Ashtanga Yoga Crete
Nektarios Mitritsakis was born in Chania, Crete.
In 1998, his deepening passion for Indian classical music led him to Varanasi, India, where he spent nearly twelve years immersed in intensive study. His journey encompassed a spectrum of interconnected disciplines—Music, Jyotish (Vedic astrology), Ayurveda, and Yoga.
Embraced as a family member by his teachers, Nektarios lived and studied closely with his music guru, Pandit Rabindra Narayan Goswami, and his Jyotish mentor, Ram Kumar Mehrotra, absorbing not only their knowledge but also the subtleties of their way of life.
Alongside his formal studies, he pursued a deepening exploration of yogic practices. He trained in various Hatha Yoga traditions, met numerous dedicated practitioners, and engaged with classical texts on Yoga and Ayurveda.
This inner journey eventually led him to the Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga method and Vipassana meditation, both of which became central pillars in his spiritual and physical practice. He approaches them with sincerity and heartfelt devotion.
He has studied under respected teachers in the Ashtanga tradition, including David Williams, Kristina Karitinou, Richard Freeman, Vijay & Vinay Kumar, and Saraswati Jois. His path was especially shaped by Manju Pattabhi Jois, whom he met in 2007 and has followed ever since. In 2012, Manju certified him to teach, and Nektarios began assisting in his workshops, gaining valuable experience in the therapeutic and methodical application of yoga for a wide range of practitioners.
A profound chapter of his journey also unfolded under the guidance of B.N.S. Iyengar, a living legend, from whom he studied the integrated sciences of asana, mudra, pranayama, and yogic philosophy.
Blending his deep experience in Yoga with the wisdom of Ayurveda and Jyotish, Nektarios now guides students of all ages and backgrounds through a therapeutic and holistic approach to asana and pranayama.
While continuing to play the Sitar, he is also one of the rare contemporary practitioners of the Rudra Veena, the most ancient stringed instrument of North India. Since 2007, he has been a student of Ustad Bahauddin Dagar, delving into the Dhrupad tradition. Through the meditative resonance of this sacred instrument, he opens a gateway into the subtle realms of Nāda Yoga—the yoga of sound.
Though he continues to visit India regularly to deepen his studies, Nektarios now lives in Chania, Crete, where he teaches yoga and offers guidance through the combined lens of Vedic astrology, Ayurveda, and yogic science. He also travels occasionally to lead workshops and retreats, sharing the timeless wisdom of the yogic path, the insight of Jyotish, and the healing sound of the Sitar and Rudra Veena.
A Few Words About My Path.
Since childhood, I have always felt a deep reverence for the arts—especially those that cultivate inner discipline, harmony with the higher self, respect and care for the body, and the development of the mind.
During a period of searching for meaning and something to truly devote myself to, I attended a concert of Indian classical music that changed the course of my life. I was enchanted by the peculiar, resonant sound of the sitar, uplifted by the calming yet powerful vibrations, and moved by a profound sense of peace and joy within.
With an open heart and mind, I traveled to India in 1996, drawn by a calling to learn the sitar. Journeying across this sacred land—from the Himalayan peaks to the tropical South—I encountered people, traditions, and art forms that awakened my senses and colored my mind with endless inspiration.
After returning to Greece, I soon felt compelled to go back, this time with a clear focus on learning the sitar. From 1998 onwards, I spent nearly 12 years in Varanasi, North India, dedicating myself to the deep study of this unique instrument.
Varanasi became a great school of life for me. Living in such a vastly different environment immersed me in experiences, landscapes, and human connections that shaped me in profound ways. While music remained my core passion, I found myself gradually awakening to aspects of myself I had not yet discovered.
It was in this sacred city, in an almost humorous and unexpected way, that I first encountered yoga. My early years of practice were simple—I just enjoyed the tranquility and energy that followed each session. As time passed, my interest deepened. I met several teachers and experienced different traditions and approaches to yoga.
Eventually, I felt a profound realization about the transformative potential of this path. This led me to a more sincere and disciplined practice, supported by the study of classical texts such as the Yoga Sutras and Hatha Yoga Pradipika. I began practicing daily, often in solitude, refining my inner connection.
I was especially inspired by the subtle, meditative path of Dhrupad—the ancient form of Indian classical music—and its relationship to Nada Yoga, the yoga of sound. Just as we approach an instrument like the sitar with reverence, sensitivity, and devotion, we can approach our own bodies in the same way—tuning ourselves with care and awareness.
In Varanasi, my daily life became a rhythm of yoga and music, studying Vedic astrology, observing horoscopes in my teacher’s office, exploring Ayurveda, reading sacred scriptures, walking along the ghats, sipping countless cups of masala chai, and engaging in gatherings on art, science, tantra, and spirituality. Each day felt rich, alive, and full of meaning.
In time, my path led me to Vipassana meditation—a practice that brought profound clarity and inner transformation. It helped me see things with greater depth and simplicity. Eventually, I also began learning the Rudra Veena, one of the most ancient and sacred string instruments of India. This powerful instrument became not just a musical study, but also a source of deep inspiration for my yogic journey.
Even today, I return to India whenever possible—to spend time with my Gurus, attend a Vipassana course, participate in festivals, and reconnect with the sacred essence of the land.
Teaching yoga happened naturally—as a consequence of my own deepening practice and the benefits I experienced. Sharing this with others felt like a meaningful offering, and it brings me joy to witness others finding balance and well-being through these practices.
Bringing together the wisdom of yoga, the healing insights of Ayurveda, the guidance of Vedic astrology, and the transformative power of sound, I now see these as a holistic path—a complete lifestyle that supports harmony, vitality, and inner peace.
For me, this path unfolded gradually and organically, not through ambition, but through the quiet unfolding of practice, devotion, and the sincere search for a healthy, joyful way of being.