I began practicing yoga in 2005 in Mexico City, initially rooted in the Iyengar tradition through the lineage of Donna Holleman. After studying with Donna in Italy in 2008, I traveled to Mysore, India, where I discovered Ashtanga Yoga and began practicing at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute with Sharath Jois. Since then, Ashtanga has remained at the heart of my practice.

Over the years, I have continued studying with inspiring teachers, including Rolf Naujokat, Sharmila Desai, Lucia Andrade, and, later, Matthew and Carla Vollmer in Berlin, whose guidance has deeply influenced both my practice and my teaching.

Teaching yoga has been a natural extension of my path since 2010. In 2017, I founded the Ashtanga Yoga Mysore Program in Berlin Neukölln, which I continue to lead today. My studies also include advanced anatomy training for injuries with David Kyle, Pranayama training with Eddie Stern, and a two-year mindfulness teacher certification with Jack Kornfield and Tara Brach, which deeply strengthened my meditation practice and understanding of yoga as a holistic path.

To me, yoga is not just a physical practice; it is a powerful tool for cultivating awareness and fostering a deep connection with ourselves and the world around us.

 

Ian Cheney

Ian was first introduced to Ashtanga Yoga in 2002 and has been hooked on the practice ever since. He began teaching in London during his apprenticeship with Gingi Lee in 2012, followed by a formal Yoga Alliance 200hr teacher training qualification with the world-renowned John Scott.

In 2014 he travelled for the first time to Mysore, India to practice with Sharath Jois at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute. He returned each year, and in 2017, Sharath gave Ian his blessing to teach Ashtanga Yoga as an Authorised teacher.

Ian left London in 2016 and began teaching internationally. He taught for several years in various countries including Australia, China, Bali, Italy, and the Netherlands. Following the pandemic, Ian finally realised his long-term dream of settling in Berlin, where he reestablished Free Breathing Ashtanga Yoga in 2022. 

Ian brings to his teaching the dedication and enthusiasm he has within his own practice. He believes that yoga is a deeply personal experience and encourages students to find their own space, in balance with the wisdom of the tradition. Fundamentally, though, while yoga can be challenging on many levels, first and foremost it should be a loving, warm and fun experience for all.

 

Julia

Julia discovered yoga in her early twenties, initially practicing and later teaching Vinyasa and Yin Yoga. It was in Berlin in 2022 when she attended her first Ashtanga Mysore class and instantly fell in love with the practice. She traveled to Mysore, India for the first time later that year, and returned the next year to study with Sharath Jois at the Sharath Yoga Centre (formerly KPJAYI).

In addition, Julia has studied with renowned teachers including Lucia Andrade, David Keil, Petri Raissanen and others. She travels to London regularly to study with Hamish Hendry.

As a dedicated practitioner rooted in the traditional Ashtanga lineage, Julia approaches the practice as a moving meditation. Her teaching centers on using the breath to anchor focus in the body and steady the mind.

Julia has been teaching Ashtanga Yoga at shalas around Berlin since 2023 and is assisting at Mysore Shala Berlin.

 
 

Ella & Berny

Will be guest teachers through January - February 2027. They are movement enthusiasts with over 8 years of experience in yoga and more than 10 years of training in hand balancing, acrobatics, circus arts, and calisthenics.

Their path has taken them to Mysore, India, multiple times, where they have studied with Vijay Kumar and Lino Miele, deepening their understanding of the traditional Ashtanga method. They have run and assisted Mysore-style classes in Mexico, India, and Nepal, sharing a practice rooted in tradition while honoring each student’s individual journey and reality.

Together, they bring a balanced approach that combines the discipline of Ashtanga Yoga with a broad movement background, creating spaces where students can develop strength, awareness, mobility, and a deeper connection to themselves through consistent practice and a complete understanding of the method

@movementberny | @ella.moltkee

 
 

Luis

Luis connected with yoga in 2011, and in 2012, he began his Ashtanga Yoga journey.

Since then, his practice has taken him to various places around the world, where he has taught and assisted in a wide range of settings. In 2022, he received authorization from Sharath Jois. Alongside Ashtanga Yoga, Luis practices mindfulness in the Plum Village tradition, where he has found simple yet profound practices that deeply influence both his life and his teaching.

Luis practices yoga as a path toward happiness and health. Cultivating discipline and compassion has been transformative in his life. As a teacher, he is interested in holding a quiet, respectful space where each person can connect with themselves, becoming aware of breath, body, emotions, and mental patterns. When he is teaching he is interested in holding a silent space for each person to connect with themselves and be able to recognise breath, body, emotions, and mental patterns.