My Ashtanga Lineage & The Gurus Who Shaped My Practice
I believe that to be a teacher, you must first be a student. This is the path of learning and gratitude that anchors my practice.
Why do we need teachers when there is so much information online? Because a person needs a person. Here I am with my teacher, Paramaguru Sharath Jois, who continued the Ashtanga method for all of us.
A candid moment of learning. A teacher gives support and shows the student's potential. This connection is why students return to their teachers year after year.
With fellow practitioners at the Ashtanga Yoga Center of Bangkok. The global Ashtanga community is a beautiful thing, a network of support and shared passion for the practice.
My home altar, a place of remembrance and gratitude for my teachers. The support within the Ashtanga community is immense, especially in times of loss. In the end, we did not only do asanas.
A tribute at a temple in India. Sharath Jois made an invaluable contribution to all of us. He maintained the special field of self-exploration that is present in Mysore.
The steps of Chamundi Hill in Mysore. So many transformative trips to Mysore were possible because of the space held by our teachers. It is a lesson in interdependence.
The feet of a deity statue adorned with flowers. This represents the act of honoring the path and the teachers who have walked it before us, a tradition central to Indian culture and yoga.
Receiving guidance from Sharath Jois. He always turned our attention from aimless chatter back to the question of why we are here, to preserving our energy within.
In memory of our Guru, Paramaguru Sharath Jois. His passing was a great loss to the global Ashtanga community that he was so instrumental in building. We will always remember.
Happy Guru Purnima. Thank you to my teacher, Geshe Tsering, for the teachings he imparts so accessibly. This photo shows him as a young monk during his 25-year study to become a Geshe.
About The Path of a Student: My Gurus & Lineage
When you hit a wall in your practice—a pose that just won't click or a breath that feels forced—it is rarely just a physical limitation. I have learned from my time training in the Mysore tradition that often the bottleneck is mental, not physical. A good teacher does not just fix your pose; they help you see where your mind is holding you back, and that is the specific guidance I bring to our online classes.
In the world of Ashtanga, it is easy to get caught up in the asana—the shapes we make with our bodies. But my years of practice, starting in Mysore and evolving into my current online teaching, have shown me that the true depth lies elsewhere. I spent years traveling to Mysore, studying under Paramaguru Sharath Jois, and exploring Buddhist philosophy with Geshe Tsering. These are not just names on a resume. They are the teachers who showed me that yoga is about showing up for yourself, especially on the days when it feels messy.
My teaching style today is not about rigid perfection or meeting some arbitrary standard. It is about translating that ancient lineage into your home practice. Whether you are struggling with a jump-back or finding it hard to stay motivated without a local shala, I use the technical knowledge I gained from my gurus to provide real-time corrections via Zoom. I teach you the why behind the postures. We look at the breath, the gaze (drishti), and the mental patterns that arise on the mat. You do not need to be in a physical studio to receive this guidance. You just need a camera, a mat, and the willingness to learn from where you are today.
Tanya Lymar
I’m Tanya, and while I teach Ashtanga, I’m still a student at heart. My practice is built on the foundation of the Mysore tradition and Buddhist wisdom, which helps me stay grounded even while navigating life as a mom in Delhi. I’m here to help you find your own path, not just copy mine.
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