Tara Mitra has been a dedicated practitioner of yoga for over 18 years and is a Certified Yoga Therapist in the T. Krishnamacharya lineage. Tara Mitra is a 47-year-old yoga therapist/ashtanga teacher (Assistant to R. Sarawathi Jois) who was born in Toronto, Ontario Canada on October 8, 1974.
Ashtanga Yoga began in Mysore, India in the early 1900’s. The practice had six series with a strong focus on Tristana (the posture, breath & gazing point or Dristi). Tara Mitra studied in the lineage under Johnny Smith, Tim Miller (Completing his 1st and 2nd series Teacher Trainings), with R.Sharath Jois & R.Saraswathi Jois. She apprenticed in Ashtanga yoga for 6 years; with Jorgen Christiansson for 2 years and R.Saraswathi Jois (the daughter of the founder of Ashtanga Yoga) for 4 of those years in her very busy Mysore Shala where she assisted up to 200 students a month for nine months of the year.
Tara has a special bond with Saraswathi and is one of the first few students authorized by her to teach.
She tells us her story about how she came to be her assistant –
“The summer was ending, and I was feeling torn as I planned to go back to practicing with Sharath in the fall. So, I decided to speak to Saraswathi about switching back and forth as it didn’t seem right just to leave. I approached her in her office and shared my dilemma. She paused, looked me in the eyes and said, “Thank you for asking. It is right to do. You’re my student; you stay with me.” And so, I did. I lived in India for five years and assisted in both Shalas full time for four years. Saraswathi took her role as a teacher very seriously. She would teach me things from (assists, chanting, philosophy, recipes, and festival etiquette) and then test me in several ways over again. She would ask about my meals and my friends. One year she even let me clear out, paint and re-establish the puja room in her house, where I stayed across from the main Shala. Saraswathi would walk discretely by the room to listen to me chanting and see what I was up to in the early evening. Still, she never said anything for weeks, and one day after assisting, she said, “you know Tara, you don’t need to chant like a priest; you can just do simple puja.” We both smiled. We laughed together, sang and chanted together, shared stories, and I cried while she listened; she taught me so much. I fondly remember her looking at me and saying, “I don’t know why I tell you everything.” And we would both giggle. As I look back, the risk of leaving everything behind in the west was small compared to the inner spark I found that ignited the deep shraddha within me. The years I spent with Saraswathi and India taught me so much, but mainly about how to move back towards myself—strengthening my clarity and confidence to move deeper on the path, deeper within. And I realize the practice helps cleanse and strengthen our body, mind and hearts. ~ All are equally necessary to grow on the path.”
Tara Mitra is having several events in the cities around Europe. If you are interested in learning more about ashtanga and desire to practice with a professional seasoned teacher, you can find Tara Mitra in these cities below.
May 20-22 – Aarhus, Denmark
Sept 1-8 – Sicily Yoga Retreat
Sept 9&10 – Turku, Finland
Sept 13-15 – Cork, Ireland
Oct 19-23 – Madrid, Spain
Nov 12&13 – Pamplona, Spain
Dec 9-11 – Antwerps, Brussels
Watch more here – https://youtu.be/ZRLLWlq_s4c
Get Connected with Tara Mitra –
Instagram – https://instagram.com/taramitrayoga
Twitter – https://twitter.com/taramitrayoga
Facebook – https://facebook.com/taramitrayoga
Website – www.taramitrayoga.com