Teachers

Petri Räisänen

  • Mysore teaching (week 1&2)
  • Pranayama
  • Lectures, discussions, lab  classes

Petri is internationally respected Ashtanga Yoga teacher living currently in Odeceixe, Portugal. Petri started practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 1989 and teaching in 1990. He is co-owner and director of Ashtanga Yoga Helsinki (1997) and Yoga Roots Odeceixe (2023).

Petri focuses on integrating healing and therapy with yoga, meeting student’s individual needs and guiding their progress. His yoga pose adjustments are gentle, effective, therapeutic and, according to some, almost magical, and originate (besides his own practice and teaching) from his past work as a traditional Finnish folk healer and naturopath.

Petri’s friendly, relaxed behavior and intuitive perception give an open, energetic and meditative atmosphere to his classes.

Juha Javanainen

  • Mysore teaching (week 1-3)
  • Pranayama
  • Lectures, discussions, lab classes
  • Course on yoga sutra and mantra chanting (week 3)

Juha is living and teaching in Helsinki. Juha started practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 1989 and teaching in 1992. He is a co-owner and director of Ashtanga Yoga Helsinki (1997).

”Over time, the practice and philosophy of yoga have become part of my life and everyday life; yoga has taken on new shades and meanings as well-being, stress management and peace of mind have become more important to me than the practice of certain postures or the external form of individual postures. Yoga gives me well-being, peace of mind and an understanding of life, which I also want to share in my own yoga teaching.”

Marke Murtomäki

  • Mysore teaching (week 3)
  • Discussions, lab classes
  • Course on mindfulness (week 3)

Marke is living and teaching in Helsinki. She started practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 1995 and teaching in 1999.
”As a teacher, I’m warm-hearted, considerate of the individual holistically and have a soft, firm nature. I enjoy interacting with students. In my teaching, I am interested in the technique of asanas and the influence and importance of breathing on asana, as well as the relaxation and airiness of the practice.

I also try to teach an attitude towards practice and help students find a balance between practice and rest. I feel that yoga practice does not only happen on a yoga mat, but asana practice is a good starting point for a lifelong journey of body and mind.”

Tamara Ashley

  • Led classes (week 1 & 3)
  • Evening meditation (week 1-3)
  • Meditation course (week 2)

Dancer, Somatic education /movement healing, Contact improvisation teacher. PhD Dance+Ecology + PhD research tutor, UK. Ashtanga, Yinful Yoga and meditation teacher. Finnish energy healing.

”I also offer the Buddhist approach to Samatha/Vipasssana in the Tibetan tradition, which people might find interesting, given the ashtanga community’s exposure to Vipassana that is developed on its own outside of Buddhism.

I have been thinking a lot how to offer more restorative and nurturing ways in balance with my own buddhist focus on facing our suffering, that people need some rest and resourcing.  This I learn, and even though I am gentle in my mind, the teachings are powerful, have to go slowly and lightly.

I started exploring energy healing alot in my restorative yoga teaching – it’s a great match.”

Måns Broo

  • Course on Philosophy of Yoga based on Yoga sutras of Patanjali (week 1)

Måns Broo, born 1973, is a teacher and associate professor at the Department of Religious Studies at Åbo Akademi University. He has visited and lectured in our Summer Retreat over years several times.

In his research, he has concentrated on Hinduism and its ancient sacred texts, which he has, among other things, helped translate into Swedish. He is a Hindu himself, with a past in the Hare Krishna movement, which he has, however, left. He is the author of the book on Philosophy of Yoga Sutras of Patanjali.

Visiting Teachers

Hely Järvinen

  • Pilates for yogis (1st week, additional course).

Hely is the lead Pilates instructor trainer at the Somatic Studio as well as responsible for the Pilates classes at the Opera House Orchestra, Tapiola Sinfonietta and The Uniarts Helsinki BA and MA programs.

Hely’s teaching is based on a strong knowledge of anatomy and the latest research on how our bodies are supposed to move from a biomechanical point of view.

The guiding principle is to prevent injuries and create ease of movement. This is done by understanding how each exercise connects correctly into the functional muscle chains and fascia in the body.

Malina Pursiainen

  • Children’s yoga (1st week).
  • Yinful yoga and sound healing (2nd week, additional course).

Malina teaches Yin yoga, relaxation with Tibetan bowls and children’s yoga with great enthusiasm and heart.

”I was introduced to Ashtanga yoga about twenty years ago and little by little, my beloved hobby has become a way of life for me. Because yoga asanas do wonders for my body and meditation gives me peace of mind, I wanted to teach yoga to my primary school-aged son. In 2019, there were no regular weekly children’s yoga classes available in Porvoo, so I had no choice but to train as a children’s yoga instructor myself. Since then, I have been offering yoga to children  in Porvoo.”

Jenna Rignell

  • Children’s yoga (3rd week).

Dance teacher/choreographer and yoga instructor specializes in Children’s yoga. She has been teaching children’s yoga in our Summer Retreats already many summers.

”Embracing, nurturing and protecting that space as well as peace, well-being and happiness in the minds and the bodies of children and youth is the aim on my teaching.”

Laura Torvinen

  • Children’s yoga (2nd week).

A natural child from Lapland. She has worked with children and young people for a long time, including as a classroom teacher, and has made the transition from the school world to teaching yoga.

Her greatest passion is still working with children, and she teaches yoga mainly to children. It has taught her playful expression in practice. Laura is also a trained wilderness guide, yoga instructor and forest bathing instructor.

”Play and yoga belong to everyone. The most important things in life are joy, love and curiosity.”

Ashtanga teacher

  • Led beginners and intro course for new beginners (2nd week).

Ashtanga Yoga Helsinki teacher. More details coming soon.