| "I have no desire to prove anything by dancing. I just dance." - Fred Astaire |
According to his understanding of how Ashtanga yoga should be practised and
taught, Thomas 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. David Swenson, who is as well one of the world´s foremost instructors of
Ashtanga yoga, trained Thomas in teaching the Primary and the Intermediate Series
of Ashtanga yoga (roga chikitsa and nadi shodana). Manju Pattabhi Jois, the most
experienced active practitioner and teacher of Ashtanga yoga, trained him in the
traditional teaching methods as originally used in Mysore (India).
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 mostly teaches the Ashtanga yoga Primary Series (roga chikitsa, Disease
Therapy), preferably in Mysore Style classes and depending on the experience of the
students the full series or an abbreviated version ("Half Primary" up to navasana).
Private classes and training in the Ashtanga yoga Intermediate Series (nadi
shodana, Nerve Cleansing) are 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
Thomas
