Yoga undoubtedly has crossed all boundaries be it mental, physical, spiritual or geographical. Its magnificence has persuaded infinite people to make yoga their way of life and inspire others fulfilling a vision of holistic health through yoga. India is the birthplace of yoga and is known to produce stalwarts with impeccable yoga acumen. The way they fulfill their social responsibility of spreading yogic light across the globe, similarly, yoga icons from different parts of the world have joined the mission of taking yoga to the world.
hellomyyoga acknowledges the initiatives of Indian & International yoga teachers for their efforts round the year to acquaint millions with yoga. The second half of this year will be quite fascinating and eventful with international yoga icons sharing their yogic finesse and wisdom in India. It will be a magnificent and multi-dimensional perspective of yoga as viewed from the icons from different cultural backgrounds. Moreover, it will be a unique fusion of different cultures sharing a common interest in yoga and yogis empowering practitioners with yogic prowess.
The stage and the calendars are set to welcome some of the leading yoga icons:
1. Robert Moses:
A native of South Africa with 45 years of experience in yoga and Vedanta. He is the disciple of Swami Vishnudevananda whom he met in 1972 and stayed with him for 22 years serving as Advanced Yoga Teacher Trainer and directed many centers and ashrams of International Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Centers. He and his wife Meenakshi will be guiding through Hatha Yoga and Pranayama classes at Yoga of Synthesis, a unique retreat organized by Namarupa. It will be a combination of Asana, Pranayama, Meditation, Kirtan, Ayurveda, and Homa with an insight into their roots.
Location – Kerala, India,
2. Louise Ellis:
A direct disciple of Sri K Pattabhi Jois and one of those rare women who were certified by him to teach Ashtanga Yoga. Louise Ellis is one of those remarkable yoga teachers who gathered wisdom from traditional yoga teachers like Swami Vishnudevananda. With over 40 years of teaching Louise is adept in all forms of yoga as she began her yogic journey in 1971 with Hatha yoga, Pranayama, and Philosophy. Her classes are a perfectly sequenced flow beginning with Mysore classes in the morning with Vinyasa classes on Fridays. Afternoon classes held twice a week dedicated to meditation, breath, and relaxation. Moon days and Saturdays days off.
Location – Rishikesh,
3. Dr. Robert Svoboda:
Dr. Robert Svoboda is an exceptionally trained westerner from Texas, U.S. who graduated in Ayurveda as B.A.M.S from the University of Poona, India. He was awarded Ram Narayan Sharma Gold medal for Academic excellence in Ayurveda and earned a license to practice Ayurveda here. Moreover, he is well versed in the wisdom of Jyotish, Tantra and other traditional arts of India that are hard to comprehend and learn. He acquired unique wisdom and experience as a mentee of Aghori Vimalananda and also authored several books including a series titled Aghora wherein he has shared his experiences with his guru from 1975-1983. He will be guiding as a facilitator at Yoga of Synthesis retreat from October 9th to 11th 2019, Kerala.
4. John Scott:
John Scott from New Zealand is a remarkable trainer in Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga who set on his yogic journey in 1987 when he met his first teacher Derek in Greece at a time when his inner voice to self-exploration persuaded him to wander to different places. It was a turning point in his life as he met Sri K Pattabhi Jois through his teacher Derek and John Joined him to acquire wisdom in yoga till May 2009. The keen insight of John into the technical, physical and spiritual aspects of practice allowed him to become a source of light for seekers across the world. His students thus find his approach to teaching analytical, humorous, precise and supportive. John will be the Facilitator at Purple Valley Ashtanga Yoga Retreat, Goa, a power-packed 2-week retreat from 7th-20th December 2019.
5. Eddie Stern:
Eddie Stern is the iconic yoga trainer from New York. He is one of the few direct disciples of Sri K Pattabhi Jois who started learning Ashtanga Yoga, chanting, ritual and Philosophy with him since 1991 and continued till 2009. Eddie continues to study with Sri R Sharath Jois, the grandson of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. Eddie is a traditionally trained Ashtanga Yoga teacher with a contemporary frame of mind in analyzing modern-day problems and needs of people especially those dealing with lifestyle-related stress. Eddie is the founder of Broome Street Ganesha Temple in NYC. He is also the co-publisher of Hindu art and philosophy magazine, Namarupa. Eddie has penned down several books on his guru Sri K Pattabhi Jois including the translation of Sri Pattabhi’s treatise Yoga Mala and Ashtanga Yoga. Eddie also attempts to take yoga and meditation to unprivileged and vulnerable communities of young adults and youth through his Urban Yogis Project in NYC. Eddie will be guiding the Mysore style Ashtanga yoga workshop organized by True Bay India in Mumbai, Maharashtra from 5th-8th December 2019.
6. Lino Miele:
Lino Miele is a dedicated student of Sri K Pattabhi Jois who venerates him and passing on his Ashtanga Vinyasa teachings all across the world. Lino met his guruji in 1988 and developed a lasting teacher-student relationship. In 1993, he created a Federation of Ashtanga yoga Centres with his colleagues. Also, Lino’s zest and the quest for yogic wisdom persuaded him to research and write a detailed and precise manuscript on Ashtanga Vinyasa’s first and intermediate series under the guidance of Guruji in 1994. His dedication and years of internship earned him a certificate from Sri K Pattabhi Jois to teach. In 1996, he completed the book on Advanced A and B series and started giving demonstrations in Italy and European countries as directed by his Guru. Lino is the founder of five Ashtanga Yoga Schools in- Helsinki, Rome, Milano, Montana, Copenhagen and Buenos Aires where he visits annually. The longest class for two months takes place at Lino’s Centre in Kovalam Beach. This year his Intensive workshop will be held at Peacock Hotel, Kovalam Beach, Kerala from 8th December 2019 – 31st January 2020.
7. Rita Keller:
Rita Keller is an outstanding Iyengar Yoga Advanced Junior certified teacher awarded by Sri BKS Iyengar. She conducts Teacher Training programs in Europe as instructed by his Guruji. Moreover, she is the Founder and Director of Iyengar Yoga Academy, Rhein-Ahr gGmbh, and Ayurvedic Yoga Center, Samdosha in Germany. She continues to study with Ramamani Iyengar Yoga School in Pune. Rita has co-authored books like Iyengar Yoga for Motherhood and Iyengar Yoga for Menopause with Dr. Geeta S Iyengar and Dr. Kerstin Khattab. Rita is the carrier of immense wisdom and teaching acumen that allows her students to reach profound levels of practice and learning with a comprehensively guided approach. She will be guiding all through the retreat organized by Bellur Iyengar Yoga Center, Karnataka from 7th -18th January 2020.
8. Faeq Biria:
An adroit Iyengar yoga trainer, Sricharan Faeq Biria was the direct disciple of Guruji Sri BKS Iyengar since 1992 and gathered yogic wisdom under him for 36 years. Once his soul absorbed the essence of Guruji’s teachings, he earned the highest certificate of Iyengar yoga from Guruji. Moreover, he assisted Guruji in editing his books and also chosen by him as a torchbearer of Iyengar yoga across the world to introduce training and assessment programs in Iyengar yoga. Faeq earned the title of Ambassador of the Master. The principles and philosophy of Guruji is reflected in the approach of Faeq’s Teachings which are gracefully profound and infinitely beneficial. Faeq is the Director of Iyengar Yoga Center, Paris. He travels extensively to mentor thousands of yoga seekers leaving an indelible impression of his teachings and experience which is full of humor and yogic intellect. Faeq Bria is organizing a mesmerizing yoga retreat in Bellur, Karnataka under the aegis of BKS Iyengar Yoga Center from 9th-22nd February 2020.
9. Matthew Sweeney:
Matthew Sweeney is proficient in many arts like martial arts, Zen Shiatsu massage therapy, Gestalt therapy, Tantra, Transcendental Meditation, Buddhism, Advaita Vedanta, Okido Yoga Teacher training, Satyananda Yoga but is quite inclined towards Ashtanga Vinyasa yoga which he learned with deeper insights from Shri K Pattabhi Jois since 1994. Matthew ‘s perseverance of 24 years empowered him to explore the most minute details of Ashtanga yoga and his zeal for knowledge enabled him to connect his learning of anatomy, meditation, philosophies, therapies, and yoga in developing his own Vinyasa series and combining traditional approach with the one that is holistic and therapeutic. Matthew began teaching Ashtanga yoga in 1996 and believes in attending to individual needs and body structure while helping the practitioner to evolve his practice. He will be organizing one month course in Rishikesh from February 2nd-29th, 2020 which will be followed by Holi celebration and 2-3 weeks Satsang with Mooji.
10. David Garrigues:
David Garrigues is an adept Hatha Yoga teacher with 30 years of intense practice dedicated to asana and pranayama. He is the direct disciple of Shri K Pattabhi Jois since 1993 who received a teaching certificate from him in 1996 and later established the Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Seattle. He had the privilege of receiving wisdom from iconic yoga personas like Marie Svoboda who initiated him in yoga and Aadil Palkhivala, a senior BKS Iyengar teacher. David learned Surya Namaskars, Sanskrit chanting, and classical Indian vocal music. David is famous for his yoga instruction series on YouTube titled Asana Kitchen. He has authored several books like Vayu Siddhi: Secrets of Yogic Breathing, Maps and Musings and King of Asanas: Mastering Head Balance and Inversion Principles. David is organizing Kovalam Mysore Intensive from December 8th 2019-February 14, 2020
