Gabreil Azoulay Biography

Gabriel Azoulay was born and raised in Jerusalem, Israel. While his mother was born and raised in New York City by a Jamaican father and an Austrian Jewish mother, his father was the first  child to be born in Israel, after his parents traveled from Morroco .  Gabriel moved to Durham, NC, when he was seventeen, and at the age of twenty, while attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, a book by Tom Robbins sparked an interest in India’s religious studies. His first book on yoga, checked out from the University library was Patanjali’s sutras, from there Gabriel embarked on a journey which is never ending.\

In 1990, Chapel Hill, NC, the closest any one had heard of Yoga was in the word yogurt, and Gabriel found himself studying with books, videos and the encouragement of a Tai Chi family friend.  Throughout the years he has accumulated and attended various yoga training, developed and lead teacher training, supported, collaborated, consulted and created yoga studios and programs nationally and internationally. Having spent almost 2 years daily practicing with Tim Miller, Gabriel has lived in Mysore, India for 6 months, taught and lived throughout Thailand for 18 months, and continues to expand his teaching, practice and learning both with master teachers, books, the internet and quiet meditations.

While in India Gabriel studied with back bending master Vinay Kumar, leading daily Yin yoga practices out of his home center, as well as teaching ashtanga workshops and intensives. While in Thailand he was instrumental in developing the first Hot Yoga Teacher Training for Absolute Yoga, Asia’s largest yoga company.  While enhancing local teacher knowledge and experience.

In 2004, he set out to study withThai Massage master Pichest Boonthume, and on his first trip to Mysore, India he practiced and studied with Thai Massage teacher Enzo Coribello.  Those months inspired a new Yogic direction, with the evolution of Thai Yoga. A yoga practice designed for two people, inspired from traditional Thai Massage. This yogic direction became a reality with Rejuvenation Thai Massage and Yoga Center in Scottsdale, AZ. After 12 months, of operation Rejuvenation shifted its business direction with the creation of Edge Body System, a unique system founded on the principles of yoga and Thai Massage as they have been tested and applied at Rejuvenation Center.

Gabriel’s broad background in teaching, training, and practicing are well-known for their ability to inspire his students’ practice, skills and talent. His book on yoga, Breath: the Yogic Prime sheds light on the experiences he and his students have shared both on and off the mat.

An international authority on yoga and Thai yoga massage, Gabriel’s commentary has appeared in Yoga Magazine in the United Kingdom and Sports Illustrated for Women, FitYoga and yogitimes in the United States. He has also been featured on numerous television and radio broadcasts. Gabriel is currently working on a Thai yoga massage book for children and adults.

While Gabriel credits Pichet Boonthume as his major influence oh Thai Yoga, Tim Miller, Anthony ‘Prem’ Carlisi, Lisa Schrempp, David Deida, Vincenzo ‘Enzo’ Coribello are a few of the direct teachers which have influenced both his practice, his teaching and approaches to the mat.

While Gabriel is not affiliated with Yoga Alliance, he is elligble for grandfather teacher status having been teaching for over 15 years. As an international traveled and instructor, Gabriel’s careerwas first registered with CA Yoga Association. One of these days he will fill out the complicated paper work for the official letters at the end of his name.