Update 14th feb 2018
New KPJAYI list
This post will end up as an update on my Ashtanga Authorisation 1980s to present post and page.
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Update: march 2018 Manju's list - see Appendix end of post
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Update 8th feb 2018 :
New KPJAYI list
This post will end up as an update on my Ashtanga Authorisation 1980s to present post and page.
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| http://www.kpjayshala.com/australia-and-new-zealand.html |
The new KPJAYI (not the Sharathjois.com) list is up.
There seems to be some consternation that this list, while reinstalling many of the names clumsily removed by Sharath, is at least one year old.
If it's the case that Sharath wasn't a director, as is being suggested ( we need actual confirmation of this from Saraswati), but merely an employee, then the list, all the names on it and the fees received surely belong to the KPJAYI, having the original link to direct to sharathjois.com is, I imagine, misappropriation.
Sharath is surely legally bound to release all information regarding teachers he has authorised on behalf of the KPJAYI and thus allow them to update the list ( that's probably still the case if he was a director) and remove the redirect from kpjayi.org to Sharathjois.com.
If Sharath intends to go his own way with sharathjois.com (the appropriation of the Jois name rather than his own family name is another question altogether) then I perhaps he needs to be starting from scratch and ‘authorise’ teachers in his own name rather than in that of the KPJAYI, it's messy.
There are more than enough lawyers in Ashtanga to confirm if this is the case.
No doubt many teachers, who consider Sharath their teacher will prefer to be on the sharathjois.com list rather than the KPJAYI list.
This is one reason I've supported the Ashtanga.com list and championed the idea of a non profit foundation, perhaps along the lines of the KYM ( Krishnamacharya Yoga Mandiram) with a public audit.
The Ashtanga Yoga Confluence last week did a good job I thought of dismissing lists altogether (I'm hoping to transcribe some of the comments from Richard, David, Dena, Tim and Manju if no videos appear sharable on YouTube) but also of showing how hurtful it was to be removed, a betrayal of the decades of devotion and dedication to practice and the passing along of the practice as well as the personal blessing of KPJ.
See this post for the backstory.
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Update: march 2018 Manju's list - see Appendix end of post
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Update 8th feb 2018 :
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Most recent Update: Sharath’s new Authorization/Certification code of conduct
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"Manju then told us how moved he is by all these teachers putting their heart and soul into sharing his father’s teachings with the world. He said that to teach, all we need is a blessing- not a piece of paper. He also reiterated that yoga is about looking within and knowing oneself, not getting a certificate. When asked about parampara, he said that traditionally parampara is about maintaining the patriarchal lineage but that his father treated all his students as his children, so all the teachers on the panel (and by extension, all of us) are part of the parampara".
This post will become a permanent page at the top of the blog, a work in progress attempt to chart the development of the Ashtanga Authorisation process alongside my other pages on Ashtanga Vinyasa History.
It's become a long post.
Original post 1980
Update 1. 2018
APPENDIX
to original post. Includes...
1. First ONLINE mention of the cost of studying at AYRI - Dec 2001
2. First mention ONLINE of Authorisation process - Ashtanga.com - Jan 2004
- Includes request for all teachers to sent in their Authorization letters to be replaced/renewed
"Starting in January 2003, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute will issue NEW official authorization letters to authorized Ashtanga Yoga teachers. All authorized teachers are requested to send their original authorization letters to AYRI in exchange for official authorization letters on AYRI letterhead. AYRI will then notify Ashtanga.com of the teachers' names that can be re-listed on Ashtanga.com. Failure to turn in your original authorization letter may result in removal from the teachers' list."
3. First ONLINE List of teachers - Ashtanga.com Jan 2004 (basis of the AYRI list)
4. First AYRI Authorisation details mentioned on AYRI website - May 2007
5. First AYRI ONLINE Authorised/Certified List - 22 Aug 08
APPENDIX 2
Jan 17th 2018 - Certified teachers removed from the list.
KPJAYI Authorised and Certified Teachers list Current Jan. 2018 )and Archive (pre June 2017).
APPENDIX 3 Jan 27th. 2018
Sharath’s new Authorization/Certification code of conduct
Update
Sharath's response to recent criticism on the kpjayi.org/Sharathjois.com website
Update
Original 1984 message to students from R. Sharath and Pattabhi jois on changes to Authorisation and the list.
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Original post
1980
"Guruji gathered us together for one final meeting. At this gathering he told us which westerners he felt were qualified to teach. It was a fairly short list—David, Brad, Nancy, Gary, and a few others. Since Brad had decided to move to Maui, he wanted me to take over his school in Encinitas. He asked Guruji, “What about Tim?” Guruji looked perplexed and said, “Who?” “Tim,” Brad repeated, and pointed at me. “Oh, that man,” Guruji replied, and studied me for a moment. “Yes, that man is some better, okay.”
And so, on the magical island of Maui in December of 1980, Guruji reluctantly granted me permission to teach. One stipulation was that I was to send him Guru Dakshina (one tenth of my earnings as a yoga teacher) every month. It seemed a small price to pay for his blessing".
Tim Miller 'Dust'.
2016
He explained that his father was very generous with his teachings—that his primary concern was with the practice spreading throughout the world because of his firm conviction that Ashtanga Yoga is the very best thing one can do to insure physical, mental, and spiritual health."
Tuesdays with Timji
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This from KPJAYI Certified Ashtanga teacher Mark Robberds on fb today addressed to the Yoga community
"Dear yoga community,
This is my Certification from KPJAYI or AYRI as it was called back then. I'm not sure if you are aware of this, but this is the only institute in the world that can 'Certify' Ashtanga teachers in the lineage of Sri K Pattabhi Jois. I am writing this because I've noticed that there are a lot of people selling Ashtanga Teacher Trainings to unknowing students out there. I have devoted the greater part of the last 20 years to this practice and tradition, for more than 15 years almost every dollar that I have earned I have put into my continuing education and study with my teachers. I am not alone in this: I have seen thousands of dedicated practitioners pouring their heart and soul into this practice day after day and year after year.
I am by no means a perfect human being, so I cannot throw the first stone - but I feel a need to voice my opinion about this since I've noticed that there are students going to Mysore and practicing with Sharath, and then going and running these Ashtanga Teacher Trainings. First of all, there are so many long time students that I know who could not get into the shala this year because it was too full - so those people are taking the place of others that are actually students of Sharath, and not just going to Mysore to get their photo taken outside of the shala, and then claiming to be Ashtanga teachers. Secondly, by 'Certifying' students you are making the word 'Certified' a joke, and you are lying to the students who are paying you.
Call it something else - Hatha, Vinyasa, Power, or clarify that you are teaching Patanjali's Ashtanga Yoga philosophy, but don't mislead people by calling it an Ashtanga Yoga Teacher Training.
I know there is a want and need for people to deepen their studies, so I would recommend you to go to the teachers who have been teaching for 20 years or more, like Richard Freeman, Tim Miller, Dena Kingsberg to name just a few. Don't go to these opportunists who are running a business out of the trainings - because no one can teach you to be an Ashtanga teacher overnight. It takes more than that. You need to be a student first and practice at the source or with teachers connected the lineage".
If you are a friend of Mark's on fb he includes a very cool photo of his certification that looks more 1970 than 2010.
I am very much in agreement with Mark's last paragraph but while I too feel that what characterises our practice of Ashtanga vinyasa is a dedicated daily practice over a period of years I do not feel that KPJAYI should have sole authority to Authorise teachers on behalf of the Ashtanga community ,which is the subject of my post below.
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UPDATE 1
2018
This from Mark Robberds on fb today ( I just checked, he posted this on his public page as well as his personal page).
Mark Robberds 9 hrs ·
"To end any speculation as to why I have been taken of the KPJAYI list I feel the need to tell my story. In April last year I noticed I had been taken off the list and then a friend informed me that there were rumours going around about it. I wrote to Usha in June to ask if it was true and she replied that, “Yes, we have been told that you are not teaching traditionally and mixing in different things and we are waiting for you to explain yourself”. I wrote back saying that I am teaching 5 days a week Mysore classes and one Led class per week. I teach chanting and philosophy and technique workshops to help students better understand the postures”. She wrote back saying, “Ok, I will inform Sharath.” The next thing I knew I was back on the list.
So, I’m not surprised that I am now off the list again, as anyone who reads my social media posts would know that I am sharing more than only traditional (KPJAYI) Ashtanga Yoga. So, I’m ok with it, as it is Sharath’s shala and his call. Of course it saddens me because I had such a good connection with him and I have so many fond memories of the times I had as his student. However I don’t agree with everything that is taught, for example I don’t believe that ‘catching’ your ankles or knees in a backbend should be a requirement. I also believe that just as we modify the practice for pregnant women or for disabled people, we need to modify the practice in some way, and address dysfunctional movement patterns in almost all individuals because we all come to the practice with imbalances - otherwise people end up getting injured and leave the practice feeling bitter. All I’ve ever tried to do is help my students practice in a more intelligent and sustainable way so that they can continue to enjoy the practice and integrate it into the rest of their lives for their lifetime. But, I accept that Sharath doesn’t have to agree with my approach, and therefore I accept his decision and I will move forward with no hard feelings. I will continue to share all that I can in the best way that I can and I hope that some of you will continue to practice with me despite what has happened. I also hope that there will be no ill feelings towards/from my friends in Mysore who continue to practice with Sharath and of course no ill will between Sharath and myself. In the end we are all doing the best we can in this life. Big love to all. ❤️ "
Just to illustrate the above...
And screenshots taken from May-June 2017 using Way back machine (internet Archive)
Just by glancing at the certified teachers in RED we can see that Dena Kingsberg, Mark Robberds, Ian Clarke, David Roche and John Scott are no longer on the list, and this is just to mention Certified teachers on the Australia and new Zealand region page.
If you are inclined to go through the other pages using way back machine, visit https://web.archive.org/ then paste in http://kpjayi.org/teachers-directory/asia/ Click on one of the dates from perhaps the end of last year, (30th December 2017 for example) then visit the other regions on the page that comes up - I might do this myself and add the screenshots to an appendix), feel free to add names you notice that have been removed in the comments section to this post.
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In the next few days/weeks I intend to include quotes by the early teachers, from different sources, relating to how they first received blessing to teach directly from Pattabhi Jois (beginning with the quote at the top of the post from Tim Miller).
Around the time of Pattabhi Jois' passing all teachers of Ashtanga were requested to send in their Authorisation letters or those letters by Pattabhi Jois giving his blessing to teach to have them replaced with new Authorisation letters on the new letterhead
"All authorised teachers are requested to send their original authorisation letters to AYRI in exchange for official authorisation letters on AYRI letterhead. AYRI will then notify Ashtanga.com of the teachers' names that can be re-listed on Ashtanga.com".
This was perhaps the first souring of the Ashtanga teacher authorisation process. It may go back further however, to the move from a general letter of blessing from Pattabhi Jois to a more formal Authorisation from the institute in the late 90s
"In addition to receiving certification or authorisation to teach, you are required to teach Ashtanga Yoga in the TRADITIONAL FORMAT. The traditional format consists of daily classes in the Mysore style in correct sequential order and without deviation from the traditional form of the asanas as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, South India. The traditional format includes the practices outlined in the Yoga Mala, Astanga Yoga by Lino Miele, and Ashtanga Yoga by John Scott. Explicitly indicate on your website and brochures that such traditional Ashtanga Yoga is offered". 2004
Currently I'm hearing, unofficially, that Authorisation follows a minimum of three extended visits to Mysore and a cost of more than a $1000 dollars paid to the institute for an authorisation letter which will expire after 2 years? I've heard Certification costs between $2000 and $4000.
Update - Certification is supposedly a one-time-only payment of somewhere from 2-3 lakh
Update - Certification is supposedly a one-time-only payment of somewhere from 2-3 lakh
1 lakh = 100,000 IRP
200,000 IRP = $3137.62
300,000 IRP = $4706.44
There seems to be a growing consensus of opinion among many that there needs to be a reevaluation of the Ashtanga Authorisation process.
The first AYRI ONLINE teachers list (2004) has 133 teachers mentioned
The current (2016) KPJAYI list has 547 teachers mentioned
(Africa -2, Asia-113, Australia and NZ- 40, Central and South America-26, Europe-131, North America-235)
( I'm hoping that under a promise of anonymity some recently authorised teachers may get in touch with me to reveal the ACTUAL cost of authorisation and certification to give a more up-to-date accurate figure as well as the cost of renewal, is it $1000 to renew your letter of authorisation each year, if so KPJAYI would supposedly be raking in $250,000 a year in renewal fees and growing all the time.)
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The first AYRI ONLINE teachers list (2004) has 133 teachers mentioned
The current (2016) KPJAYI list has 547 teachers mentioned
(Africa -2, Asia-113, Australia and NZ- 40, Central and South America-26, Europe-131, North America-235)
( I'm hoping that under a promise of anonymity some recently authorised teachers may get in touch with me to reveal the ACTUAL cost of authorisation and certification to give a more up-to-date accurate figure as well as the cost of renewal, is it $1000 to renew your letter of authorisation each year, if so KPJAYI would supposedly be raking in $250,000 a year in renewal fees and growing all the time.)
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Ashtanga.com picked up on the dramatic increase in teacher authorisation between 2002 and 2006
"Here we take a close look at the trend in Ashtanga yoga teachers during the past four years. It looks like the number of Ashtanga yoga teachers, authorized or certified by the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute grew by 179% from February 2002 to December 2006 (which means that we underestimated student growth earlier).
Not only that, but it also seems that the rate of teacher authorizations is increasing.
Number of teachers authorized or certified by AYRIDo you detect a trend?
This data comes from Ashtanga.com’s monthly newsletters which publishes new teachers’ names every month – we looked at all the newsletters from March 2002 until December 2006.
The total number of authorized Ashtanga teachers was 176 (including 34 certified teachers) as of December 29, 2006. Since early 2002, a total of 113 new teacher authorizations have been announced on Ashtanga.com".
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My personal feeling is that the KPJAYI can no longer claim that only authorisation by the institute is valid.
"The list on this website constitutes the official record of teachers approved by the KPJAYI, which is the only authority able to authorise or certify individuals to teach the ashtanga yoga method as taught by Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath. There are no teacher training programs approved by this Institute under any name (e.g., Ashtanga Teacher Intensive); teachers that are listed on this website are experienced practitioners and dedicated students who have shown a considerable degree of proficiency and appreciation of ashtanga yoga in its traditional form and who continue to study regularly at the KPJAYI."
KPJAYI's authorisation should be recognised as a letter of approval by THAT institute to teach on THEIR behalf rather than the only authority to grant authorisation, similar institutes, schools and programs of excellence around the world, led by senior teachers should perhaps be instigating their own programs of teacher training, mentoring and teacher development leading to approval to teach in their name that carries equal standing ( in many ways this is happening already).
I lean towards returning to the criteria and values represented by the Ashtanga.com referral teachers listing this was the list originally employed by AYRI until around 2007
"To obtain a teacher directory listing on Ashtanga.com, you must be referred by a senior Ashtanga yoga teacher who is listed on Ashtanga.com.
The determination of whether a person may be considered a "senior Ashtanga yoga teacher," for the limited purpose of referring junior teachers to the Ashtanga.com teacher list, is based on multiple factors, including: the number of years of consistent Ashtanga yoga practice and study with a teacher; which teacher (e.g., Sri K. Pattabhi Jois); special certifications within the lineage; number of years teaching Ashtanga yoga; works created (e.g., articles, books, videos, CDs and other instructional aids, yoga schools); and general standing within the yoga community. - full criteria HERE
The current Ashtanga.com list can be found here http://ashtanga.com/html/classes.html
But perhaps David Swenson had a better idea. At this years (2016) Ashtanga Yoga Confluence he (perhaps only half jokingly) suggested that rather, all students should be sent on a certification course to recognise good teachers rather than trusting in a piece of paper of authorisation.
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One suggestion
One suggestion
Bring together all the members of the Ashtanga Yoga Confluence panel from the last few years, forming a panel of trustees for a nonprofit International Ashtanga Federation. Approval to teach is given by the federation (for a nominal administration fee) to those who have practiced Ashtanga for a significant period and shown, perhaps through assisting, mentorship, or apprenticeship programs or course or past teaching experience that that they can pass on the practice safely and with integrity.
Other senior teachers will be encouraged to join the federation recommending perhaps students of their own who have already been through such a period of apprenticeship of have perhaps already been teaching.
Supposedly Lino Miele had the same idea a few years back and tried to set up a Federation of Ashtanga Centres.
"In 1993, he (Lino Miele) created the Federation of Astanga Yoga Centres with a few other dedicated students". http://www.linomiele.com/?pagina=aboutlino.php
Unfortunately he set a fee of 100-150 US$ to be affiliated per year and the idea never took off.
I feel it's important that any future federation be nonprofit with free affiliation (sell T-Shirts to cover administration if necessary) and with a board of respected trustees to remove any suggestion of centralisation.
Supposedly Lino Miele had the same idea a few years back and tried to set up a Federation of Ashtanga Centres.
"In 1993, he (Lino Miele) created the Federation of Astanga Yoga Centres with a few other dedicated students". http://www.linomiele.com/?pagina=aboutlino.php
Unfortunately he set a fee of 100-150 US$ to be affiliated per year and the idea never took off.
I feel it's important that any future federation be nonprofit with free affiliation (sell T-Shirts to cover administration if necessary) and with a board of respected trustees to remove any suggestion of centralisation.
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“I get it. Working this system is like counting dog years. 7 years of human practice = 1 ashtanga year.” Stanka Kordic
So my nine years is like a year and a bit in Ashtanga years, which puts it in perspective.
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APPENDIX
1. First ONLINE mention of the cost of studying at AYRI - Dec 2001
2. First mention ONLINE of Authorisation process - Ashtanga.com - Jan 2004
Includes request for all teachers to sent in their Authorization letters to be replaced/renewed
"Starting in January 2003, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute will issue NEW official authorization letters to authorized Ashtanga Yoga teachers. All authorized teachers are requested to send their original authorization letters to AYRI in exchange for official authorization letters on AYRI letterhead. AYRI will then notify Ashtanga.com of the teachers' names that can be re-listed on Ashtanga.com. Failure to turn in your original authorization letter may result in removal from the teachers' list."
3. First ONLINE List of teachers - Ashtanga.com Jan 2004
(basis of the AYRI list)
4. First AYRI Authorisation details mentioned on AYRI website - May 2007
5. First AYRI ONLINE Authorised/Certified List - 22 Aug 08
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1. Ashtanga Yoga Nilayam 15 dec 01
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois 876/1 First Cross Laxmipuram, 570004 Mysore Karnataka, India
Please include your full name, home address, arrival date, and duration of your stay.
The class fees are $350 US per month, with a $200 registration fee the first month. Please allow for a minimum stay of one month, however three months are recommended in order to have time to learn the practice properly. Food and lodging are not provided, but there are good hotels and restaurants nearby.
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Yoga Schools
David Life Certified Sharon Gannon Jivamukti Yoga Center 404 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003 OHIO Martha Marcom Joyful Practice Yoga 479 North Columbia Avenue Columbus, OH 43209 OREGON Vance Selover Gillian Lerner Portland Ashtanga Yoga 3736 N.E. 17th Avenue Portland, OR 97212 TEXAS David Swenson Ashtanga Yoga Productions 3350 Highway 6, #194 Sugarland, TX 77478 WASHINGTON David Garrigues Certified Catherine Garrigues Certified The Ashtanga Yoga School 1412 12th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 ASIA - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS INDIA Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Director Sri R. Sharath, Assistant Director Astanga Yoga Research Institute 876/1, 1st Cross Lakshmipuram Mysore - 570004 Karnataka State, South India Sharmila Rao's Tutorials (granddaughter of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois) 5th Block Jayanagar Bangalore - 560041 Karen Haberman Certified Gerald Disse Bharat Nivas P.O. Poste Restante 605101 Auroville Tamil Nadu, South India Rolf Naujokat Certified Kirsten Berg Goa, India MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE Mark Yeo markyeo@hotmail.com (Mark is currently teaching in Berkeley, California. See Northern California classes) AUSTRALIA - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS Carl Nelson's Australia Ashtanga page Eileen Hall Certified Peter Sanson Tim Burns Paul Frechtling Mike Berghan Victoria Grouden Ashtanga Yoga Moves The Verona Building 17 Oxford Street Paddington 2021 NSW Dena Kingsberg Certified Centre of Balance P.O. Box 1443 Byron Bay 2481 NSW Iain Clark Certified Astanga Yoga Shala PO Box 5828, West End Brisbane Qld 4101 Monica Gauci Gregor Maehle 8 Limbs Ashtanga Yoga (2 locations) 2nd Floor, 3 Mouat Street Fremantle 6160 Western Australia 8 Limbs Ashtanga Yoga 220 Carr Place Leederville 6007 Tel 61 9 93854743 Graeme Northfield Certified Leone Northfield Brisbane David Roche 47 Sixth Avenue St. Peters, South Australia 5069 NEW ZEALAND Peter Nilsson Jude Hynes Auckland Yoga Academy 1st Floor 33 High Street, Central City Auckland, New Zealand CANADA - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS Ron Reid Downward Dog Yoga Centre 110 Spadina Avenue Studio #212 Toronto, Ontario M5V 2K4
EUROPE - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS
Finland
2. Authorized Teachers
Part 1 Before the the Authorised teacher list on Ashtanga.com there was the 'Classes' page.
from Wayback machine Feb. 1999
Yoga Schools
To be listed on this page, your ashtanga school must meet all of the following criteria:
1. Offer at least one class in TRADITIONAL ASHTANGA (ASTANGA) YOGA (e.g., Mysore-style, Primary Series);
2. Explicitly state or indicate on your Web site and brochures that traditional ashtanga yoga is offered; and
3. Provide your address, instructors' names and teaching backgrounds, types of ashtanga classes, and studio history.
4. If you also would like your logo listed, e-mail it to betty@ashtanga.com in GIF or JPEG format in a 10K or smaller file size. Logos are subject to editing for easy loading.
5. Listings are subject to removal if classes no longer meet the above criteria.
*Note: If you are PERSONALLY AUTHORIZED by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois to teach ashtanga yoga, an asterisk will be placed next to your studio name (subject to confirmation by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois). (Please be patient if the asterisk has not yet appeared next to your listing.)
Namaste.
United States
Australia
Canada
Finland
France
India
Israel
Italy
New Zealand
United Kingdom
UNITED STATES
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
Ashtanga Yoga School of San Francisco
Robert Brook, Director
Shotwell Studios
3252A 19th Street
San Francisco, CA 94110
Center of Balance
1220 Pear Avenue, Suite I
Mountain View, CA 94043
(650) 967-6414
Center of Balance
Beverly Frederick
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Marin/Sonoma
Emily Griffith
Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Monterey/Pacific Grove
Cathy Hall
Finnish Brotherhood Hall
1970 Chestnut Street
Berkeley, CA
It's Yoga
848 Folsom Street
San Francisco, CA 94107
Monkey Yoga Shala
Tim Thompson
3215 Lakeshore Ave
Oakland, CA 94610
Piedmont Yoga Studio
4125 Piedmont Avenue
4131 1/2 Piedmont Avenue
Oakland, CA
San Francisco Yoga Shala
1500 Castro Street @ 25th Street
San Francisco, CA 94114
Soma Yoga
30 Minna Alley (between 1st and 2nd Streets & Mission and Howard Streets)
San Francisco, CA
Yogasource
525 Alma Street
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 328-YOGA
The Yoga and Movement Center
2940 Camino Diablo, Suite 200
Walnut Creek, CA 94596
The Yoga Studio*
John Berlinsky
650 East Blithedale
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Yogic Arts Studio
1097 54th St. #C
Oakland, CA 94608
(510) 595-YOGA
4th Street Yoga
1809C 4th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 845-YOGA
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Astanga Yoga Center*
Tim Miller, Director
118 West E Street
Encinitas, CA 92924
San Luis Obispo Yoga Centre
Peter Sterios, Director
967 Monterey Street
P.O. Box 653
San Luis Obispo, CA 93406
Yoga Works* (two locations)
Maty Ezraty and Chuck Miller
2215 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
1426 Montana Avenue, Second Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90403
COLORADO
The Yoga Workshop*
Richard Freeman
2020 21st Street
Boulder, CO 80302
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
Ashtanga Yoga Center
David Ingalls
4435 Wisconsin Ave N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
FLORIDA
Boca Yoga
450 NE 20th St
Boca Raton, FL 33431
ILLINOIS
N.U. Yoga Center
Suddha Weixler
3047 N. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 320
Chicago, IL 60657
MASSACHUSETTS
Harvard University Ashtanga Yoga Practice
Joji Montelibano
Eliot House - Dance Studio (Mon-Fri, 6-9am)
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA 02138
(Note: need Harvard ID to enter Eliot House; otherwise, contact Joji for admittance.)
NEW YORK
Astanga Yoga Shala*
Eddie Stern
611 Broadway, Room 203
New York City, NY 10012
Jivamukti Yoga Center
404 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor
New York, NY 10003
Power Yoga
Thom Birch and Beryl Bender Birch
OHIO
Joyful Practice Yoga
Martha Marcom
479 North Columbia Avenue
Columbus, OH 43209
PENNSYLVANIA
Yoga Sport
950 Colwell Lane (@ Superfit Gym)
Conshohocken, PA 19428
TEXAS
The Center For Awareness
Jeri-Sue Barron
2507 Lazydale Drive
Dallas, TX 75228
UTAH
Yoga Central
1550 E. 3300 So.
Salt Lake City, UT 84106
VERMONT
Yoga Vermont
Kathy McNames, Director
Box A23
Chace Mill
Burlington, VT 05401
WASHINGTON
The Ashtanga Yoga School
1412 12th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122
INTERNATIONAL
AUSTRALIA
Ashtanga Yoga Moves*
The Verona Building
17 Oxford Street
Paddington 2021 NSW
Centre of Balance
Dena Kingsberg
P.O. Box 1443
Byron Bay 2481 NSW
Gold Coast Yoga Centre
2 Fleay Court
Burleigh Heads West
Queensland 4220
CANADA
Downward Dog Yoga Centre
Ron Reid and Diane Bruni
110 Spadina Avenue @ Adelaide St.W.
Studio #212
Toronto, Ontario M5V 2K4
Kaivalya Yoga Centre
Allison Ulan, Director
401 Richmond St. W., Studio 1
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
FINLAND
Astanga Yoga Helsinki*
Vilhonvuorenkuja 20 F
00500 Helsinki
Finland
FRANCE
Centre Samasthiti - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Caroline Boulinguez
Paris
France
INDIA
Astanga Yoga Research Institute*
Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Director
R. Sharath, Assistant Director
876/1 First Cross, Lakshmipuram
Mysore 570004
Karnataka State, South India
ISRAEL
Ashtanga Yoga--The Israeli Center
Gilad and Miri Harouvi
10 Shoken Street, First Floor
Tel Aviv 65153
Israel
Shimon Ben-Avi
7 Ha'Etzel Street
Karkur 37068
Israel
ITALY
Astanga Yoga School*
Lino Miele
Via Cassia, 698
00189 Rome Italy
NEW ZEALAND
Auckland Yoga Academy
33 High Street
Auckland City, NZ
UNITED KINGDOM
Astanga Vinyasa Yoga in the North
3 Owlers Walk
Todmorden
Lancs, OL14 8HY
UK
John C. Scott
Yoga Therapy Centre
Royal London Homeopathic Hospital
60 Great Ormond St
London WC1
Oxford Ashtanga Timetable
December 1998 - April 1999
(courtesy of Ian Macdonald)
Raphael Dabora
Colemans Hatch (near Forest Row)
E. Sussex
Sangam Yoga Studio
80A Battersea Rise
Clapham Junction
London SW11 1EH
UK
The Yoga Centre
16 Canning Street
Edinburgh EH3 8EG
UK
*
Part 2 - in 2000 the classes page turned into the first
list of teachers authorised by Pattabhi Jois.
Yoga Schools
This list contains only teachers PERSONALLY AUTHORIZED by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
See the Ashtanga.com Requirements for Listing for more information.
UNITED STATES
Arkansas
California (Northern)
California (Southern)
Colorado
District of Columbia
Hawaii
Illinois
New York
Ohio
Oregon
Texas
Washington
ASIA
AUSTRALIA & NEW ZEALAND
CANADA
EUROPE
UNITED STATES
ARKANSAS
Louise Ellis
2332 Hatfield Street
Fayetteville, AR 72703
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA
John Berlinsky
The Yoga Studio
650 East Blithedale
Mill Valley, CA 94941
Betty Lai
Center of Balance
1220 Pear Ave, Suites I & J
Mountain View, CA 94043
Leigha Nicole (2 locations)
San Francisco Yoga Shala
1500 Castro Street (@ 25th Street)
San Francisco, CA 94114
7th Heaven Body Awareness Center
2820 7th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
Mark Yeo
7th Heaven Body Awareness Center
2820 7th Street
Berkeley, CA 94710
(510) 665-4300
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
Manju Jois Certified
(son of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois)
2428 CMTO Ocean Cove
Cardiff, CA 92007
Tim Miller Certified
Astanga Yoga Center
118 West E Street
Encinitas, CA 92024
ashtangayoga@home.com
Maty Ezraty
Chuck Miller Certified
Yoga Works (2 locations)
2215 Main Street
Santa Monica, CA 90405
1426 Montana Avenue, Second Floor
Santa Monica, CA 90403
Kimberly Flynn
Noah Williams
Ahimsa Yoga
3820 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90026
Jorgen Christiansson
Maha Yoga
13050 San Vicente Blvd #202
Los Angeles, CA 90049
Steve Dwelley
Santa Barbara Yoga Center
32 East Micheltorena Street
Santa Barbara, CA 93101
David Miliotis
Santa Barbara, CA
(805) 692-9469
Andrea Werner
Santa Barbara, CA
COLORADO
Richard Freeman Certified
The Yoga Workshop
2020 21st Street
Boulder, CO 80302
The Yoga Workshop
Annie (Grover) Pace Certified
Box 125
Crestone, CO 81131
DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
David Ingalls
Kelly Lynch
Ashtanga Yoga Center
4435 Wisconsin Ave N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20016
HAWAII
Nancy Gilgoff
House of Yoga & Zen
Makawao, Maui, HI 96768
Norman Allen
Kona, HI
David Williams
Maui, HI
ILLINOIS
Suddha Weixler
N.U. Yoga Center
3047 N. Lincoln Avenue, Suite 320
Chicago, IL 60657
NEW YORK
Eddie Stern Certified
Patanjali Yoga Shala
611 Broadway, Suite 203
New York, NY 10012
Guy Donahaye (2 locations)
Astanga Yoga Shala
(at Segue Performance Space)
303 E. 8th Street
New York, NY 10009
Patanjali Yoga Shala
611 Broadway, Suite 203
New York, NY 10012
Chris Buhner
Patanjali Yoga Shala
611 Broadway, Suite 203
New York, NY 10012
David Life Certified Sharon Gannon Jivamukti Yoga Center 404 Lafayette Street, 3rd Floor New York, NY 10003 OHIO Martha Marcom Joyful Practice Yoga 479 North Columbia Avenue Columbus, OH 43209 OREGON Vance Selover Gillian Lerner Portland Ashtanga Yoga 3736 N.E. 17th Avenue Portland, OR 97212 TEXAS David Swenson Ashtanga Yoga Productions 3350 Highway 6, #194 Sugarland, TX 77478 WASHINGTON David Garrigues Certified Catherine Garrigues Certified The Ashtanga Yoga School 1412 12th Avenue Seattle, WA 98122 ASIA - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS INDIA Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, Director Sri R. Sharath, Assistant Director Astanga Yoga Research Institute 876/1, 1st Cross Lakshmipuram Mysore - 570004 Karnataka State, South India Sharmila Rao's Tutorials (granddaughter of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois) 5th Block Jayanagar Bangalore - 560041 Karen Haberman Certified Gerald Disse Bharat Nivas P.O. Poste Restante 605101 Auroville Tamil Nadu, South India Rolf Naujokat Certified Kirsten Berg Goa, India MALAYSIA/SINGAPORE Mark Yeo markyeo@hotmail.com (Mark is currently teaching in Berkeley, California. See Northern California classes) AUSTRALIA - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS Carl Nelson's Australia Ashtanga page Eileen Hall Certified Peter Sanson Tim Burns Paul Frechtling Mike Berghan Victoria Grouden Ashtanga Yoga Moves The Verona Building 17 Oxford Street Paddington 2021 NSW Dena Kingsberg Certified Centre of Balance P.O. Box 1443 Byron Bay 2481 NSW Iain Clark Certified Astanga Yoga Shala PO Box 5828, West End Brisbane Qld 4101 Monica Gauci Gregor Maehle 8 Limbs Ashtanga Yoga (2 locations) 2nd Floor, 3 Mouat Street Fremantle 6160 Western Australia 8 Limbs Ashtanga Yoga 220 Carr Place Leederville 6007 Tel 61 9 93854743 Graeme Northfield Certified Leone Northfield Brisbane David Roche 47 Sixth Avenue St. Peters, South Australia 5069 NEW ZEALAND Peter Nilsson Jude Hynes Auckland Yoga Academy 1st Floor 33 High Street, Central City Auckland, New Zealand CANADA - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS Ron Reid Downward Dog Yoga Centre 110 Spadina Avenue Studio #212 Toronto, Ontario M5V 2K4
EUROPE - AUTHORIZED TEACHERS
Finland
France
Greece
Italy
Spain
United Kingdom
FINLAND
Astanga Yoga Helsinki
Kolmas linja 21 C 60
00530 Helsinki, Finland
FRANCE
Caroline Boulinguez
Centre Samasthiti - Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga
Paris, France
Brigette DeRose Certified
74 Bd Gambetta
62100 Calais
Philippe Mons Certified
86 Rue De La Gare
59350 St. Andre
Odile Morcrette Certified
20 Rue Fenelon
59000 Lille
GREECE
Radha and Pierre
Yoga Plus
Crete
ITALY
Lino Miele Certified
Tina Pizzimenti Certified
Astanga Yoga School
Via Vasi 18/A
Rome Italy
SPAIN
Tomas Zorzo Certified
Camino Diez
Astanga Yoga Center
C/ San Bernabe 7-3ª
33002 Oviedo
Spain
UNITED KINGDOM
Oxford Timetable
Michael Taylor
Elisabeth Wilson
Astanga Vinyasa Yoga in the North
3 Owlers Walk
Todmorden
Lancs, OL14 8HY
John Scott Certified
Lucy Crawford Scott
The Space at Number 8
8 Chapel Street
Penzance, Cornwall TR18 4AJ
England
Hamish Hendry
Yoga Therapy Centre
Royal Homeopathic Hospital
60 Great Ormond Street
London WC1N
Cathy Louise Broda
Yoga Therapy Centre
Royal Homeopathic Hospital
60 Great Ormond Street
London WC1N
The Yoga Centre
1 Meadow Place
Edinburgh EH9 1JZ
Scotland
*
Part 3 Teachers' Listings on Ashtanga.com updated January 2004
The procedure for obtaining a teacher's listing on Ashtanga.com is outlined below. Only Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Rangaswamy of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI) can issue teaching authorizations and certifications for Ashtanga Yoga. Inquiries about teachers' qualifications should be directed to the individual teachers. Teachers are responsible for verifying the accuracy of the information in their listings. Ashtanga.com and its creators, producers, and deliverers assume no liability or responsibility for any errors or omissions in the class listings on this site. The teachers' listings on the Classes pages are approved by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
1. Starting in January 2003, the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute will issue NEW official authorization letters to authorized Ashtanga Yoga teachers. All authorized teachers are requested to send their original authorization letters to AYRI in exchange for official authorization letters on AYRI letterhead. AYRI will then notify Ashtanga.com of the teachers' names that can be re-listed on Ashtanga.com. Failure to turn in your original authorization letter may result in removal from the teachers' list.
2. "Certified" Teachers: Contact betty@ashtanga.com to send a photocopy of the official government certificate via email (scanned image of certificate), fax, or post in order to be listed on Ashtanga.com.
3. Verbally Authorized Teachers should write to AYRI to request the new official authorization letter. Please enclose a photograph of yourself with your correspondence.
4. Class Schedule Requirement: In addition to receiving certification or authorization to teach, you are required to teach Ashtanga Yoga in the TRADITIONAL FORMAT. The traditional format consists of daily classes in the Mysore style in correct sequential order and without deviation from the traditional form of the asanas as taught by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois at the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, South India. The traditional format includes the practices outlined in the Yoga Mala, Astanga Yoga by Lino Miele, and Ashtanga Yoga by John Scott. Explicitly indicate on your website and brochures that such traditional Ashtanga Yoga is offered.
5. Omissions from the List: Teachers' names may be omitted from the list if they are on hiatus or are not currently offering classes in the style or quantity required for a listing.
Please send all AYRI correspondence regarding authorization letters to:
R. Sharath
Gokulam, Mysore 570002
Karnataka, India
***
Teachers LIST Jan 2004 Ashtanga.com
( this list was clearly used as the basis for the later AYRI list)
Note: 87 teachers mentioned on this list
United States
California
Louise Ellis Certified
Ashtanga Yoga Center
Fayetteville, AR
Northern California
John Berlinsky
Lea Watkins
YogaStudio - Mill Valley, CA
Leigha Nicole
YogaStudio - Larkspur Landing CA
Vance Selover
Zoe Slatoff
7th Heaven Yoga
Berkeley, CA
Clayton Horton
Greenpath Yoga Studio
San Francisco,
Manju Jois Certified
(son of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois)
Leucadia, CA 92024
Tim Miller Certified
Astanga Yoga Center
Encinitas, CA
Mary Jo Mulligan
San Diego, CA
Maty Ezraty
Chuck Miller Certified
Yoga Works Montana
Santa Monica,
Kimberly Flynn Williams
Noah Williams Certified
Ashtanga Yoga Shala
Los Angeles,
Jorgen Christiansson
LA Yoga Center
Los Angeles, CA
Steve Dwelley
Ashtanga Yoga Shala
Santa Barbara, CA
David Miliotis
Andrea Werner Miliotis
Santa Barbara Yoga Center
Colorado
Richard Freeman Certified
The Yoga Workshop
Boulder, CO
Annie (Grover) Pace Certified
Crestone, CO
Gary Damsky
Telluride, CO
Wisconsin
David Ingalls
Ashtanga Yoga Center
Wisconsin Washington, D.C.
Florida
Keith Moore
Florida
Wayne Krassner
Miami Beach, FL
Hawaii
Nancy Gilgoff
House of Yoga and Zen
Makawao, Maui, HI
Bhavani Maki
Ashtanga Yoga Kaua'i
Cathy Louise Broda
Purple Yoga Hawaii
Honolulu, HI
Nicki Doane
Eddie Modestini
Maya Yoga
Paia, HI
Norman Allen
Kona, HI
David Williams
Maui Fitness Plus
Kihei, Maui, Hawaii
Illinois
Amy Beth Treciokas
YogaNow
Chicago,
Louisiana
Melanie Fawer Certified
The Yoga Room
New Orleans, LA
Michigan
Matthew Darling
New York
Guy Donahaye
Ashtanga Yoga Shala
New York, NY
Govinda Kai
New York, NY
James Butkevich
Texas
David Swenson
Ashtanga Yoga Productions
Houston, TX
Seattle
David Garrigues Certified
Catherine Garrigues Certified
The Ashtanga Yoga School
Seattle, WA 98122
Carola Schmid
The Practice Space
Seattle WA
Africa - Authorized Teachers
Egypt
Charlie Taylor-Rugman
Ashtanga Yoga Cairo
Zamalek, Cairo
Australia & New Zealand - Authorized Teachers
Australia
Eileen Hall Certified
Paul Frechtling
Ashtanga Yoga Moves
Paddington, NSW
Dena Kingsberg Certified
Centre of Balance
Byron Bay 2481 NSW
Iain Clark Certified
Ashtanga Yoga Shala
Monica Gauci
Gregor Maehle
8 Limbs Ashtanga Yoga
Leederville, Western Australia
Graeme Northfield Certified
Leonie Northfield
Absolute Astanga
Yoga
Cooroy QLD
David Roche Certified
St. Peters, South Australia 5069
New Zealand
Peter Nilsson
Jude Hynes
Mike Berghan
Victoria Grouden
Te Aro Astanga Yoga
Wellington, Aotearoa
Canada - Authorized Teachers
Ron Reid
Downward Dog Yoga Centre
Toronto, Ontario
Mark Darby Certified
Joanne Darby Certified
Ashtanga Yoga Studio
Montreal, Quebec
Fiona Stang
City Yoga
Vancouver, BC
Europe - Authorized Teachers
Denmark | Finland | France | Greece | Italy | Spain | Sweden | United Kingdom
Denmark
Gwendoline Hunt
Astanga Yoga Skole
København
Copenhagen
Finland
Juha Javanainen
Petri Räisänen
Monna Gronlund
Astanga Yoga School of Helsinki
Helsinki, Finland
Anne Nuotio
Helsinki, Finland
France
Caroline Boulinguez
Ana Maria Magalhaes
Paris
Brigitte Deroses Certified
Calais
Philippe Mons Certified
St. Andre
Odile Morcrette Certified
Lille
Greece
Radha Warrell
Pierre Seghir
Yoga Plus
Crete
Kristina Karitinos Ireland
Yoga Practice in Mani Greece
Maria Papaioannou
Aerodromio Mykonos
Italy
Lino Miele Certified
Tina Pizzimenti
Certified
Ashtanga Yoga School Roma
Spain
Tomas Zorzo Certified
Astanga Yoga
Oviedo, Spain
Camino Diez
Lanzarote, Spain
Sweden
Charlotte Lindstrom
United Kingdom
Michael Taylor
Elisabeth Wilson
Astanga Vinyasa Yoga in the North
Todmorden,Lancs,
John Scott Certified
Lucy Crawford Scott
The Yoga Studio
Newlyn, Penzance, Cornwall
Hamish Hendry Certified
Anna Wise
Astanga Yoga London
NW1 London
R. Alexander Medin
Certified
Yoga Place E2
Bethnal Green Road, London
Tracy West
Birmingham
South America - Authorized Teachers
Chile
Gustavo Ponce
Yogashala
M. Sanchez
Las Condes, Santiago, Chile
*
Traveling Teachers - Authorized
Ashtanga Yoga teachers who are always on-the-go. See Workshops for individual workshop locations and details.
Joseph Dunham
Anthony Carlisi
Rolf Naujokat (Certified)
Kirsten Berg
Dominic Corigliano (Certified)
Saisha Stephanie Petersen
Michael Gannon
Randy Parrish
The current Ashtanga.com list can be found here
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4. AYRI.org
Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute, Mysore, India
(Now KPJAYI)
May 2007
1. How do I become an authorized/certified Ashtanga Yoga teacher?
You must receive an official Authorization Letter or Certification Certificate through the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (AYRI) located at #235, 8th Cross, 3rd Stage, Gokulam, Mysore 570002, Karnataka, India. Only the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute issues valid teaching authorizations and certifications for Ashtanga Yoga. Participation in the Sri K. Pattabhi Jois workshop tours and trips to AYRI locations outside of Mysore do not count towards authorization or certification.
NOTE: A student should by no means visit AYRI in Mysore for the sole purpose of getting authorized. Their visit should primarily be for their own education of the lineage to further their own practice under correct guidance of Pattabhi Jois.
2. What is the difference between Authorization and Certification?
There are two categories of teachers, "authorized" and "certified." Both types of teachers receive documents from the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute indicating their teaching status. Authorized teachers generally are permitted to teach only the Ashtanga Yoga Primary Series and generally have made at least four trips to AYRI Mysore of 3+ months. The student must also demonstrate appropriate attitude, devotion to the practice, and proficiency in the Primary Series (and usually at least half of the Second Series) as determined by the directors of AYRI. Certified teachers have completed at least the first three series of Ashtanga Yoga and must demonstrate an appropriate level of proficiency in these series as determined by the directors of AYRI. These students generally have made 8 or more annual trips to AYRI Mysore and have at least 8-10 years of daily Ashtanga Yoga practice.
NOTE: AUTHORIZATION SHOULD NOT BE REQUESTED BUT GIVEN. The decision to give authorization or certification to teach is by no means solely dependent on the number of times a student has visited Mysore. It is based upon Guruji and Sharath’s evaluation of the person, his/her commitment and full respect of the lineage of the practice. Authorization is given with the trust that an AYRI student will teach as he/she has been taught in Mysore by Guruji and Sharath.
These guidelines are subject to change and do not constitute an official published policy of the Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute in Mysore, India. Please use these guidelines for your personal information only.
5. First AYRI ONLINE Authorised/Certified List
22 Aug 08
Asia | Australia & New Zealand | Central & South America Europe | North America (Canada & USA
* Certified
ASIA
India
Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, Director
K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Mysore
www.kpjayi.org
Shri R. Sharath, Assistant Director
K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Mysore
Saraswathi Rangaswamy *
K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Mysore
www.saraswathiashtanga.com
Sharmila Mahesh
K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute, Bangalore
Rolf Naujokat *
Goa, India
Louise Ellis *
Rishikesh, India
Maya Rao
Mumbai
Monica Marinoni
Ashtanga Yoga Auroville
Gabriella Pascoli
Ashtanga Goa
China
R. Alexander Medin *
The Landmark Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong
Hortario Perez
Oriental Spa, Hong Kong
Japan
Govinda Kai *
Mae Yoshikawa
Fukuoka
Ken Harakuma
Ashtanga Yoga Japan, Tokyo
Barry Silver
Ashtanga Yoyogi, Tokyo
Kranti
Under the Light, Tokyo
Singapore
James Figueira
The Yoga Shala, Singapore
Taiwan
Russell Altice Case
Sally Evans
Ashanga Sangha, Taipei
Huang Chih Jo (Gladys Huang)
Space Yoga, Taipei
Thailand
Kirsten Berg
S Mitchell Gold
Ashtanga Yoga Koh Phangan
Koh Phangan, Thailand
Australia & New Zealand
Aus - New South Wales
Eileen Hall *
YogaMoves, Bondi Junction
Dena Kingsberg *
Centre of Balance, Byron Bay
Nikki Fulford
Yogamat, Bondi Junction
Aus - Queensland
Iain Clark *
Ashtanga Yoga Shala, Paddington
Graeme Northfield *
Absolute Astanga Yoga, Cooroy
Aus - South Australia
David Roche *
Have Yoga - Will Travel, St. Peters
Aus - Victoria
Karyn Grenfell
Melbourne - Western Australia
Rob Schütze
Jean Byrne
The Yoga Space, West Perth
New Zealand
John Scott *
Stillpoint Yoga, Nelson
Michael Norman Berghan
Te Aro Astanga Yoga, Wellington
Central & South America
Brazil
Praça Santos Dumont,
Rio de Janeiro - RJ, Brazil
Fábio Sayão
Ashtanga Yoga São Paulo
Ana Maria Magalhaes
Via Corpo, Salvador-Bahia
Sara Dubois
Ashtanga Yoga Atibaia
Chile
M. Sanchez Fontecilla, S
antiago, Chile
Loreto Cortés
Ashtanga Yoga Chile, Santiago
Costa Rica
Mariela Cruz
Namasté Ashtanga Yoga Studio, San José
Europe
Austria
Horst Rinnerberger
Pure Yoga - Ashtanga Yoga Vienna
Belgium
Anne Pinette Meadows
Brussels
Denmark
Susanna Finocchi & Jens Bache
Astanga Yoga School of Copenhagen
Finland
Juha Javanainen
Astanga Yoga School Helsinki
France
Brigitte Deroses *
Calais
Odile Morcette *
Lille
Germany
Bettina Anner
Köln, Germany
Heike Katharina Schmidt
Dvipada Studio, Cologne
Greece
Limni Evias
Greece
Italy
Lino Miele *
Tina Pizzimenti *
Scuola di Ashtanga Yoga, Roma
Norway
Taran Bhattal
Puro Yoga, Oslo
Poland
Basia j Lipska
Wroclaw, Poland
Portugal
Casa Vinyasa,
Lisbon, Portugal
Russia
Mikhail Konstantinov
Ashtanga Yoga Center, Moscow
Spain
Tomas Zorzo *
Centro de Yoga Ashtanga, Oviedo
Katia Garcia
Ashtanga Yoga Sadhana, Oviedo
Camino Diez
Centro de Yoga Ashtanga, Lanzarote
C Juanelo
Madrid, Spain
Paseo Isabel
Barcelona, Spain
Calle Pelayo
Barcelona, Spain
Nick Evans
Yoga Studio, Barcelona
Eva Oller Ribosa
Estudio de Yoga, Barcelona
Sweden
Charlotte Lindstrom
Ashtangayoga.nu, Stockholm
Maria Boox
Yogashala Stockholm
Bill Brundell
Planet Ashtanga Yoga, Stockholm
Switzerland
Brett Prozio
Zurich
United Kingdom
Hamish Hendry *
Anna Wise
Astanga Yoga London
Roberta Giannotti
Astanga Yoga London
Katie Heller
Astanga Yoga London
Lynne Pinette
West London Ashtanga Yoga, London
Cary Perkins
Yoga Place, London
Sarai Harvey-Smith
London
Beverley Sowerby
Ashtanga Yoga Bath
Simon Chandler
Ashtanga Yoga Bath
North America (Canada & USA )
* Certified
Canada
Mark Darby *
Joanne Darby *
Sattva Yoga Shala, Montreal
Paul Gold
Rachelle Gold
Ashtanga Yoga Shala, Toronto
David Robson
Ashtanga Yoga Centre of Toronto
Jeff Lichty
Harmony Lichty
Living Breathing Yoga
USA
Arizona
Lisa Schrempp
Tucson,
JB Linsky
USA - Northern California
Vance Selover
Ashtanga Yoga Berkeley
Heidi Lender & John Wilhelm
Ashtanga Yoga San Francisco
Adarsh Williams
Ashtanga Yoga Palo Alto
USA - Southern California
Manju Jois *
Leucadia
Tim Miller *
The Ashtanga Yoga Center, Carlsbad
Maia C. Heiss *
Ashtanga Yoga Malibu
James Butkevich
Ashtanga Yoga Los Angeles
Diana Christinson
Pacific Ashtanga Yoga Shala, Dana Point
Steve Dwelley
Ashtanga Yoga Shala, Santa Barbara
USA - Colorado
Richard Freeman *
The Yoga Workshop, Boulder
Annie Pace *
Shakti Sharanam, Crestone
Leigha Nicole
Splendid Yoga, Crestone
USA - District of Columbia
Keith Moore
Ashtanga Yoga Center DC
Faith Scimecca
Woodley Park Yoga, Washington DC
USA - Florida
Kino MacGregor *
Miami Life Center, Miami Beach
Tim Feldmann
Miami Life Center, Miami Beach
Greg Nardi
Miami Life Center, Miami Beach
USA - Hawaii
Noah Williams *
Pahoa, Hawaii
Anthony "Prem" Carlisi *
Chuck Miller *
Honokaa, Hawaii
Pamela Luther
Simply Ashtanga, Maui
Kimberly Flynn
Pahoa
Eagle
Pineapple Yoga, Kauai
USA - Illinois
Amy Ananda,
Chicago
USA - Kentucky
Laura Spaulding
Yoga East, Inc., Louisville
USA - Louisiana
Melanie Fawer *
Asthanga Yoga Room, New Orleans
Jessica Blanchard
Balance Yoga & Wellness, New Orleans
Jill Ainsworth
Mysore New Orleans
USA - Massachusetts
Dominic Corigliano *
George Whiteside & Jean Cho
Cambridge, MA
USA - New Mexico
Mary Jo Mulligan
Santa Fe, New Mexico
USA - New York
Eddie Stern *
Broome Street New York NY
Sarah Plumer
Broome Street #2 New York NY 10013
Karri Jinkins
Broome Street #2 New York NY
Barbara Verrochi
The Shala Yoga House, New York
Matt Corigliano
New York
Stacey Platt
Tapovana, Sag Harbor
USA - Oregon
Olaf Kalfas *
Portland, OR 97214
Anne Finstad
Portland
Kevin Kimple
Eugene, OR
David Miliotis
Andrea Werner Miliotis
Bend, OR
Stacey Lee
Bend, OR 97701
USA - Pennsylvania
Mary Flinn
Yoga Sutra School, Philadelphia
USA - Texas
Shelley Washington
Austin
USA - Vermont
Christine Hoar
Bristol Yoga, Bristol
USA - Washington
David Garrigues *
Catherine Garrigues *
Ashtanga Yoga School, Seattle
The current KPJAYI Authorisation list can be found here
APPENDIX
Update 2 - Feb 17th 2018
Note: As far as I can tell these are the Certified teachers names left OFF the current KPJAYI List
please correct me if you find them on a different regions list.
This is just the certified teachers, easy to check because the names are in red, i have no idea how many Authorised teachers have been left off the current list.
As you scroll through the list, pause to think of how much each had to pay to be authorised let alone certified as well as all the shala fees they have paid to KPJAYI over the years.
Clayton Horton
Louise Ellis
Anthony Calisi
Dena Kingsberg
Mark Robberds
Ian Clarke
David Roche
John Scott
R. Alexander Medin
Tomas Zorzo
Joanne Darby
Mark Darby
Manju jois
Tim Miller
Annie pace
Richard Freeman
Chuck Miller Melanie Fawer
Dominic Corigliano
Mary Jo Mulligan
Guy Donahaye
John Campbell
Olaf Kalfas
David Garrigues.
*
Update 3
(arising from discussion)
(arising from discussion)
But there is still another list.
As well as those who have been left off (removed from) Sharath's current 'official' list of certified teachers...
There are the women who inexplicably never made it onto the 'Certified' list in the first place, wives and partners of some of the men who WERE Certified, fellow practitioners who practiced as long, in some cases longer, and with no less devotion and dedication.
Note: most of the men below have since been removed from the current official list
Simi Roche (David Roche)
Nina Kalfis (Olaf Kalfis)
Maty Ezraty (Chuck Miller)
Jocelyne Sterm (Eddie Stern)
Anna Wise (Hamish Hendry)
Mary Taylor (Richard Freeman)
Kiki (Kimberley) Flynn Williams (Noah Williams)
Note: Kimberley Flynn Williams is now certified and on the current list, my understanding however is that She was certified many years after Noah.
Note: Kimberley Flynn Williams is now certified and on the current list, my understanding however is that She was certified many years after Noah.
Lucy Scott (John Scott)
Leonie Northfield ( Graeme Northfield)
Nancy Gilgoff ( David Williams) Although David was never certified either
Tina Pizzimenti (Lino Miele)
Note:
Catherine Garrigues (David Garrigues late wife) was certified
*
Women Certified but no longer on the official list.
Louise Ellis
Annie Pace
Dena Kingsburg
Joanne Darby
Brigitte Deposes
*
Women certified currently on Sharath's list
Philippa Asher
Sharmila Desai
Eileen Hall
Karyn Grenfell
Lucia Andrade
Pia Lehtinen
Maria Tsarina
Harmony Slater
Magnolia Zuniga
Maia Heiss
Kino Macgregor
*
UPDATE 1
2018
This from Mark Robberds on fb today ( I just checked, he posted this on his public page as well as his personal page).
Mark Robberds 9 hrs ·
"To end any speculation as to why I have been taken of the KPJAYI list I feel the need to tell my story. In April last year I noticed I had been taken off the list and then a friend informed me that there were rumours going around about it. I wrote to Usha in June to ask if it was true and she replied that, “Yes, we have been told that you are not teaching traditionally and mixing in different things and we are waiting for you to explain yourself”. I wrote back saying that I am teaching 5 days a week Mysore classes and one Led class per week. I teach chanting and philosophy and technique workshops to help students better understand the postures”. She wrote back saying, “Ok, I will inform Sharath.” The next thing I knew I was back on the list.
So, I’m not surprised that I am now off the list again, as anyone who reads my social media posts would know that I am sharing more than only traditional (KPJAYI) Ashtanga Yoga. So, I’m ok with it, as it is Sharath’s shala and his call. Of course it saddens me because I had such a good connection with him and I have so many fond memories of the times I had as his student. However I don’t agree with everything that is taught, for example I don’t believe that ‘catching’ your ankles or knees in a backbend should be a requirement. I also believe that just as we modify the practice for pregnant women or for disabled people, we need to modify the practice in some way, and address dysfunctional movement patterns in almost all individuals because we all come to the practice with imbalances - otherwise people end up getting injured and leave the practice feeling bitter. All I’ve ever tried to do is help my students practice in a more intelligent and sustainable way so that they can continue to enjoy the practice and integrate it into the rest of their lives for their lifetime. But, I accept that Sharath doesn’t have to agree with my approach, and therefore I accept his decision and I will move forward with no hard feelings. I will continue to share all that I can in the best way that I can and I hope that some of you will continue to practice with me despite what has happened. I also hope that there will be no ill feelings towards/from my friends in Mysore who continue to practice with Sharath and of course no ill will between Sharath and myself. In the end we are all doing the best we can in this life. Big love to all. ❤️ "
Just to illustrate the above...
And screenshots taken from May-June 2017 using Way back machine (internet Archive)
Just by glancing at the certified teachers in RED we can see that Dena Kingsberg, Mark Robberds, Ian Clarke, David Roche and John Scott are no longer on the list, and this is just to mention Certified teachers on the Australia and new Zealand region page.
If you are inclined to go through the other pages using way back machine, visit https://web.archive.org/ then paste in http://kpjayi.org/teachers-directory/asia/ Click on one of the dates from perhaps the end of last year, (30th December 2017 for example) then visit the other regions on the page that comes up - I might do this myself and add the screenshots to an appendix), feel free to add names you notice that have been removed in the comments section to this post.
FULL KPJAYI Authorised and Certified Teachers list Current and Archive.
archive - pre June 2017
Asia - current Feb 2018
Asia Archive - pre June 2017
Australia/ NZ - Current Feb 2017
Asutralia/ NZ - Pre June 2017
Central and South America - Current Feb 2018
Central and South America Archive - pre June 2017
Europe Current Feb 2018
Europe Archive - pre June 2017
USA and Canada current Feb 2018
USA and Canada Archive pre June 2017
UPDATE 3
This is a stand alone post for now but will end up as an update to my 'Ashtanga Authorisation 1980s to present' post as I kind of feel I've retired from posting and want to keep my end of year post as the last.
Note: This post will likely be updated over the coming days/weeks
Update:
As well as KPJAYI authorised teachers writing to me concerned about the new authorisation code of conduct, there are other authorised teachers who are writing to tell me that they personally are comfortable following it. They perhaps tend to maintain a small, humble shala, offering morning Mysore,they have the habit of Moon and Rest days and welcome the clauses regarding sexual harassment and discrimination. Nor perhaps do they have any interest in offering teacher trainings or intensives, I suspect they find running a Morning Mysore program pretty much plenty to be going on with, the code is basically representative of how they have been teaching all along. Also, several teachers have mentioned that Sharath is not, in practice, as strict or as rigid as he can often appear in writing. All the students of his I've come into contact with have tended to stress his warmth and good humour.
That said, in the context of the recent removals of Certified teachers from the list I still have concerns, those are expressed below, the relationship between finances and the list in particular, I still don't understand for instance why there is an authorisation fee, especially one so large when all of these perspective teachers have already been paying a small fortune in shala fees over the years. That a livelihood can be removed or at least compromised so easily. As well as teachers struggling to maintain their shala and wanting the freedom to explore their teaching of Ashtanga with integrity I also find myself uncomfortably in the same camp as teachers who are constantly self promoting themselves through social media, something that bemuses me as much perhaps as it seems to Sharath. I however am prepared to let them get on with it (and unfollow those who share their posts) and allow them explore their practice in their own way, it's a long term practice after all, such obsessions with self are no doubt passing. My anger perhaps comes from the recent treatment of senior teachers of the tradition who I have looked up to. In his forties now I would have thought that like me, in my fifties, Sharath would be looking to them for the wisdom that comes with practicing, from a youth into middle age and beyond.
Note: I've also removed the over the top 'Sign it or Else' from the title, the word 'demand' with regards to signing the code and clarified the paragraph on teachers who have and haven't spoken out about the recent allegations.
*
UPDATE 2
Sharath's new post on the KPJAYI website, Changes to the Teachers List, a response to the recent criticism. has been added to the end of this post.
My original post follows.....
*
Hard on the heels of Sharath's culling of 20+ senior Certified teachers from the KPJAYI list last week is this new 'Authorization/Certificate Code of Conduct' which has been sent out to all teachers to be signed and returned.
It's assumed that if a teacher doesn't sign it they too will be removed from the list.
Note: In the post title I've referred to the list as Sharath's, the iconic kpjayi.org address now directs to Sharathjois.com.
Many teachers are upset by being forced to sign this legal sounding document (such that a couple have sent a copy of it to me to share), many have criticised it online in groups, shared their confusion and frustration, some have refused to sign and have returned their authorisation.
I've been getting a lot of mail this morning telling me that first 'this teacher' is suddenly off the list and now 'that teacher', it could be that the list is being updated as signed copies of the code are returned to Sharath, we may have to wait a week or two until the dust settles to see who remains on the list and who has been removed.
"To be respectful in conduct, speech and dress".
I'm hoping this clause wont be used against those who question or speak up regarding the current and future administration of KPJAYI or those who may have written comments or shared posts in support of Karen Rain and the accusations of sexual assault by Sharath's grandfather Pattabhi Jois (for unwanted fondling and sexual touching while bound in a posture and under the guise of an adjustment/assist). I've seen no direct evidence of this, quite the opposite in fact regarding the latter, some who have spoken out have remained on the list.
I'm hoping that it's not nor will be the case. In this climate however it may explain why so few teachers have spoken out in support, out of fear perhaps of their own Authorisation being revoked.
This is especially ironic as one of the new clauses on the code include
"To provide a safe and professional environment free from sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind".
While I appreciate this clause and the insistence that it be on prominent display I can't understand why Sharath STILL hasn't issued a public statement as well as an apology on behalf of the KPJAYI for the actions of his grandfather, that he himself is said to have witnessed and attempted to stop.
*
Lets take a moment perhaps to remind ourselves who these Authorised and certified teachers are who are having their authorisation/certification removed and or living under the threat of it.
These aren't teacher's who have practiced yoga for six months or less, attended a Yoga Alliance 200hr TT and then started to teach .
These are teachers who have made a commitment of time and money over years, decades in many cases. They have practiced daily, visited Mysore year after year for several months at a time, been given authorisation after paying a large Authorisation fee and then struggled to open and maintain a shala while continuing to return to Mysore.
The commitment is anywhere between five and ten years, between $4000 and $8000 in shala fees, Authorisation fees of $1000 each for level 1 and level 2 certification. Another decade or more of shala fees for Certification and a Certification fee of perhaps $3000. On top of that, the flights and accommodation.
Revoked on a whim.
Where then is the tradition
where the loyalty.
*See running the numbers in the appendix below
*
There is much more in the code one has to agree to that gives cause for concern.
There seems little understanding of how hard it is to set up and maintain a shala in a climate of cut price yoga classes on more corners than Starbucks.
The unfortunate necessity of using social media
(however much I might find it grotesque at times some recourse to social media seems to be largely unavoidable)
Is one only to teach as Sharath teaches today rather than how Pattabhi Jois taught in the decade you may have spent with him?
What if an Intermediate series student turns up at your shala, do you have to turn her away, can you adjust, assist or leave them to their own devices. or if you are level 2 and somebody working on 3rd comes into your shala, must you say to them "Sorry, only Second" or if L1 then "...only Primary"
And clause nine, DRESS!!!!
To be respectful in conduct speech and dress
A say in what one wears in his own shala is one thing but is Sharath really seeking to dictate what one wears in ones own shala?
It should all be common sense, but with certification/authorisation being revoked without reason being given and respected senior, certified teachers treated like children, it is perhaps a little vague.
Do you really have to contact kpjayi (Sharathjois.com) to ask about each and every workshop focussing perhaps on practicing some aspect safely, or on Yoga philosophy, a reading group on the Gita?
Does Sharath even understand why you might wish to attend an Anatomy training course or one on Yoga therapy rather than think that Primary is all the therapy you need.
And is it even legal to demand that you return your Authorisation certificate or that you sign this one.
*
A friend pointed out that there is perhaps nothing in that code that should be that much of a surprise to KPJAYI teachers, that may be true but context is everything. In this case the context is of twenty certified teachers having their Certification revoked. You can do pretty much anything you like when the criteria is vague and unclear.
Here is the criteria from the kpjyayi.org 2008, the year before Pattabhi Jois' passing.
from my earlier fb post
*
Surely there has to be a better way to go about this whole list business, hopefully all the teachers themselves will come up with a better option that removes the control of one party as well as the financial aspect altogether.
*Appendix
Lets run the numbers
Shala fees for 24 months worked out around 500,000 Rp
that's approx. $8000.00
* note: the 500K rs is an adjusted figure, taking into account shala fees when a teacher perhaps firsts started going ten or more years ago and the fees now.
Authorisation Level 1 $1000
Authorisation Level 2 $1000
Note: Some teachers get authorised L2 straight away so only the one fee 8 not sure if that's higher).
- and remember there are flights and accommodation on top of that.
All that commitment of time and money, a decade or more of ones life revoked on a whim as well as perhaps ones livelihood.
That's around 8 -10 trips over a decade, not unusual although more recently teachers are being authorised much more quickly, half that time perhaps although shala fees are higher.
so lets use another example,
12 months of shala fees - corresponding to 4-6 extended trips $4000
Authorisation L1 and L2 $1000
That's $5000 not including flights and accommodation
UPDATE: Just been sent the actual figures for L1 and L2 authorisation
L1 = 88,000rs $1383.36
L2 = 112,000rs $1760.64
So 200,000 Rs - $3000 for both L1 and L2 if done separately, not including the years of shala fees
Note: Sharath has Authorised around 375 teachers since Pattabhi Jois' passing.
(tricky to calculate as several have since been removed)
on the first example
375 x $8000 = $3 million
375 x $1000 (authorisation fee) $375,000
on the second example
375 x $4000 -= $1.5 million
375 x $1000 = $375, 000
I've been getting a lot of mail this morning telling me that first 'this teacher' is suddenly off the list and now 'that teacher', it could be that the list is being updated as signed copies of the code are returned to Sharath, we may have to wait a week or two until the dust settles to see who remains on the list and who has been removed.
"To be respectful in conduct, speech and dress".
I'm hoping this clause wont be used against those who question or speak up regarding the current and future administration of KPJAYI or those who may have written comments or shared posts in support of Karen Rain and the accusations of sexual assault by Sharath's grandfather Pattabhi Jois (for unwanted fondling and sexual touching while bound in a posture and under the guise of an adjustment/assist). I've seen no direct evidence of this, quite the opposite in fact regarding the latter, some who have spoken out have remained on the list.
I'm hoping that it's not nor will be the case. In this climate however it may explain why so few teachers have spoken out in support, out of fear perhaps of their own Authorisation being revoked.
This is especially ironic as one of the new clauses on the code include
"To provide a safe and professional environment free from sexual harassment or discrimination of any kind".
While I appreciate this clause and the insistence that it be on prominent display I can't understand why Sharath STILL hasn't issued a public statement as well as an apology on behalf of the KPJAYI for the actions of his grandfather, that he himself is said to have witnessed and attempted to stop.
*
Lets take a moment perhaps to remind ourselves who these Authorised and certified teachers are who are having their authorisation/certification removed and or living under the threat of it.
These aren't teacher's who have practiced yoga for six months or less, attended a Yoga Alliance 200hr TT and then started to teach .
These are teachers who have made a commitment of time and money over years, decades in many cases. They have practiced daily, visited Mysore year after year for several months at a time, been given authorisation after paying a large Authorisation fee and then struggled to open and maintain a shala while continuing to return to Mysore.
The commitment is anywhere between five and ten years, between $4000 and $8000 in shala fees, Authorisation fees of $1000 each for level 1 and level 2 certification. Another decade or more of shala fees for Certification and a Certification fee of perhaps $3000. On top of that, the flights and accommodation.
Revoked on a whim.
Where then is the tradition
where the loyalty.
*See running the numbers in the appendix below
*
There is much more in the code one has to agree to that gives cause for concern.
There seems little understanding of how hard it is to set up and maintain a shala in a climate of cut price yoga classes on more corners than Starbucks.
The unfortunate necessity of using social media
(however much I might find it grotesque at times some recourse to social media seems to be largely unavoidable)
Is one only to teach as Sharath teaches today rather than how Pattabhi Jois taught in the decade you may have spent with him?
What if an Intermediate series student turns up at your shala, do you have to turn her away, can you adjust, assist or leave them to their own devices. or if you are level 2 and somebody working on 3rd comes into your shala, must you say to them "Sorry, only Second" or if L1 then "...only Primary"
And clause nine, DRESS!!!!
To be respectful in conduct speech and dress
A say in what one wears in his own shala is one thing but is Sharath really seeking to dictate what one wears in ones own shala?
It should all be common sense, but with certification/authorisation being revoked without reason being given and respected senior, certified teachers treated like children, it is perhaps a little vague.
Do you really have to contact kpjayi (Sharathjois.com) to ask about each and every workshop focussing perhaps on practicing some aspect safely, or on Yoga philosophy, a reading group on the Gita?
Does Sharath even understand why you might wish to attend an Anatomy training course or one on Yoga therapy rather than think that Primary is all the therapy you need.
And is it even legal to demand that you return your Authorisation certificate or that you sign this one.
*
A friend pointed out that there is perhaps nothing in that code that should be that much of a surprise to KPJAYI teachers, that may be true but context is everything. In this case the context is of twenty certified teachers having their Certification revoked. You can do pretty much anything you like when the criteria is vague and unclear.
Here is the criteria from the kpjyayi.org 2008, the year before Pattabhi Jois' passing.
 |
| 2008 criteria |
and this one from 2012 which i like because it mentions the commitment and dedication of the teachers
 |
| 2012 criteria |
Note: I was informed by a couple of Authorised teachers recently that after Saraswati took back control of the main Shala, Sharath was showing students land outside of Gukulam where a 'mega shala' was planned that might include accommodation. If this is indeed the case, will students and teachers be expected to attend the new shala, paying for accommodation and one might imagine food there which would affect the local economy surrounding the present shala.
from my earlier fb post
Thank you A. (for referring to the community as family) it's helpful. Like many home practitioners I often wonder what, if anything, this list, the recent allegations, or the lesser perhaps Ashtanga debate of the day, has to do with me as a home practitioner, why do I feel so....invested. But that's it, it feels like family, however extended. We all do this same practice in our own way, in our homes, our corners our practice rooms or hallways but have all felt perhaps, at one time or another, somewhat connected, on a Friday perhaps when most around the world are practicing Primary ( we conveniently forget about the time difference). And don't we take delight in and for friends who visit Mysore for the first time or become authorised, however much it doesn't seem to concern us because we know it means so much to them. And thus we are equally hurt and dismayed perhaps when and if they are taken off that same list. The waves in Mysore often..., occasionally, ripple through our own practice, put us off our stride, off our breath. Though the wider family shouldn't perhaps concern us, it does, on occasions, seem to help ground us. For many, that centre might be a senior teacher or not so senior, authorised or not, that we may never have met other than perhaps on a workshop or through a book or video, rather than the actual Jois family, depending on which teacher perhaps first inspired us.
This practice often feels absurd, how we often ground or build our lives around it. The wider community, the senior teachers, the Jois family...., Mysore the place, whether going there interests us or not, can make the practice seem a little less nonsensical at those times when the practice doesn't quite seem to justify itself alone. The abuse in the past affects us, the discord in the Jois family affects us, Sharath's recent actions with regards to the list affects us, the latter perhaps because the list feels like a family register and he shouldn't get to screw with it, nobody should..., like those old lineage charts because whether being on it or not interests us we are connected to many who are, however far removed. However much of a prodigal son (or daughter) we may feel, we're related, connected by those same or similar movements we make on a bit of cotton or rubber or both, each day or most days. And I may have little interest in Mysore today, whether the place or a room but perhaps one day...., perhaps one day I may happen to find comfort and warmth in one of those rooms, I have in the past, I no doubt shall again. We remember and tell tales of those big family arguments on family get togethers, holidays, and so easily forget those other times when family was peaceful, accepting and nourishing even if only felt from afar.
*
Surely there has to be a better way to go about this whole list business, hopefully all the teachers themselves will come up with a better option that removes the control of one party as well as the financial aspect altogether.
*Appendix
Lets run the numbers
Shala fees for 24 months worked out around 500,000 Rp
that's approx. $8000.00
* note: the 500K rs is an adjusted figure, taking into account shala fees when a teacher perhaps firsts started going ten or more years ago and the fees now.
Authorisation Level 1 $1000
Authorisation Level 2 $1000
Note: Some teachers get authorised L2 straight away so only the one fee 8 not sure if that's higher).
- and remember there are flights and accommodation on top of that.
All that commitment of time and money, a decade or more of ones life revoked on a whim as well as perhaps ones livelihood.
That's around 8 -10 trips over a decade, not unusual although more recently teachers are being authorised much more quickly, half that time perhaps although shala fees are higher.
so lets use another example,
12 months of shala fees - corresponding to 4-6 extended trips $4000
Authorisation L1 and L2 $1000
That's $5000 not including flights and accommodation
UPDATE: Just been sent the actual figures for L1 and L2 authorisation
L1 = 88,000rs $1383.36
L2 = 112,000rs $1760.64
So 200,000 Rs - $3000 for both L1 and L2 if done separately, not including the years of shala fees
*
Note: Sharath has Authorised around 375 teachers since Pattabhi Jois' passing.
(tricky to calculate as several have since been removed)
on the first example
375 x $8000 = $3 million
375 x $1000 (authorisation fee) $375,000
on the second example
375 x $4000 -= $1.5 million
375 x $1000 = $375, 000
- That of course is only those teachers authorised, there are all the shala fees of those on their way to being authorised, as well as shala fees of those who have no interest or likelihood of being authorised.
I worked it out before that Sharath's world tours brought in approx. $1,000,000 a year.
Certification is confusing.
There were 23 certified in 2008,
29 on the current mid Jan. 2018 list
but he's decertified 22,
so I guess 28 Certified at around $3000 each, so another $80,000
Authorisation fees $1,000,000
Shala fees $3,000,000
Certification fees $80,000
And of course all the fees those 28 teachers paid between authorisation and certification.
Authorised and Certified teachers are expected to keep coming back or, as we have seen they will be deauthorised/decertified, so more and more shala fees.
Appendix 2
Another earlier update, a comparison of the KPJAYI Authorisation/Certification list, pre June 2017 and the current list.
Certified teachers names that appear to be left of the list are, I've double checked but it may be that I missed a name if they have appeared on another region. I find it quite shocking, I wouldn't be practicing had it not been for many names on the list. Note too that the archive I checked was the last couple of years before June 2017, other well know names have been left off the list in previous years. others have been Certified by Pattabhi Jois' son Manju (also, absurdly, removed from the list ) and are not recognised on Sharath's KPJAYI List. The list on Saraswati and Shamilla's www.kpjayshala.com/ still hasn't been put up although the online shop was up on day one.
Note: apologies to Tarik Thami, he is still on the list under the Asian region.
I not too this morning that Dena Kingsberg is BACK on the list
Clayton Horton
Louise Ellis
Anthony Carlisi
Mark Robberds - See Mark's response on his fb page 16th January
Ian Clarke
David Roche
John Scott
R. Alexander Medin - See Alex's 'Letter to Sharath'
Tomas Zorzo
Joanne Darby
Mark Darby
Manju jois
Tim Miller
Annie pace
Richard Freeman
Richard Freeman
Chuck Miller
Melanie Fawer
Melanie Fawer
Dominic Corigliano
Mary Jo Mulligan
Guy Donahaye
John Campbell
Olaf Kalfas
David Garrigues.
NOTE: I went through the current list (Jan 2018) against the pre June 2017 archive list and found four authorised teachers names missing. Originally I had a list of thirteen that seemed to be missing but nine of those names turned up in different regions.
See this post http://grimmly2007.blogspot.jp/…/ashtanga-authorisation-198…
*
UPDATE 2 - 28th January 2018
I've added below Sharath's response to the recent criticism.
Personally I'm too disappointed to do more than post a screenshot.
I will however, post again the list of names of Certified teachers recently removed from the list, some, one at least, has just been put back on . It's clear some authorised teachers have also been removed, it seems likely that others will be removed in the future
*
UPDATE 2 - 28th January 2018
I've added below Sharath's response to the recent criticism.
Personally I'm too disappointed to do more than post a screenshot.
Perhaps it is Sharath who is going 'his own way' and rather than disrupt the living tradition, partly represented by the KPJAYI List, he should perhaps step down from his position at the KPJAYI ( the actual shala seems to have returned to Saraswati anyway). With the iconic kpjayi.org URL now directing to Sharathjois.com he could perhaps start his own Shala/Institute as well as his own list.
There, I commented after all.
Below the certified teachers removed from the list (only those removed from between June 2017 and January 2018m, some inspiring teachers never went on to the list in the first place, E.G. David Williams, Nancy Gilgoff, Danny Paradise, David Swenson...). At a VERY rough calculation, around thirty to forty years or more of practice each, I make it as representative of 500 years of daily Ashtanga practice.
Clayton Horton
Louise Ellis
Anthony Carlisi
Mark Robberds - See Mark's response on his fb page 16th January
Ian Clarke
David Roche
John Scott
R. Alexander Medin - See Alex's 'Letter to Sharath'
Tomas Zorzo
Joanne Darby
Mark Darby
Manju jois
Tim Miller
Annie pace
Richard Freeman
Chuck Miller
Melanie Fawer
Dominic Corigliano
Mary Jo Mulligan
Guy Donahaye
John Campbell
Olaf Kalfas
David Garrigues.
*
Update 3
Original 2008 message from R. Sharath and 'Pattabhi Jois' regarding changes to the List.
fb - Jan 29th
Update 3
Original 2008 message from R. Sharath and 'Pattabhi Jois' regarding changes to the List.
I was sent this letter from 2008 ( nine months before Pattabhi Jois’ passing ). The letter is Signed by R. Sharath and Pattabhi Jois, suggesting that Sharath’s actions now are in keeping with that earlier letter. Personally, I don’t believe for a moment Pattabhi Jois wrote it or that he was very much aware of what was in it. Sharath I suspect wrote it with somebody else and this seems to signify when Sharath sought to take an over firm grip of the business. With division currently in the family, Saraswati now taking back control of the Shala and Sharath changing the KPJAYI website to Sharathjois,com Sharath seems to be resorting to the same approach to maintain control of the business. Sharath of course may believe he’s acting in the best interests of what he sees as the tradition, I believe he’s mistaken.
Note that it’s stated in the letter that the ‘list’was being moved from Ashtanga.com to AYRI (Ashtanga Yoga research Institute), my suggestion is that it merely be moved back again.
fb - Jan 29th
Perhaps it's the (terribly) amateur historian in me but even though, as a non teaching home ashtanga Vinyasa (krama) practitioner, the (KPJAYI) list should be meaningless to me, I admit to finding a certain.... resonance in it such that I feel (perhaps overly) protective. So many of those names inspired me in the beginning, and later kept me coming back again and again to my mat. It's an imperfect list, so imperfect, a snapshot only and out of shot so many other practitioners who should have ended up on the list, so many men, so many women, often partners of those Certified who practiced no longer than they did and with no less dedication or aptitude...unrecognised, passed over, missed, an imperfect list. But you don't, you really don't, airbrush historical documents, certainly not if you endlessly talk of tradition, you leave it alone, treasure it, respect it, learn from it and through it, you add to it perhaps rather than take away and continue to move onwards. Those names that have been removed are the history of the practice, the tradition of the practice, countless hours of practice, of sweat and devotion and reflection, decades of practice, cumulatively, hundreds of years of daily practice. Why would anyone want to be on a list without such names, doesn't it lose it's magic somewhat?
I've heard from some who feel that their practice has lost it's sheen of late. I'm somewhat surprised to find quite the opposite (perhaps out of defiance), the practice, or rather being within the practice feels somewhat like the eye of the storm, the nonsense and foolishness drops away. When we lose our way it's there waiting for us however modified however 'unkosher', unauthorised.... and lets face it there is a freedom to unauthorised, unsupervised unapologetic practice...,there is also understanding to be found perhaps off the straight and the oh so narrow. And isn't that what we've looked to those Certified teachers for, to those names on the list as well as the unnamed.., to go off piste, to mine the practice for it's possibilities, it's secrets..., over decades into middle age and beyond, just as Jois did perhaps, as Krishnamacharya certainly did, to search out the hidden ways to face and still yet overcome what is ahead of us and to practice, maintain the practice.
Update: March 2018
Manju Pattabhi Jois has been making his own 'list' on his fb page, including many of those removed from the KPJAYI (now Sharathjois.com) list. It's not clear what the list represents, Authorisation, Blessing to teach, or just an all round good egg list. As I happen to be on it it, I happen to prefer the latter.
“All these people I mentioned in the list are wonderful human beings I know them I worked with them I love them...." -Manju Pattabhi Jois
There is no particular order, Manju just listed a few names as he thought of them over the space of a week or so, some more names may have been added since I posted this or happen to be buried away in the comments.
“Those who have been authorized (blessed) by Pattabhi Jois are good as gold, no body can take it away from you. “ -Manju Pattabhi Jois
“All these people I mentioned in the list are wonderful human beings I know them I worked with them I love them all these people have great respect for Ashtanga and my beloved father Sri k Pattabhi Jois the man who worked hard to put together this system he created many good teachers in the Ashtanga world now he is gone now it's time for us come together make Ashtanga great for ever.
Love to my ASHTANGA family. By the way English is my 4th language” -Manju Pattabhi Jois
“The list of great yogis and Yogini’s”. -Manju Pattabhi Jois
Niina Valtanen
Vanessa Brouillet
Natasha Symeonidou
Natasa Cvetkovic
Gyöngyvér Pápa
David Williams
Nina savolainen
Tim Miller
David Swanson
Nanny Gilgoff
Kristina Karitinou
(“All my love and respect to Derek Ireland who influenced many Europeans god bless him”.)
Margarida Tree
John Scott
Scott Johnson
Danny Paradise
Jock Orton
Petra Visser
Beata Darowska
Alessandro Ciaurri
Giuliano Ananta Vecchiè
Gerald disse
Linda Munro
Andrea Lutz
Cosmin Lance
Alexander Medin
Basia Lipska Larsen
Anthony Grim Hall
Luise Elliss
Greg Tebb
David Michael Hollander
Jody Manley
Tina Pashumati
James
Ginetta
Bernard
Terrilee Bulger
Tihomira Somleva
Anna Bjärkvik
Camila Silver
Prem CARLISI
Heather Radha
Erik Marrero
Peg Koller
Sean O Tuathalain
Tiffany Jane.
Laura Fulton Renkes
Gary Herlich
Zoe Mai
Anetta Alexandridi
Alexandra Dimitriou-Mara
Anna Kapetaniou-Fox
Kiros Tzannes
Nektarios Mitritsakis
Katerina David
Valerio Pandolfi
Cathrin Queins
Johanna Chemnitz
Tim Miller
Rachel Cieslewicz
Macarena Ferrada
Sandra Howling
Pranidhi Varshney
Andrés Alexander Wormull
Patricio Moralo Rueda
Laura Prandino
Minna Wahlman
Madhava sundhara Das
Shuddha Wexler
Shana Marie Stitzel
Teresa Samantha Taylor
Julie Southwell
Aris Kapetanakis
Bryan Burns
Shana Marie Stitzel
Ruta Cypiene
Sarah Florence
Louise hunt
