

Trudy’s classes are strong and energetic with a strong emphasis on the breath.
Deirdre O'Toole

Deirdre first experienced Yoga in Darfur, Sudan, Africa in 2003, while volunteering in international humanitarian aid with Goal International. She has been practicing ever since and completed her first yoga teacher training with Green Lotus Yoga in 2009/2011. Deirdre is teaching since 2011.
In 2012, she travelled to Mysore, India and studied with Vinay Kumar, Prana Vashya Yoga completing a twelve week intensive. She studied somatic movement workshops with living somatics.
Most recently Deirdre studied with Sarah Powers, Insight Yoga, completing her primary and secondary teacher trainings in 2020 and 2021 and is continuing her studies with her. In 2022, she completed a teacher training in Yoga for the stages of menopause.
With a lifelong commitment to learning, personal development and evolution of consciousness, she studied with the Hoffmann Institute, completing their transformational weeklong intensive, she is a certified mindfulness teacher. She is a certified menopause expert and is currently studying Ho-oponopono (Hawaiian healing method) and Attune to Full Potential (AFP) with Potential Trainings. She is a Reiki level 1 practitioner.
Deirdre set up Yoga Ripples in 2012. The name is a reflection of her island heritage, coming from Inishturk Island Co Mayo and the style of yoga she teaches. It means sending positive energy waves out into the world from within. In her view, Yoga with all its components facilitates the creation of this inner sanctuary. Her approach is that the life we life and experience is an inside job. Off the mat Deirdre enjoys open floor dancing/ 5 rhythms, sea swimming, forest walks, hill walking, nutrition, travel, culture, people, and regular personal retreats…
Deirdre is also a registered general nurse and occupational health nurse specialist.
Jenny Grace

Jenny started practicing yoga in 2015 when symptoms of her chronic health condition were severely impacting her quality of life. Starting with gentler yoga practices, overtime she began to see the positive benefits on her body & mind and how this improved her quality of life through improved sleep, increased energy, strength & well-being.
She completed her 200Hr Vinyasa Yoga Teacher Training in 2021 and completed further training in Restorative Yoga & Yoga for the Stages of Menopause later that year. She has taught in Limerick since completing her training and now teaches in Galway after making the move back to her favourite city.
Jenny has a Masters Degree in Social Psychology and was pursuing PhD training in Clinical Psychology when her health had other plans for her. However she views this as a silver lining as she now gets to share the power of yoga with others which she has experienced first-hand. She firmly believes she would not be where she is today without yoga.
Weaving her psychology training into her classes she aims to provide a holistic approach to health through the ancient practices of yoga & modern science. She offers strong Vinyasa flows & gentler yoga classes that incorporate restorative poses to create space to support both body & mind.