Arne Espejel in Yoga Manila

What I love about Manila's Yoga Community is that when we get together to practice, it is just amazing. For the past months, we have been practicing together - sometimes over 25 of us, Mysore style, in the lovely little Yoga Manila shala in Makati.

What brought our practice together? Arne Espejel, our dedicated Ashtanga Yoga teacher since April who has decided to stay with the community for yet another month (until June 21). Arne has brought the work to us through his persistent guidance, discipline, and compassion - keeping to the tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and R. Sharath Jois.

He came to Manila willingly, knowing he may only have 8 students (us teachers who do self practice at the shala on weekdays :-)). Here we are now, students, teachers, teachers of teachers, all of us students in a space where yoga means what it is - union.

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Arne, Espejel, Authorized Level 2 Teacher in the tradition of Sri. K. Pattabhi Jois

Arne discovered Ashtanga Yoga in 2003. Five years later, he travelled to Mysore, India to practice and pay his respects to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, the founder of Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga. Since then, he has gone back to Mysore for further studies with R. Sharath Jois and Saraswathi Jois, the grandson and daughter of the founder.

In 2010, Arne received the blessings of the Jois family and was authorized to teach both the Primary and Intermediate Series. Being one of the select few to receive this privilege, Arne would like to teach and help his students develop a Self-Practice. It is his firm belief that Self-Practice learned in mysore and led classes will help each individual attain a greater knowledge of oneself.