ashtanga yoga
st cugat
YASMINA ESPELOSIN
Founder and teacher
YASMINA ESPELOSIN
After completing my university entrance exams and spending several years working in television, I made a life-changing decision: to study dance. I had never worked with my body in a conscious way before, and it was challenging at first. But I gave it my all, and through that journey, I not only grew physically but also transformed my self-esteem. I discovered that with love and dedication, anything is possible.
It was during a dance class that I was first introduced to yoga, thanks to a teacher who opened the door to a practice that, without knowing it at the time, would become a lifelong companion.
For eight years, I worked at the Aula de So music school in Sant Cugat, where I directed groups, organized performances, and created choreographies. I’m proud to have taught incredibly talented young people such as Carmen de León, Nick Maylo, Martina Burón, Júlia Serrasolses, and Valèria Sorolla.
At the same time, I began practicing Ashtanga Yoga with Eva Oller and Sarah Florance. Shortly after, I received in-depth training as an assistant and teacher under the guidance of Elena Figarola —director of the Ashtanga Yoga Shala in Barcelona and a direct student of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois— and also thanks to her partner, Jordi Sardà, whose dedication to the practice and teaching has always inspired me. When Jordi became ill, I had the responsibility of taking over his classes, which helped me grow even further as a teacher. Those were intense and beautiful years that I carry with me in my heart.
The arrival of Covid marked a turning point. During that time, I co-created an online studio with Pol, which eventually became our own yoga shala. Although our personal and professional paths have since diverged, that project was a fundamental step in my journey, and I continue to grow and evolve with it every day.
My greatest education has come from a regular personal practice since the age of 19 and daily teaching since I was 24. Over the years, I’ve also specialized in therapeutic yoga through Tech University and earned my official certification (Certificat d’instrucció en ioga) through the Generalitat’s Acredita’t program. As part of this process, I received training in integral yoga with Lídia Serra and continue to learn from inspiring teachers like Petri Räisänen and Aleix Griñó.
I was born into a family where yoga has been a close connection since I was a child. I suppose this environment in which I grew up provided the conditions for me to eventually discover the practice of Ashtanga Yoga.
My first contact with this practice was in 2009, at the age of 21, with Paco Hita. He taught small groups at the Nagarjuna Buddhist Center in Barcelona. With love and compassion, he passed on the practice he had received in Mysore, India, from Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and other international teachers he met at the time. I can firmly say that if I still maintain this practice today, it's because of the way he taught me, and I will be eternally grateful.
I remember the feeling of well-being and the expansion of consciousness I experienced when I left those first classes.
Years later, I continued practicing with Vero Fernandez of "Ashtanga Yoga Gràcia", who continued to accompany me in my learning and to whom I am also very grateful, as well as to her assistants with whom I had the opportunity to coincide.
Over time, I felt my physical body purify and I gained mental and emotional stability.
Finally, after a period of self-practice at home, where I understood how important Ashtanga yoga is to me and what a great tool I had found in my life, I felt like going back to Mysore classes and sharing with people. That's when I arrived at "Ashtanga Yoga Sant Cugat," where I met Pol and Yasmina, with whom I was able to continue practicing, learning from them, and attending their classes. I have great respect for them and I truly value the beautiful community they created, of which I am now a part.
I understand Mysore classes as a safe space where we can reveal ourselves, our vulnerabilities and strengths, and feel supported. I truly enjoy being able to provide this support.
I would also like to mention Ricardo B. Rodríguez and Toni Romero, with whom I have acquired a more holistic vision of yoga and the practice of ashtanga. I would also like to thank all the people with whom we have been able to share this profound and transformative practice over the years, inspiring one another regardless of whether we have been practicing for a long time or recently.
For a United Yogi Community! ∞
A hug, see you at the shala!
Roc.
ROC VALLS
Teacher
SOLEDAD FERNANDEZ
Assistant
I attended an ashtanga class in 2016 almost by chance and it was love at first sight. Since then, I have been practicing in the Mysore style and although at this point we might think that I should be practicing the sixth series, the truth is that I have a tough body and it is not designed for yoga, which shows that even with not so good material you can do something good if you have the necessary perseverance and willpower.
I enjoy reading, writing, singing, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. I have been attending the teachers at this shala since September 2023. I am currently taking a Hatha Yoga course with Aleix Guiñó and Sebastián Arbondo.