Petri Räisänen

Petri Räisänen is an internationally known and respected Astanga Yoga teacher. He started practicing Astanga Yoga in 1988 and teaching in 1990. A devoted student of his Guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, he was authorized to teach Astanga Yoga in 2001 by Guruji. Petri is careful to pass on his Guru's exact teachings.

Petri is co-owner and director of Astanga Yoga Helsinki, one of the world's largest Astanga Yoga Shalas, which he founded with his friend and colleague, Juha Javanainen, in 1997. Sri K Pattabhi Jois blessed the school to teach the traditional Astanga Yoga method.

On his yogic path Petri has studied with many respected Astanga Yoga teachers such as Derek Ireland (his first certified teacher), Radha Warrel, Gwendoline Hunt, Lino Miele and Eddie Stern, as well as R. Sharath Jois and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.

Petri focuses on integrating healing and therapy with yoga, meeting students’ individual needs and guiding their progress. Petri's yoga pose adjustments are gentle, effective, therapeutic and, according to some, almost magical, and originate not only from his own practice and teaching but also from his past work as a traditional Finnish folk healer and naturopath. His friendly, relaxed behaviour and intuitive perception give an open, energetic and meditative atmosphere to his classes.

In 2004, Petri wrote "Astanga - The Yoga Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois" in collaboration with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, R. Sharath Jois. The book introduces the primary series (1st series) Astanga Yoga method and philosophy, as well as its potential as a physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual practice. His intermediate series (2nd series) book "Nadi Sodhana" was released in 2008 (in finnish only) and is based on interviews with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from 2006-2007 in Mysore, India. Both books were written as part of Petri's ongoing pilgrimage into Astanga yoga's inner world, with a great sense of respect for his Guru and the Yoga Tradition.

For more information: www.petriraisanen.com