My journey to becoming a yoga teacher
I’m a Swedish-speaking Finn, currently living in in a town in the south of Finland, called “Ekenäs” or “Tammisaari” in Finnish.
Around the time of 2004 I became interested in Indian music culture, mainly from the perspective of Indian classical music and sitar playing, being a guitarist myself. Without realizing, a seed of yoga was sown in my mind to start germinating much much later in life.
I was on the path of studying mathematics and computer science, exploring my interest in software development and software architecture, only to realize I don’t want to sit in front of a screen for the rest of my life at the end of my studies. My health started to suffer, both mentally and physically, and this turned out to be my wake up call to my inner world, and accidentally stumbled upon yoga thanks to youtube.
Becoming a certified Hatha yoga teacher
As a young father I started practicing yoga in the year of 2013, and became a certified hatha yoga teacher in 2015 under the excellent guidance of Suvi Hakala (FIN), Sue Woodd (UK) and Julie Hansen (UK). The yoga education they gave was very detailed, demanding, and high class, which is something I have come to realize only 10 years later after practicing with many different teachers.
What I take away most from their teaching is not all the technical, anatomical, therapeutical or philosophical knowledge, but the ability to teach yoga compassionately for all students of all ages and body types. What I currently am most proud of is having very diverse groups of people in my classes of different body types and people of all ages. To me it says a lot about a teacher.
Two years later after countless hours of teaching and studying I was eligible to upgrade my certificate to E-RYT-200 (Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher) and YACEP (Yoga Alliance Continuing Education Provider).
My Ashtanga yoga journey and teachers
During the summer of 2016 my yoga practice changed dramatically when I found Ashtanga yoga with Petri Räisänen and Juha Javanainen during their summer retreat on the island of Houtskari in the Turku archipelago. Everything I was missing in my own practice I found in Ashtanga yoga: discipline, routine, a system and spiritual depth.
The authenticity of the Ashtanga yoga practice, and the integrity of my teachers sparked my soul, and I regard both Petri and Juha as my teachers. Visiting their summer yoga camp has become a tradition for me, now since almost 10 years back, and I visit Helsingin Astangajoogakoulu to practice as often as I can.
My life journey, being a single parent and business owner, has not (yet) taken me to Mysore in India, and I am very saddened that I never got the opportunity to practice with Sharath before he passed away. My heart goes out to his family and all of his students.
I am grateful for Petri and Juha and their tireless devotion to their ashtanga summer camp. It has become my Mysore.
With this said, I do not have an authorized Ashtanga Yoga teacher certificate from Mysore, since I never practiced in Mysore in India. I still feel like I can help people with their yoga practice, and I humbly teach what is closest to my heart, which is making the tradition of Ashtanga Yoga accessible to all yogis practicing with me.
Since becoming a certified Hatha yoga teacher in 2015 I have taught 5000+ hours of yoga classes with a wide range of people, while managing Yogashala Raseborg in Tammisaari, and has actively been practicing with different international teachers on different workshops, such as Eddie Stern (in person and online), Kino McGregor (in person), Simon Borg-Olivier (in person), and also online courses with David Garrigues.
Krischnamacharya as an influence
The teacher I find most influence from is Sri T Krischnamacharya, who was the teacher of both BKS Iyengar and Pattabhi Jois. Krischnamacharya was very keen on teaching different yoga practices for different persons. What he was teaching the young boys was not the same as he was teaching his wife.
I bring this vibe into my classes by teaching alternatives when I see it necessary, and trying to give everyone a suitable amount of challenge.
I love putting in some Krischnamacharya-influenced practices and variations into my own yoga practice, and also in my teaching.
Teaching style
To me it’s important that the practices are taught in a safe, healthy and effective way for each student. As a yoga teacher it is important to understand that all people are different, and to embrace, or celebrate, the movement patterns of each individual.
In my teaching style you will learn to turn your senses inward (pratyāhāra), you will improve your focus and learn to practice to the rhythm of your own breath. The meditation and concentration makes the practice meaningful, and is a gateway to your inner dimensions. A yoga practice should be a practice in concentration and meditation. In ashtanga and hatha yoga we use our bodies to practice and achieve this.
We start simple, and the more you practice, the more you will learn at your own ideal pace while your body becomes stronger and softer, and your mind becomes more focused.