My life has been in a major transition and I wasn’t coping well. I decided to go to a yoga... read more retreat with the hopes it would center me, help me move forward and find some peace. I did some research and picked TAYSP. The reviews were very promising, the cost was reasonable and it was located in the tropics. Couldn’t ask for more ……. and I wasn’t disappointed. In fact the experience went way beyond my expectation (which is saying a lot since I was thinking I was expecting too much and I knew nothing about Ashtanga yoga).

Rich and Sofya are two wonderful human beings. I feel they are very caring and generous with their time and attention. They want the best from and for their students, including learning more than you can imagine. I took the intensive program for 3 weeks, which included challenging the body, mind and spirit. It was a life changing experience. I feel I came out stronger in every possible way. My daily intention was to find peace and I feel my times of peace grew each day. There was so much to learn with little time to listen to the negative chatter in my mind.

I had personal challenges that slowed my progression, but what I gained even with those challenges, wow! My thanks go to everyone in the Shala with special thanks to Rich and Sofya. Since leaving the retreat I’ve been practicing Ashtanga asana on my own and I can hear both of them in my mind (e.g., “open up your chest”, “back straight” “chin down”, “foot flexed”), imagine feeling the adjustments, or imagine seeing their gestures to get me to do the postures correctly. Always brings a smile as I make the appropriate corrections. I am also practicing the other forms of Ashtanga; including, pranayama (my favorite), meditation, and some Kriya. What wonderful gifts they’ve given. They are wonderful teachers. I feel they taught me well! May I continue practicing these gifts through my lifetime. read less

TAYSP is a great place for practice.

I liked its atmosphere and that it's always hot there.

Sonya and Rich are very... read more attentive and confident teachers.

Be prepared for intensive practice and new achievements 🙂 read less

I booked for an Ashtanga intensive, with the purpose of restarting my practice. I did not expect that in the... read more seven days that i have spent with Rich and Sofya, i experienced a shift in my practice. they are both passionate, stern but coming from a place of love, they're true blue ashtangis who are very knowledgeable and follows the yogi way of life in terms of discipline, diet, lifestyle in general, I learned the importance of kriyas and pranayama which i try to incorporate in my practice now. I can't wait to go back In February for a longer intensive. Visited August 2016 read less

This is a long review but the main point is TAYSP provides experienced caring programs that produce results and I... read more would highly recommend them. Their programs are not for someone looking for a fun spa experience but for those serious about changing their lives and getting results. That being said I did meet some amazing people and have an amazing time that changed my life forever. I visited TAYSP for a two month customized program from July 29th- September 27th and it is a program that has changed my life. During the program I lost a total of 16kg, built muscle, improved flexibility and balance. I also lost cravings for meat and processed food in addition to being taken off many medications for asthma and pain. Sophia and Rich are a credit to my success. They were dedicated, passionate and strict helping to push me past my limits. Every level of the program was well thought out and tailored to my individual needs. Traditional Ashtanga Yoga is for people who are serious about changing their lives. I wont sugar coat it, the programs are difficult and sometimes I didnt understand why they asked me to do certain things. In the end I saw that there was a purpose for everything they asked me to do, my health and safety were their greatest concern. They never asked me to do anything beyond my capabilities although they did push me outside of my comfort zone. Some of the procedures were foreign to me like the cleansing routines but I grew to trust that they knew exactly what they were doing to help me reach my goals. I have never met two more caring dedicated individuals, and the they well exceeded my expectations. As yoga instructors they are both knowledgeable and experienced. They knew exactly how to adjust my body to the right positions and provide modifications for postures I couldn't do. They know their students on a personal level and I found that it helped them provide the best instruction. I highly recommend them for anyone interested in yoga at any level. Visited July 2016 read less

I came to TAYSP in August last year to do a short intensive course, and It was a very rewarding... read more experience however short, that I decided to go for a longer intensive and improve on my pranayama and asana practice, and as usual my expectation was exceeded, accomodation was even better, the healthy food or sattvic diet they provide fits the yogic lifestyle, and the most important is the program they designed for teacher training and yoga intensive students alike. I I have a curvature on my spine that affects my posture and pain in my neck at times, Rich did workshops for back strengthening and spinal issues, and it really helped me to have a stronger back and breathe properly, i will definitely keep the sequence that i ve learned while Sofia has helped me understand and improved my pranayama and meditation practice (getting there). All in all it was a tough 21 days but a great experience! Ill definitely go back again. read less

I did the teacher training course at TAYSP on November 2016 and really enjoyed it!! I learned so much during... read more these 200H. Sofia and Rich are 2 passionate and wonderful teachers, always available to help and reply to your questions. They are professional and provide you really high quality teaching on adjustments.

The food was really good, healthy and tasty. The snacks that Sofia prepared were delicious! 🙂

These 4 weeks were really intense but really worth it. Now i continue to study at their Shala and i highly recommend them. read less

“AMAZING EXPERIENCE!! Hard work and a lot of learning!!” I did for one month (february/2017) the TCC course on TAYSP!... read more It was a fantastic experience. Sofia and Rich are extremely good professionals, and their dedication, skills, techniques, personalities and knowledge are complementary and super high level. The course was a selection of the most important and relevant things that a teacher need to know, giving an extraordinary base and confidence for continue our yoga path. I highly recommend this shala for anyone that deeply want to learn and improve their techniques. Hard work and a lot of learning! Visited February 2017 read less

took 200H Ashtanga teacher training. I did not realise until I finished their course, how high their teacher training standard... read more was. You will learn more than the requirement and all what you learn will be asset for your future in many aspects. Not only they are very knowledgeable but they try to teach all what they can with heart. They will not miss out any small details and so you will learn all properly. This will help your future self practice too. Also they guide us to push our boundary with the respect for individual capability. You feel their energy and automatically you try to reach your limit so that you will not miss out anything. They are strict but warm. They are truly delegated and genuine. You will not get the same quality teaching from the business style teacher training. If you stick with Ashtanga, here is the right place. They do in very traditional and proper way, I get feeling it is more than or as much as in India. Additionally you will also learn Pranayama and Kriya, not only guidance or see what it is. Both are difficult to master in the short time, but they will show and guide as much as possible where we can reach too. They check our movement one by one as well. Full of energy and power. The local practioners are also very welcoming and helpful. Sofya makes very tasty but healthy snack. And even not scheduled day, they offered to show us cooking so that we can improve our diet and lifestyle after the course. And at the end of course, they make sure we can come back any time and support us even after our departure. Thank you for Rich and Sofya. Visited August 2016 read less