Pınar – Yoga Instructor

“My heart holds within every form, It contains a pasture for the gazelles, A monastery for Christian monks. There is a temple for idol-worshippers, A holy shrine for pilgrims; There is the table of the Torah and the book of Koran. I follow the religion of love or go whichever way his camel leads me. This is the true faith. This is the TRUE religion. Ibn Arabi

Background Pınar was born in Ankara, Turkey in 1968. Her international experience has started when she moved to The Netherlands during her high school years. Afterwards, she studied international business at American International College in Massachusetts, USA. Upon graduating from college, she worked as an education and training manager for an international company in Washington D.C. In the meantime, she started practicing hatha yoga in 1988 in order to relieve back pains due to scoliosis. As the pains subsided, her faith in yoga started to flourish. This marked the beginning of her yoga life. Upon returning to her home country, she started teaching yoga. She is currently teaching Ashtanga Vinyasa Flow, Vinyasa flow and prenatal yoga classes. She also gives private yoga lessons for scoliosis patients.

Credentials Yoga Alliance – Pınar is registered with Yoga Alliance at ERYT-500 level. Kripalu Center of Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, USA – completed Vinyasa Flow Teacher Training with Seane Corn in 2007. Kripalu Center of Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, USA – attended Ashtanga Mela in 2006 with David Williams, David Swenson and Danny Paradise, the yogis who brought Ashtanga yoga to the West. Union Yoga Center, Edinburgh, Scotland - completed Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga Primary Series teacher training with David Swenson in 2005. Union Yoga Center, Edinburgh, Scotland - attended David Williams’ “Ashtanga for Life” workshop in 2005. Kripalu Center of Yoga & Health in Lenox, Massachusetts, USA - attended her first teacher training program in 1989.

Testimonials

Sermin (Feb 2010, Turkey) I think it is a privilege to be her student. I am lucky to have met her, she has thought me a lot;as a person and as a teacher. She carries so much in her elegant body; a great amount of love in her heart and a big amount of knowledge in her brain. Namaste Pinar. Your student,Sermin.

Suna Yılmaz (January 2010, Turkey) Pinar's life is full of energy, knowledge and devotion for yoga and she is a non-stop burning candle, distributing all of the light inside her to the ones who seek to find a way in yoga. I am so happy to be one of her beloved students.

Dr. Şelale Özmen (September 2009, Turkey) Pınar has introduced me to yoga, which I am thankful. She has guided me through the path and is always an inspiration for me with her joyful and energetic attitude.

Gökhan Yavuz, Founder of YogaŞala Ankara (May 2009, Turkey) Even though I had been practicing yoga for many years prior to meeting Pinar, my experience has deepened with her. One may think that she is just a little girl until you attend one of her classes and realize the depth of knowledge she holds and shares so freely. On the contrary of many experienced instructors, she is very humble. She works dilligently in our society where yoga is just becoming widespread.