I began teaching yoga in 1996, exactly fifteen years after I discovered yoga and began practicing. Taking time to study and deepen my own understanding before taking the seat of the teacher felt natural to me. The yoga path has been an increadably rewarding personal journey, and more than anything, I feel that I am a student of yoga. I teach because it keeps providing inspiration and guidance in my life, and gives opportunity for me to share my discoveries with others.

THAI YOGA HEALING ARTS
In 1998 Jonas founded Thai Yoga Healing Arts, dedicated to spreading yoga and bodywork practices as healing arts. From '98 to '04 Jonas spent his time teaching the Thai Yoga Certification program in the USA and was core faculty for the Integrative Yoga Therapy training program in the USA, Europe and Brasil.

SHANTAYA YOGA & BODYWORK SCHOOL
To widen the scope of possibilities, in 2004 Jonas created Shantaya, translated as "realm of peace". Its purpose is to organize a wide range of bodymind explorations that facilitates holistic health and integration of the whole person. From '04 onwards Jonas has dedicated his teaching to Anusara yoga, Thai Yoga bodywork, and Therapeutics - and maintains a worldswide teaching travel schedule.

PHYSIOTHERAPY | PHYSICAL THERAPY (USA)
In order to pursue a fulltime presence in yoga and bodywork, Jonas gave up his clincal physiotherapy work many years ago. Nevertheless, the ongoing teaching of yoga and bodywork enable him to continue applying a highly therapeutic approach throughout his work.

1998-2010 jonas westring/shantaya.org
 

JONAS WESTRING

Jonas left his native Sweden as a teenager and began extensive world travels. Fascinated by the multitude of exotic cultures he came across in the east, he ventured off on an adventurous soul search to many extraordinary places. During this time he began exploring a variety of body-mind practices such as yoga, meditation and bodywork. After many years of intensive travels Jonas decided to pursue an academic study that would align with his interests in body-mind practices. In the early 90's he received a degree in physiotherapy from Lund University in Sweden, followed by a US Physical Therapy license in 1995. A wide range of holistic modalities have been informative to his understanding of health and healing. They include physiotherapy, yoga, Thai healing practices, Buddhist insight meditation, Tantra, Acupuncture, Shiatsu, Feldenkrais method, Cranio-sacral therapy, Tai chi chuan, Chi kung, Contact improvisation dance, Antroposophy and Eurythmi, and more. After delwing into a multitude of avenues for self-exploaration and healing - Yoga and the Thai healing arts have become his key practices and are mentioned in greater detail below.

YOGA BACKGROUND
Jonas has been practicing yoga and meditation since 1981 and in a variety of styles. His very first teachers were Hari Prem and Swami Janakananda from the Scandinavian Yoga & Meditation School, offering no-nonsense teaching in the linage of world renowned Swami Satyananada Saraswati, founder of the Bihar School of Yoga in India. Amongst many inspirational teachers, the single most infuential teacher of tremendous capacity to whom Jonas owes deep gratitude is his main teacher, the founder of Anusara yoga John Friend. His grand vision, spirit of encouragement and support, extraordinary educational wealth is outstanding. Another profound inspiration is Richard Freeman, who models the mindful path of a yogi with such grace. Many other traditions have helped inspire Jonas and shape his path of yoga. He is grateful for the personal experiences he has had with Mata Amritananda Mayi, Ananda Marga, Iskcon, Dharmavir Singh Mahida, TKV Desikachar, BNS Iyengar, Kofi Busia, Glenn Black, Sharon Gannon & David Life, Ana Forest, Shiva Rea, Sivananda Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, Integrative Yoga Therapy - and with many more yet to mention that the list would be far too long.

THAI BACKGROUND
Jonas visted Thailand for the first time in 1981 and has had the privilege to meet and study with many teachers and healers in the country. The most influential ones include the outstanding master Ahjarn Pichest Boonthamme, Itthidet Manarat, the Buntautuk Traditional Medicine Hospital, Chongkol Setthakorn, Askokananda at the Sunshine network, the blind therapists in Chiang Mai, and the Thai Chiropractic Conservatory in Bangkok. Jonas began teaching Thai Yoga Bodywork in the USA in 1998 and have organized annual group journeys to Thailand for the past ten years.