Ashtanga Yoga Crete
My path is rooted in a deep exploration of yoga, movement, and inner awareness.
Over the years, I have studied and practiced in both India and Greece, integrating different aspects of traditional teachings into a grounded and experiential approach.
Alongside my work with yoga and sound, I offer sessions in Vedic Astrology (Jyotish), as a way to understand life’s cycles, tendencies, and direction.
Vipassana meditation is part of my personal practice, supporting clarity, balance, and connection with direct experience.
My intention is to create a space of simplicity and presence, where each person can reconnect with their own path in a natural and authentic way.
Nektarios Mitritsakis was born in Chania, Crete.
In 1998, his deep passion for Indian classical music led him to Varanasi, India, where he spent nearly twelve years immersed in intensive study. His journey encompassed a wide range of interconnected disciplines, including Music, Jyotish (Vedic Astrology), Ayurveda, and Yoga.
During his time in India, he lived and studied closely with his music teacher, Pandit Rabindra Narayan Goswami, and his Jyotish teacher, Ram Kumar Mehrotra, absorbing not only knowledge but also the essence of a traditional way of life.
Alongside his formal studies, he deepened his practice of yoga, training in various Hatha Yoga traditions and studying classical yogic and Ayurvedic texts.
This path led him to Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga, which remains the foundation of his practice, as well as to Vipassana meditation, which he integrates into his daily life.
A significant influence on his path has been Manju Pattabhi Jois, with whom he has studied since 2007, receiving teaching certification and gaining valuable experience in the therapeutic application of yoga. He has also studied with respected teachers such as David Williams, Richard Freeman, Kristina Karitinou and Saraswati Jois.
An important part of his journey unfolded through his studies with B.N.S. Iyengar, where he explored the integrated approach of asana, pranayama, and yogic philosophy.
Combining his long-standing experience in yoga with the wisdom of Ayurveda and Vedic Astrology, he now guides students of all levels through a holistic and therapeutic approach.
Alongside the sitar, he continues the study of the Rudra Veena under Ustad Bahauddin Dagar, following the Dhrupad tradition, exploring the meditative dimension of Nāda Yoga.
He is currently based in Chania, Crete, where he teaches yoga and offers Vedic Astrology sessions, while also traveling internationally for workshops and retreats.
A journey through music, yoga, and India
From an early age, I remember feeling a deep respect for the arts especially those that cultivate inner discipline, connection with the self, care for the body, and the development of the mind.
During a period of searching, I attended a concert of Indian classical music that marked a turning point in my life. The sound of the sitar touched me deeply, bringing a sense of calm, clarity, and inner fullness.
Inspired by this experience, I traveled to India in 1996 with the intention of studying the sitar.
I explored different parts of the country, coming into contact with people, traditions, and ways of life that opened new inner horizons.
Soon after returning to Greece, I felt the need to go back with a clearer direction. From 1998 and for nearly twelve years, I spent extended periods in Varanasi, devoted to the study of music. Life there became a profound school that shaped me not only as a musician, but as a person.
Alongside music, I gradually discovered yoga. At first through simple practice, which brought a sense of strength and calm, and over time through a deeper exploration. I studied with different teachers, explored classical texts such as the Yoga Sutras and the Hatha Yoga Pradipika, and developed a consistent personal practice.
The Dhrupad tradition became a significant source of inspiration. Through it, and its connection with Nāda Yoga, I began to experience sound as a path of inner refinement and balance. Just as we approach a musical instrument with care and sensitivity, we can approach the body through yoga in the same way.
Daily life in Varanasi was rich and full, yoga practice, music, the study of astrology, long hours of learning alongside my teacher, studies in Ayurveda, and immersion in the philosophical and spiritual traditions of India. Each day carried its own depth and meaning.
At a certain point, I felt the need to turn further inward. This led me to Vipassana meditation, a practice that has deeply influenced the way I relate to myself and to daily life.
Around the same time, I began studying the Rudra Veena, an ancient instrument that continues to inspire both my music and my approach to yoga.