Meet Sue
A dedicated student and teacher for over 20 years, Sue Paffrath brings accessible and practical yoga practices to her students at every stage of life. Deeply inspired by the landscapes and rhythms of Ireland, Sue blends her love of Ashtanga, Buddhist meditation, sea swimming, and hiking into her teaching. She has a special passion for supporting her students moving through times of change: whether that’s returning to a practice, navigating life stressors, or seeking renewed strength and confidence. With warmth and adaptability, Sue meets each student where they are, creating space for transformation in both body and mind.
Sue’s words...
I first encountered yoga over 20 years ago, but it was in 2007 – when I discovered the Ashtanga Vinyasa system - that my practice truly began to deepen. Since then, yoga has become an important grounding presence in my life. My primary practice is Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga, a method that continues to challenge and enrich me in equal measure. Over the years, I have had the privilege of studying with renowned international teachers such as Danny Paradise, David Williams, David Swenson, Kino Mac Gregor, Laruga Glasser, Ana Forest, Jason Cranwell, and Granville Cousins.
I whole heartedly believe in the transformative nature of yoga, not just as a physical discipline, but as an integral spiritual and healing practice. As both a student and teacher, I have experienced the many enriching aspects yoga offers; stress relief and relaxation, improved strength and flexibility, increased focus, concentration, clarity and equanimity, greater breath and body awareness, and in general, better coping skills with life’s stresses.
Since 2013, I have been teaching yoga part-time following completion of a 500 hour Diploma in Yoga Teaching with Yoga Therapy Ireland, which is accredited by Yoga Alliance. I later undertook an additional 16 month training to become a certified Yoga Therapist, allowing me to work one to one with people, or in small groups, supporting individuals with specific physical, emotional, or mental health needs. A meaningful outcome from this training, is that I was able to spend a year teaching yoga to a group of recovering homeless alcoholics within the Dublin Simon Community and am presently teach chair yoga to a group of people with pulmonary fibrosis. In my professional life, I work as a trainee Renal Nurse Practitioner and hold an honours degree in Natural Science from Trinity College and an MSc. In Disease Biology.
In my spare time, I am an avid sea swimmer and love getting out into the hills. I have a daily meditation practice and regularly attend retreats. Last year, I was very lucky to get a place on the renowned author and meditation teacher Paramananda’s 2 week ‘Total Immersion’ retreat. Both a challenging and very enjoyable experience.
I have also completed specialist teacher trainings with Niamh Daly of Yinstinct and Petra Coveney of Menopause Yoga. Their work particularly in supporting women through the changing landscape of Menopause, has had a profound impact on me. As a woman in my 50s, navigating my own hormonal changes, I have become strongly aware of how lonely and misunderstood this phase of life can be. So many women, including myself have silently faced these changes in isolation, without the support or language to name and discuss what we are going through. For this reason, I feel strongly called to be part of a movement to bring Menopause into an open conversation, free from shame or stigma.
I am passionate about creating safe, informed spaces where my yoga students can reconnect with their bodies, honour their life transitions, and feel truly seen and supported.
'I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel'
Maya Angelou