Gyandev McCord

Minister, Hatha & Raja Yoga Teacher & Director of Ananda Yoga Teacher Training

Gyandev Rich McCord

Gyandev McCord

Gyandev’s 2007 teaching itinerary (in addition to courses at The Expanding Light, where Gyandev most often teaches.)

 

Gyandev McCord is a minister, Level 2 Hatha Yoga teacher, Raja Yoga teacher and the Director of the Ananda Yoga Teacher Training programs and Ananda Yoga Worldwide. The former Director of The Expanding Light, he has helped develop and refine the Ananda Yoga system and has shared it across the United States and Canada, as well as in Europe and India. Gyandev is also a founding board member of the Yoga Alliance, the non-profit organization that has developed standards for yoga teachers nationally. For many years he served on Yoga Alliance's Board of Directors and headed its Standards Committee (he still sits on the committee). He is an E-RYT 500 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher at 500 hours). Each February, Gyandev and his wife Diksha lead a Ayurvedic Healing and Yoga Retreat at a five-star Ayurvedic clinic in India.

He has coauthored two books (with Dr. Peter Van Houten): Yoga Therapy for Headache Relief and Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia and has produced two videos: Yoga for Busy People and Yoga to Awaken the Chakras, with a third – Yoga Therapy for Overcoming Insomnia – now in production.

Prior to embarking on the path of a yogi, Gyandev received a Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics from Stanford University. After deeply contemplating the purpose of life, Gyandev (which means “lord of wisdom”) decided to relinquish the outer science of math to explore the inner science of yoga. We are grateful that he did. Gyandev is a rare human being: he possesses a profound understanding of the spiritual depth available through yoga postures and has a powerful ability to communicate this to others. His students treasure his wisdom and commitment to the spiritual path, his respect for the divine in everyone, and his mischievous, playful sense of humor.

Gyandev says:

“I especially enjoy teaching experienced yogis and teacher trainees who are new to Ananda Yoga. They have such an awakening! Very often I'll hear, 'I thought I was a serious yogi, but now I see that I really didn't know what I was doing. I feel like a whole new world has opened up for me.' When people are able to add the power of Ananda Yoga to what they already know, wonderful things like that can happen. It's a joy and a privilege for me to be part of that process.”

From one of his students:

“Thank you, Gyandev, for tuning into the heart of Ananda Yoga. Through your dedication and commitment, many souls will be touched by true yoga. I have been touched – I am filled by my last experience and will come as soon as I am able for the next!”

– J.M., Cincinnati, Ohio