astanga yoga here
Roberta Giannotti - Teaching Astanga Yoga in London since 1998
Roberta Giannotti
Founder of Astanga Yoga Here
ROBERTA GIANNOTTI
Roberta Giannotti is the founder of Astanga Yoga Here in Archway London.
Roberta is one of the most experienced and respected Astanga Yoga teachers in London, having taught in London since 1998 at Ashtanga Yoga shalas including Sangam, Triyoga, The Life Centre and Astanga Yoga London, before starting Astanga Yoga Here in 2017.
Roberta Giannotti is authorised - Level 2, to teach the Astanga Yoga System by the late Sri K.Pattabhi Jois (Guruji) (pictured here on right with Roberta) and his late Inheritor, Guru Sharath Jois​, who sadly and suddenly died in 2024.
Born in Montreal, Canada, Roberta also speaks Italian, French and Spanish. Roberta tells her story below.​​​​
Roberta's story in her own words:
Early Years Pre Yoga
After obtaining my degree in Dance & Choreography from LADMI (Les Ateliers de Danse Moderne) in Montreal, I went on to work as a performer and choreographer in Canada & Europe. While in London/UK I became interested in the healing arts and trained for 2 years as a spiritual healer.
Finding Yoga in London - mid 1990s
In 1996 I started practicing yoga with John Scott in London. I immediately felt a huge connection to this beautiful practice.  Later in 2000, I travelled to Mysore, India to meet and study with Guruji which became a much loved yearly ritual; returning to Mother India and the magic of deep, cleansing and transformative Yoga. As soon as I met Guruji I knew I had found my Teacher and my home. Here it was! The  marriage of all the, until then, disparate passions/interests of my life… Being in the presence of his warmth and beaming smile I felt safe. I give thanks daily to have had those years of practice with such a gifted Healer and a very sweet soul. In 1998 I was asked to teach.  I taught at the Sangam, Triyoga and The Life Centre among others. In 2000, just back from India I began teaching self practice at Astanga Yoga London and taught there until I opened Astanga Yoga Here in 2017.
"Family is Eighth Series!"
In 2003 Guruji Married Justin and I, and in March 2005 my life was blessed once more with the birth of our beautiful baby girl Lalita, whom Guruji helped us name... Yoga finally blooms into full meaning for me, as I strive for the honesty, generosity, dedication, compassion and love motherhood inspires. Guruji always said "Family is Eighth Series!"  Our dear, beloved Guruji passed away in 2009. More recently Guruji's Inheritor and Grandson Guru Sharath Jois passed suddenly in 2024. Both are sorely missed.
Peter Sanson
​​​​​I am very grateful to have Peter Sanson as my Ashtanga Yoga teacher now. Peter is an old friend who I met in London and later on many trips to Mysore. The one thing I always say about Peter is that it's like having Guruji back in the room in the way he channels the teaching. The other amazing thing Peter taught me when I was learning some very strong asana, was to relax in order to do strong postures. We are so proud to host Peter in London every year on his annual European tours.
The Huge Gift - Astanga Yoga
My experience of the beautiful practice that Guruji taught me and that Peter continues to channel so generously, with boundless joy and energy, is that it is a Huge Gift!​To be respected for it's infinite healing power, received with grace and practiced with honesty and love.