BELA LIPAT

Bela has been teaching Yoga since 1996. Born in the Philippines, and raised in San Francisco, California, Bela was introduced to Yoga, Vedanta and Buddhist practices throughout her childhood by her mother. She practiced Sivananda Yoga at the Divine Life Society in Rishikesh and practiced it  for 10years.  She tried other styles in between until she found Ashtanga Yoga, which transformed her life. In 2004, she started going to Mysore to study with Shri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson Sharath Rangaswamy Jois and was Authorized to teach by Sharath R. Jois.  Bela is dedicated to Ashtanga Yoga’s traditional style and follows the firm belief that the method is actually the "teacher" and the best teacher is one who inspires students to practice.  Serve, Love, Give, Purify, Realize, is the heart of practice, a seed sown from Sivananda Yoga. 

Bela also has an E-RYT 500 Yoga Alliance Certification although is not registered with YA. Her studies in the Ashtanga tradition includes 200hour/300hour certification with Centered Yoga (2003/2004-05), under Paul Dallaghan, which included Pranayama training with Sri. O. P. Tiwari, from the Kaivalyadham Institute, and a 200hour certification with Stillpoint Yoga under John Scott and Lucy Crawford (2009-10). She has studied extensively in India, Nepal, and Thailand, with various teachers and attends workshops and yoga conferences annually, and continues to refine her practice with R. Sharath Jois at the KPJAYI/SYC in Mysore, South India.

Additional studies with other Ashtanga Certified and Authorized teachers in workshops, retreats, and other courses include: Manju Jois, David Swenson, Alex Medin, Prem Carlisi & Heather Radha Carlisi, Maty Ezraty, Clayton Horton, David Robson, David Garrigues, Gregor Maehle and Monica Gauci, Peter Sanson and Greg Nardi.  From other schools of Yoga, Bela has attended workshops with Aadil Palkivala, David Life and Sharon Gannon, Dharma Mittra, Cle Souren, and Anna Forrest.

In the field of meditation, Bela studied Tibetan Vajrayana Buddhist Meditation, Kriya Yoga in the lineage of Paramahamsa Hariharananda Giri,  and Transcendental Meditation, maintaining however, Vipasanna Meditation in the tradition of S.N. Goenka as her primary practice. To complement her sitting practice, Bela also studied Yin Yoga with Sarah Powers, and Paul and Suzie Grilley.

 

Additionaly, while studying in Mysore, India, Bela studied philosophy and chanting with Dr. M.A Jayashree and Professor M.A Narasimhan of the Anantha Research Foundation and Arvind Pare of Swadhyaya Center.  She has also studied Yoga Philosophy with Swami Nityamuktananda Saraswati from the lineage of Swami Veda Bharati.  Other teachers she has attended lectures and satsangs with are Swami Chinmayananda and Swami Dayananda Saraswati.

(before teaching yoga, Bela was a fashion designer, singer, actress, Taekwondo Black belt National Team Member, marathon runner, powerlifter, radio newscaster and dj, personal trainer and group exercise leader.)

Bela has taught in the Philippines, Thailand, Indonesia, China, India, Pakistan, Greece, Italy, Netherlands, Suriname, Bulgaria, and now, Finland.  She is available for Mysore Programs, Retreats/Workshops/Trainings, Corporate and Private classes.