Teacher Spotlight: Conor O’Bar
Approaches:
Breathwork, Sound healing + Qi-gong
On the timetable:
Tuesday, 7.30 pm
Workshops:
Bio-Dynamic Breathwork, Bio-Flow, Chakra Connection
Find Conor:
@conch_obar
I’m very lucky that I get to incorporate my love of music into my classes and workshops, whether it’s dynamic tracks to encourage movement, emotive tracks to encourage deeper feeling or using live instruments to aid relaxation. I also like to drop some of my own music into the mix, it’s always such a pleasure to see people’s bodies respond to music that I’ve created.
But having said that, I’m also a big fan of silence.
Who inspires you ?
The two people who currently inspire me the most are my parents. Their (and my) world was drastically turned upside down due to an accident my mum experienced. All their plans have been left and they’ve had to completely readjust to a new way of living. Even though my mum now has limited movement, she still notices and shares the joyful moments that life brings her. My dad cares for her yet still manages to work as a personal trainer and running coach. They inspire me to live fearlessly, to embrace each new moment, but most of all to not take life so seriously.
What energises you?
It may come as a surprise to you but I often don’t have a constant flow of internal energy. I consider my energy to be precious, so I’ve trained myself to conserve it so I can tap into it when needed. This mindset has helped me understand what energises me, and this is really the reason why I study Qi Gong aka Energy Practise.
Alongside the movements and the things that I consume such as liquids, foods, breath and sunlight, the thing that energises me the most is other people. We’re all exchanging energy and being around people who are flowing with loving creative joyful energy help me cultivate mine more.
Music or no music in a class?
A big YES from me.
I consider music and sound to be an incredible support in my classes and in particular during the trauma release workshops, but because it can have a big effect on the individual from the emotional layers down to the cellular level, I’m quite particular about what music or instruments gets played.
What has been your biggest lesson when it comes to practice?
Growing up I remember adults telling me ‘practise makes perfect’. Now that I am deeply engaged in my various practices, I feel that perfection is a made-up concept that promotes a sense of inadequacy. Wherever we are in our practice is where we need to be. The word practice to me implies an ongoing endeavour that doesn’t have an ending. To me, practice is about creating habits, and more practice reinforces these habits.
Some of my teachers that influenced me the most encouraged me to add my own flair to the practice whilst I was learning from them, and this has always stuck with me. It’s guided me to personalise my practise, which in turn has made me more likely to turn the practise into a habit.
