| "I have no desire to prove anything by dancing. I just dance." - Fred Astaire |
Manju Pattabhi Jois, the most experienced active practitioner and teacher of
Ashtanga yoga, trained Thomas in the traditional teaching methods as originally
used by his father Shri K. Pattabhi Jois in Mysore (India) and officially authorized
him to teach the Ashtanga yoga Primary Series (roga chikitsa). According to his
understanding of how Ashtanga yoga should be practised and taught, Thomas also
builds in essence on what he learned from David Williams, the first and so far only
westerner to have learned and taught the complete Ashtanga yoga system of asana
and pranayama. Furthermore, David Swenson, who is as well one of the world´s
foremost instructors of Ashtanga yoga, also trained Thomas in teaching the Primary
and the Intermediate Series of Ashtanga yoga (roga chikitsa and nadi shodana).
Thomas has a daily practice of asana, pranayama and meditation. Manju Pattabhi
Jois has introduced him to the practice of the Third Series of Ashtanga yoga (Sthira
Bhaga) in 2011.
Thomas orients himself to what his own teachers learned in Mysore in the 1950s to
1970s, exclusive to the changes to Ashtanga yoga that came in later years. He seeks
further training from his teachers once or twice a year.
Additionally, Thomas has practised regularly with Lino Miele and he has also
demonstrated his respect for Shri K. Pattabhi Jois, Saraswathi and Sharath
Rangaswamy at the Ashtanga Yoga Nilaya in Mysore.
Thomas has never injured a student. He mostly teaches the Ashtanga yoga Primary
Series (roga chikitsa, Disease Treatment), preferably in private classes and Mysore
style classes.
Training in the Ashtanga yoga Intermediate Series (nadi shodana, Nerve
Cleansing) is available upon request.
Thomas is also known for his Hands On! Adjustment Training for Yoga Teachers
in which he shares safe, correct and effective teaching techniques with others.
Contact: email to Thomas (admin(at)ashtangamunich(dot)com)
Thomas
