GERALD DISSE Gérald has been practicing yoga for over 18 years. He discovered Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga in 1991 with Sri K Pattabhi Jois in Mysore, India. He spent 8 years traveling to Mysore spending 4 – 6 months per visit to learn more of the system, then going off to some other exotic location to practice daily what Guruji had taught him. Gérald was taught up to the third series and was one of the first French students to have been personally authorized to teach by Sri K Pattabhi Jois. As he had learned directly from the Guru at a time when there were not so many yoga students in Mysore, he started to give workshops around the world. He gave Ashtanga workshops in Australia, New Zealand, and around the USA and Europe.

In addition to his Ashtanga yoga practice, Gérald has done extensive stays in Vipassana silent meditation centers in India and Australia and continues to cultivate a meditation and pranayama practice.

During his travels he visited Auroville, an international spiritual community in Tamil Nadu, South India. He related with the place immediately. It was a way for him to remain connected to the spirituality of India and also still have connection to the west, so he decided to build a house and a yoga shala and become a part of the Auroville community. Gerald spent 5 years there teaching daily Ashtanga Mysore style classes in between his workshops around the world; until 2004 when he decided, after being away for 17 years, to move back to France. Gérald is now settled in Paris where he has founded a beautiful community of yoga with Linda and their children.

Gérald has also studied with Manju Jois, Pattabhi Jois’ son and Kausthub Desikachar, the grandson of Krishnamacharya. As well, he has studied extensively with Ron Reid and Marla Meenakshi Joy. He continues his yoga studies in asana, pranayama, Sanskrit and Indian philosophies.