Teachers
“Be a light unto yourself” – Buddha to his disciples
OUR YOGA TEACHERS
Meet our incredible team of yoga teachers from all over the world.
Our teaching team at Sampoorna – Yoga Teacher Training School in India work together to create a supportive and nurturing environment that enables you to find a deeper spiritual awareness. We have created a sensitive, safe and spiritual space where each individual is free to express and explore themselves without expectation or judgment.
Our teaching staff are a unique combination of Indian and International teachers, creating a fusion of cultures, experiences, teaching styles, approaches to yoga asanas, and a multicultural environment appropriate to the eclectic and international group of students we receive at our center every season. While our teachers come from a variety of cultures, countries, and disciplines, we are united in our belief that yoga is an ongoing transformative process and uphold this unique blend of East-West influence on yoga that benefit all with a deeper awareness and understanding of yoga, personally and in a global context.
All of our teachers are experienced and certified and lend their own personal style and experience to our yoga teacher training courses, while at the same time staying grounded in traditional yoga disciplines.
DEEPAK SHARMA, INDIA
E-RYT 500, SYT
Director and Founder of Sampoorna Yoga India
DEEPAK SHARMA
Deepak is the founder of Sampoorna Yoga, Goa and Costa Rica. He founded Sampoorna in 2008 after taking part in a 10-days Vipassana meditation retreat in Sri Goenka Tradition. He has been practicing yoga for 30 years and has been teaching actively for the last 25 years. He has graduated more than 11,000 international yoga teachers till date.
Yoga has been part of his family for many generations. Be it his grandfather, father or his mother, they all have been spiritual seekers. Yoga started to become part of his life when he was merely 12 years old. It started when his father asked him to assist him in his yoga workshops. His role was to merely organise the yoga mats and supply ‘warm & salted’ water to the participants during yogic cleansing techniques. It was through the keen observation of his father’s teaching style and people’s gratitude towards his father’s efforts that inspired him to learn more about yoga.
His father was a renowned yoga teacher in his home town in central India. Although he was in a job, he used to conduct free yoga workshops for the locals quite often. His father was so passionate about helping people through yoga that he used to literally take loans to conduct his workshops. His both parents have been spiritual seekers and have been visiting their Guru’s ashram for decades. His mother follows the path of bhakti yoga.
Deepak’s journey as a yoga student started by assisting his father in the yoga workshops his father used to conduct for the local people in the town when he was merely 12 year old. He became truly inspired with the power of yoga when he saw the value his father was adding to people’s lives through yoga.
Although he had been reading various yogic texts on yoga and spirituality since the age of 15, his journey of real yoga had not begun yet. He went on to become an engineer and worked various jobs just like many others. It was, when he was 24, when his real journey of yoga began. It was when he was in Mumbai railway station waiting for his train with four hours in hand to kill. He decided to go out to look for a movie theatre but ended up buying the most respected book on yoga ever, the Bhagavad Gita. In a non-stop reading spree of the next 26 hours he had finished the 850-page book. The book and its teachings had a profound impact on him and he was not the same person anymore.
While still in his 9 to 5 job he started to study more and more spiritual texts, visiting spiritual ashrams, attending satsangs, practicing more yoga and meditation. At the same time he also started to teach yoga to his colleagues for free to help them. When he was 30 he left his job and went to an ashram for two years to study with his guru. It was in the ashram where it was revealed to him that yoga was his path.
Apart from his father, Deepak has studied with various Gurus like Swami Sivananda, Swami Satyananda, Swami Niranjanananda, Osho, Eknaath Eswaran and J Krishnamurty and has studied hundreds of spiritual texts.
ELI AGUILAR
E-RYT 500, SYT
Co-Director Sampoorna Yoga & Senior YTTC Instructor
ELI AGUILAR
Eli has been passionate about exercising, teaching and healthy lifestyle most of her life, which led her to study Clinical Psychology. While seen patients and teaching workshops, she realized that in order to achieve an optimum state of well-being, a more holistic approach is required, and she went on to become a Pilates Instructor, Reiki Master and Health Coach.
In her pursuit for a deeper understanding of the body and its functionality, she moved from Costa Rica –her homeland- to New York to expand her studies in Pilates. Once in USA, she reconnected with her personal yoga practice that ignited a desire to come to India, not only to study how to teach yoga but also how to live a more fulfilling life.
Eli traveled to India in 2014 and joined Sampoorna Yoga as a facilitator of the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Course. That experience was the non-return point. She felt in love with India and its culture, and she found her passion: teaching. In Sampoorna Yoga, she has taught almost all the topics of the syllabus and she is particularly passionate about functional anatomy, how different bodies express the asanas in different ways, and she is very keen on respecting everyone’s unique body and practice.
Today, she is a key member of the Sampoorna Yoga family. Along with Deepak, she has co-founded Sampoorna Yoga Costa Rica, while she continues teaching in English and Spanish courses, developing curriculum and content for new courses, managing and teaching Yin Yoga training courses, handling the online education platform, and overseeing different management responsibilities.
Yoga has changed her life, and she has made yoga her lifestyle.
DR PALLAVI KAVHANE
E-RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
DR PALLAVI KAVHANE
Dr Kavhane is the director of the Maharashtriya Mandal Yoga School and Research Center at Vishwanand Yoga Institute, and a Yoga teacher at the University of Pune. She holds masters degrees in both Physical Education and Yoga, a masters diploma in Naturopathy, and has been awarded an honorary D. Litt from the University of South America.
Dr Kavhane has won multiple awards for yoga in her career, including the highest award, the All India Yogarjuna Award in 2000 in Kolkata, where she was a student of B.K.S. Iyengar. She is a three-times winner of the World Champion Award, in Spain, Argentina and Portugal.
She has been recognised by the Sports Minister of India, Shri Sunil Dutt, for representing India and winning the gold medal at the International Yoga Symposium for three consecutive years.
Dr Kavhane is a guest lecturer in yoga at many schools, colleges, institutes and universities and she has conducted over 2,000 demonstrations all over the world. She has contributed to multiple books, articles and seminars on yoga and was a contributor to the Sports Development Conference in 2005, hosted by Shri Sunil Dutt. She is a lifetime member of the Indian Yoga Association.
DR VISHWAJEET CHAVAN
M.Sc in Yoga Therapy
Yoga Teacher
DR VISHWAJEET CHAVAN
Dr Chavan has been practicing yoga therapy and ayurvedic medicine at the Shree Shashwati Health Center in Kothrud, Maharashtra, for fifteen years. He has a PhD in Alternative Therapies from Pune University and has diplomas in Therapeutic Restorative Yoga, Naturopathy, and Yoga and Ayurveda.
Dr Chavan is a qualified yoga teacher, and through the Sahaja Yoga Trust, he leads Sahaja Yoga Meditation camps all over India with the mission of improving people’s spiritual health.
He is associated with many charitable organisations in India, where his work ranges from working with special-needs people in Andhashala, Marashrashtra, to destitute women and girls in Mahila Sevashram, Karnataka. Every year he assists at the Rotary International Warkari health check-up camps at different locations around India, specialising in raising awareness around conditions such as anaemia, diabetes and heart disease.
Dr Chavan’s social outreach is spread further through his work with the Punya Charitable Trust, the Pune Doctor Charitable Trust, Sanjeevan Yoga therapist Association, the Shree Yogdayani Association, Ahmendnagar Mitra Mandal, Indian Medical Association, Kothrud Doctors Association among others. He is a follower of the H. H. Shree Mataji Nirmala Deviji Sahaja Yoga Meditation Technique.
DR NEELIMA NALAWADEY
500-hr
Yoga Teacher
DR NEELIMA NALAWADEY
Dr. Nalawadey has a Bachelor of Education degree in Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery, and a diploma in Panchakarma, from the University of Pune.
She is a certified yoga teacher from the Indian School of Yoga in Chennai and has been practising ayurveda, panchakarma and yoga therapy since 2010. She is currently teaching yoga therapy, yoga philosophy, tridosha and ayurvedic nutrition at the Yoga and Ayurveda Prabodhini in Pune.
In her spare time, Dr Nalawadey enjoys kathak dancing and kick-boxing.
PRIANCA SHHARMA
500-hr
Yoga Teacher
PRIANCA SHHARMA
Prianca’s passion has always been to express her inner self through movement. For this reason, she spent over a decade in the theatre and dance industry. Yoga came into her life when all fell apart due to the stressful environment she was surrounded by. Yoga provided the healing calmness she was looking for, and since then, Yoga became the axis of her life.
In 2013, she decided to do her first Yoga teacher training, and her journey of sharing, learning and exploring the physical, mental and spiritual body began in 2014. In her classes, she tries to keep the focus on embodiment of full practise on and off the mat.
She has trained in Vinyasa, Yin Yoga, Ashtanga, Pre and Post-natal yoga, meditation and chanting, and she has shared her knowledge and practice with students from all over the world. Prianca likes to use breath control, dance movement and other such tools to build a connection with our inner being. She believes that awareness and reflection are as essential to teaching as they are to practise.
According to her, poets start with words and painters with primary colours, and as a teacher she likes to hone the craft and then step back, allowing yoga to perform its magic.
For Prianca, the best part about teaching is having the hope that she can inspire and support her students in her little unique ways!
MINE TAYLAN
E-RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
MINE TAYLAN
Mine has practiced yoga and meditation for almost 20 years, and started teaching over 14 years ago. In 2007, she opened the first hot yoga studio in southern Sweden, in Malmö. Since her first official yoga teacher training she has taught 6000 hours of classes.
To emphasize the constant learning process, Mine persists in calling herself a student and her students her teachers. Mine’s experience as a teacher and studio owner, and from a range of trainings that she has led and participated in, has given her a deep understanding of a vast variety of yoga styles and of each person’s uniqueness and individual needs. It has enriched her with an excellent wealth of knowledge of yoga, alignment, therapy and anatomy which shines in each of her classes. Her compassion and her quality consistent classes makes her students leave each class feeling stronger, healthier, aware and more balanced.
“As a yoga student, teacher, teachers’ teacher and studio owner, I hope to convey that yoga practice, – on top of constituting physical and mental practice- can grow into a lifelong love relationship. It’s important to me that every person feel “safely challenged”, regardless if their main interest is teaching, practice, breathing, self-realization, mindfulness, concentration, relaxation, philosophy or anything else. I want to be able to inspire, motivate and guide my students from dream to reality, whether is spreading the philosophy of yoga, learning headstand or free yourself from physical pain.”
Before her immersion in yoga, Mine obtained a degree in Psychology and worked in the Human Resources and Recruiting fields. Today, she runs a yoga studio, holds retreats and teaches Vinyasa, Hatha, Yin, Yoga Therapy, Meditation and Pranayama. Some of teachers Mine has learnt from are Jason Crandell, Ray Long, Paul Grilley, Raghunath, Alan Wallace, Budokon University, and much more.
ZOE MACPHAIL
E-RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
ZOE MACPHAIL
In Zoe’s classes you can expect fluid functional movement combined with strength, mobility and intelligent sequencing. Her purpose is to encourage students to understand the WHY behind particular movement patterns and the function of their own bodies, so that they are able to move with more intention and integrity. Making Yoga more accessible for each individual body. Zoe’s passion is learning and educating.
Her belief is …
“If you think you know everything, you’re not leaving yourself open to learn. Every great teacher is a great learner. Never become too much of an expert that you stop gaining expertise.”
ALAN ELLMAN
E-RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
ALAN ELLMAN
Alan led a rather hedonistic lifestyle up until his discovery of yoga while living in Hong Kong. Although he enjoyed his job teaching English to preschoolers, there was something missing. After signing up for a free class at his local gym, he never looked back. It was the perfect way to bring some calm into an otherwise hectic lifestyle, and it wasn’t long before the shift from party to asana addict began. Yoga ignited a passion that had been previously misdirected and kick started a positive new chapter in his life.
Having been so enriched by teaching English previously, it seemed a natural progression to share his new love, and so began his journey at Sampoorna Yoga. Having completed both the 200-hour Ashtanga-Vinyasa and 300-hour Vinyasa flow courses at Sampoorna Yoga, Alan went on to train in Rocket Yoga with senior teacher Amber Gean. Alan’s style is dynamic and energetic, but playful with a strong emphasis on alignment and breath. He strives for precise technique and movement in his class, always with a focus on well-being and mindfulness. His personal practice combines Vinyasa Flow, Rocket, Dharma Mittra and just about anything that gets him on his hands or upside down, where he is happiest.When not at Sampoorna, Alan lives and teaches full-time in London.
VERA BETTIOL
RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
VERA BETTIOL
Vera began practicing yoga while living in San Diego, California in 2010. It was love at first sight, and after her first yoga class she never looked back. As soon as she entered the yoga room, she knew she was home, the home of her heart. Since then, she had taken various trainings and workshops around the world. Nowadays, Vera is a 500-hours certified yoga teacher. She did her first 200-hour training with CorePower Yoga and then completed her 300-hour yoga teacher training at Sampoorna – Yoga Teacher Training School in India. She is also a certified aerial yoga and yin yoga teacher. She mostly practice and teaches vinyasa, yin and aerial yoga.
Vera encourages her students to build greater self-awareness and peace through their yoga practice, empowering them to release, to let go and to discover themselves, in a safe comfortable ambiance. She strives to inspire her students to foster an interest in slowing down, paying attention to the subtle things, and remembering their innate ability to heal themselves. She places emphasis in breathing, safety, postural alignment while practicing in a loving-playful atmosphere. Vera believes that through yoga we can create the change we need and bring peace and joy to ourselves and others. She feels blessed and grateful to be able to share her love for Yoga with others.
Along with her yoga journey, Vera loves to travel and has visited many countries over the years. Born and raised in Italy, has lived for more than 11 years in California, USA. Before dedicating her journey to yoga, Vera worked in the field of communications and marketing. She also has a master and a doctoral degree in Business Administration.
STEVEN BISHOP
E-RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
STEVEN BISHOP
Steve has been practicing yoga for most of his life. Although, he began practicing yoga as a way to keep his body healthy, Steve soon realized that yoga also changed the way he looked at the world.
He began teaching yoga 12 years ago and many of the students from his very first class are still taking yoga with him. His classes are themed so what is done on the mat can be integrated into our lives off the mat. While the physical benefits of yoga are evident and sought after in the western culture the hidden benefits of yoga such as inner strength, emotional control, and spiritual fortitude are possibly even more important.
Steve received both his 200-hour and 500-hour yoga teacher training from Sampoorna – Yoga Teacher Training School India. He has also studied under a variety of yoga teachers including Bryan Kest, Doug Swenson, Ray Long, MD, and Tiffany Cruikshank. He is a Registered Respiratory Therapist, has a Master’s degree in physiology, and a Ph.D. in cognitive psychology and educational leadership. Steve’s professional career was spent in the medical field and education. Steve served as an Advisor for Yoga Alliance on the Standards Revision Project.
Steve brings his knowledge of anatomy, yoga, and psychology together to design a yoga class that safely and effectively addresses injuries and different body types while providing a fun and challenging class that benefits body, mind, and soul. He has an eclectic style that incorporates aspects of Vinyasa flow, Ashtanga yoga, Yin yoga, Piyo® and Broga®.
ATHENA CHRISTODOULOU
E-RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
ATHENA CHRISTODOULOU
Athena trained as a classical and contemporary dancer in 1992 continuing her professional dancing and teaching career until her forties. She ran her own ballet school and contemporary dance company in Cyprus for 10 years and a yoga studio for 5 years. She came across an Ashtanga yoga class while traveling through New Zealand in 1998 and was hooked! It was so refreshing to have the discipline that she knew her whole life from classical ballet training but at the same time without the competition and pressures of the dance world. She continued developing her self practice until she decided to take a yoga teacher training with David Swenson in 2004. She has practiced and taught since then, always continuing to learn and to explore the different qualities that Ashtanga brought out in herself and in her students.
In the last 10 years she has taken many workshops in Vinyasa and Ashtanga Yoga which has helped her develop her own style of teaching. She has a great interest in the anatomical side of yoga and has a great eye for alignment. She took a 200hrs Yin Yoga Teacher Training in 2018 and completed her 300hrs Teacher Training in Vinyasa with Sampoorna – Yoga Teacher Training School in Goa in February 2019. Her classes are challenging but always with a fun element as she believes that even though she takes her work seriously a sense of humour is always necessary! She never stops learning and feels that the more you know, the more you realize the less you know!
She has also just completed a two year course in Clinical Canine Massage Therapy. This way she can fulfill her other passion which is helping dogs lead happier lives. At the moment she lives in Edinburgh with her partner and their 2 dogs and 2 cats.
KIRAN DEVI
RYT 500
Yoga Teacher
KIRAN DEVI
Kiran fell in love with yoga as soon as she stepped on the mat more than 10 years ago, and hasn’t looked back (unless doing a backbend!). Years of practice led Kiran to embark on the journey to become a qualified teacher. She is a 500-hour trained Vinyasa teacher. And has done several additional courses which include Yin Yoga training, among others.
She ran her own studio in Birmingham, UK sharing her passion and knowledge with her students. She emphasises correct alignments and gives top priority to intensity and safety.
Yoga, for her, is a regular discipline and not just an exercise routine. She loves the spiritual benefits of yoga. Through movement, she creates this inner space, a sense of freedom and happiness to the soul.
Director & Senior Teacher of Sampoorna Yoga speaking about his experience with Sampoorna Yoga, India.
Our ex-sampoorna yoga teacher training students speaking about their experience with Sampoorna Yoga, India.
Our teachers and ex-sampoorna yoga teacher training students speaking about their experience with Sampoorna Yoga, India.
START YOUR TEACHER TRAINING JOURNEY!
Sampoorna Yoga’s Teacher Training Courses are registered with Yoga Alliance USA. When you graduate from our school you will be eligible to register with them as a RYT, Registered Yoga Teacher, in your respective categories.