See us in

Moon Phases

 
CURRENT MOON

About us

Emanuele Rossi Manu - Ardhamatsyendrasana

Began practicing Astanga yoga in 1997 in Italy with Francesco Sangalli. In 1998, he started to practice with
Lino Miele and continued constant daily self-practice under his guidance for 8 years, discovering step by step the benefits and transformative power of Astanga Yoga.  He began teaching Astanga Yoga in Tuscany
in 2001. 

The teachings of Lino Miele inspired a dedication to Astanga Yoga, which led Emanuele to India in 2004 and meeting his guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois in 2005 when studying at the K. Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) in Mysore, India.  He studied at KPJAYI for extended periods again in 2006 and 2008. 
Other influences have been Manju Jois, David Swenson, Nancy Gilgoff and Gaby Pascoli, who have led him to a deeper consciousness and awareness of the practice and life.

In 2006 Emanuele moved to London to continue his studying with Hamish Hendry at Astanga Yoga London, who constantly inspires him as a model of dedication and faith. In London Emanuele has taught morning Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga at The Life Centre and The Fulham Yoga Shala as well as teaching individuals and other classes across the city. 

In January 2009 Emanuele and his partner Bella moved to Oxford where they teach daily Mysore Style Ashtanga Yoga.

“Bless my family for their eternal support and unconditional love, thanks to my partner Bella for her love and constant presence, thanks to all the teachers who share with me their knowledge and joy for the practice, thanks to Sri K. Pattabhi Jois for dedicating his life to keep in life this precious practice for humanity, thanks to R. Sharath Jois to keep alive the memory and tradition of Guruji Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and to carry on his lineage and thanks to God for every breath I take.”

Bella Galt Bella - Hanumanasana

Bella was introduced to yoga by her grandmother in the Cotswolds, England, inspiring her to explore yoga in the ashrams of Rishikesh, India in 1997. Later that year she began working in education and environmental conservation in Laos, staying there for nearly four years, fully immersed in Buddhist and traditional culture. 
The gentle society, compassionate people and natural way of living fundamentally changed her outlook on life. 

Through the grace of Sally Sizemore, her yoga teacher in Laos, Bella began teaching yoga in Vientiane in 1999.  

In 2000, she undertook teacher training and karma yoga for a few months at the Sivananda Yoga Ashram in Val Morin, Canada and then moved to London to begin teaching yoga full time for 9 years.  She apprenticed in the traditional Mysore Style Astanga Yoga method under the inspiring guidance of teachers Hamish Hendry, Roberta Giannotti and Denise Christian, training with them, assisting and teaching classes at Astanga Yoga London between 2001 and 2008.   

Bella first met Guru Sri K.Pattabhi Jois and family – Saraswati and Sharath, in London in 2002.  Inspired by the discipline, presence and humour of this great yogi she practiced in their yearly London workshops from 2002-2006 and in Mysore, India, at The Sri K.P. Jois Astanga Yoga Institute (KPJAYI) in 2006 & 2008.  She is committed to return to KPJAYI Mysore to continue her studies. 

It has been a great blessing to commence teaching yoga with Emanuele in Oxford this year.  She continues to develop her daily self practice and has started the Advanced Series under the guidance of Hamish Hendry.  

Bella is also a qualified Thai Massage Therapist and brings elements of this balancing bodywork into her yoga classes.