Sonja Appel

Sonja Appel

Sonja Appel’s Bio

Sonja started her journey in yoga 20 years ago with the late Shri K Pattabhi Jois from Mysore, learning the authentic mysore self practice of Ashtanga Vinyasa. She is certified by the 'British School of Yoga' in Hatha & Meditation & also certified as a 'Vibrant Living Teacher' in Hatha Flow and a pre + post natal, children + teens teacher with Santosha Yoga in Australia & Bali.

Having studied intensely, mainly in London, India and Bali she believes that 'living yoga' in it's essence helps to impart her knowledge better and more succinctly.

Sonja started practicing yoga and mindfulness many years ago and has intensive years of experience teaching yoga. She is also registered with Yoga Alliance, E-RYT 200 & RYT 500 and has taught over 50 000+ hours of Yoga & Teacher Training. Sonja has devised her own practice in yoga called ‘Sushumna’ which is a carefully worked out vinyasa flow, meditation or pranayama, that allows one to do the practice as a meditation (mindfulness) and in the process, this helps to unleash within ourselves all of our innate kundalini Shakti. The flow is spontaneous and she mixes up the asanas in interesting ways, with the help of inspiring music, always ending with a deep relaxing meditation (Yoga nidra). As in Ashtanga - drishti, bandhas, ujjayi breath, counting & vinyasa is always employed.

"I believe in a holistic approach to the study of yoga, giving people a well-rounded yoga education. I combine alignment techniques of the body, with breath techniques for calming and balancing the mind. I also use focus and visualization to balance the body and brain with chanting and music for inspiration and concentration. This helps to enhance Meditation (the ultimate reason for the practice of asana (postures). "My philosophy behind the practice of postures has to relate to a wider content including all the  8 limbs of a proper yoga practice."

Sonja keeps up with a daily Mysore self-practice as taught to her by her late Guruji, Sri K Pattabhi Jois of Mysore and her own practice of Vinyasa Flow. Sonja's teachers are from all over the world and have greatly helped and influenced her, they are:  Shri Pattabhi Jois, Sharat Rangaswamy, Saraswati Rangaswamy, Shri Sheshadri, Cathy Louise Broda, Leela Miller, John Scott, Edward Clarke, David Swenson, Claire Best, Anna Ashby, Daniel Aaron, Simon Borg Olivier, Rolf & Marci Naujokat, Emil Wendel (yoga philosophy), Yat Malmgren (movement psychology), Mercia Hetherington (Ballet) and Imogen Claire (Ballet). She has a B.A. in Classical Theatre and Acting and an M.A. in Contemporary Dance.

Sonja comes from a professional performing arts background and has found yoga disciplines to be invaluable in balancing and maintaining calmness in her life.  Sonja is a writer and has a certificate of Yoga Philosphy from Oxford University.

Sonja also conducts workshops in Mindfulnes (adults and children), Ashtanga, Sushumna Vinyasa Flow, Restorative Yoga, Mysore self-practice, Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow & Sushumna Pranayama & Meditation, acting & dance in the UK, India and Internationally.

Currently Working With

Sushumna Yoga School & Studio Goa