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Shala is a word in Sanskrit meaning ‘home’. A yoga shala is a home where yoga is shared and experienced. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga is a method of Hatha Yoga that harmonizes movement and breath. Practicing Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga gives you flexibility, strength, stamina, and ultimately a focused and tranquil mind.

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At Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Shala we teach traditional yoga methods with dedicated and experienced teachers. It is our intention to provide you with a comfortable environment in which to give you the tools to create an effective and lasting approach to improvement and maintenance of the mind and body. Classes are small in size, max. 8 practitioners at a time so that we can create a more personal teaching and learning environment. 

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Based on the teachings of Krishnamacharya we aspire to teach what is appropriate for the individual. We teach with respect to the teachings and tradition of the practice as well as with respect to the physical body, mindset, lifestyle and capabilities of the student. Our goal is to guide and support you in building a sustainable yoga practice that honours your individuality. 

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We believe a healthy asana practice is a balance between flexibility, alignment and strength, resulting in good overall mobility of the body. Your asana practice should make your mind clear and stable, and your body clean and healthy. Yoga is the ability to direct [or discipline] the mind without distraction, we find that the simplest way to learn to do this is by connecting to the physical body first. Asanas, the physical postures are the entry point for most people into the system of yoga. The goal of asana practice, according to Patanjali, is to prepare the body and mind for seated meditation. Therefore, beyond the physical asana practice, we encourage the exploration of some of the other limbs of Yoga; Pranayama, Pratyahara, Dharana and Dhyana.

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Traditionally Ashtanga Yoga practitioners practice six days a week, rest days are every Saturday or Sunday and on the days of the New Moon and Full Moon. At Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Shala classes take place Monday to Friday from 07:00 until 09:00. There is no class on Saturday, Sunday and on the days of the New Moon and Full Moon, click here for dates. 

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At Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Shala we teach the primary and intermediate series of Ashtanga Yoga, we currently do not teach third series / advanced a onwards. 

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Classes are guided by Jessica Ludäscher:

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Yoga and spirituality has been a theme throughout Jessica’s childhood and naturally she found her way back to the Yoga practice upon moving to The Netherlands. Inspired by the principles of Ayurveda, Jessica’s classes reflect largely upon balance and being mindful in ones daily practice, as well as the importance of consistency and discipline; themes that have run constant in her life, as well as her practice. [owner & teacher] 

* Ayurveda is a holistic tradition and way of living, Ayurveda is the sister science of Yoga

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I'm often asked about my background, so here it is, I will keep it short and simple and hopefully this will give you some insight into how I came to yoga and my approach to teaching. Born to a Swiss mother and Kenyan father I was raised on the South coast of Kenya by my single mother who introduced me to many concepts of spirituality at a young age. At around the age of twelve I was introduced to yoga and I practiced some ashtanga and hatha on and off until moving to The Netherlands in 2011. Upon moving to Amsterdam I spent a year (2012) practicing Kundalini Yoga and thoughts of having to teach came back to me, and so I enrolled into my first teacher training (2013 - 2014). This teacher training was just for me though, nothing that I felt I could share. Kundalini Yoga is known as 'the yoga of awareness' and I guess I had to start there. The week after the teacher training ended I went to an Ashtanga Led class and never looked back, several Led classes followed and shortly after I started to practice daily Mysore classes. Since then I have had the privilege to travel to India, to observe and assist my teachers at the time, and I have had the honour of being able to practice and study with many great super famous teachers and many great not so super famous teachers — I don't like to name drop or leave anyone out, just ask me in person if you're really curious. I got injured in 2018 and was mentally and physically burnt out — because I was one of those that had a 2.5 hour long practice, 6 days a week across town at 06 AM no.matter.what with a full time, low income job and bad, irregular eating habits. I took this as an opportunity to study Yoga Therapy (350 hours) with a strong emphasis on the mind-body connection, Yoga Nidra, Restorative Yoga, Ayurveda, the muscular-skeletal and the cardiovascular-respiratory systems. I decided to take a more educational and mindful approach to my practice and teaching. I'm grateful to everyone that has taken the time to share their knowledge with me and I’m also grateful to many teachers I have not met in person but that have shared great, insightful, educational content on their social media platforms. All my teachers have had a hand in my practice and teaching, whether it was with their knowledge, technique, energy or presence. Nowadays I would say my practices and teachings are mainly inspired by Manju Jois, David Swenson, Adam Keen and Tara Mitra.

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