From Mysore India
To Mysore Riviera
PIERRE
Pierre Seghir,
Certified KPJAYI Teacher
From the 1990s, Pierre spent many years in Mysore, India, practicing and studying under the tutelage of Sri K Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, Sharath. He was personally authorised to teach Ashtanga Yoga by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois.
For many years, Pierre was the lead teacher at the "Yogaplus" Ashtanga Yoga retreat centre in Crete. He also led yoga workshops and teacher training programmes at "Yogaplus" and internationally.
His teaching style is to "guide without interference" and to encourage without pressure, allowing students to discover their full potential.
Pierre has an exceptional understanding of Ashtanga Yoga, born from the direct teaching and invaluable transmission he received from Pattabhi Jois and Sarath, at a time when the small class sizes allowed students to absorb the purest essence of the practice. He teaches Ashtanga exactly as it was passed on to him by Pattabhi Jois. Drawing on many years of experience, Pierre offers a unique, precise, and personalised approach to teaching, enabling students to develop within an environment that is both supportive and conducive to progress.
He believes that people of all ages and abilities can benefit from Ashtanga Yoga. His aim is to convey Ashtanga Yoga in a way that does not burden the mind with unnecessary dogma, leaving body and mind free to develop through their own inner wisdom.
His interests and research in other areas related to yoga have also led him to study various therapeutic methods.
"I believe yoga should enhance life by making everything we do less complicated."
A Few Words About KPJAYI
The KPJAYI (Krishnamacharya Pattabhi Jois Ashtanga Yoga Institute), located in Mysore, India, is widely regarded as the living birthplace of Ashtanga Yoga as it is practised around the world today. Founded by Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, a direct student of T. Krishnamacharya, the institute has played a fundamental role in the international spread of this traditional practice. For decades, students from across the globe travelled to Mysore to study directly with him, and later with his grandson Sharath Jois, who continued this legacy with rigour and deep respect for tradition.
Today, the school is led by Saraswati and Sharmila, respectively the daughter and granddaughter of Pattabhi Jois, who carry forward this teaching with dedication and reverence for its roots. Teaching is primarily offered in the Mysore style, allowing each student to progress at their own pace while receiving precise, individualised guidance.
Practising at KPJAYI is to immerse oneself in an authentic, demanding and deeply transformative experience, where discipline, consistency and devotion to the practice lie at the heart of the path. The unique atmosphere of the institute—combining intensity, simplicity and an international community—makes it a truly iconic place for those wishing to deepen their understanding of Ashtanga Yoga at the very source of its transmission.
Saraswati, daughter of Pattabhi Jois, is a key figure in the history and transmission of Ashtanga Yoga. Having begun her practice at a very young age under her father’s guidance, she is now recognised for her direct, accessible and deeply human approach to teaching. She has played an important role in opening the practice to women and in sharing a method that is both traditional and compassionate. Her teaching emphasises regularity, simplicity and adaptation to the needs of each student, while remaining true to the essence of the method. Through her presence in Mysore and her international travels, Saraswati continues to inspire generations of practitioners, embodying the living continuity of this exceptional lineage.