Philippa Asher

She learned the Primary, Intermediate, Advanced A and Advanced B series directly with Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Jois at the Krishna Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore. Today she shares the system internationally in studios, on retreats and online with Sanskrit-counted led classes and one-to-ones.

A vocational ballet training from the age of twelve led to twenty-five years studying and teaching dance at universities and companies across the UK. A chance Ashtanga class in London changed everything. From the late 1990s, Philippa practised daily before work in film, media and music, returning to Mysore for several months each year to study with her teachers.

In 2006 she established and ran Triyoga Soho's Ashtanga self-practice programme, teaching there for five years before moving to South India to build her own shala, ASHTANGA NIRVRTA, on a coffee estate in the Western Ghats. Alongside Mysore-style guided self-practice and led classes at her shala, she leads workshops and residencies across London, Europe and the Middle East, plus retreats worldwide. When she is not in the studio, Philippa teaches online one-to-ones, Sanskrit-counted Primary, Intermediate and Advanced A, and pranayama.

Expect clarity, precision and warmth. Philippa teaches the method as it was given to her - steady, attentive and rooted in breath so you can practise safely, refine technique and feel progress that is both grounded and sustainable.

What you'll experience with Philippa:

• Traditional Mysore-style guided self-practice
• Sanskrit-counted led classes with clear pacing
• Practical adjustments and technique for all levels
• Breath-centred focus, simple pranayama and quiet rest
• New to Advanced B Series Ashtanga yoga practitioners welcome

More about Philippa

After a vocational ballet school training from age twelve and twenty-five years of studying and teaching dance at universities and ballet companies all over the UK, Philippa randomly walked into an Ashtanga yoga class in London. It was a life-changing incident, that made complete sense.

From the late 1990s, she began learning/practising the Ashtanga yoga system, daily before work (in the media, film, and music industries). For over twenty years she has studied for several months each year at KPJAYI (now called Sharath Yoga Centre) in Mysore and on tour, practising under the guidance of guru Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Jois.

In 2006, Philippa established and ran Triyoga Soho's Ashtanga self-practice programme in London. She taught there for five years before relocating to South India, to build her own shala (on a coffee estate in the Western Ghats).

As well as teaching Mysore-style Ashtanga guided self-practice, led classes and workshops at ASHTANGA NIRVRTA, Philippa also leads workshops and self-practice residencies at studios in London, Europe, Middle East and on retreats worldwide. When not in the studio, she teaches Online One-to-Ones and Sanskrit Counted Primary, Intermediate and Advanced A Series classes and pranayama.

Her approach to sharing yoga asana (from beginners to more seasoned practitioners) is serious, yet light-hearted and joyful. Her emphasis is on good technique, safe alignment, the synchronisation of vinyasa (Sanskrit-counted, coordinated moving/breathing sequences) with tristhana (alignment of breath, gaze points and movement), passing on the exact method as taught by Pattabhi Jois from the late 1990s and embracing the essence of Patanjali's sutras on yoga and asana.

Philippa's dedicated passion for Ashtanga yoga, background as a trained dancer and experience as a qualified teacher (Post Graduate Certificate in the Education of Adults), gives her an intuitive and sound understanding of bodies, yoga asanas, people and how they learn. For more information, please visit www.ashtangaphilippa.com

In Ulpotha for this retreat, Philippa will be offering:

• Daily Ashtanga guided self-practice
• Sanskrit-Counted Primary Series
• Afternoon workshops on asana technique, concepts of the method, body opening, pranayama, meditation, philosophy, Q&A etc
• New to Advanced B Series Ashtanga yoga practitioners welcome