Susanna Finocchi
Susanna is the main teacher of the school and has been teaching in Copenhagen since the school opened in 2000. She is teaching the mysore classes and gives occasionally special classes with topics for the students to deepen their understanding of Ashtanga yoga. She is giving support to and encouraging all the mysore students in establishing their practices as well as taking everyone further and deeper as each student experiences the limbs of yoga getting rooted and firm.

Susanna is authorised by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and Sri R. Sharath Jois to teach Ashtanga Yoga and she has in July 2009 completed the first "Special Training Course" with Sharath in Mysore for already authorised teachers and she received Authorisation Level 2 to teach the full intermediate series.

Susanna is dedicated to the tradition of KPJ Ashtanga Yoga Institute in Mysore. This tradition, Paramapara, is to respect the essence of the teaching and the lineage of gurus and teachers as yoga in the original form is passed on from teacher to students.

This vast ocean of knowledge with divine origin is consciousness evolved out of experience in the contact with human beings over the centuries and for the teacher it is a responsibility best met with humbleness.

In 1995 and 1996 Susanna went to Mysore for the first time to study with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and she has since 2003 returned to Guruji and Sharath every year. In 2004 she received her authorisation to teach.

Susanna was also the host for Guruji and his family at their workshop in Copenhagen August 2006 as well as for Sharath at his workshop in August 2009 with the Astanga Yoga School of Copenhagen.

Susanna about her experiences:
I feel blessed to have had the honour to host first Guruji and his family in 2006 and last year, 2009, also to host Sharath on his first solo-tour to Europe here in the school of Copenhagen. And I am also very fortunate to have received Guruji's and Sharath's blessing to teach Ashtanga yoga and having obtained Sharath's Authorisation Level 2 to teach the full intermediate series.

In Ashtanga yoga I recognise something that I feel true about myself. I love the simplicity of the practice where the breath, movements and sequences of asana brings me to a place of inner stillness and observance of myself - though it is not always easy. When I am in this place I find peace and joy.

This magic of a daily Ashtanga yoga practice is for me poetry, creativity and the art of living and this is what I love in teaching to others.

A few key points of Susanna's teaching:

- To develop your own yoga practice.
The asana practice is the core of the teaching in the school and the starting point for the other limbs of Ashtanga yoga. This is the tool to find our way to acceptance and love with a good health, joy of life and self-development. Through the practice you create an inner space with the feeling of freedom and possibilities though we often in the beginning just feel the limitations.

- The relationship between teacher and student is based on trust.
The relationship is developed in the contact between the teacher and the student and cannot be forced be either one. The teacher must start in the present situation to take care of the student and his or her needs with the aim to make the student take care of him or herself in developing the inner teacher.

Susanna began practising Ashtanga Yoga in September 1993 in Rome and is an advanced practitioner. Susanna has also participated at Guruji's workshops in Helsinki 2001 and 2006. She has been teaching her own classes since 1997 and has also been teaching at "Scuola di Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga" in Rome and occasionally at the Astanga Yoga School in Helsinki.

Read the interview with Susanna

Michael Heino Christensen
Michael has been teaching at the school since 2007. He teaches all levels; intro, beginners, mysore and mysore start. He started doing Ashtanga yoga in 2002 and has had his daily practice at the school under Susanna's skilful guidance ever since. Today, Michael has an advanced Ashtanga yoga practice.

Michael says:"The way Ashtanga yoga captures both body and mind caught me right away. It is such a joy to feel how physical poses and the ujjayi-breathing create calmness and balance in body and mind".

As to his reasons for wanting to be a teacher, he says: "After several years with my own Ashtanga practice and experience, I am very happy to be able to pass on this use of the practice in class. It is very important for me to teach Ashtanga yoga in it's authentic form and thereby give space for the students to have their own experiences with a steady yoga practice. A daily practice truly shows the strength in Ashtanga yoga. To me, that is e.g. building up a strong inner core which makes it easier for me to sense myself and make the decisions I need to make".

In New York in 2004, Michael participated in his first workshop with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his second in San Francisco in 2005. It was a big experience for him; the workshops had a very high level of energy and focus on the practice. Michael was very honoured to meet and receive guidance from Guruji, especially his workshop and visit to the school in Copenhagen in August 2006 left some fond and special memories.

Michael has also met Sri R. Sharath Jois and it was an exciting week when he was in Copenhagen in August in 2009. Michael participated in Sharath's workshop here in Copenhagen, and then went to London to be in his Led Intermediate workshop. He feels that this has taken his yoga practice to a new level of inspiration and focus and he now looks forward to his first visit to Mysore in the near future.

Michael in Visvamitrasana