Friends of the Heart Faculty

Senior Teacher and Director of FoH

Richard Johnson

In 1975, after completing a hatha yoga teacher training course, Richard decided to do a 3-month self retreat, because he knew he still knew nothing of spiritual practice. He was introduced to his first meditation teacher, Kema Ananda, the day after this self-retreat ended. Since then Richard has undertaken many retreats in the Theravada Vipassana tradition with the teachers of the Insight Meditation Society of Barre, Mass and spent a year on volunteer staff there. He was part of the Toronto Vipassana Community helping to organize retreats. Richard has been a student of Catherine Rathbun (Lama Jetsun Yeshe) since 1990. Richard has been teaching yoga and meditation at Friends of the Heart since 1999, and recently assumed the role of Senior Teacher and Director.  Richard leads the development of course offerings and is involved in all aspects of operating Friends of the Heart. 

Richard has been a nurse since 1987, working in wound care (Hyperbaric Medicine) and in intensive care. He has also practised Traditional Chinese Medicine in private practice, but is no longer doing so. Richard and Joyce Allen are married, with exuberant son and dog at home; as Zorba the Greek said: 'the whole catastrophe'.

Friends of the Heart Instructors...

• Catherine Jetsun Yeshe (Founding Teacher)
• Gwen Robart
• Myra Willis
• Richard Johnson