ASHTANGA YOGA

Matthew & Carla

Matthew Vollmer

I began practicing astanga yoga in 1993 when, just by chance, I happened to see a man gracefully practicing what I now know as the primary series. The attraction was very strong… I watched the whole thing and found myself a teacher straight away.

Since then I have been fortunate enough to spend many months in India, both travelling and studying with my guru Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy in Mysore. I was blessed and authorised to teach by Pattabhi Jois in July 2003 and am committed to maintaining the purity and simplicity of what I have been taught out of respect for the wisdom and generosity of my teachers.

I am dedicated to this practice because on good days I feel like I disappear as I move down through the outward movement to an inner stillness which nourishes me, teaches me about myself and helps me through the bustle of my daily life.

Now I came back to Brazil and am eager to share this powerful practice to which I owe so much. I want to help it spread, so that it may help people open to themselves as I have done to myself.

Carla Vollmer

I came across astanga yoga whilst working at The Practice Place in Crete in 1998. I immediately incorporated a daily astanga practice into my life. After all these years, this practice still gives me focus, understanding about myself, my emotions and the chance to observe my habit patterns. Through astanga I got into meditation, which brought me even deeper transformations. The meditation practice is also part of day-to-day.

Além das aulas de ashtanga trabalhei também como massoterapeuta, e já organizei um projeto de yoga e meditação para crianças na escola dos meus filhos durante quase dois anos, uma experiência que foi muito rica antes de partirmos para Berlim.

It is a great pleasure to teach astanga and help others from so many diffrentes places to develop a daily and consistent practice.

INSPIRATION OF THE MONTH

“Our awareness is the only thing we can take with us when we die.”

David Frawley

Ashtanga yogaIntensive

SANTO ANDRE
Brazil

January 4th to 30th 2026

Practice

There will be pranayama early in the morning, followed by ashtanga classes Mysore style.
Those who participate longer in the workshop will have priority of the early slot. The first slot at 6:30am is usually given to those who participate for the full workshop. If you’ve signed up for two weeks, keep in mind that your time of practice will probably be later in the morning.
Some afternoons we will offer meditation or Patanjali’s sutras chanting, as well as kirtans and classes.

Location

Classes will be taught at Ponta de Santo André. Located in the middle of the village, it is very easy to find. Just ask.

What to take

Yoga mat and towel for adjustments. If possible, take a cotton mat as you will probably sweat abundantly at this time of year.

How to get there

BY BUS OR PLANE TO PORTO SEGURO

From Porto Seguro take a bus to the ferry in Santa Cruz Cabrália. If you prefer, you can arrange a taxi straight to your pousada or house. From where the ferry arrives it is another 2 km to the village of Santo André.
Airport transfer to Sto André: Bino (73) 9984 3172

Where to stay

For accommodation, visit the site: santoandre-bahia.com.
We’ve also put together a list with some options:

ACCOMODATION

Cost

You can start on any day of the week, but our rest day is Saturday and our weeks start on Sundays, so it is best to start on a Sunday.
Please note: The minimum stay is two weeks.

2 weeks…………R$ 1800
3 weeks…………R$ 2400
4 weeks…………R$ 2800

additional classes: R$ 150 each

Payment

You can pay with bank transfers or on arrival in brazilian reais.
Please note we do NOT accept euros, dollars or cheques.

This workshop has limited places. To sign up, please send us an email with your name, your city and country of residence, dates of first and last practice with us.
We don’t take registration through WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, etc.

Ashtanga yogaIntensive

ALJEZUR
Algarve, Portugal

July 12th to 24th 2026

Practice

The 6-day week starts on Sunday with pranayama, meditation, and Mysore practice, followed by an evening session that introduces the themes and framework of the Intensive.
Across the week, we come together for an evening of theory and group reflection/sharings, gather for kirtan, and enjoy a midday outing that creates space for connection outside the shala.
We close the Intensive with a final morning practice.
The schedule may shift slightly depending on group size.

Location

The workshop will take place at Fazenda Compadres, a beautiful location on the West Coast of the Algarve, known for its wild beaches and amazing sunsets. The room accommodates about 15 people practicing at once.

How to get there

Fly to Faro, one hour away, which normally offers cheap flights with companies like Ryanair or EasyJet.

Fly to Lisbon, which is 3 hours away by car.

Accommodation

This area of Portugal is rural and you will need transport to get to all the beautiful beaches because public transport is almost non-existent. Therefore, we strongly recommend that you rent a car or scooter. If you would like to share a car or accommodation with other people from the workshop, let us know and we will and put you in touch with other practitioners who would like to share.

As it is our first workshop in this location, we are not yet capable of helping out with accommodation. But my sister Regina who lives in the area says that Airbnb offers a wide range of choice. You can stay in and around Aljezur, which offers nice restaurants and cafes, out in the countryside if you prefer to be more isolated, or on the beach of Arrifana which is very popular, although it gets a bit busier and might be slightly more expensive than the rest.

Cost

The cost does not include accommodation, food or transport.

One week 280 Euros
Two weeks 450 Euros

Ashtanga yogaIntensive

ALTO PARAISO DE GOIAS,
Chapada dos Veadeiros

May 2 to 28, 2027

Practice

There will be six Mysore-style practices per week.
We will start with a morning slot at 6:30.
Participants who are joining the full workshop have priority when it comes to scheduling.
The earliest times are usually given to those attending the entire program.
If you are joining for only one or two weeks, please keep in mind that your practice time will likely be later in the morning.

Each week also includes three afternoon classes or conversations at 17:30.
We chose this time so participants still have space to explore and visit the beautiful waterfalls in the region.
However, this schedule is not completely fixed and may change.

Getting to Alto Paraíso

Fly to Brasília. From there, the trip takes about three hours. There are shared shuttles that run from the airport to the guesthouse for around 100 reais. But we recommend renting a car with other participants so you can easily reach the waterfalls.

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included in the price.
We are located in the Eldorado neighborhood, very close to Vila Gaia Guest House (check it on Google Maps).
Caminho de Santiago Guesthouse looks close on the map but doesn’t have direct access, so you would need to take a long detour to reach our shala. I’m mentioning this so you’re aware that access to the shala is only through the main street, and there is only one street that leads here, the one where Vila Gaia Guest House is located.

Any accommodation in town works, as Alto Paraíso is relatively small.
We recommend Buddy’s Hostel, which is very popular among visitors and has a jacuzzi. On our street there are also several guesthouses—Vila dos Cristais, Suites Vossoroca, and Vila Caju—which tend to be more budget-friendly.

Casa de Shiva is a beautiful guesthouse and a bit more upscale for those who want to spend more. Casa da Mangueira is also a great higher-end option. For those who prefer to keep costs low, camping is possible. Bambu Camping has been highly recommended by past students.
Caminho de Santiago Guesthouse is a bit farther away but offers good value for the price, plus a pool and access to a river.
There are also many Airbnb options for anyone who wants to cook at home — truly plenty to choose from.

Cost

2 weeks – R$ 1800
3 weeks – R$ 2400
4 weeks – R$ 2800

Payment

To register, please send an email specifying the exact dates you wish to attend. After receiving confirmation, transfer half of the total amount via PIX (348.238.208-51 Carla Vollmer).
Your spot is secured once the first half has been paid.
The remaining balance should be paid right before your first practice in Alto Paraíso, either by PIX or in cash.
Whenever you make a PIX payment, please email the receipt.
We do not accept checks, dollars, or euros.

Cancellation Policy

Until the end of February – full refund
Until the end of March – 90 percent refund
Up to 15 days before the workshop begins – 50 percent refund
Up to 7 days before the workshop begins – no refund