Dennis’ Biography

About Dennis Dean

Dennis Dean, founder of the Yoga Mandiram (YM), is honored by the recognition and devotion of his long-term students – both nationally and internationally – who follow his spiritual approach to the Hatha yoga practice. Blending personal experience with his in depth studies of eastern philosophy, Dennis’ teaching style guides each student to live every moment fully from a place of compassion, respect, and wisdom.  Throughout his life, Dennis has experienced a variety of physical and emotional lessons. It is from these life experiences, and his academic studies with renowned teachers, that he developed his Mandiram™ style of yoga. He made the conscious decision to only teach what he knows empirically and what has been an integral part of his own personal growth process.

Founded in 2001, The Yoga Mandiram™ is the 4th yoga studio Dennis has built and the 3rd that he has owned. As a committed teacher of yoga asana and meditation, Dennis continues to help students to open their hearts, minds and bodies in the safe, soul-nurturing environment of the Yoga Mandiram. Dennis is well known for his finely tuned instruction; deep understanding of body awareness; safe, hands-on adjustments; and is highly respected by his students and renowned yoga teachers throughout the world.

Evolutionary History

As a child, Dennis’s parents were quick to see that his interests in health and eastern philosophy were more than a passing phase. Intrinsic signs of his connection with eastern philosophy were represented early on in his life. His favorite toy was a brass statue of the Buddha (which sits in his Yoga Shala to this day) and his first ever drawing was the outline of a human figure with the universe and planets drawn within it. His parents, being very alternative and holistic in their thinking, felt that enrolling Dennis in an alternative school would be extremely beneficial in nurturing these interests. They enrolled him and his sister Deana Dean in ISA i.e. Institute for the Study of Attention. The founder/principal was world-renowned teacher and scholar, Lester Ingber (Ingber.com), who would prove to change Dennis’ life forever.

Dennis began the first of his apprenticeships at the age of 16, and spent his next six years studying the “Wu” style of Tai Chi, and the traditional Japanese discipline of Shotakan Karate under guidance of Mr. Ingber. Dennis quickly grasped a deep understanding of both the conventionally strong discipline of Shotakan Karate and the graceful subtle energy flow of the Wu style of Tai Chi (the long form). This non-violent, intelligent fashion of teaching led to Dennis’ own body, mind, and spirit connection; and his ability to read body disposition, and his intuitive interpretation of body movement and physiology. He began teaching directly under Mr.Ingber’s guidance at the dojo in Solana Beach, California.

It was during this period that Dennis was introduced to the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga by one of the Karate School’s students Margret Kuhn. Manju Patabhi Jois, son of the late, great Sri K. Patabhi Jois, had a small Yoga Shala (studio) down the street from the Shotakan Karate dojo where Dennis studied and taught. The practice of Ashtanga Yoga provided an opportunity to bring balance to his Karate practice.

Paralleling the above apprenticeship, Dennis began working under Jim Kuhn learning the art of carpentry and custom home building. Eventually, he became a well-known finish carpenter and supervisor in San Diego County working on his own, as well as with the prestigious company Woodhouse-Wardell Builders.

From 1993 to 2003, Dennis spent his time traveling, teaching, and studying around the world with teachers of many different styles. This included a several trips to South India to study with Sri K. Patabhi Jois, as well as over nine years devoted to an intensive daily yoga practice, study and internship with Tim Miller at the Ashtanga Yoga Center. These years of experience empowered Dennis with a secure sense of how to work with a variety of people and cultures, and provided him with a well-rounded knowledge base to draw from both personally and professionally.

Although Dennis’ initial yoga asana apprenticeship was in the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga tradition, it was during this time that he was introduced to the Iyengar System of Yoga via his Ashtanga Vinyasa teacher, Tim Miller (Ashtanga Yoga Center, Encinitas, California) and Richard Freeman (Yoga Workshop in Boulder, Colorado). This was a key factor in his ability to draw upon the wisdom of Iyengar Yoga and the Viniyoga practice to help facilitate a deeper balance within his own Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga practice, and later becoming an integral part of the development of his Mandiram™ Yoga and it’s philosophy, methodology and curriculum.

Seva (service) has always been an important part of Dennis’ lifestyle, and he has been a strong support in the community by assisting adolescents in their search to cope with stress, stay off drugs and find healthier alternative activities through yoga and meditation (ie., the Foundation for Tobacco Free Youth and the Sean O’Shea Foundation). Committed to raising the consciousness of the world, Dennis has provided demonstrations and lectures at high schools, rehabilitation centers, colleges, and many other organizations throughout the western U.S.

Throughout his life, Dennis’ passionate studies have included renowned and respected teachers such as:  His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Eckhart Tolle, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Tim Miller, Stacy McCarthy (Yoga Namastacy & The Yoga School of Business) Jack Cornfield, BKS Iyengar, TKV Desikachar, Ana Forest, Georg Feuerstein, Erich Schiffmann, Joel Kramer, John Scott, Richard Freeman, Sharon Salzberg, Gary Kraftsow, Rama Berch, Gabriel Halpern, Gabriella Giubilaro, John Friend, Anne Grover-Pace, and the list goes on and on.

Other Information About Dennis

Dennis is not politically associated with any group or style of yoga (aside from his own Mandiram Yoga).

The philosophical basis that Dennis teaches from is primarily the Yoga Sutras of Patanjali and his understanding of Buddhism; however, he doesn’t exclude any other philosophies that he feels pertain to getting the message across.

Dennis is currently working with his team to develop and build the social networking, educational web site: PranaYama.com (owned by the Yoga Mandiram.)