Petri Räisänen (born August 13, 1967) is internationally known and respected Ashtanga Yoga teacher. Petri started practicing Ashtanga Yoga in 1988 and teaching in 1990. He is a devoted student of his Guru, Sri K. Pattabhi Jois, and was authorized to teach Astanga Yoga in 2001 by Guruji. Petri is careful to pass on his Guru's exact teachings. 

Petri started practicing Ashtanga yoga in 1988 and teaching in 1990. Petri is co-owner and director of Ashtanga Yoga Helsinki, one of the world's largest Astanga Yoga Shalas, which he founded with his friend and colleague, Juva Javanainen, in 1997. Sri K Pattabhi Jois blessed the school to teach the traditional Astanga Yoga method. 

In his yogic path Petri has studied with many respected Astanga Yoga teachers such as Derek Ireland (his first certified teacher), Radha Warrel, Gwendoline Hunt, Lino Miele and Eddie Stern, in addition to R. Sharath Jois and Sri K. Pattabhi Jois. 

Petri focuses on integrating healing and therapy with yoga, meeting student's individual needs and guiding their progress. Petri's yoga pose adjustments are gentle, effective, therapeutic and, according to some, almost magical, and originate (besides his own practice and teaching) from his past work as a traditional Finnish folk healer and naturopath. His friendly, relaxed behaviour and intuivite perception give an open, energetic and meditative atmosphere to his classes. 

In 2004, Petri wrote "Astanga - The Yoga Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois" in collaboration with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois and his grandson, R. Sharath Jois. The book introduces the primary series (1st series) Astanga Yoga method and philosophy, as well as its potential as a physical, mental, intellectual and spiritual practice. His intermediate series (2nd series) book "Nadi Sodhana" was released in 2008 and is written mostly from the interviews with Sri K. Pattabhi Jois from 2006-2007 in Mysore, India. Both books are written as part of Petri's ongoing pilgrimage into Astanga yoga's inner word, with a great sense of respect towards his Guru and the Yoga Tradition. 

Please visit the first book's website "Astanga - The Yoga Tradition of Sri K. Pattabhi Jois" : www.ashtangabook.com

Information on the intermediate series book "Nadi Sodhana" can be found on the book's Finnish publisher Otava's website 



Education 

Petri went to a Finnish-Russian school (1972-1986) which was in his neighborhood, Kannelmaki, Helsinki. He graduated from high school in 1986. In 1988, Petri studied raw/live food and worked in a raw food restuarant. He also attended Reiki healing workshops and passed the first two levels. From 1989-1991, Petri studied to become a Naturopath and Alternative Beautician while working at ITU OY, the company which imported a biodynamic products to Finland. He finished his studies in 1991 and opened his own Health Center "Afrodite" in Kaivopuisto, Helsinki. 

Petri has studied various healing methods such as Jäsenkorjaus (Finnish Bone Setting), Kahuna techniques of Shamanic healing (Hawaii), and Swedish Massage. 

Since 2000 Petri has been as a traveling Astanga Yoga instructor. 

He studies Indian Philosophy and Sanskrit with different teachers like Dr. M.A. Jayashree, Prof. M.A. Narasimhan, Vyaas Houston and Shankaranarayana Jois. 



Folk Healing 

Petri studied the Finnish Folk Healing tradition called "Jäsenkorjaus" or Bone setting with the biggest Finnish masters of that time, Pentti Penttilä, Olavi Mäkelä and Raimo Holtti. Traditionally, Jäsenkorjaus includes physical, energy and herbal healing as well as intense Shamanic techniques such as mind twisting, energy massage, energy bone setting, psychic seeing, moving the body or items with energy, among many others. 

From 1989-1991, Petri joined a Folk Healing program held by Raimo Holtti in Kauhajoki, Finland, where he learned many of the techniques mentioned above. Petri continued to study with Raimo until 1997. 

It was Raimo Holtti who introduced Petri to Prana, the universal energy which we cannot see with the eyes but what we can move and feel with our mind and heart (or nadis - energy channels). Prana became something which was a natural part of Petri's Yoga practice, teaching and healing work. 

Studying Jäsenkorjaus wasn't systematic, and it was more like individuals guiding each other as everybody learned the techniques at a different pace. without getting much information, as he came from the wrong part of Finland. As a city boy from Helsinki, the people in the country-side were not open to sharing their knowledge with him. Despite the slow start, Petri was able to gain a deep understanding of the teachings, starting from the purely physical to a more profound and hidden level, typically passed down to family members only. 

Petri ran his own practice in Kaivopuisto, Helsinki from 1991-1997, while teaching Astanga Yoga. In 1997, Astanga became so popular that Petri had to make a decision. Yoga or Folk healing? He chose Yoga but continues using his Folk Healing techniques in his asana adjustments and teaching. 



Sports 

Petri started playing ice hockey when he was six at Karhu Kissat in Kannelmaki, Helsinki. At 12, he moved to Jokerit, which had one of the best teams in the country. When he was 16, he moved to Kiekko-Espoo in Espoo and played in the A-juniors league. The hard practice, matches and travelling got to be too intense and Petri stopped playing seriously at 17. 

Petri also played other sports like soccer, tennis, motorcross and enduro. Nowadays, Petri enjoys skateboarding and playing soccer with his son, Julian, who is a big soccer and sports fan. 



Music 

Petri's first LP was The Hurriganes' Roadrunner in 1974. There was no music player in Petri's home, but Petri used to sit in his father's car and listen to rock'n roll. He wore a Hurriganes t-shirt in his first grade picture which was considered cool at that time. 

The end of the 70s was a time of raw music. Petri heard from the radio (sävellahja or rockradio) Finnish Punk music...which hit straight to his heart. A short time after Punk, Rockabilly arrived in Finland, and Petri added such artists like Stray Cats, Gene Vincent, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Holly to his tape player. Then, in 1982, Punk had its second wave- HC (hardcore punk). Rockabilly and its rascist ideology had to get out of his life. Petri had a mohawk and in 1984-85, He founded his first band A-Olut with Niittari (Mika Niinikoski) & Ossi (Ossi Laine). That was 1984-85. In 1986-87 Petri also played drums in Krooninen Erektio (Chronic Erection) with Harri Ahponen and Late Sario. Once Astanga Yoga came into Petri's life, the next 15 years were devoted almost completely to the practice and study of yoga; his former interests were put on hold for the time being. 

In addition to Hawaiian Shamanic techniques Juha Javanainen and Petri got into throat singing and Overtone singing. Petri continued to study the various throat singing techniques with Mongolian and Tuvan masters for many years. In 2001, Petri found Esa & Aija who had a band HoneyB & the T- bones. They started the process to join the Indian mantras and slokas and Tuvan throat singing together. The new band was called Cosmic Ritual and they travelled to record an album to Auroville, India in 2003. The album never got completed, but the process is still alive. 

In 2006 Petri got together with his old friends Timo Kiiskinen and Mika Niinikoski. Timo was Petri's friend for Honkasyrjä time from 1987-90. Honkasyrjä was a big old villa by the sea in Helsinki where the guys lived. Mika Niinikoski was Petri's friend from the Finnish-Russian school. The guys found each other in 1980 at a house party. They were both into Punk music, so, in 2006, two different bands saw their daylight: Folk music band Korpivaara (check bands) and revived Punk band A-olut (check A-olut) with new members. In 2008, Petri and Timo founded their other band together, called Saarnaaja (check bands). 

Between 1996 - 2009 Petri has bought a big number of Indian instruments. Some very rare. There are many new projects in Petri's head. 



Writings 

Apart from two published Astanga Yoga books (check Publications), Petri has been writing several poems and lyrics. He is planning to publish a poetry book with drawings and paintings. Some of the lyrics are already in use in Korpivaara and A-olut. Petri also gave two of lyrics to a Finnish metal band Enochian Crescent. 

Petri also has a some new book ideas (still secret) which are under the work. 



Private 

Petri has a son, Julian Räisänen (born in July 17, 1998) who lives with his mon, Kati Rosendahl, in Helsinki, Finland. Petri moved back to Helsinki in 2008 after having lived several years in America. 

Petri Räisänen and Wambui Njuguna-Räisänen got married in September 24 2013. Their son Sesam was born in March 11 2014. They are all based in Helsinki, Finland, but traveling takes a big part of their life. 

Petri is teaching Astanga Yoga nationally and internationally and plays with his bands. 



Petri's brief philosophy 

Petri has always had a critical but positive mind and it's hard to put him in any boxes or categories. Yoga teacher, punk rocker, folk healer, mystic anarchist, free thinker, shanti healer, traveler, dad, co-owner of the several businesses etc. 

He believes in freedom in any positive life developing field. Freedom with a bit of sense control, not as uncontrolled chaos. Freedom in education, religion, spiritual development, thought and our individual acts. 

He is a free thinker but not an atheist. He's had a sip of universal prana (energy) nectar : ) 

The universe is filled with energy layers. Some more subtle, some more material. According to the sensitivity of the seer, one is able to sense these layers of energy. With certain practices (like Yoga or many other forms of spiritual exercises), we are able to purify the dirt from our body, mind and heart, and open the channels to understand the spirit of the Nature and Universe. 

Energy is everywhere, Universe is here. The names are confusing people and make competition between the religions or belief systems. Most of religious people are racist with their minds. 

Petri believes in Mythologies more than religion, even if they are very close to each others. Mythology is just more free and playful and won't cause so many issues. He also believes that we need a teacher or Guru, to make progress in our life. It's too hard to try to find everything out by ourselves. 

"As we spend more time with external objects, the less we know about ourselves. Your internal self dwells inside of you, not outside. The more we blame other people for our mistakes, the futher we will be from solving our issues. The more you think that everything is separate, the less you understand that everything is one". 

"Don't lose your pure senses and emotions with being flaky or acting through your life. The pure senses are pathways for material and spiritual freedom. There is nothing more important than pure emotions, a sense of love, hate, joy..light, universe, beauty". 



Love is the question and the answer !