Traditional Mysore-style Ashtanga yoga with Level 2 Authorized teacher Elise Espat.

SCHEDULE

New Orleans, Playa del Carmen and beyond. Dates TBA.

•Please email if interested in group or private sessions: EliseAshtangaYoga@gmail.com. Zoom also available.

•Updates also on IG @the.yoga.minimalist / monthlyish enews.

A bit about me:

I moved to NYC in 2001 for art school and practiced/taught mostly vinyasa and kundalini until I found Mysore Style in 2005. It was an amazing time and I was able to study with many notable teachers both local and visiting in many styles, lineages, and traditions. From reiki certification to restorative and Iyengar — I soaked it all up. I did my first teacher training with Mary Flinn while I was in college in 2005. I was just a baby and so many amazing teachers mentored and showed me the way. Eventually I felt pulled toward Ashtanga after all of them suggested it would be a good fit even if it didn’t seem like I would like it.

I started practicing each day at home with my little Lino Miele book and eventually got the courage to go to Guy Donahaye even though I still did not at all understand how Mysore was learned or taught. Guy and Lori Brunghard taught together and had many incredible teachers come through who influenced me during my formative years. Teachers like Annie Pace, Kirsten Berg, Petri Raisanen, Mark Robberds, and Mark Darby. I remember other people coming through the city as well like David Williams, Danny Paradise, and so many others.

When Pattatbhi Jois, Saraswati, and Sharathji were coming in 2006 I nervously signed up. Pattabhi Jois definitely yelled at me more than once to not go so fast, to wait in chatvari. I could hear his feet coming toward me each time I did a wrong foot first. I was just so nervous. Sharathji seemed to always keep an eye out and he’d be giving me gentle queues each time I’d look over to him about what was coming next. It was an incredible experience and I knew after that that I had to go to India.

In 2007 I began making regular trips to study at the source in Mysore, India with the Jois family at the then Ashtanga Yoga Research Institute (which later became the K Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Institute and now the Sharath Yoga Centre). I was there while Pattabhi Jois was still teaching, had some time with Saraswathi as well and I feel very lucky to be able to have had those times. After multiple long-term trips I received authorization in 2010.

For about 10 years I lived and taught in NYC. I established and led daily Mysore at Ashtanga Yoga Brooklyn, taught daily Mysore at Yoga Works, was a teacher at Guy’s in the East Village, and taught at many other notable yoga studios all around the city like The Open Center, Greenhouse Holistic, Yoga Mandirim, Yoga People, and Three Jewels.

In 2011 I moved to New Mexico where I taught until 2023. I now live and teach from Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

A life-long student, I have studied Sanskrit and traditional chanting, harmonium, Ayurveda, Thai Yoga Massage, completed multiple assisting and adjustment trainings including Guy’s, earned the highest training accreditation with Yoga Alliance, participated in Sharathji’s Special Teacher’s Course and have assisted Sharathji in the main shala. I continue to make the pilgrimage to practice with my teacher Sharath Jois to this day.

Having practiced since 2001, my current belief is that I have been taught gently and with care. It should all be steady and sweet. That’s how I aim to teach. I believe it’s my responsibility to sensitively help each student grow and thrive wherever they are, whoever they are, wherever they come from. So if you want help, I’m here to help you on your journey whether it is just making sure you have a quiet space to do your practice or specific guidance or getting ready to make your own journey to India and everything between.