"Yoga is a way of life, a modality, a way to unite the different aspects of mind and body and spirit, with the rest of my being and doings. Whether I’m driving or eating, having a meeting or shopping, some aspect of the yoga should always be present - it's integrated in the way I communicate with people, in the way I live life."
At the moment I only teach by invitation and privately, in addition to online meditation, however, on my yoga schedule there’s a Yoga Holiday at Santillán, close to Málaga, Spain
17 - 24 March, 2024
Retreat information has been updated under the tab Yoga Retreats
I am also offering some weekend workshops, or mini-retreats if you will, in Nagu, in the Southwestern archipelago. The exact dates for the next one in May 2024 to be announced.
After several years of owning and running Purna Yoga Helsinki, the studio I founded in 2010, my focus today lies on sharing the yoga I’ve learned from all different teachers I’ve been fortunate to encounter during all my years of practicing since 1988. Going more in depth by offering Immersions, workshops and retreats. The aim is to help people find tools to better their lives and relationships both with themselves and others, through asana, meditation and lifestyle choices and through finding a deeper connection to themselves.
We heal through our bodies, nutrition, and nature.
My journey into yoga began on the island of Skyros, Greece in 1988 with Derek Ireland and Radha Warrell.
At the time I was experiencing prolonged symptoms of very severe eczema, which started disappearing during the 14 day long retreat.
It was transforming because it got my digestion going, it really made my skin start healing. It was such a profound physical change, that there was no return.
Through the years of my own healing journey, I have experienced the transformative power of the body, proper nutrition, and nature. It is important to have a diet that supports our personal bodies so that the body can function in the best way possible and heal whatever is not in balance. And it is also important to remember that the diet that works for me may not be the right one for you. And that it may change over time. Above all, I think it’s important to never become fanatical about anything.
Nature has a wonderful power to support balance and often we can find balance and stress release through the healing power of nature. Just walking in the forest and breathing in the air or sitting by the sea watching the waves can have a tremendous calming effect. And I greatly support the idea of giving oneself time each day to do nothing at all.
Teaching that is informed by years of practicing and teaching yoga.
In 1988, I was the first person to begin practicing and teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in Finland. Finding it, was like meeting an old friend. I loved the challenges, how my body and mind got stronger and soon enough I loved sharing the method with others. I kept studying with Derek and Radha for several years and about 15 years into my practice did an “official” teacher training with John Scott, in Cornwall, UK.
Over the years, my methods of practicing and teaching have changed through both intense study and the work I have done with different teachers along the way.
It was in 2008 that I was first introduced to Purna Yoga, a holistic style of alignment based yoga including pranayama, meditation, philosophy, nutrition and lifestyle where the asana is Iyengar oriented.
In 2010 I completed the 500-Hour and in 2012 the 2.000-Hour Teacher Training program at the Purna Yoga College in Bellevue, Washington, USA.
Since the summer of 2010 I have also completed several therapeutic teacher trainings with Aadil Palkhivala both as a participant and as his assistant. In addition, I completed a training in how to teach teachers in October 2012.
No longer part of that community I will always appreciate everything I learned during those years and in my current teaching all aspects of my learnings are present.
The Power of Love.
I believe that in our essence that is what we are. If we tap into pure love, we can create and attract the type of people that can co-create with us the life we are deep down all dreaming to live. With or through love you can overcome anything, it is the only truly uniting power that we have.
Meditation creates the opportunity to connect with something bigger than what we perceive as ourselves. Meditation is such an important part of life - it facilitates living from intuition or the heart, rather than being the slave of our thoughts and constant chatter in our minds. It helps us to feel and act, rather than react.
Asana is there to support meditation.
My main focus is really to help people see that asana is just a small part of what yoga is all about. Yoga really is a means of finding a connection to one’s heart, intuition, the true self, the spirit or soul; whatever it is that you want to call it. The body should serve the soul as should the mind.
Asana, the physical practice of yoga, creates an important effect. It helps the body stay healthy, supple, and feel alive. It makes the energy flow and facilitates learning about oneself on many levels. The asana is there to support your body and nervous system so that it can be strong enough for the positive effects of a consistent meditation practice. It will make you feel happier, more peaceful and appreciative of life and all that it is giving you.
