Today we’d like to introduce you to Alisone.
Hi Alisone, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I moved to the U.S. from France and after a while, creating roots has become increasingly important to me. Ventura is the first place where I have truly wanted to make a home. I love how easy it has been here for me and my family to connect with people and build frienships So it felt very natural to bring something that has been such an important part of my life into the community: Ashtanga Yoga.
There was no dedicated Ashtanga offering in Ventura County, and I saw an opportunity to create a place where people could discover this very special practice. I feel especially fortunate to be hosted by Ventura’s oldest yoga studio, Ventura Yoga Studio, where the teaching shared a lineage that can be traved back to Sri T. Krishnamacharya. For me, preserving that connection to the tradition is very meaningful.
Ashtanga Ventura has grown from the simple desire to establish roots in the place where I am raising my children. It is a space where students of all levels and backgrounds can learn at their own pace, develop a consistent practice, and eventually make it their own.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has certainly had its ups and downs. At times, it can feel quite isolating to build something on my own. I am responsible for my own marketing, finding students, and creating a community from the ground up.
The Mysore-style approach also makes the work particularly personal. It is a tradition that is passed from teacher to student, one person at a time, and when a new student begins, I invest a lot of myself in helping them understand the practice . Because of that, it can be difficult when someone comes for a few classes and then never returns or reaches out. I am not a company or a large studio and there is a lot of me in what I offer, so it can be hard not to take those things personally.
At the same time, I feel incredibly grateful for everyone who has come, tried the practice, and shared a part of their journey with me. Building Ashtanga Ventura has reminded me that creating a community takes time, consistency, and patience. These are the same qualities that are required to develop an Ashtanga practice. So, in many ways, my personal practice has led me here and fully equipped me for this task.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
One of the things I value most about Ashtanga yoga is that the practice is adapted to the individual. While modern yoga is often taught in large groups where everyone is asked to follow the same sequence, pace, and instructions, the Mysore method starts from the understanding that each person’s body and circumstances are different.
The teacher is there to guide and support, but also to cultivate independence. I teach students progressively, meeting them where they are, while encouraging them to develop their own understanding of the practice. I believe in my students, but I don’t believe my role is to tell them what their practice should look like. My role is to hold space, offer guidance, and trust them to find their own way.
For me, one of the deepest gifts of Ashtanga is developing a relationship with yourself. Rather than having to fit yourself into a practice, the practice can evolve with you. Over time, that process can cultivate not only physical strength and awareness, but also a deeper sense of self-trust, acceptance, and inner peace.
Let’s talk about our city – what do you love? What do you not love?
I love Ventura because people here seem to genuinely make time for one another. There is a sense that people are not always rushing from one thing to the next or completely absorbed in their own lives. They seem open to new encounters, and experiences.
One of my favorite things is how easy it is to run into people and make new connections simply by being out in the community. I especially love our car-free Main Street. It creates a space where people can slow down and simply be around one another.
At the same time, Ventura feels big enough to always have something new to discover. I have lived here for five years, and I still get excited when I find a new favorite spot or hidden gem. There is something wonderful about feeling rooted in a place while also knowing there is still so much more to explore.
Pricing:
- $100 intro month unlimited Ashtanga
- $25 drop-in
- $300 (20-class package)
- $200 (10-class package)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ashtangaventura.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alisone_yoga/
