Caroline Simpson started studying Ashtanga Yoga in 2006 after a chance discovery at a gym in Edinburgh. After a few months attending once or twice each week she quickly built up to a daily practice, which she has maintained for 18 years including through two pregnancies.
In January 2007 Caroline made her first three month study trip to AYRI (then KPJAYI; now SYC) in order to learn yoga directly from Sharath Jois, the current head of the Ashtanga Yoga lineage. She knew immediately she had found her teacher in Sharathji and made the effort to return yearly thereafter.
Caroline was Authorised to teach in 2014 and received level 2 Authorisation in 2016. This allows her to teach both primary and full intermediate series. In 2016 Caroline completed a two month training intensive with Sharathji for Authorised and Certified students with a focus on teaching this method of yoga practice correctly. She has assisted twice at the KPJAYI shala in Mysuru.
Ashtanga Bristol began in 2014 when students started contacting Caroline asking to learn yoga. She invited them to her home Shala for small group classes. Soon there were too many students to fit in the room so in January 2015 AB found a bigger, more permanent home at Quakers Meeting House on Gloucester Road. This move allowed Caroline to found the first ever full Ashtanga Yoga Mysore programme in the city.
In the UK Caroline practices with Hamish Hendry and has assisted him at Astanga Yoga London. She has undertaken multiple study trips to Ashtanga Yoga Morjim and continues to learn under the mentorship of Sharmila Desai. Both Sharmila and Hamish visit the Ashtanga Bristol shala regularly; their guidance and support is reflected in all that we do at our Shala.
Caroline teaches yoga as she was taught and is fully committed to the practice and her students.
Vanessa Fletcher
Vanessa started practicing yoga in 2003 and discovered Ashtanga Yoga at the AB Shala in 2015. She is an RYT 200 hour qualified teacher and has been a dedicated student of Caroline’s for the past nine years with a full six-day week practice, something she believes in strongly for teachers and students alike.
Vanessa teaches with compassion and respect for each individual’s needs but always encourages students to challenge the limitations of their mind. She finds the discipline of the Ashtanga method a calming constant in her busy life and learns so much just by showing up on the mat each day.
Vanessa has made extended study trips to India each year since 2018 firstly at KPJAYI under the guidance of Sharath Jois and subsequently at Ashtanga Yoga Morjim with her teacher Sharmila Desai where she continues to study each year to deepen her learning and understanding of this practice. She also loves visiting Hamish Hendry at his wonderful shala in London.
Vanessa teaches at Ashtanga Bristol on Sundays, Tuesday and Thursday mid-mornings; she also assists Caroline during the early morning classes.
