YOGA, PILATES & MASSAGE
TEACHERS TRAINING COURSES
CLASSES & PERSONAL TRAINING
GLOBAL RETREATS
YACEP® COURSES & WORKSHOPS
Meet the
Teachers
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Thina Chat (Thomais Aikaterini Chatzigianni) is a certified
E-500RYT and a YACEP (Continuing Education Provider) registered with Yoga Alliance. Throughout her path, she embraced the Hatha yoga traditions of Sivananda and Ashtanga, Yin while also becoming a certified Ayurvedic and Classic massage therapist registered with IPHM - International Practitioners of Holistic Medicine. Thina is not only a yoga practitioner but also a voice and movement artist and performer.
From a young age, Thina experienced a nomadic lifestyle, frequently changing places, which led her to find solace in inner-centeredness amidst the constant shifts of the external world. Yoga became a transformative force in her life at the age of 12, helping her overcome emotional turmoil after a serious traumatizing event. Later, a spinal injury shifted her perspective and deepened her connection with yoga, uncovering the profound inner dimensions that extend beyond physical asana practice. It was then that Thina discovered comfort, inner peace, and a newfound belief in limitless possibilities.
Passionate about singing and performing, she pursued classical singing, dance, and musical theater performance and decided to move to the Netherlands to work professionally with music. During her seven-year stay there, Thina embarked on a two-year Sivananda yoga teacher training with Rama Shakti Janine Brall at Yoga Vidya in the Netherlands/Germany and began teaching extensively from 2013. Subsequently, she was fortunate to practice with Ma Bela Burgos Lipat, KPJAYI authorized Ashtanga teacher, whose influence sparked her love for this tradition and led her to follow a teacher training course with Manju Pattabhi Jois on the Ashtanga tradition later on.
In 2017, guided by intuition, Thina embarked on a transformative journey in the Karma Yoga path, ''The Cycling Sutras.'' Riding a bicycle across Europe from the Netherlands to Greece, she raised funds for ''The Smile of The Child'' charity. This expedition brought her back to Greece for and ignited the idea of establishing a yoga school, and thus, ''Yoga Fusion Shala'' and ''Urban Yoga House Hostel & Retreat'' were born.
Today, settled in the heart of Ioannina city center in Greece, when not at the shala, you can find Thina singing and playing in the Urban Yoga Collective Kirtan band, exploring nature by camping in the mountains, rafting down rivers, or cycling along the picturesque west coast. She dedicates time to organizing teacher training courses and retreats, teaching workshops across Greece and abroad.
Thina is a perpetual learner, constantly developing her expertise in various yoga styles such as Sivananda, Ashtanga, Yin, Vinyasa, Aerial Yoga, Acro yoga, and Yogadance. She has also delved into the realms of Yoga anatomy, Alexander technique, Voice and movement Integration. Her inquisitive mind delves into deep research and study of Yoga, Vedanta, Tantra Philosophies, bodywork, movement, and yoga anatomy, blending insights from different Hatha yoga traditions to inspire her classes and teacher training courses.
Currently, she continues her practice under the guidance of Vairaygya Ranko Level 2 KPJAYI authorized Ashtanga teacher and Bela Lipat, attending her teachers' workshops and retreats, and visiting their shalas Ashtanga Yoga Belgrade and Ashtanga Yoga Shala - Jyväskylä (AYSJ to further fueling her passion for Ashtanga Yoga. Thina's journey is a testament to the transformative power of yoga and the unyielding spirit of exploration and creativity that permeates every aspect of her life.
You can read her interviews/blog, and find more about her projects HERE.
Guest Teacher
Aris Papas
Aris (they/them), RYT 500, is a nature-loving, adventure-seeking, unconventional nomad with a passion for exploring the unknown. As a queer yogi Aris’s mission is to create safe and inclusive spaces in the realm of yoga and meditation. As a former wilderness therapy guide they are a mental health advocate and incorporate mindfulness-based techniques in their classes.
At a very young age, Aris began to connect with the healing power of nature. In 2021 they successfully hiked over 4,000km across the USA from the Mexican border to the Canadian border along the Pacific Crest Trail. They embrace the elements and find comfort in the universal powers. Spending time with Aris puts you in touch with your primal origin and wild heart.
As an environmentalist, Aris’s values have led them to sustainable/off-grid living and farming projects around the globe. They were the wellness event coordinator for an eco-living space in rural Colombia. There they taught yoga and meditation to digital nomads from all corners of the earth. They recently taught at an eco-lodge in Guatemala with stunning views of the volcano Acatenango. They are also a teacher trainer for YTTCs around Greece. Within Yoga Fusion Shala's family we are very happy to have Aris as a teacher trainer for our 200H and 300H teacher training courses in Greece and abroad!
Before finding yoga, Aris was a lead wilderness therapy guide where they implemented clinical therapeutic interventions to support at-risk youth and young adults. They also taught EFL through theater, improv and play. They incorporate these creative and alternative methods into their practice and emphasize mindfulness-based techniques for healing and growth.
Aris is a funky wilderqueer on a mission to create progressive spaces which nurture, uplift and increase visibility for LGBTQIA+, BIPOC and other marginalized communities, on and off the mat. Their classes emphasize an insight-based philosophy rooted in love, playfulness and unconditional acceptance. Aris uses nature and the elements to connect you to the abundance that exists right here, right now. To flow with Aris is to journey through an embodied practice that embraces yoga’s roots while opening doors to your inner power.
Vagelis Ntakis
Pilates Teacher Trainer
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Vagelis after graduating from the Aristotle University of Greece in the department of Physical Education specialized in Track and Field coaching and General Physical Condition training, decided to focus more on the benefits and advantages of Josef Pilates technique applied in different sport styles and completed his Pilates mat & props and Reformer training, aimed not only at professional athletes but also at everyone that wants to develop stamina, strength, balance, coordination and flexibility through this method.
Besides a trainer and Pilates teacher he sets some time aside for Thai massage therapy, Personal training and Lifestyle coaching and BLS, holding an International Training Massage School (ITM), North Academy of Fitness and ERC diplomas.
After attending specialized workshops of ''LLM Care'' (a method combining physical and intellectual exercises focusing in Memory loss prevention, healthy aging and mindfulness in movement) and ''Braille Code'', he applies this knowledge while working with elderly individuals or special groups.
At the moment and in co-operation with physiotherapy specialists he is researching of a Kinisiotherapy model suitable for injury recovery and rehabilitation techniques.
He stays active with his further development through educative workshops and training, while ''off the grid'' you will find him paragliding, scuba diving, sailing hiking and mountain biking or playing music.
Guest Teacher
Avril McKenzie
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Avril Mckenzie is a certified yoga teacher born in London, who started practicing in 1968.
With love and respect for a yoga lifestyle, she went on to study with many respected teachers in the UK, such as Rani Hart, Helen Knight, Swami Dev Murti (KayaKalpa teachings) and others, until eventually meeting her beloved guide and teacher in India, Swami B.R.Shridhar in 1983.
Under his direction she began teaching in 1984 in Ioannina, northern Greece, and continues to teach up until now in various places including Ioannina, Corfu, London, Belgrade and Novi Sad in Serbia.
She is licensed to teach the various Vedic Arts, including Hatha Yoga in the Sivananda tradition, Raja Yoga, Kaya Kalpa, Ayurveda and Meditation while leading satsang and Kirtans.
Alongside the Bhakti Yoga path, the one of love, light and devotion, and a spiritual truthful meaning behind everything we do and the way we approach the practice, ourselves and others are only a few of the blended flavors in her ''Heart of Yoga'' teachings.
Within the Yoga Fusion's family Avril besides assisting as a retreat teacher and teacher trainer for our Kaya Kalpa, Pranayama and many more teacher training courses, is also a vital community member and musician in our lovely ''Urban Yoga Collective'' kirtan band!
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Guest Teacher
Coralia Batista
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A former piano teacher, Coralia’s inward journey to become a 200hr yoga instructor began over 15 years ago when she finally listened to the teacher within and left her homeland of Greece to explore the illusive path of travelling around India, Sri Lanka and Indonesia practising yoga and meditation in various shalas, ashrams and temples.
Her connection to nature, moon cycles, biorhythms and celestial frequencies naturally drew her to the more spiritual and meditative practices of Kundalini, Sivananda and Satyananda while simultaneously witnessing nature’s perfection through the body’s alignment in the discipline of Iyengar and Ashtanga – a perfect melodious blend to any musician’s ear.
She now shares this harmonious balance of mind, body and soul with others as a 15yr experienced teacher, mentor and forever student and she is a vital Yoga Fusion family member and assisting teacher for teacher training courses.
She shares ‘’What I mostly love in this life is the immeasurable possibilities in every moment’’.
