James Murphy

James Murphy began practicing Iyengar Yoga in1988 and was an integral part and founding member of the first Iyengar Yoga Institute of New York in 1992.  He has made over 25 extended trips to India to study with B.K.S. Iyengar and Prashant and Geeta Iyengar. James began his study of Iyengar Yoga with Mary Dunn and Kevin Gardiner after a ten-year career with the Alwin Nikolais Dance Theater. He assisted Mary until the time of her passing and is devoted to continuing her legacy and the work they began at IYAGNY. 

Certified at Level 4, James teaches a full range of classes – from Level 1 to Level 4, Specific Needs, and a free weekly class for the LGBQT+ community. He mentors and trains aspiring teachers through the Institute’s Teacher Education program. Currently James continues his leadership role as Dean by bringing in guest teachers, working to create evolving programs, and fostering an active interchange of teachers and practitioners in our Institute’s three-state area.

In addition to his study of yoga, James is keenly interested in people and cultures around the world. Providing yoga study and experiences in people-to-people understanding, he leads groups to such fascinating places as Cambodia, Bali, and Turkey through “Yoga Out There.” 

A yoga practitioner of unusual integration and ability, James is featured in the Yoga Journal book, Yoga, has appeared in the Yoga Journal calendar, and has been interviewed for numerous articles in national magazines. Describing his experiences in classes in India, he says, “Besides gaining invaluable insights into the physical aspects of yoga, I observed how Mr. Iyengar works on a psychological level to challenge students to go beyond their limits and break through their fears.” Through rhythm and sequencing, James creates an experience of integration in his classes that is both challenging and sensitive to the subtler aspects of the practice.