Maria José Pantoja

Having practised ballet and contemporary dance from a young age, I first came to yoga in 2005 as a way to supplement my dance training. Soon I came to the realisation that there was a lot more to yoga than simply stretching and gaining flexibility. I now see yoga as a way of living, a lifetime practice that extends beyond the physical execution of asanas, and becomes an exercise in awareness of how we relate to our own selves and to others.

I practiced Iyengar yoga for almost two years back in Mexico City, my hometown. In 2007 I moved to the UK to pursue a postgraduate degree. I tried many different styles of yoga and have met many amazing teachers in the way until I finally discovered the Ashtanga Vinyasa system at Stillpoint Yoga London. Immediately, I fell in love with the way Ashtanga integrates movement, breath and consciousness.

I feel blessed to have Oz and Scott as my teachers. Humbly and wholeheartedly they have taught me the Ashtanga Vinyasa method, and they keep fostering my practice and inspiring me everyday. I am also infinitely indebted to them because they have encouraged me to join the Teacher Training programme with John and Lucy Scott.

I hold the conviction that yoga can be practiced by anyone, not just the very flexible persons. As a teacher in training, I would like to share with others this beautiful practice, and hope they can feel inspired and transformed by it as much as I have been.