About Sackies

Sackies Skalkos is the founder of Yoga Republic est. 2004,a busy and friendly yoga studio in the heart of Cork city. He started practicing yoga over 20 years ago on his first visit to India and has been teaching worldwide for 15 years. A lifetime health enthusiast he began his career at the age of 12 as a semi-professional swimmer. Sackies worked in the U.K for the British Council as a health adviser and yoga teacher for many years. His students in the U.K varied from dedicated yogis, rugby players, cyclists, tennis and squash players, office workers, the visually impaired, students with mental illnesses and teenagers. 

His previous study of anatomy, physiology and bio-mechanics contribute to his deep understanding of posture and alignment and his years of experience have given him immense knowledge on how different physiques react to asanas (postures). He teaches a dynamic and fast flowing style of yoga: Kyma Vinyasa (unique to Yoga Republic).

Vinyasa yoga is an evolving form of traditional yoga that focuses on integrating breath and movement, awareness and alignment, strength and flexibility and your practice with your daily life-style.

Originating within the yogic teachings of Sri T. Krisnamarcharya and linked to a dynamic and fast flowing dance, asanas (postures) are connected through breath for a physically and mentally transformative effect.

Sackies’ teaching style reflects his studies in all the branches of Vinyasa (Ashtanga and Iyengar) – his studies of Ashtanga Vinyasa, contribute the dynamic and fast pace to his teaching, while his studies in Iyengar yoga contribute an emphasis on posture and alignment. He believes that yoga should evolve with modern life styles and the approach should vary day by day, month by month, season by season and student to student…everyone is 
different, each moment will never be repeated again.. Sackies links the postures to compliment each other with emphasis on physical balance and mental well-being. He believes in and teaches with the words of his native
Greek philosophers in mind: 

"Healthy mind, in a healthy body" -Hippocrates