I'm Andrew McGonigle, a former medical doctor, anatomy educator, author and founder of Doctor Yogi. I help yoga teachers teach with more confidence and clarity through evidence-based education, online courses, workshops and my weekly Yoga Anatomy Insights newsletter, read by more than 11,000 teachers worldwide.
Andrew McGonigle, Doctor Yogi. Medically trained yoga anatomy teacher.
My Story
Teaching is in my blood and is something that has always come naturally to me. My parents were both keen teachers during their working lives and I remember early on in my life setting up an after-school homework club, where I helped younger students with their studies.
My love of interacting with people in a meaningful way combined with a passion for science drew me towards a career in medicine. I was honoured to attend Medical School at The University of Newcastle Upon Tyne and graduated in 2005 at the age of 23.
Although I studied anatomy extensively during medical school and worked briefly as a junior doctor in Sunderland Royal Infirmary, I found myself questioning whether a career in conventional medicine was the right path for me. Eventually I made the difficult decision to leave the profession and explore a different direction.
In 2006 I moved to Sydney and began a new chapter working for the British fashion brand Paul Smith. It was a dramatic change of pace, but one that introduced me to new perspectives, creativity and, perhaps most importantly, yoga.
Around this time I began practising Transcendental Meditation and developed a growing interest in yoga and spirituality. After several years of dedicated practice, I completed an Ashtanga Yoga teacher training with Paul Dallaghan at Yoga Thailand.
Discovering my true calling:
After moving to London in 2009, I worked at the triyoga headquarters for almost ten years. Alongside my managerial role I began teaching small yoga classes and completed a holistic massage diploma with Quantum Metta. Everything changed when a student casually asked why I wasn't teaching anatomy. The thought had genuinely never occurred to me. That simple question sparked what became a complete career shift.
From that point onwards I immersed myself in studying anatomy through a completely different lens, not anatomy for medical students, but anatomy that was practical, relevant and accessible for yoga teachers. I enrolled in hands-on dissection courses, spent countless hours revisiting anatomy texts, attended lectures, listened to podcasts and spoke about anatomy to anyone who would listen. I had found my niche.
Writing, teaching and sharing what I've learned:
Over the years I have been fortunate to teach anatomy and physiology on yoga teacher trainings, workshops and continuing education programmes throughout the UK and internationally. I have also contributed chapters to several yoga education books and authored two of my own books: Supporting Yoga Students with Common Injuries and Conditions (2021) and The Physiology of Yoga (2022).
Today I teach through live workshops, online courses, teacher trainings, retreats and my weekly Yoga Anatomy Insights newsletter.
My mission is simple: To make anatomy and physiology practical, accessible and empowering for yoga teachers.
I am deeply grateful to the many teachers, mentors and students who have influenced my journey, including Hamish Hendry, Paul Dallaghan, Eileen Gauthier, Kristin Campbell, Anna Ashby, Richard Rosen and Sally Kempton.
Thank you for being part of the journey.
I hope our paths cross at a workshop, training, retreat or inside the Yoga Anatomy Insights newsletter.
