What was your intial experience with yoga?
My first experience with yoga was when I was traveling Latin America around 1999 with my backpack, a few pliers for my jewelry art craft, and no money, yet I had a lot of enthusiasm and curiosity for life. All that enthusiasm I had, I started getting carried away in a not so healthy way. Then, as always, when it came to my life, I felt a spark of yearning for seeking truth and the Divine. I knew it was time to make a change and right there and then, I discovered yoga or yoga found me. My first love was ashtanga yoga vinyasa. I met a French student of K. Pattabhi Jois that was traveling in Ecuador, then my journey began. I was 21 years old, not very flexible and with much to detox but I had a heart full of yearning and hunger for the mysteries of life. That enthusiasm and love of yoga, never stopped and keeps growing and growing.
Photo courtesy of Gota Cebrero.
What do you find most rewarding about teaching yoga?
To me, it’s more about sharing yoga than teaching. When I began walking this path of yoga, it never crossed my mind to teach because I had enough work to do on myself. I began to fully focus on my Sadhana (my own practice). Through this process, practicing every morning and afternoon at some beach, park, plaza or outdoor space, people started approaching me out of curiosity and asked me to share with them. That’s how it all began, organically and this is how it still feels and will always feel. Even though in times of being a father and a husband, I need to make a living to support my family, I still consider it an exchange of energy. From the most profoundness of my heart, I share this path of yoga that carves and transforms my life infinitely.
To me, it’s more about sharing yoga than teaching…From the most profoundness of my heart, I share this path of yoga that carves and transforms my life infinitely.
Photo Courtesy of Gota Cebrero.
Do you have a favorite yoga pose?
I wouldn’t say it’s my favorite but one that I spend many moons practicing meditating, chanting and doing pranayama with is Siddhasana. After many years of cultivating my practice I discovered feeling very comfortable in this posture. This has helped my journey to dive into deeper oceans of mindfulness.
Opportunities to Practice with Gota
Weekly Classes
Mindful Flow (Wednesdays & Fridays)WARM Mindful Flow (Sundays)Mindful Restorative (Sundays)
Upcoming Workshops (Click on title to learn more)
January 12-14: Yin Yoga & The Subtle Body w. Gota & ShalaFebruary 11: Valentine’s Day Partner Yoga w. Gota & AinhoaJune 14-16: Asana, Meridians & The Five Elements
Gota Cebrero’s native country is Argentina and has been on a lifelong quest for spiritual understanding. His fascination with yogic books ignited a passion that led him to explore over 25 countries in his early 20s. Learning Ashtanga yoga vinyasa from a direct student of Pattabhi Jois in 1999 sparked a deep devotion to the practice. While crafting handmade silver jewelry, he delved into Zen meditation in Switzerland before immersing himself in Zen practice at a monastery in Spain. Alongside becoming a certified Shiatsu practitioner, he encountered numerous mentors and teachers on his journey. Settling in Asheville, NC, Gota is now a Yoga Alliance E-RYT 500, residing happily with his family. His teaching style, a mindful blend of asana, pranayama, mantra, and meditation, reflects his profound experiences and is shared with individuals and groups alike.
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